The Standard - 2016 June 22 - Wednesday

VOL. XXX NO. 130 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDAY : JUNE 22, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Special powers over traffic backed

A2, B1

MIDNIGHT DEALS Lina justifies dealings between his friends and BOC

By Christine F. Herrera

CUSTOMS Commissioner Alberto Lina on Tuesday admitted he has yet to divest himself of the 16 companies that have direct and indirect dealings with the bureau and insisted there was nothing wrong with his “midnight deals” with friends.

In an interview on Headstart on ABS-CBN, Lina dismissed the accusations of conflict of interest, railroading, oppression and abuse of power simply as “part of his job.”

But Lina backed down, however, when questioned about the one-day hearing that rushed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, a

law with 1,805 sections.

Asian Terminals Inc. and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. had earlier complained that coming up with the IRR after only one day of hearings violated their rights, but Lina said the 100-page IRR was merely a draft.

Lina also said he has granted businessman Ramon Ang, owner of the Manila North Harbour Port Inc., the Authorized Customs Facility to allow the firm to engage in international trade because Ang was a friend.

A Customs official who asked not to be named earlier said Lina granted Ang the ACF even if he had no power to do so and was violating the rule against impairment of contracts.

“The MNHPI carries international freight or foreign goods but duties aren’t paid so I gave them an ACF,” Lina said.

Lina was referring to his June 2, 2016 Customs Memorandum Order 12-2016 assigning the bureau to assume jurisdiction over MNHPI to operate as an ACF, permitting the MNHPI to engage

in international trade when it has an existing exclusive contract with Philippine Ports Authority allowing it to engage only in domestic trade.

“It was not a midnight deal. But even if it is already my last day in office or the last minute of June 30, I will still grant it. Ramon Ang is a friend. All of them [port stakeholders] are my friends,” Lina said.

Lina had earlier assured the public that he would divest himself of the 16 companies, six of which have direct dealings with Next page the bureau.

File photo shows members of the government peace panel and the CPP-NDF group concluding their two-day exploratory talks in Oslo last June 16. From left: incoming peace panel member Hernani Braganza, incoming Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III, incoming peace adviser Jesus Dureza, Elisabeth Slattum (Norwegian special envoy), CPP chairman Jose Ma. Sison, NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, and NDF panel member Fidel Agcaoili.

James earns place among legends

A16

Peace pact with Reds seen in 12 months

By John Paolo Bencito DAVAO CITY—The incoming Duterte administration will pursue simultaneous talks along several tracks to quickly bring to an end the 40-year communist insurgency with a final peace agreement in nine to 12 months after formal talks resume in July.

Speaking before reporters at the

Royal Mandaya Hotel on Tuesday morning, incoming Labor secretary and the government’s chief negotiator with the communists, Silvestre Bello III, also raised the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire with the rebels as soon as peace talks resume on the third Monday of July, a week before President-elect Rodrigo Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Ad-

dress on July 25.

“To be able to fast-track the process, we will continue with a new track that is simultaneous [with] talks on the three remaining issues… Caser [Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms], the PCR [political and constitutional reforms] and end of hostilities and disposition of forces,” Next page Bello said.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A2 Peace...

From A1

In informal talks, both sides agreed to a release of political prisoners, an interim ceasefire and a plan to accelerate peace negotiations.

Bello said he and the incoming presidential adviser on the peace process, Jesus Dureza, are targeting a final agreement within nine to 12 months to catch up with Duterte’s promise to curb criminality in three to six months.

To achieve this, Bello said, they will increase the number of government negotiators from four to seven, who will hold simultaneous talks with the National Demoratic Front panel.

Bello said that the incoming administration will use the Arroyo administration draft of the Caser, which includes issues of genuine land reform and national industrialization.

Among those being eyed for the government panel are former Pangasinan congressman Hernani Braganza, former Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, and indigenous peoples’ representative Noel Pellongco from Cebu. Women will also be represented in the talks, Bello said.

The government and the communist rebels have been pursuing the talks sequentially—first finishing the substantive agenda on human rights and international humanitarian law.

“The position of the [government] panel is we honor all commitments that we signed. To show good faith, we have to stand by our agreements,” Bello said.

Bello added that “to tackle these three remaining issues, the panel created three reciprocal working committees.”

Bello said that the government is considering declaring a ceasefire with the communist rebels as soon as talks resume, citing the willingness of the communist NDF to discuss it.

“This is the first time that the NDF agreed to just discussing it. Before, if we discussed a ceasefire, it was the NDF [that rejected it],” Bello said.

The government of the late former President Corazon Aquino and the communist rebels had previously agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, but it did not prosper after monitoring efforts failed in the 1980s.

To prevent this from happening again, Bello said, the government will form regional joint monitoring committees after ceasefire talks are declared.

“A ceasefire with the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines] will be nationwide. Per region, there will be ceasefire monitoring committees from both NDF and government,” Bello said.

“We will also invite third party negotiators [to join the monitoring commitee,]” Bello said.

Bello also raised the possibility of the immediate release of up to 10 political prisoners to join the negotiating table, and having the next round of negotiations somewhere in Asia.

“But so far as the [government] panel is concerned, maybe it can be done in the Philippines,” he said.

Exiled CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, meanwhile, might remain in The Netherlands while the talks are ongoing because the US has retained its terrorist tag on his organization.

“If Joma [Sison] really is a terrorist, why would he join in a peace negotiation. It’s high time that US rethink its position against Joma [Sison]. Where have you seen a terrorist joining peace talks?” he said.

“Political prisoners can be released, there are names who are supposed to be part of the negotiations, they can be released on the basis of Jasig [joint agreement on safety and immunity guarantees],” he added.

Among the key agreements the government and NDF have signed in the course of the often-stalled peace talks are The Hague Joint Declaration, which lays down the framework and agenda for the negotiations, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and the Jasig.

Formal peace talks with the Aquino administration bogged down in February 2011 because the communists insisted on the reactivation of the Jasig, a move rejected by the government after the original list, stored in an old floppy disk, got corrupted and could no longer be retrieved.

Sison had earlier asserted that the goal of the peace talks was to form a “coalition government” of the CPP and Duterte administration. This coalition would need to carry out “democratic reforms that would lead to national industrialization and genuine land reform.”

Duterte’s incoming Defense chief, Delfin Lorenzana, said he plans to replicate on a national scale the counter-insurgency efforts that he and Duterte applied during his first term as mayor of Davao City.

In his first TV interview, Lorenzana said he believed that their success in purging Davao of criminals and insurgents can be repeated across the country.

“It’s a holistic approach: talking with and convincing the barangays and the people to cooperate and work with us and report to us the activities of the insurgents. This is actually cooperation between the military, police and the local government,” Lorenzana told ABS-CBN in Washington.

In 1987, as head of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion stationed in Davao City, he supported newly elected Mayor Duterte in clearing the city of insurgents, Sparrow units, and criminal syndicates. This close relationship has persisted through the years even when Lorenzana was no longer operating in Davao.

Lorenzana said that he only confirmed that he will again work for Duterte as the Defense secretary on Monday.

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Solons back special powers for Duterte

By Christine F. Herrera

FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday vowed to file a bill that seeks to grant President-elect Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to impose drastic traffic reduction measures to deal with the deteriorating situation in Metro Manila and prevent billions in economic losses.

“The current traffic congestion in Metro Manila impedes progress and leads to a situation where billions are lost daily in fuel cost, man hours and opportunities,” said Arroyo, in a proposed bill, a copy of which was furnished The Standard.

In an explanatory note of the bill, Arroyo said the Duterte administration aims for an annual growth rate of at least seven percent to make a significant dent on poverty.

One of the ways to speed up growth, she said, is to get infrastructure moving, either by government or by build-operate-transfer or any of its variants.

“Contractors would have to accelerate the implementation and completion of infrastructure projects in Metro Manila in order to decongest,” Arroyo said.

“Drastic traffic reduction measures also need to be undertaken through traffic management reforms,” Arroyo said.

Midnight...

From A1

The six, he said, were E-Konek Pilipinas, 2100 Customs Brokers, LGC Logistics, U-Freight Philippines, Inc., NewOcean Inc. and Air 21.

“According to the law, I think I have 60 days to divest from these companies. My lawyers are studying which of the companies I would have to divest from. I may have to divest myself from all of my businesses, including those that do not even directly do business with the BOC,” Lina had said.

But a week after he made the promise, Lina started running after his companies’ competitors, according to lawyer and Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque, counsel for Agnes Margaroli of the Omniprime Marketing, a competitor of Lina’s E-Konek.

“It took Lina only two weeks (after he assumed office) to cancel a P650 million contract that had undergone two rigorous public biddings to make his company EKonek, the service provider of the Bureau of Customs, to continue reaping the benefits,” Roque said.

Describing Lina as “shameless,” Roque said Lina accentuated his liability for plunder by granting clearance to the release of broadcasting equipment belonging to the GMA Network handled by two of his corporations—2100 Customs Brokers and U-Freight—allegedly using fake import permits.

He said Lina also refused to act on charges that 2100 Customs Brokers and U-Freight and another of his companies, the Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates were linked to 771 missing shipments of airplane parts for the airline company Zest Air worth at least P1.5 billion.

Lina owns 96.47 percent of E-Konek and remained chairman and major stockholder of his 16 other companies.

Based on Securities and Exchange Commission documents, of the 16 companies that Lina owned, six have con-

Arroyo is set to file the bill as one of her 10 priority bills upon the opening of the 17th Congress.

Among the additional powers that Arroyo wanted Duterte to be granted was to allow the president to enter into negotiated contracts for the construction, repair, rehabilitation, improvement or maintenance of critical infrastructure, projects and facilities subject to certain conditions.

Duterte would also be authorized, whenever it is necessary for the national welfare and in the public interest, to set a maximum internal rate of return of not more than 12 percent of the house-estimated project cost.

“Provided, that any infrastructure project that has the capacity to yield said internal rate of return under commercial conditions may be undertaken on a buildoperate-transfer [BOT] basis or any of its variants as enumerated in Section 2 of Republic Act 7718,” she said.

“Provided, further, that the toll fees in the case of projects undertaken as BOT or any of its variants shall be set by the Toll Regulatory Board,” she added.

“The President is hereby empowered to reorganize the Metro Manila Development Authority [MMDA], to make it more effective, innovative and responsive to the traffic crisis in Metro Manila,” the Arroyo bill also states.

Under the bill, Arroyo said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. will set aside 10 percent of its annual aggregate gross earnings for the next five years as a subsidy to MMDA, provided, that such percentage allocation will be based on gross revenue after deducting the 5 percent

franchise tax and the 50 percent income share of the national government.

The bill seeks to grant Duterte the extra powers for two years unless they are withdrawn earlier by a resolution of Congress.

An oversight committee in each House of Congress will be created to monitor the implementation to be composed of five members of each, to monitor the implementation of the law and the exercise of the authority granted by it, she said.

Arroyo said the Oversight Committees will submit periodic reports, evaluations and recommendations to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday said he supported the proposal to grant special powers to the incoming president to deal with Metro Manila’s traffic woes.

He added, however, that the powers given must be very specific.

Returning Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also rallied behind the grant of emergency powers to Duterte.

At the time the emergency powers are in effect, the government should start working on major infrastructure projects, such as road widening and the mass transit system, he said.

“We should build more roads, flyovers and improve our mass transport system.

We should also study the possibility of creating commercial and residential hubs outside of Metro Manila,” Barbers said.

Earlier, incoming speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez said Congress was ready to grant the emergency powers to Duterte.

It was Alvarez who first broached the idea. With Maricel V. Cruz

tinued to reap benefits from their direct transactions with the bureau.

As of Jan. 14, 2016, SEC records show Lina, his family and former Customs commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. remained in control over E-Konek Pilipinas, Inc., 2100 Customs Brokers, Inc., U-Freight Philippines, Inc., Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates, LGC Logistics, Inc., Air 21 Global, Inc., New Ocean, Linaheim Corporate Services, Inc., Linaheim Travel & Tours, Inc., Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc., UBE Media, Inc., Waste & Resource Mgt., Inc., Solar Lina Energy System Corp., Go 21, Inc., Integrated Waste Mgt., Inc., Lina Farm and Food Services Corp. and Credit Solutions and Business Alliances, Inc. “Lina’s decision to unceremoniously cancel the contract was a clear case of conflict of interest. He and his conspirators are thus liable for graft,” said Margaroli, in a 30-page complaint.

“The cancellation by Lina was a grave instance of a criminal conflict of interest, manifest illegal partiality and malevolent bad faith because it benefited E-Konek Pilipinas, former Customs commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. and Lina himself and his family, as he has a 96.47 percent stake in the company,” Margaroli said.

Parayno was E-Konek’s president and was hired by Lina as his IT adviser in the bureau, Margaroli said.

Lina said he understood that many people were angered by his style of governance.

“In fact, my social media account has 10 million hits. So what? I care for them.

That’s why I am doing my job. And I will do my job even to the last drop of my blood,” Lina said.

Lina also defended the drafting of the IRR without consulting the transition team of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte as ordered by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to clear all policy actions first with the new team so as not to tie their hands.

“It is my duty as the commissioner of Customs to work on [the IRR], and this is a work-in-progress. It is my duty that the draft of the CMTA is drawn because that was his [Purisima] order before,” he said.

“I think there were semantics over there that makes it [look like] I’m defying the order. I will not defy the order of my boss,” he added.

He also underscored that the IRR he will present to his successor, Nicanor Faeldon, is simply a draft and it will be up to the next administration to accept, revise, amend or scrap it.

“What is wrong with me preparing the draft and handing it over to them? They may change it, they want to revoke it, amend it or what—it’s up to them. But I will prepare the draft so I can hand it over to them,” Lina said.

The Standard earlier reported that freight handlers ATI and ICTSI have both filed letters of protest to question the “hasty passage” of the IRR. ATI described the abbreviated public hearing as “oppressive” and violated the constitutional rights of stakeholders, but Lina maintained, he is not insisting on his IRR. “Who am I to insist? These are the works of a committee, the technical group, and the public is being consulted on this,” he said.

Lina said he has informed incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez that he planned to come up with the draft of the CMTA and that the latter has given his approval.

“I told him, ‘Mr. Secretary, I will make the draft and I will hand it over to you. It’s up to you to amend it or whatever. That’s all there is to it,” Lina said.

“We spoke for almost two and a half hours. We had lunch together, and he said go ahead,” Lina said.

Lina said RA 10668 grants him the power to authorize any foreign vessel to take or convey import or export cargoes at any Philippine port authorized by a government contract to handle domestic, import or export cargo.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A3

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Piñol pledges to improve farms INCOMING Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Monday the greatest challenge that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte faced was the people’s very high expectation that change is coming for the better.

Inmates deny plot against Duterte SIXTEEN highprofile inmates from the New Bilibid Prison on Tuesday denied the reports of a conspiracy to kill Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte and incoming Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa.

In a manifesto, a copy of which was sent to outgoing Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas, the 16 inmates expressed fears the rumors about a P50-million bounty allegedly put up by drug lords to silence the alleged targets might have been intended to justify their liquidation.

“Kami ay nanindigan na walang sinuman sa amin ang sangkot sa planong ito kung totoong mayroon man,” says the manifesto signed by the 16 inmates from Building 14.

Building 14 is located within the Maximum Security Compound of the NBP. It has 29 cells, CCTV cameras and signal jammers, and is heavily guarded.

The facility used to be the death chamber for the convicts scheduled to be executed in the electric chair.

A total of 84 inmates were executed in the building, and the last execution there took place on Oct. 21, 1976.

Dela Rosa earlier claimed that some drug lords had put up a P50million bounty to get him and Duterte killed. Rey E. Requejo

Condolences. The flag flies at half-staff outside the Senate in honor of the late Senate President Ernesto Maceda who died at 81 on Monday. EY ACASIO

Palace condoles with Maceda clan MALACAÑANG on Tuesday condoled with the family of former Senate President Ernesto Maceda who died of multiple-organ failure after a gall-bladder operation Monday night.

He was 81.

“The late former Senate President Ernesto Maceda distinguished himself as a legislator, Cabinet member and ambassador through more than five decades of dedicated public service,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

“We extend our condolences to his bereaved family and join his bereaved family in fervent prayers for his eternal repose."

Vice President Jejomar Binay said he was “deeply saddened” by Maceda’s death.

“Manong Ernie served the nation in various capacities and lived through historic moments in our nation’s history, mostly as an active participant but never as a spectator,” Binay said in a statement.

Maceda was among "the best and the brightest" who served in my father's Cabinet, said Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

"My deepest condo-

lences to the family and friends of former Senate President Ernesto Maceda," the senator said.

Maceda’s remains will lie in state at the Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City.

He will be buried at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina on Saturday.

Maceda's son Ernesto Maceda Jr. said his father underwent surgery on Saturday and was still conscious after the procedure, but then his condition deteriorated rapidly.

"In fact, he was wearing a T-shirt this morning rooting for the Golden State Warriors, but sadly his condition became quite difficult," he said.

Maceda was among thenPresident Corazon Aquino's senatorial candidates who dominated the 1987 elections, the first congressional and local polls after the Edsa Revolution.

He was one of the senators who voted against the RP-US Bases Treaty in 1991, which would have extended American control of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base.

He was reelected in 1992 and became Senate president in 1996. Sandy Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

As a result, he had laid down a “road map” to improve the agriculture and fisheries sectors and ensure affordable food for all.

“There is so much potential in the agriculture and fisheries sectors,” Piñol said.

He said the country could achieve rice sufficiency in two to three years, “but we have to implement massive interventions.”

Piñol said there was also great potential for high-value crops especially in coconut production areas, where these could be intercropped with coffee, cacao and abaca.

“I talked to Philippine Coconut Authority officials and I was assured we could plant 600,000 hectares

to coconut over the next six years based on their available seedlings,” he said.

“With support from government, the country’s high-valuecrops sector could bring in much-needed foreign exchange and create jobs in the countryside.”

The country could also be self-sufficient in beef, pork and chicken if these would undergo massive development in the farming sector that produces feed materials like corn, soya and even malunggay.

Piñol said that in his first 100 days as Agriculture chief, he will conduct a nationwide orientation for all Agriculture officials and employees “to ensure that they are guided

on the priorities of the Duterte presidency in agriculture and fisheries, and the road map for the mission to provide available and affordable food for the Filipinos is clearly explained.”

He would also implement a “cash-forwork program” for the farmers and fishermen affected by the El Niño phenomenon, including the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities, the cleaning up of the coastal waters and the planting of mangrove trees.

Piñol said he will start a national mapping of the agriculture areas to determine which crop or agricultural activity would be best.

“President Duterte calls this the colorcoded Agriculture Guide Map,” he said.

He said a National Food Consumption Quantification Survey would also be implemented, as well as a nationwide inspection of irrigation services. PNA

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A4

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Able DENR chief sought

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines yesterday said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte should appoint an environment secretary who has enough background in natural resources management to get the right establishments to operate around mining communities.

Prosecute them. Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan wear masks of President Benigno Aquino III, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad,

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and former National Police chief Alan Purisima as they march in a ‘Walk of Shame’ demanding the prosecution of these officals. DANNY PATA

Dela Rosa to resign if he misses target INCOMING Philippine National Police director general Chief Supt.

Ronald Dela Rosa vowed to resign if he fails to reduce criminality and drugs in the country in the next six months.

Dela Rosa would personally ask President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to sack and replace him if he fails to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs within the three-to-six months target.

“I will step down if you see me as a failure. If I will not deliver a good result in six months. I will surrender and I will tell him [Duterte]: ‘I cannot do it, please release me, let me go’,” Dela Rosa said in an interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Dela Rosa said he will focus on eliminating drugs first while reducing other forms of crime as well.

“We need to get rid of those first then at the same time, we need to eliminate all other forms of crime,” he said.

While admitting that he is indeed a junior compared to the other qualified senior police officers, Dela Rosa said he will replicate the peace and order strategies which he developed and implemented in Davao City in various police offices across the country.

Part of that strategy is a regular assessment of the performance of police commanders from regional

directors to town police chiefs to determine if they can still stay on the job.

“Three months after their appointment, we will evaluate their performance if they measure up on the expectation of the public,” said Dela Rosa.

According to Dela Rosa they will conduct a lifestyle check among the force to remove officials involved in illegal activities.

“We will do every approach—legal or illegal—to stop these officials from doing just the same act over again,” he insisted.

The incoming PNP chief said he also wants station commanders of

each police station to be more engaged in the field to help the reduction of petty crimes.

“We will assign district directors in Metro Manila. We will make sure that these directors are not just hired to do office work but also field work,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1986, used to be the provincial director of Davao Oriental before he was appointed as director of the Davao City Police.

He also serve as executive director of the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development, to earn his first star which he did a few month ago. PNA

“In light of recent developments, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines would just like to stress its continuing advocacy for responsible mining to benefit Filipinos not just in mining communities but around the country,” said CoMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon.

“This as we stress the need for a Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary who has a solid background on the intricacies of natural resources management and someone who is able to balance economic growth and the needs of the people with that of environmental protection, the protection of indigenous communities and the society,” Halcon added.

Halcon said the mining industry can help bring in the hard investments in the countryside and help realize inclusive growth.

“The establishment of mines in local communities results to economic progress, with more goods and services coming from the mine site. The outcome is a more robust tax take overall by government,” Halcon said.

SC dismisses 1-Pacman plea

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition of One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals (1-Pacman) party-list group assailing the decision of the Commission on Elections allocating the group only two seats in the House of Representatives.

The SC denied the appeal of 1-Pacman seeking to compel the Comelec to allocate another seat to the group, saying the poll body did not commit grave abuse of discretion for its action.

“The Court dismissed the petition for certiorari and mandamus assailing the National Board of canvassers Resolution No. 008-16 issued by the Comelec, sitting as such for the elections for senators and members of the House of Rep-

resentatives for the 2016 national and local elections for failure to show grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec,” SC spokesman Theodore Te said in a press conference.

Te said the tribunal found no grave abuse of discretion committed

by Comelec as it relied on the Court’s own decision in Banat vs Comelec in 2009.

In “Banat vs Comelec.” the SC ruled that in computing the additional seats, the guaranteed seats shall no longer be included because they have already been allocated, at one seat each, to every two percenter.

“Thus, the remaining available seats for allocation are the maximum seats reserved under the party-list system less the guaranteed seats,” the SC official explained.

Earthquake drill. Students of the Baclaran Elementary School duck and hold under school chairs as they join an earthquake drill ahead of the Metro Manila Development Authority’s Metro Shake Drill on June 22. DANNY PATA

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A5

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Tunnel of art. A well-maintained underpass along Makati Avenue, Makati City gets spruced up with works of art done by professional artists. SONNY ESPIRITU

Marcelino, pal cleared of raps

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice has cleared Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino and his Chinese companion of drug charges for lack of evidence.

In a 15-page resolution penned by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, the DoJ found the evidence submitted by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency insufficient to pin down Marcelino and Yan Yi Shou for committing the alleged crime.

“An assiduous evaluation of the evidence presented by both parties finds the evidence so far presented by the PNP and PDEA insufficient of the required evidence to sustain a conviction during the trial on the merits of the case,” the resolution stated.

Marcelino, former intelligence officer of the PDEA, and his companion were arrested in a drug raid last Jan. 21 at a house in Sampaloc, Manila where over P380 million worth of drugs were confiscated.

The DoJ prosecutor stressed that the search warrant for the house in Sampaloc was for a certain Lo Chi aka “Tanda,” Atong Lee aka “Atong” and a certain Chu. Villanueva also noted that both Marcelino, and Yan were not seen during the casing and surveillance of the premises.

The DoJ said that Marcelino and Yan were only encountered

by the authorities during the actual raid.

The PNP and PDEA claimed that Marcelino was found sitting on a couch at the ground floor of the house, while antidrug operatives found Yan at the second floor arranging plastic trays containing shabu.

However, the DoJ said an examination of the sworn statements submitted by the authorities failed to reveal the identities of the actual operatives who caught Yan arranging the plastic trays containing shabu.

“The PNP and PDEA alleges that respondents had possession of the illegal drugs but that is only their presumption based on the presence of the respondents at the scene of the crime which as of this writing is not supported by any independent evidence,” the DoJ ruled.

Two more drug suspects killed; 6 others arrested

By Florante S. Solmerin THE ‘killing spree’ in the illegal drug trade continues.

Two more suspected drug dealers were killed on Tuesday during a joint operation of law enforcers in Quezon City the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said.

In Taguig City, police arrested six alleged drug traffickers among 10 most wanted men in the city.

In Surigao del Norte, congressman-elect Robert Ace Barbers took up the cudgels for the police by saying that the killings of 68 suspected drug traders from January to June 2016 was a result of legitimate encounters between law enforcers and criminals.

Barbers, a three-term lawmaker in the House, said policemen who were responsible for the recent spate of killings of drug pushers must be commended instead of being criticized.

But the killings also prompted the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to issue a

five-point guide on the morality of killings of suspects in a law enforcer’s line of duty.

Acknowledging that the CBCP statement was a “valid general statement,” outgoing House deputy majority leader and Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna said the CBCP should also be concerned about the lives of arresting authorities are also in danger.

In the Quezon City incident, the suspects were on board their vehicle when they fired at the police and tried to escape, said CIDG director Victor Deona.

This prompted the other deployed police teams to chase the suspects until they were cornered along NIA Road. Instead of surrendering, the suspects opted to exchange gunfire with the authorities that resulted in their sustaining of gunshot wounds,” said Sr. Supt. Ronald Lee, CIDG-NCR chief. The suspects were rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. With Maricel Cruz and Joel Zurbano

Comelec’s Lim quits post as campaign finance chair

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Commission on Elections has accepted the resignation of Commissioner Christian Robert Lim as chair of the Campaign Finance Office.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the en banc accepted Lim’s resignation with regret during its session Tuesday.

“The en banc has accepted the resignation of Comelec Comm. Christian Robert Lim as head of the Campaign Finance Of-

fice, with regret. In fact, we expressed our gratitude to him for all the work he has done in respect of campaign finance,” Bautista told reporters.

Since Lim’s irrevocable resignation was effective on Monday, Bautista said the en banc designated Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino as officer-in-charge of CFO. Bautista explained that they appointed Tolentino as OIC because there are urgent administrative concerns that CFO has to promptly act such as the issuance of cer-

tificates of compliance to candidates who already filed their statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs).

“For the meantime, Tolentino will be the officer-in-charge while we are still deliberating on who should replace Com Lim because it is a big responsibility. Besides, the en banc wants to find out the extent of the functions of the office,” the Comelec chief stressed.

Nonetheless, Bautista insinuated the possibility that they will just appoint a “permanent

employee” instead of another commissioner, who has a fixed term.

In a letter filed Monday afternoon, Lim tendered his resignation following the “policy shift” that allows candidates and political parties that failed to meet the June 8 deadline to still file SOCEs. In his capacity as CFO chairman, Lim recommended that the en banc should deny giving such an extension particularly the request filed by the Liberal Party and its standardbearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A6 Estrada urges cops, fiscals to ‘fight the good fight’

By Vito Barcelo REELECTED Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Tuesday exhorted the city’s prosecutors, judges and police officers to “fight the good fight so that goodness, justice and equality may prevail” during an awarding ceremony to honor outstanding prosecutors and police.

Estrada praised the Manila prosecutors, police and judges for their firm stand in protecting the people and giving justice to the oppressed while providing due process to the offenders.

He urged the officials to “stay the course. When you know you are doing the right thing, keep on doing it and you will win the day.”

Estrada honored the awardees, saying the prosecutors and judges dispense justice with utmost probity and impartiality, while the police are tireless in keeping the peace in the streets and elsewhere in Manila.

The mayor said he expects the usual cooperation and assistance from these officials as he begins his second term as mayor of Manila on June 30.

Estrada was assisted by Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, MPD director, Atty. Edward Serapio, secretary of the mayor, and Atty. Jay Flaminiano, city legal officer during the ceremony held at the New World Hotel in Ermita, Manila.

The outstanding Manila Police District personnel are: P/Supt. Antonietto Eric Mendoza, Supt. Albert Barot, Senior Inspector Gilbert C. Cruz, Senior Inspector Alfredo Agbuya, SPO4 Ferdinand Espino, SPO4 Julio Salvador Toledo, PO3 Eric Casuncad, PO3 Bernardo Cayabyab, Clara Susan Castillo, and Jesusana Asia.

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Bello vows to stop ‘endo’ labor practice

By John Paolo Bencito

DAVAO CITY—Hiring sales girls on a contractual basis (known as endo or end of contract) is an “unfair” trade practice since their services are essential to business operations, incoming Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told reporters on Tuesday.

On that premise, Bello said he would be requiring all companies in the Philippines to regularize at least 80 percent of employees in shopping malls.

“You can’t operate a mall without sales girls,” Bello said in a press briefing in

Davao City.

Bello also said he was mulling over a change in name of the Department of Labor and Employment to “probably be Department of Labor and Management or Department of Labor and Employer.”

Bello said that he wanted to remove the connotation that the Labor Department is “one sided,” therefore the need to focus also on management.

Under the current setup, Bello said that malls could outsource the hiring of janitorial and security services because these were not as essential to operations as sales staff.

The new administration may propose an arrangement of 80 percent regular employees and 10 percent non-regular employees under a Department Administrative Order to implement this requirement.

Such moves are in line with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s instructions to solve the problem of contractualization in the country.

Duterte had reiterated his plan for a gradual phaseout of contractualization depending on “circumstances of the company.”

This was seconded by incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez who said that contractualization can’t be completely eliminated in certain industries or companies because of the nature of their business.

Bello said that the 80-20

arrangement could be imposed upon bigger companies while for smaller ones, say ones with 200 employees, a 90-10 arrangement can be imposed.

“Sometimes, the needs of the company are not permanent. For example, during Christmas season, they will need additional employees. That would be okay, if they hire on a seasonal or project basis,” said Bello.

Bello reiterated that all employees who render work necessary for the daily operations or main business of a company should be regularized.

On justice. Students of the University of Caloocan City are all ears as Chief of Police Bartolome R. Bustamante holds a lecture on the criminal justice system. ANDREW RABULAN

UP awardees tackle 4 issues

Romance abloom. Lovers take their selfie at the Sunflower Garden of the UP Diliman in Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

THREE distinguished UP alumni for 2016 have been tapped by the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) to serve as resource speakers at the forum of Alumni Council meeting on Friday, June 24, and will tackle issues on peace and development, communicating state agenda and media freedom, as well as urbanization’s impact on child development.

The alumni council meeting will be held at the Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, which is one of the highlights of the UPAA’s Homecoming week.

From the speakers’ three presentations, the UPAA Board will draft resolutions to be submitted to the UP Board of Regents, UP alumni in Congress for aid in legislation, and to selected government and private agencies for policy formulation.

Some 55 Distinguished UP Alumni have been chosen by the UPAA for the year 2016.

Amina Rasul-Bernardo, this year’s UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna, will speak on “Peace, Security, and Development”; Dr. Dante M. Velasco, Distinguished Alumnus in Communication, on “Communicating Your Agenda in Public and Private Governance under a Climate of Freedom’; and Dr. Cornelio G. Banaag, Jr., Lifetime Distinguished Service Awardee, on “Urbanization and Communication Technology: Impact on Child Development.”

Rasul-Bernardo has an A.B. in Economics from UP, a Master’s degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management, and another Master’s in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Govern-

ment at Harvard University.

Dr. Velasco earned his Ph.D. in Communication from UP, and his Master’s in Management from the Asian Institute of Management. He was consultant to the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, and was DOTC undersecretary for Public Information and for Road Transport. UP Professor Velasco is also chairman of the UP College of Mass Communication Foundation.

After earning an A.B. History at UP, Dr. Banaag Jr. finished his M.D. also at UP. He is founder and director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Programs at PGH, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and The Medical City. He is professor emeritus (Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry) at the UP College of Medicine.

w e d n e s d ay : j u n e 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A7

news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

40 natural caves now under govt protection

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources said yesterday nearly 40 natural caves across the country have been placed under the protection and management of the government.

The DENR recently classified an additional 39 caves, bringing to 454 the total number of caverns that are now part of the country’s natural wealth and therefore require sustainable management and protection.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the classification was necessary to ensure that the caves would be “preserved and properly enjoyed by the public.”

“The directive will help enhance public awareness and appreciation that caves are part of our natural resources because of their significance as ecosystems which host various forms of wildlife,” Paje said.

“It also helps protect the geological, archaeological, historical and cultural values these caves carry, and helps sustain them for the enjoyment of future generations,” Paje added.

Paje said the caves which were placed under the government’s protection are located in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Region, Bicol, Davao del Norte province and Region 6.

Nine caves were categorized as Class I for their delicate and fragile formations, threatened species and extremely hazardous conditions being closed to ecotourism.

Activities allowed within these caves are limited to mapping, photography, and educational and scientific purposes.

Categorized as Class I caves are the Karilagan and Aswang caves in Catanduanes, and the Kasilac Bat Cave in San Isidro, Davao del Norte.

A total of 23 caves were classified as Class II, including the Sorolla Cave in Koronadal City. Class II caves have portions with hazardous conditions, as well as sensitive geological, cultural and historical values or ecosystems. These sections may be declared closed, while the other portions may be open to experienced spelunkers or guided visits.

Piety. Muslim women pray inside the Pink Mosque in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao. MARK NAVALES

‘We will resolve Sasa port problems this year’

By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

DAVAO CITY—Incoming Department of Transportation and Communications secretary, lawyer Arthur Tugade vows to resolve the issues concerning the Sasa port modernization project in Davao City within the year.

Tugade said he would review the details concerning the P18billion Public-Private Partnership project that has been pending due to several issues raised

by several stakeholders.

A group represented by lawyer Harry Roque has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the project because it violated the

writ of kalikasan.

Last December, the city council here formally objected to the project saying the DOTC had not consulted the local government.

President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte himself opposed the project before he ran for the presidency. He believed it was overpriced.

“Within the year, maybe we can make a decision with the satisfaction of the majority,” Tugade said.

He said that he would not stop the development of the Sasa port, especially if it will be beneficial for the development of Davao City and Mindanao.

“We are committed to the development of Davao City, if it can help in the triggering development of the city, why don’t we do it?”

Tugade said.

On Monday, Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang proposed to the city council the total review of the said project.

PPI forum focuses on sea disputes A fORuM on the West Philippine Sea disputes will be among the highlights of this year’s 20th Annual Press forum and Membership Meeting of the Philippine Press Institute, the country’s foremost association of newspapers.

Publishers and editors of PPI member-newspapers nationwide will convene in Manila for their two-day yearly gathering beginning on Wednesday, June 23, at the Century Park Hotel.

The forum, with the theme “understanding the Disputes in the West Philippine Sea,” also marks PPI’s celebration of its 52nd anniversary.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, a much sought-after speaker on the Philippines’ maritime conflict with China, is the guest of honor at this year’s annual PPI event.

The forum will also highlight media’s role in enhancing public awareness and engagement around the highly contested West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea that lies within the country’s exclusive economic zone and is in the center of the Philippines’ territorial conflict with China.

Yet another highlight of the forum is the 2015 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards, the only awards program of its kind in the country. It seeks to honor local print media organizations that have demonstrated editorial excellence and earnest pursuit of their role as catalysts for community development.

Categories for the awards include Best in fisheries Reporting, Best in Culture, Arts and History Reporting, Best in Photojournalism, Best in Environmental Reporting, Best

in Business and Economic Reporting, Best Editorial Page and Best Edited Community Newspaper. The Best in Election Reporting has been added as a special category for this year’s awards.

Several weekly and daily member publications have been named as finalists for the annual competition. for the daily category, the finalists are The freeman, Mindanao Times, Sun.Star Pampanga, Sun.Star Cebu, Sun. Star Baguio, Sun.Star Davao, and Cebu Daily News. for the weekly division, the finalists are Sunday Punch, Eastern Visayas Mail, BusinessWeek Mindanao, The Ilocos Times, The Bohol Chronicle, The Mindanao Cross, Baguio Chronicle, Davao Catholic Herald, Pahayagang Balikas, West Leyte Weekly Express, and Baguio Midland Courier.

Beauty, A 17-year-old girl from Maguindanao, Fharicia Capadocia Lauban (center) was crowned Mutya ng Cotabato 2016. OMAR MANGORSI

W E D n E s D Ay: j u n E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

baCK CHannEL aLEjanDRO DEL ROsaRIO

Flashpoint

[ EDI TORI A L ]

The promise of change IT was refreshing to hear the incoming Duterte administration’s economic team this week talking about its commitment to retain sound fiscal, monetary and trade policies while advocating tax reforms, speedier infrastructure development, better support services for farmers and a reduction in crime to attract foreign investments.

For far too many days, the news cycle had been dominated by controversial—and often incendiary—statements from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that raised fears of a dirty war on criminal suspects with no regard for human rights.

But this week, Duterte’s incoming economic managers painted a different picture at a two-day conference with the country’s top business leaders. There, they presented a 10-point socioeconomic agenda that promises to make life better, not only for the crème de la crème, but for ordinary working men and women who have been given short shrift over the last six years.

“The policy of the new government is to reduce tax evasion and smuggling, and [to lower] tax rates. we want to execute projects in the countryside and create jobs there. These goals are not single goals but they are a whole program,” incoming socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a media briefing.

The objectives would call for the new government to: • Continue and maintain macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary and trade policies.

• Institute progressive tax reform and more effective tax collection while indexing taxes to inflation; • Increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business, drawing upon successful models used to attract business to local cities such as Davao, as well as pursuing the relaxation of the constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership, except with regards land ownership, to attract foreign direct investments; • Accelerate annual infrastructure spending to account for five percent of the gross domestic product, with public-private partnerships playing a key role; • Promote rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism; • Ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies; • Invest in human capital development, including health and education systems, as well as matching skills and training to meet the demands of businesses and the private sector; • Promote science, technology and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining and inclusive development; • Improve social protection programs to protect the poor against instability and economic shocks; and • Strengthen the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to enable, especially, poor couples to make informed choices on financial and family planning.

These goals are all sensible ones, but it was particularly gratifying to hear the economic managers pay special attention to the need to lower income tax rates and to provide working Filipinos—already the most heavily taxed in the region—more disposable income.

The plan to accelerate infrastructure spending is also most welcome, coming as we are from an administration that has had little to show after six years in office and a publicprivate partnership program whose progress can only be described as glacial.

The two-day business forum was significant too, in that business leaders were asked to submit recommendations on how the 10-point agenda might be improved.

On a cautionary note, the business community did the same thing under the aquino administration, providing it with a rather lengthy list of priorities and recommendations, only to have them largely ignored. we can only hope that the Duterte administration fulfills its promise of change in this one key aspect. we hope they have learned to listen.

noT gina, please LOwDOwn jOjO a.

RObLEs I ReCALL Regina “Gina” Lopez, heiress of the Lopez broadcastreal estate-power generation fortune, being asked some years back to explain how she could wear expensive jewelry and claim to be an anti-mining advocate. Lopez’s reply was something to the effect that her jewelry came from New York, not from any mine in the Philippines.

A9

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, in a one-minute video message, has declared that Lopez, the anti-mining crusader, is his choice as secretary of the Department of environment and Natural Resources. In certain respects, the appointment is as strange to me as the nomination of Jose David Lapuz, a professor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, as chairman of the Commission on higher education.

Lapuz has been the subject of much online ridicule not only because there is still a CheD chairman currently serving a

fixed term that will end two years from now, but also because some former students of his at UST have been questioning his credentials, capabilities and even his sanity. And apparently, Lapuz’s only claim to fame is that he used to be Duterte’s college instructor at the Lyceum of the Philippines in the sixties.

Naming Lopez to DeNR, however, is not just fodder for online humorists. On her appointment could hinge the fate of an entire industry that, as far as I can recall, has been identified by Duterte as an important engine of the national economy,

Lopez doesn’t deserve the job of regulating an industry that she has long vowed to destroy.

if properly regulated.

During a forum for businessmen last February, thencandidate Duterte came out strongly in favor of responsible mining, which he said would be allowed to continue as long as the environment was sufficiently protected. “[As for] mining, the best that I can see now is the Australian standard: just follow the Australian standard, take care of the environment,” Duterte told the Wallace Business Forum back then.

But the trouble with appointing Lopez to DeNR, the government agency that regulates the mining industry, is that she is against all mining, responsible or not. Yes, despite her taste for precious-metal

jewelry that could actually have been mined here, regardless of where she bought it.

“Mining as an economic path in a magnificent ‘Last Frontier’ is based on a paradigm of economic growth that is myopic and archaic,” Lopez said in an open letter published in 2011. “[It] should be thrown in the dustbin.”

To her credit, Lopez has declared that while she is honored by Duterte’s appointment, she has not yet accepted it. I believe, of course, that she should turn it down, if she is true to herself.

*** During the Aquino administration, the mining industry was mostly in limbo because the government—typically—could not decide one way or the other. While there was a Mining Law whose implementing rules had already been approved and upheld by the Supreme Court, an executive order issued by the Noynoying One prevented the expansion of an industry that was already providing good work for tens of thousands and pumping billions in taxes to government coffers annually.

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

And, of course, the industry has its bad eggs, particularly those who raped the environment they were already extracting metals from, like that big-time businessman whose operation was dumping waste indiscriminately into the sea in Agusan and so many local officials who made “small-scale mining” synonymous with “big-time destruction” all over the country. But mining also has its conscientious players, who take care not only of local communities but also of the environment.

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

The two world superpowers—US and China—are on a collision course in the South China Sea. The stakes are high for both and unless a fair, equitable and enduring solution is found, what has been a lingering flashpoint can erupt into a conflagration in the region. The US with its burden of ensuring freedom of navigation and over flights in international waters and airspace has been carrying out sea patrol and sailby near the man-made islands where China has built military installation including airstrips.

The US is concerned that the Chinese military bases are forward positions to assert its aggressive claim to nearly 90 percent of the South China to the detriment of its neighbors Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines which have conflicting and overlapping claims to parts of the Spratly group of islands with Manila filing a case in The hague international arbitration court challenging China’s sweeping claim.

Things are coming to a head with the US beefing up its sea patrols and harnessing its biggest aircraft carriers, the USS John C Stennis and USS and the USS Ronald Reagan both of which have a full complement of modern jet fighters on deck. These can respond to any incident or provocation by the Chinese who have escalated their hardline claim in the South China Sea. All this tinderbox situation needs is a spark like a miscalculation of Chinese and American jet fighters colliding in the sky or a confrontation on the high seas where neither would back off fearing a loss of face if one does. So what was a mere flashpoint in the region could be fanned into a conflagration that would involve other countries and treaty allies.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations tried to issue a strong statement last week. It condemned China’s action destabilizing the region. The statement was, however, was thwarted by Beijing who worked on its close trade ties with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Without a consensus for a unified communiqué, Asean had to retract a statement that was already prematurely released.

Under this hardening of lines between China and Asean, the US is being drawn into to take sides, a departure from its earlier and repeated Continued on A11

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

W E D n E s D Ay: j u n E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

baCK CHannEL aLEjanDRO DEL ROsaRIO

Flashpoint

[ EDI TORI A L ]

The promise of change IT was refreshing to hear the incoming Duterte administration’s economic team this week talking about its commitment to retain sound fiscal, monetary and trade policies while advocating tax reforms, speedier infrastructure development, better support services for farmers and a reduction in crime to attract foreign investments.

For far too many days, the news cycle had been dominated by controversial—and often incendiary—statements from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that raised fears of a dirty war on criminal suspects with no regard for human rights.

But this week, Duterte’s incoming economic managers painted a different picture at a two-day conference with the country’s top business leaders. There, they presented a 10-point socioeconomic agenda that promises to make life better, not only for the crème de la crème, but for ordinary working men and women who have been given short shrift over the last six years.

“The policy of the new government is to reduce tax evasion and smuggling, and [to lower] tax rates. we want to execute projects in the countryside and create jobs there. These goals are not single goals but they are a whole program,” incoming socioeconomic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a media briefing.

The objectives would call for the new government to: • Continue and maintain macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary and trade policies.

• Institute progressive tax reform and more effective tax collection while indexing taxes to inflation; • Increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business, drawing upon successful models used to attract business to local cities such as Davao, as well as pursuing the relaxation of the constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership, except with regards land ownership, to attract foreign direct investments; • Accelerate annual infrastructure spending to account for five percent of the gross domestic product, with public-private partnerships playing a key role; • Promote rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism; • Ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies; • Invest in human capital development, including health and education systems, as well as matching skills and training to meet the demands of businesses and the private sector; • Promote science, technology and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining and inclusive development; • Improve social protection programs to protect the poor against instability and economic shocks; and • Strengthen the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to enable, especially, poor couples to make informed choices on financial and family planning.

These goals are all sensible ones, but it was particularly gratifying to hear the economic managers pay special attention to the need to lower income tax rates and to provide working Filipinos—already the most heavily taxed in the region—more disposable income.

The plan to accelerate infrastructure spending is also most welcome, coming as we are from an administration that has had little to show after six years in office and a publicprivate partnership program whose progress can only be described as glacial.

The two-day business forum was significant too, in that business leaders were asked to submit recommendations on how the 10-point agenda might be improved.

On a cautionary note, the business community did the same thing under the aquino administration, providing it with a rather lengthy list of priorities and recommendations, only to have them largely ignored. we can only hope that the Duterte administration fulfills its promise of change in this one key aspect. we hope they have learned to listen.

noT gina, please LOwDOwn jOjO a.

RObLEs I ReCALL Regina “Gina” Lopez, heiress of the Lopez broadcastreal estate-power generation fortune, being asked some years back to explain how she could wear expensive jewelry and claim to be an anti-mining advocate. Lopez’s reply was something to the effect that her jewelry came from New York, not from any mine in the Philippines.

A9

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, in a one-minute video message, has declared that Lopez, the anti-mining crusader, is his choice as secretary of the Department of environment and Natural Resources. In certain respects, the appointment is as strange to me as the nomination of Jose David Lapuz, a professor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, as chairman of the Commission on higher education.

Lapuz has been the subject of much online ridicule not only because there is still a CheD chairman currently serving a

fixed term that will end two years from now, but also because some former students of his at UST have been questioning his credentials, capabilities and even his sanity. And apparently, Lapuz’s only claim to fame is that he used to be Duterte’s college instructor at the Lyceum of the Philippines in the sixties.

Naming Lopez to DeNR, however, is not just fodder for online humorists. On her appointment could hinge the fate of an entire industry that, as far as I can recall, has been identified by Duterte as an important engine of the national economy,

Lopez doesn’t deserve the job of regulating an industry that she has long vowed to destroy.

if properly regulated.

During a forum for businessmen last February, thencandidate Duterte came out strongly in favor of responsible mining, which he said would be allowed to continue as long as the environment was sufficiently protected. “[As for] mining, the best that I can see now is the Australian standard: just follow the Australian standard, take care of the environment,” Duterte told the Wallace Business Forum back then.

But the trouble with appointing Lopez to DeNR, the government agency that regulates the mining industry, is that she is against all mining, responsible or not. Yes, despite her taste for precious-metal

jewelry that could actually have been mined here, regardless of where she bought it.

“Mining as an economic path in a magnificent ‘Last Frontier’ is based on a paradigm of economic growth that is myopic and archaic,” Lopez said in an open letter published in 2011. “[It] should be thrown in the dustbin.”

To her credit, Lopez has declared that while she is honored by Duterte’s appointment, she has not yet accepted it. I believe, of course, that she should turn it down, if she is true to herself.

*** During the Aquino administration, the mining industry was mostly in limbo because the government—typically—could not decide one way or the other. While there was a Mining Law whose implementing rules had already been approved and upheld by the Supreme Court, an executive order issued by the Noynoying One prevented the expansion of an industry that was already providing good work for tens of thousands and pumping billions in taxes to government coffers annually.

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

And, of course, the industry has its bad eggs, particularly those who raped the environment they were already extracting metals from, like that big-time businessman whose operation was dumping waste indiscriminately into the sea in Agusan and so many local officials who made “small-scale mining” synonymous with “big-time destruction” all over the country. But mining also has its conscientious players, who take care not only of local communities but also of the environment.

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

The two world superpowers—US and China—are on a collision course in the South China Sea. The stakes are high for both and unless a fair, equitable and enduring solution is found, what has been a lingering flashpoint can erupt into a conflagration in the region. The US with its burden of ensuring freedom of navigation and over flights in international waters and airspace has been carrying out sea patrol and sailby near the man-made islands where China has built military installation including airstrips.

The US is concerned that the Chinese military bases are forward positions to assert its aggressive claim to nearly 90 percent of the South China to the detriment of its neighbors Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines which have conflicting and overlapping claims to parts of the Spratly group of islands with Manila filing a case in The hague international arbitration court challenging China’s sweeping claim.

Things are coming to a head with the US beefing up its sea patrols and harnessing its biggest aircraft carriers, the USS John C Stennis and USS and the USS Ronald Reagan both of which have a full complement of modern jet fighters on deck. These can respond to any incident or provocation by the Chinese who have escalated their hardline claim in the South China Sea. All this tinderbox situation needs is a spark like a miscalculation of Chinese and American jet fighters colliding in the sky or a confrontation on the high seas where neither would back off fearing a loss of face if one does. So what was a mere flashpoint in the region could be fanned into a conflagration that would involve other countries and treaty allies.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations tried to issue a strong statement last week. It condemned China’s action destabilizing the region. The statement was, however, was thwarted by Beijing who worked on its close trade ties with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Without a consensus for a unified communiqué, Asean had to retract a statement that was already prematurely released.

Under this hardening of lines between China and Asean, the US is being drawn into to take sides, a departure from its earlier and repeated Continued on A11

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Maan Ilustre Advertising and Marketing Head Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

W e d n e s d ay: j u n e 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

a10 Virtual reality tony lopez saNta CRUZ, California, June 20. I spent Father’s Day, June 19, on a beach in santa Cruz, California, with my daughter, Ivy Lopez Cabaltica, my son-inlaw Benedict Cabaltica, my only son Ranel, and three of my six grandchildren—Enzo, 14; Gio, 9, and audrey, 6. the three are the children of Benedict and Ivy. My three other grandchildren are in Manila—anika, 12, my daughter Noreen’s only child; and children of my youngest daughter Ciara and her husband Mike Galang—Rafa, 3, and Nacho, 1. *** I have been blessed with five wonderful children—Myra, Ivy, Ranel, Noreen and Ciara.

My eldest, Myra, the chairman of BizNewsAsia, died in 2008, of aneurysm. she was 38. she finished journalism and MBa at ateneo. I now have an angel in heaven. When I need one. she is useful when I am looking for parking when slots are tight in malls or when I sense danger while driving.

My dream though is to go to hell and write a book on all the bad boys of this world who never were able to give us their inside stories. While in hell, I want to interview these people.

Genocidal warriors like Genghis Khan and Hitler, nation builders like ataturk, sukarno, and Ferdinand Marcos. Or even Khadaffy or saddam Hussein.

I am sure these people enjoy life after life to the fullest, sur-

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Fatherhood and me rounded by flowing and boiling lavas of fire among like-minded tyrants and ex-future saints. You know what they say in General science 101, constant exposure to the same stimulus desensitizes you so that while in hell, you will even ask Lucifer to please raise the thermostat because you feel cold. *** Enzo is entering ninth grade or first year high school; Gio is entering fifth grade; audrey will be first grade. Enzo is a straight a student at upscale Inner Middle school in Cupertino. this year, Enzo got two awards—in social studies and as Pta student of the Year (who is voted by the entire faculty and school staff), for being a straight-a student and for leadership. Gio did a video using Lego modules. He entered his project in a Ptatilt and reached the state level.

Nobody has done it before in his school, meaning reach state level. Gio is a student at Blue Hills Elementary school, also a Cupertino-rated school. audrey is a star student in her kinder class and a budding gymnast. “she is special. You have to tell me the secret,” her teacher, Miss Wu, told my daughter Ivy. all three—Enzo, Gio and audrey—are future writers. that’s my side of the genes. they also got their Dad’s knack at numbers. Bene is a CPalawyer, a tax adviser of KPMG whose clients include a number of top-tier silicon Valley compa-

To complete his life, a man must sire a son (or a daughter), plant a tree, and write a book. They all live on after us, insuring a man a measure of immortality.

nies. Ivy is a lawyer (ateneo Law 1998; Bene was her classmate). she does not practice her profession, preferring to be a fulltime house manager which in the Us is quite a feat.

In Manila, anika also is a good writer. Rafa is entering pre-school. He is a precocious child and has strong people relations skills, unlike me. Nacho, my youngest grand child, is still enjoying his baby days but has a tendency to be stubborn, like me. *** In California, the Cabalticas and I spent three days swimming, surfing and running around at sunny Cove beach of santa Cruz, said to be the surf capital of the Us. the beach is excellent but is not as good

as the Philippine beaches of Boracay and Balesin Island, or even Puerto Galera in Mindoro and san Vicente in Palawan. the surf in Baler is better and runs on a longer coastline. still, santa Cruz has a better beach than acapulco or Cancun in Mexico. However, the waters of santa Cruz’s beaches are chilly like a melted block of ice even though on land the weather is balmy and the temperature hovers between 70 and 85 Fahrenheit ( 21 to 26 Celsius). *** I was in California for 11 days to “decompress”—to use the term by senator Greg Honasan.

He and his wife Jane were on the same Manila-san Francisco June 12 evening PaL flight where service was excellent and food was very good despite the 100 percent load factor.

Greg, who was a batchmate in our 1985 tOYM (led by senator Miriam Defensor santiago; the batch produced two senators and four Cabinet members), told me how senator Koko Pimentel seized the senate presidency.

Koko talked to the bloc of Greg and tito sotto, and the bloc of outgoing senate President Frank Drilon, to the chagrin of alan Peter Cayetano.

On the way to the Us, I got word that the Rotary Club of Manila has cited BizNewsAsia weekly business and newsmagazine as the Business Publication of the Year. the award, much coveted by newspapers, comes

at a propitious time.

Founded by me in 2001, BizNewsasia is celebrating its 15th year this year. We will have a big celebration this November. also planned is a book on the Philippines’ leading tycoons, taipans, entrepreneurs, and leaders written by me based on my interaction with them in my 46 years of covering business and politics. *** the late Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, who was a good friend, once told me that to complete his life, a man must sire a son (or a daughter), plant a tree, and write a book. they all live on after us, insuring a man a measure of immortality. the quote is not original. It came, according to Wikipedia, from the Jewish book of laws talmud.

I planted trees in the yard of my first house in BF Homes— tanguile, narra, mangoes in the 1970s and 1980s. I am in the process of planting trees on a 1,500-sqm farm in amuyong, Cavite, near tagaytay. My kumadre Loren Legarda promised to send me a truckload of fruit tree seedlings but has not secured the truck to deliver them.

I finish a 48-page business magazine and two columns every week, but I have never written a book. Children, trees, books. they complete one’s fatherhood. biznewsasia@gmail.com

China’s ‘gloBal’ CurrenCy goes loCal

By Christopher Balding Last week’s decision by MsCI not to include Chinese shares in its primary emerging-markets stock index has been viewed— widely and rightly—as a blow to China’s hopes of internationalizing its financial sector. there’s worse news, though: Even the progress China’s made thus far is in danger of going into reverse.

MsCI’s choice is a sharp contrast to the one made by the International Monetary Fund last December, when it promised to begin including the Chinese yuan in its basket of “special drawing rights.” the move essentially conferred global reserve status on the currency, despite the fact that China arguably didn’t meet the conditions for inclusion: It was debatable whether the yuan could be considered “freely usable,” and in any case, it was hardly used. at its peak in august 2015, the yuan accounted for 2.79 percent of global payments, compared to 44.8 percent for the Us dollar. the idea was that compromising now would encourage leaders in China to fulfill their pledges to liberalize the yuan

fully by 2020. In fact, since the IMF’s decision, the yuan has if anything grown less international, not more. since March 2015, yuan deposits in the three largest offshore centers—Hong Kong, taiwan and singapore— have fallen 16 percent, to a total of 1.24 trillion yuan or about $188 billion. the currency is being used in even fewer international transactions than before: Its share of global payments stood at 1.82 percent in april 2016. the fact that only a quarter of those international payments included a partner other than China or Hong Kong means that only about 0.5 percent of all yuan transactions are truly international in scope. this places the currency somewhere between those of scandinavian powerhouses Norway and Denmark.

Most telling is the fact that even Chinese companies don’t seem to want to use yuan when doing business abroad. Chinese bank receipts in yuan from international transactions peaked in august 2015 and have since declined nearly 60 percent.

Foreigners seem no more eager to hold and use the currency: Investment inflows—which indicate willingness to hold

Chinese assets—have fallen 38 percent this year compared to the same period in 2015, while foreign direct investment is down 15 percent. Investment by foreigners in Chinese securities has plunged 61 percent.

What’s going on? For foreigners, concerns about the Chinese economy and the unpredictable nature of policymaking in Beijing have outweighed China’s attempts to lure outside capital.

Institutional investors sending large amounts of money into and out of emerging markets understand the risks and volatility that come with the territory.

But the seemingly ad hoc way in which Chinese regulators have interfered with the stock market and the currency since last summer have spooked even veteran investors.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies remain concerned about a possible devaluation of the yuan —fears that were exacerbated after the government clumsily rolled out a new and uncomfortably opaque method of fixing the currency’s value last august. a cheaper yuan would make the dollar loans many firms have taken out much more expensive. so companies have been repaying those dollar debts and replacing

them with yuan-denominated bonds at home. The net effect has been to draw yuan back to the mainland from offshore centers such as Hong Kong. above all, though, China has itself to blame for the de-internationalization of its currency. Ever since its surprise devaluation last august, the central bank has been worried about the tendency of the offshore yuan—which is freely traded—to drift away from parity with its onshore cousin. to prevent traders from pushing the two values too far apart, the PBOC has had to intervene regularly,buying yuan offshore to prop up its value and repatriating it back to the mainland.

For Chinese policymakers, the alternative is unthinkable. they’d have to allow the yuan to weaken significantly and probably abandon its unofficial peg to the Uss dollar. this would further dampen foreign investment and unleash a flood of capital seeking to leave China, threatening liquidity in domestic banks and raising the risks of a financial crisis.

It’s hard to see China changing course. Even now, the central bank isselling 3 billion yuan worth of bonds in London, which will require more than

10 percent of the yuan available there and thus soak up even more offshore liquidity. Even joining the sDR basket at the end of this year will vacuum up almost 17 percent of all the yuan outside China.

Yet reversing course on internationalization has consequences, too. Unless the government eases its control over the yuan and lifts restrictions on capital mobility—which MsCI cited in deciding to exclude Chinese stocks from its index—companies and investors will remain reluctant to use and hold the currency.

Meanwhile, capital within the country will continue to be allocated inefficiently, sheltering companies from true international competition. China has set a date for opening its financial sector for good reason. this isn’t the time to change targets.

Bloomberg

to the point emil p. jurado Mr. Jurado’s column will resume tomorrow.

W e d n e s d ay: j u n e 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

ConfliCts

So I See LIto banayo Right after the Pacific War, when the Americans fashioned the Third Republic and installed a “democratic” government caricatured after their legal system, a home-grown insurgency grew out of the ashes of the war. American-recognized independence brought back to power the “ilustrado” class whom they co-opted from the Spanish colonizers. the “indios” once again felt cheated. their fathers and brothers were cannon fodder during the war. And now they inherit nothing. When their forefathers tore their cedulas and fought against Spain, their dream of liberation against the bondage of poverty was hijacked by the Americans and their elite conspirators among the ilustrados. Now that the Japanese were defeated and after so much of the indios’ blood was sacrificed at the altar of war, they were still in bondage. thus the hukbalahap movement. their leaders tried the parliamentary struggle. they won

a few seats in Central Luzon, borne upon the shoulders of the lumpen who thought they would at least have a voice in the new republic’s legislature. they were immediately disappointed. the new masters rejected their parliamentary victory. the few representatives they elected were denied their seats. thus did the grievances of the Left fester. And erupted into armed struggle.

Ramon Magsaysay “crushed” the back of the insurgency and arrested the Politburo. But the grievances merely simmered. the few who were fortunate enough to get homesteads in Mindanao were somewhat mollified, and the central government in Manila thought the problems were over. But not for very long.

Meanwhile, the central government also co-opted the Muslim royals by granting them economic concessions along with some participation in the political class dominated again by the ruling elite. those who resisted were subdued, with the 45 caliber pistol and a phalanx of military expeditions. And

not Gina... From A9 it is important that Duterte said he wanted to follow the Australian model for responsible mining. Like the US and Canada, Australia has very stringent laws on mining, which those three countries have allowed for many decades and allow to this very day. the Philippines, according to many international experts, also has very comprehensive and tough laws on mining, which can ensure the proper, safe and environment-friendly operation of local mines if they are implemented properly. What the local mining industry needs, therefore, is a good regulator and implementor of applicable laws, not an anti-mining activist like gina Lopez. i don’t know how Lopez was chosen to head up DENR, which was originally among the four Cabinet posts that Duterte said he would give to the leftists. What i do know is that the position was first offered to

#failocracy

they thought repression plus co-optation of the royals meant submission. Peace at a time, perhaps. But not for very long.

Soon enough, by the late sixties, secessionism reared its head among many Muslim tribes, whether in the islands or in central Mindanao. then, Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. the pretext was the lawlessness caused by the rebellion of the Left, exacerbated by secessionist movements in Mindanao.

For a full decade, with news blackouts as a result of the denial of free speech and free press, an uneasy “peace” seemed to calm the nerves of Luzon and the Visayas. Only because the truth was hidden from them. the painful truth was that the Muslim secessionist movement was not stilled, even if the war of attrition cost so many lives, both of Muslim rebels and the soldiers of the central government.

Neither was the fight against the rebellious Left stilled. in the mountains of Mindanao, in the hamlets of Negros and Panay, in Samar, and even in the Sierra

left-leaning Rep. Carlos Zarate, who turned it down.

But i take heart in the fact that Duterte has also been known to change his mind when he sees that he has made a mistake. this is why Duterte moved his spokesman-nominee, the combative and abrasive Salvador Panelo, to the less controversial position of presidential chief legal counsel.

Of course, he still hasn’t revoked the appointment of Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar as public works secretary, a nomination that has been described by many as akin to letting the fox guard the hen house. But Lopez’s appointment is even worse than Villar’s, in a sense; i think she intends to burn down not only the hen house, but the whole farm, as well. there is always room for someone like gina Lopez, anti-mining advocate, in society. But i don’t think she deserves the job of regulating an industry that she has long vowed to destroy.

Madre, they grew stronger.

We had become a conflicted nation, where brother fought brother in internecine struggles.

Liberation from Marcos brought a resurgence of hope.

Cory Aquino freed the political prisoners from the Left. She started negotiating with Nur Misuari and the MNLF. But once again, conflicts were not stilled.

Joseph Estrada tried to decimate the Muslim secessionists and got chucked victories in the battlefield, but instant gratification turned pyrrhic. the same victory turned into ouster a few months later, roiled by public anger against of all things— jueteng payola. the stalemate persisted throughout the Arroyo reign.

Peace talks were initiated, but no conclusive denouement.

And then came Benigno S. Aquino iii.

Peace talks once more, with more concessions added to what Arroyo offered the Muslim secessionists. it produced the Bangsamoro Basic Law, but even with his control of both houses of Congress, Aquino failed to

Flashpoint... From A9 stance that it only wants to protect the freedom of navigation in international sea lanes. if the United Nations cannot enforce the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in, the US might have the added burden of of playing the global policeman. the hague is expected to issue a ruling in a few weeks which many international observers expect would be unfavorable to China and will uphold the Philippine assertion of a 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea that mandates it for countries with coast lines. there’s a lot riding on Manila winning the case. More than the potential oil, gas and mineral resources under the South China Sea, there is also the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fishermen who have been deprived of their traditional fishing ground in Bajo de Masinloc off Zambales when the Chinese grabbed Scarborough Shoal

stem the tide of objections that came like a political tsunami after the ill-fated Mamasapano adventure.

Now comes Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Davao, the first president from Mindanao, the worst battleground of all these conflicts. A man determined to cut the gordian knot of the rebellion that has bloodied his Mindanao.

And who has decidedly shown sympathy towards the grievances of the Left, even identifying himself with their causes. he cannot fail. these conflicts must come to an end. And Duterte is determined to do it within his time.

But there is another looming conflict, this time external— our relations with China over the South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea) waters. it may be tricky, involving once again the mighty imperial United States of America. how will Rodrigo Roa Duterte resolve these three major conflicts, all at the same time?

Vamos a ver. this much we can be certain of: if anyone can do it, it has to be Duterte.

(Panatag Shoal). While we do not want (nor can we win) a shooting war with our giant neighbor, major treaty ally US might not take any Chinese aggression sitting down. More than the freedom of navigation for the world’s commercial cargo vessels that ply the SCS sea lanes, the US cannot afford to allow a rising China get even stronger if gets hold of the vast resources under the South China Sea. in essence it’s really a geopolitical decision for American action to counterbalance China’s ambition for dominance in the region.

Australia, South Korea and Japan— which has its own territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyo island in the East China Sea—welcome American presence and the US pivot to Asia. Malaysia, Vietnam and indonesia are also watching the outcome of the Philippine case in the hague. Expect these countries to follow suit and file their own respective cases against Beijing if and when Manila scores a legal victory.

chong ardivilla

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

World-class FIBA cast looms A WEEK before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, attention

by Filipino fans will not be solely on the Philippine national team but also on the other participating nations.

BaliPure, Air Force gear up vs Pocari Games today 1 p.m. – Bounty Fresh vs Navy (Spikers) 4 p.m. – Bali Pure vs Baguio (V-League) 6:30 p.m. – Air Force vs Iriga (V-League)

BALIPURE and Air Force prime up for their final elims match with unbeaten Pocari Sweat as they take on ousted Baguio and Iriga, respectively, today, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan.

The Water Defenders seek their fifth straight win after an opening game setback to the Jet Spikers as they tangle with the Summer Spikers at 4 p.m. with a victory likewise formalizing their stint in the Final Four of the season-opening conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Air Force, tied with BaliPure at 4-1 behind Pocari Sweat’s 5-0 slate, is also out to formalize its semis entry as it squares off with Iriga in the 6:30 p.m. main game of another twinbill aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23.

Led by Alyssa Valdez’ 20-point effort, Bali Pure turned back Laoag, 28-26, 25-23, 25-17, while Air Force overcame National U, 2325, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8, in their last matches.

BaliPure is out to nail another win for the momentum and confidence it needs when it goes up against Pocari on Saturday while the Jet Spikers will take their turn on the Lady Warriors on Monday at the close of the single round elims of the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.

Dustin Johnson of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on June 19, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. AFP

Johnson climbs to world’s no. 3 OA K MON T—D u s t i n Johnson is up to a career best third in the world rankings on the back of his US Open win, passing Rory McIlroy and to all intents and purposes turning the ‘Big Three’ into the ‘Big Four’.

At 31, the American belongs to a different decade than the three others -- world number one Jason Day is 28, number two Jordan Spieth is 22 and McIlroy 22 -- but he

is close enough to them in age to be considered as their peer.

Long seen as one of the finest talents in golf, his brittleness at the majors, where he had 11 top 10 finishes dating back to 2009, was a black mark against his name.

Now with Sunday’s superb, battling win at Oakmont, when even a contentious rules fiasco down the back nine could not derail him, his

resolve and nerve cannot be called into question.

Many, like Ryder Cup partner Jim Furyk, believe that great things lie ahead for Johnson in the next 10 years.

“I love the talent and skills,” Furyk said prior to Oakmont. “Dustin is explosive. It’s been a lot of just not knocking in putts at the right time. It could happen soon, and when it does, he could be off to the races and win

three majors in four or five years.”

The player himself is known as being one of the less expansive in terms of communication skills, but his relief at overturning a fourstroke deficit to win by three was palpable.

“I think it’s well deserved. After everything that I’ve been through in the majors. I’ve knocked on the door a bunch of times,” he said. AFP

National poomsae tourney lures 1,500 taekwondo jins

Shown above are the Filipino Asian gold medalists in the team event, namely, Glenn Lava, Ernesto Guzman Jr. and Jean Pierre Sabido (from left), who are expected to show their wares in the national competition.

AROUND 1,500 taekwondo practitioners from various regions are expected to vie for honors in the 2016 PLDT Home Ultera/MVP Sports Foundation National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on July 26 at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Four events – individual colored belts and Blackbelt, free style and synchronized – will be disputed in the one-day event sponsored

by SMART Communications Inc., MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Tourism Promotion Board and Meralco Foundation.

Participants will represent their respective chapters including regions like ARMM, CAR, CARAGA and NCR. Among the chapters which will send their respective athletes are Central Gymnasium, Powerflex, Ateneo, San Sebastian College, University of the Philippines, San Beda College, De La

Salle Zobel, De La Salle University, More, Obelisk Gymnasium, Team Baguio, Pangasinan, Cebu, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, UTA, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Poomsae (forms) shows different attack and defense techniques against imaginary opponents. Through the event, one gets to understand and practice every aspect of martial art like basic technique, breathing control, balance, coordination and concentration.

Through poomsae, mind and body can work together to achieve perfection of various techniques in taekwondo.

Filipinos have been considered one of the top contenders in the sport. In the last Asian poomsae championships in April, the Philippines bagged a gold medal in the male team event.

Save for New Zealand, every other team is stocked with players from the NBA and from the various professional European leagues.

The Philippines’ first opponent, France, will have a couple of top tier NBA players in the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker and the Charlotte Hornets’ Nicolas Batum.

But local cage fans will want to keep an eye out for point guard Nando De Colo who is a former San Antonio Spur but is now playing for CSKA Moscow. The 6’5” De Colo has been tabbed to be France’s next leader.

New Zealand, the Philippines’ other opponent in Group B, might be devoid of any NBA players (since Oklahoma City Thunder Steven Adams is not in uniform) but they do have 6’9” center Isaac Fotu and 6’4” small forward Tai Webster to lead the Tall Blacks.

Canada is another team that will bear watching. They are supposed to be one of the heavily favored sides but with the non-participation of key players like Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Nik Stauskas, among others, their chances of booking a ticket to Rio has taken a huge hit.

Although coach Jay Triano and team manager Steve Nash are hoping that some of their veterans will change their minds, right now Team Canada will be led by Corey Joseph who is Kyle Lowry’s primary back-up at the Toronto Raptors. They will also count on Dillon Brooks, who starred for the University of Oregon, the alma mater of former pros Luke Jackson (Philadelphia 76ers), current Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks, and former Talk ’N Text import Ivan Johnson.

Senegal will be led by 6’9” forward Maurice N’Dour, who plays for Spanish basketball champions, Real Madrid, and 6’11” forwardcenter Ibrahima Thomas who is a strong inside operator.

WE DN E S DAY : J UN E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A13

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Red Lions seek to reclaim title

Import search continues for Talk ‘N Text, Phoenix

By Peter Atencio

By Jeric Lopez

GETTING back the crown they lost last season to the Letran Knights is in the hearts and minds of the San Beda Red Lions these days.

This was revealed by team skipper Roldan Sara, who is in his final season with the Red Lions in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament, which starts on June 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“It’s a very exciting season. We’re out to reclaim the crown. This is redemption for us,” said Sara during a meeting with scribes following a morning workout at the school gymnasium yesterday.

Sara describes the Jamike Jarin-coached Red Lions as a hungrier and faster team this year after they underwent training in the United States two months ago.

“I can see in our training that we are a hungrier and faster,” added Sara.

A younger set of eight players is currently in the roster, with Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun and Ryusei Koga graduating this year. Baser Amer and Arthur dela Cruz moved on to play in the PBA. Players from Team B have made it to Team A, such as Javee Mocon, Jose Mari Presbiterio, Ranbill Tongco, Alfred Sedillo and Donald Tankoua.

Arnaud Noah, a 6’1” guard and 2014 NCAA All-Star slam dunk champion, who will back Tankoua, and Fil-Am shooter Davon Potts, are expected to come off the bench.

THE search for the right import for the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup continues for both Phoenix and Talk ‘N Text.

With less than a month to go before the seasonending conference starts on July 15, the Fuel Masters and the Tropang Texters are the only two teams left without regular reinforcements.

Both squads were unfortunate with their initial choices as circumstances didn’t allow them to push through.

Talk ‘N Text actually landed a deal with highprofile National Basketball Association veteran Jason Maxiell, a former longtime Detroit Piston.

However, the bulky Maxiell went over the 6’5” height limit when he was officially measured at 6’5 11/16” last Friday at the PBA office, making him ineligible to play for the Texters.

As for Phoenix, its top choice DeAndre Liggins opted not to sign the offer sheet after weeks of negotiations, leaving the Fuel Masters to remain without a reinforcement.

While Phoenix and Talk ‘N Text still doesn’t have regular imports, both already have their respective Asian imports.

Tropang TNT took in Michael Madanly, a balik-Asian import who played for NLEX last season, from Syria, while Phoenix tapped Korean hotshot Lee Kwan Hee. Here are the official imports, most of them familiar faces, of the other 10 teams

for the upcoming third conference: LaDontae Henton (Alaska), Paul Harris (Barangay Ginebra), Eric Dawson (Blackwater), Dominique Sutton (GlobalPort), James White (Mahindra), Allen Durham (Meralco), Henry Walker (NLEX), Dior Lowhorn (Rain or Shine), Arizona Reid (San Miguel Beer), Star (Marqus Blakely).

Eight of those 10 imports are balik-imports, namely: Harris, Dawson, Sutton, Durham, Walker, Lowhorn, Reid and Blakely.

The last two were former Best Import awardees and are the resident imports of their respective teams.

Sharapova lawyer blasts WADA chief

NEW YORK—Maria Sharapova’s attorney John Haggerty hit out at World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) head Craig Reedie for comments he made about the Russian tennis star’s earnings.

Speaking at a WADA symposium in London on Monday, Reedie complained that his organisation’s yearly budget of $30 million (26.5 million euros) was potentially less than Sharapova’s annual earnings.

But that brought a furious rebuke from Haggerty.

“The statement made today by the WADA president is unprofessional,” said the attorney in a statement.

“Justice, whether in the eyes of WADA or a court, must be blind, including being blind to a player’s earnings. AFP

Smart’s #ILoveCleanSarBay campaign include the 3rd Swim-Run-Bike for the Environment at the SarBay Fest. Participating tri-athletes planted mangroves in the coastal areas of Sarangani Bay prior to the event.

Swim-Run-Bike for Environment highlights Sarangani Bay Festival PLDT’s mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, together with the provincial government of Sarangani, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Sarangani Province Empowerment and Community Transformation Forum, Inc., supported the Sarangani Bay Festival, an annual event which aims to promote environmental awareness and protection of the 230-kilometer stretch of shoreline that is home to diverse marine life.

The biggest part of the #ILoveCleanSarBay campaign was the 3rd Swim-Run-Bike for the Environment.

The challenging triathlon course was designed to showcase the beautiful waters, lush hills and immaculate sandy beaches of Sarangani.

“As a tri-athlete, you get to connect with Mother Nature because you swim in the open sea, you bike and run where you can appreciate nature,” Esteban “Jong” Co Jr., organizer from Body Kinetix said.

The course started more-or-less 8 kilometer swim, 30-km semi-uphill bike race, and 8-km run on the beautiful white sands of Sarangani Bay. Jonard Saim from Polomolok, South Cotabato, and a member of the Philippine National Triathlon Team said the course was the second hardest course nationwide.

“Isa ito sa pinaka-mahirap na course sa buong Pilipinas kasi malakas yung current,” according to Saim. (This is one of the hardest course in the Philippines

because the current is strong.)

Saim finished first for the over-all male category while Noemi Galeos won first place for the over-all female category.

Rodmark Bustamante finished first for the Male 24 years old and below, while Geoffrey Dionisio bagged the gold for the Male 25-34 year old category. Vincent Fulgueras and Michael Enriquez both took the first place for the Male 35-40 year old and the Male 45 year old category, respectively, While the team of Annika Gregorio, Junrey Navara and Larry Guillermo took the win for the Standard Distance – Relay.

SPECTRUM was also able to get hundreds of Bakawan or Mangroves with the help of Smart’s #ILoveCleanSarBay

campaign. Sarbay citizens who bought Bakawan or Mangrove got a chance to win Smart t-shirts, board shorts and other Smart summer gear.

During the same day, Smart also helped restock the local Bangus (Milkfish) population in Sarangani Bay by releasing 10,000 Bangus fingerlings into the bay with the help of SarBay citizens.

The Bangus fingerlings were donated by the Alcantara Foundation. The Alcantara foundation’s mother company is one of the biggest producer of quality Bangus fingerling in the country.

Coastal clean-up Smart also organized a coastal cleanup at the end of the SarBay fest week as an integral part of the #ILoveCleanSarBay campaign.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Lifesavers smother Corvettes in PSL

GENERIKA announced its return with a bang as it smothered Standard InsuranceNavy, 28-26, 26-28, 25-20, 25-19 last night in the 2016 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Featuring a medley of collegiate stars, the Lifesavers pounced hard on the Corvettes in the third and fourth sets en route to their

first win in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Asics, Grand Sports, Mikasa, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcaster.

University of Santo Tomas stars Chloe Cortez and Ria Meneses were impressive, while Shaya Adorador of University of the East, Gen Casugod of Far Eastern University and former La Salle hotshot Wensh Tiu also submitted glowing numbers for the Lifesavers, who clinched the 2014 All-Filipino crown before taking a one-year leave of absence.

Cortez was a solid force at

the net, deliveroff the deciding Games Thursday ing 11 kills and set with a 9-1 4 p.m. – Generika vs Foton 6 p.m. – Amy’s Kitchen five blocks for blast to wrap up vs F2 Logistics a game-high the match.

17 points while “Yes, I have Casugod, Tiu and Meneses a team of college stars, but chipped in 13, 11 and 10 hits, the challenge here is how respectively, to underscore to make them work as one Generika’s well-oiled offen- solid unit. Of course, they sive attack. have their respective men“Our height advantage tors and different philososurfaced in the fourth set,” phy, so the challenge here is said Generika coach Francis how I will make them work Vicente, whose wards kicked as one.”

Vicente also lauded the leadership of Rubie de Leon, who tossed in 34 excellent sets.

“She is our veteran leader inside the court. That’s why she’s here.”

Pau Soriano tallied 10 markers while Lilet Mabbayad had nine for the Corvettes, who joined opening-day losers Cignal and Foton at the bottom of the eight-team roster.

Lifter Colonia earns Rio berth

By Peter Atencio WEIGHTLIFTER Nestor Colonia became the eighth confirmed Filipino qualifier to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Joey Romasanta, Philippine chef de mission to the Rio Games, got a confirmation Tuesday from the International Weightlifting Federation.

The Budapest-based IWF told Philippine sports authorities in a letter that Colonia has earned a quota place in the 56-kg men’s category.

“Nestor Colonia’s confirmation as a Rio 2016 qualifier is a fitting reward to Colonia’s determined efforts to be among the world’s best,” said Romasanta.

He joins lady lifter Hidilyn Diaz, who is entered in the 53-kg side.

Diaz has also been given a a quota place in the women’s division.

She is now in China with Colonia and national coach Dondon Aldanete, training at the Fujian Sports Center with the best Chinese lifters and world-class coaches.

Other sure Rio entries include golfer Miguel Tabuena, sprinter Eric Cray, long distance runner Mary Joy Tabal, table tennis player Ian Lariba, taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora, and boxers Roger Ladon and Charly Suarez.

The POC is still awaiting the confirmation on the status of golfer Angelo Que, and swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi, Roxanne Yu, Joshua Hall and Jessie Khing Lacuna.

Colonia got a bronze in the clean-and-jerk of the 56 kg category in the world championships in Houston last year. But this did not earn him a quota place.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

A15 LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Donaire trains daily

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Baron Giesler (left) and Kiko Matos put up a fighting stance at the PSA Forum. At center is URCC’s Alvin Aguilar. EY ACASIO

Geisler-Matos duel steals limelight from main card NO punches were thrown when warring actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos graced the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday to drum up interest for the URCC Fight Night on Saturday at the Valkyrie Night Club.

Geisler and Matos, who recently figured in a bar brawl in Quezon City, have agreed to settle their differences in the next URCC card and have been training hard under the guidance of experts.

The controversial Geisler, younger brother of 1998 Asian Games silver medalist and twotime Olympian Donald Geisler of taekwondo, was also into tae-

kwondo since he was six or seven years old.

Matos, on the other hand, is more familiar with jujitsu but said he’s been working on mixed martial arts the past few weeks since the fight was sealed.

Alvin Aguilar, the URCC head, expects a decent fight from Geisler and Matos, and hoped that by the end of the day they could bury their differ-

Cards....

From A16

As they welcome the return of underrated guard Andrew Estrella and 6’4” Rennel Magboo, a more aggressive Isit can be expected this coming season as he plans on stepping up his game to better lead his teammates and boost their offense and defense.

Meanwhile, head coach Randy Alcantara

ences, “share a drink and give to charity.”

The exhibition match between Geisler and Matos is expected to steal the limelight from the main bout between Chris Hofmann and Arvin Chan. The main supporting bouts will feature John Adajar against Jericho Tomagan, and Eddie Estrada against MJ Abrillo.

Also on tap are fights between Jued Castillo and Von Darbon Prado; EF Sevilla and John Gonzales; Ferdinand Batac and Arjay Bongala; Benjie Tabaranza and Rodian Mechavez; and Rommel Lugo and Ariel Lampacan.

Geisler and Matos traded dagger looks and harsh words

landed the Red Robins eight new assets in addition to the junior team’s key players.

With headstrong rookies and veterans teaming up, the Red Robins have a revitalized firepower inside the court.

Michael Enriquez took center stage during the previous season and was hailed MVP. “I think we are more ready now. We are hungrier for championship,” said Alcantara. “I always remind them to condition

during the forum at Shakey’s Malate and presented by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, and during a brief stare down in front of photographers there was taunting between the two.

While he said he has the experience in taekwondo, Geisler said he worked on his boxing skills as he trained for the fight, and vowed to take his opponent out.

Matos said he can’t predict the outcome of the fight.

“It’s too soon to predict. All I can say is that I cannot be too confident because the opponent is good. Pinaghandaan ko ito (I trained for this),” he said.

themselves and to train hard.”

He also commended his squad’s teamwork, with a performance level of 15 to 20 assists per game.

“I like how the team plays, but of course I still give them constant reminders,” he added. “I always tell them to play as one.”

Both the junior and senior basketball teams made it to the previous season’s Final Four race, intending to soar higher this time and finally clinch the elusive titles.

PCSO Silver Cup on Sunday THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE RUBEN Dimacuha’s Low Profile and Joseph Dyhengco’s Dixie Gold, both 5YO colts, are expected to bear the brunt of the battle in Sunday’s (June 26) 2,000-meter Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Silver Cup at Santa Ana Park.

Low Profile, to be guided by Mark Alvarez, and Dixie Gold, partnered with Rodeo Fernandez, placed second and third respectively in last year’s PCSO

Silver Cup won by longshot Skyway at Metroturf.

Lawyer Narciso Morales is fielding coupled entries – 5YO colt Messi (with jockey JA Guce) and 4YO filly Superv (JB Bacaycay, a Triple Crown leg winner).

Not to be discounted are Benhur Abalos’s 4YO filly Gentle Strength (JB Hernandez), Benjamin Abalos III’s 5YO colt Kanlaon, and Ferdinand Eusebio’s 5YO colt Tan Goal (JB Guce).

All colts will carry 55.5 kgs. and fillies 54 kgs.

Previous PCSO Silver Cup winners include such stalwarts as Pugad Lawin (2014), Hagdang Bato (2013), and Magna Carta (2012).

The race was established in

1995 and was first run at the old Santa Ana Park in Makati City.

The first winner was Ochie Santos’s Pay D’Clay, ridden by Joe Noel D. Camu and trained by Juanito A. Macaraig.

Another PCSO Silver Cup fact: three horses have won it twice, Streets of Gold in 1998 and 2000, Wind Blown in 2001 and 2002, and Real Spicy in 2006 and 2008. *** The entries for the PCSO July 16 special maiden race open for 2YO now have their assigned jockeys: lawyer Narciso Morales’s colt Stravinsky will be ridden by JB Hernandez; Nicomedes Cruz’s colt Amazing Cole, JB Cordova;

Joseph Dyhengco’s colt Street Sign, AP Asuncion; Leonardo Javier Jr.’s filly Foolish Princess, JT Zarate; Mario Morales’s filly Magic Wallet, MV Pilapil; and Jade Bros. Farm’s colt Kid Solis, CP Henson.

This being a set-weight handicap race, all colts will carry 54 kgs. and fillies 52 kgs. The race distance is 1,200 meters, and the trial race will be held July 1 at Santa Ana Park. First place is P600,000, with corresponding prizes up to third place, and a purse of P50,000 for the winning breeder. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @gogirlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember

FIVE-DIVISION world champion and current World Boxing Organization super bantamweight king Nonito Donaire Jr. “is in the gym daily, training and his weight is down,” according to his wife Rachel.

The Filipino champ tends to put on several pounds in-between fights, forcing him to often reduce six pounds on the eve of the official weigh-in.

In an overseas telephone conversation with The Standard, Rachel said they don’t know whether the mandatory title defense against unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno will take place in Manila or somewhere else, neither do they know whether the fight will take place in September or October.

ABS-CBN’s consultant for sports Peter Musgni said the tentative dates for the Donaire title defense are Sept. 17 or Oct. 1 and that the fight will be held in Manila should the major sponsor reportedly in negotiations with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum seals a deal.

Donaire is coming off an easy TKO win over former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak before a crowd of 25,000 at the Cebu Sports Center following a brutal encounter against Mexico’s Cesar Juarez, winning a lopsided decision in Puerto Rico after dropping Juarez twice in the fourth round.

Magdaleno (22-0, 16 KO’s) earlier told boxing writer Steve Kim: “I would love a crack at Donaire next. I’ve been waiting for a while and now that he (Nonito) has a WBO title, I want it even more.”

Explosive ICTSI golf start looms ANTIPOLO—Clyde Mondilla and Tony Lascuña drew early tee-times in what promises to be an explosive start for the Philippine Golf Tour aces seeking a third leg victory in the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship which gets going Wednesday at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club here.

Mondilla, back-to-back winner at Eastridge and Calatagan, gets a favorable teeoff time at 7:10 a.m. on No. 1 but drew two tough rivals in Jay Bayron and Jobim Carlos while Lascuña, who ran away with the Luisita crown last April and foiled Mondilla’s threestraight title bid at Eagle Ridge, kicks off his campaign two flight behind at 7:30 a.m. withJoenard Rates and Dutch Guido Van der Valk.

“I feel good and I like my chances here,” said Lascuña, who still took part in yesterday’s pro-am despite coming off a joint 11th place finish at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand last Sunday.

The 46-year-old former three-time PGT Order of Merit winner has stressed the need to re-familiarize himself with the rolling par72 layout in anticipation of a fierce challenge from the rest of the 77-player field chasing the top P360,000 purse in the eighth leg of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized

by Philippine Golf Tournaments Inc. “It will be anybody’s race but a good start is key to build some momentum. The course istough but with the right approach, one can still score low here,” said Lascuña, who thwarted Mondilla, Bayron and Orlan Sumcad then held off Japanese Ryoma Miki to snare a one-stroke win at Eagle Ridge early this month.

A16

W E D N E S DAY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 16 RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

James earns place among legends LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers raises the NBA championship trophy during the 2016 NBA Finals awarding ceremonies at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

OAKLAND—LeBron James ensured his place among the NBA’s all-time legends by leading the Cleveland Cavaliers in the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history and has made a solid case for being the greatest player ever.

The 31-year-old forward scored 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and passed out 11 assists to power Cleveland’s 93-89 victory over defending champion Golden State in game seven of the NBA Finals.

With size, strength and speed that enable him to muscle his way to the hoop and finesse as a passer to make teammates a threat from anywhere on the court, James has made himself the dominant player of his era, reaching the NBA Finals

With a great training regimen and a new team captain, the Mapúa Cardinals are working harder to improve their game in the upcoming NCAA season.

six years in a row.

Michael Jordan pushed the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s with remarkable athletic skill and determination, setting the “best ever” standard for many fans over such icons as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Boston Celtics 1960s big man Bill Russell won a record 11 NBA titles in an era of domination no team is likely to repeat, while Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal both excelled but often with help, some-

times from each other.

But James unleashed a magical comeback in the past week unseen in the NBA’s 70-year history.

No team had ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the best-of-seven NBA Finals until he lifted the Cavaliers to deliver the NBA’s greatest shocker, ending his city’s 52-year wait for a major sports champion.

James matched Johnson, O’Neal and Tim Duncan as threetime NBA Finals most valuable players. Only Jordan with six has more. Calling that group “the greatest to ever do it,” James was tearful about his place in the conversation with them.

“I’m going to be in awe,” he said. “It’s going to be like being at a Beyonce concert. I’m going to be like this,” he added, adopting

a starstruck expression.

Having unleashed back-toback 41-point performances at the Warriors to lift the Cavaliers from a 3-1 deficit in the best-ofseven series, James delivered perhaps the greatest clutch effort in NBA Finals history, joining Jerry West and James Worthy with the only game seven “triple doubles” in NBA Finals history.

“You put everything into the game. The game always gives back to people that are true to the game,” James said. “I know the history of the game and I was just confident and calm.”

The Cavaliers ousted an ultimate foe that won a record 73 regularseason games and boasted the NBA’s top scorer and two-time most valuable player in Stephen Curry.

James was an unprecedented leader in every major finals statistical area, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocked shots a game.

James touched off jubilation that continued on Monday when he and the team landed at the Cleveland airport, displaying the championship trophy to more than 20,000 wellwishers. The party is set to continue Wednesday with a victory parade for the ages.

Crying tears of joy in the moments after the title was decided revived memories of Jordan’s tearful finish of the 1996 final. Both came on Father’s Day and for Jordan it was the first title since the 1993 death of his dad. AFP

Cards, Robbins eye better NCAA finish WITH a steadfast basketball system and firm coaches, Mapúa Institute of Technology is entering its 92nd National Collegiate Athletics Association junior and senior division stints on a good note.

Despite the exit of most of their key players after they have finished their studies at the institute, the Mapúa Cardinals have high hopes for the upcoming NCAA basket-

ball tourney to open on June 25 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Intramuros squad still has Allwell Oraeme, who turned the tables for Mapúa last season, as he provided a strong interior presence with his rebounds and blocked shots.

Oraeme previously copped both the Most Valuable Player and Top Rookie awards in a rare feat and will serve

as one of the Cardinals’ frontliners.

Head coach Atoy Co considers the 6’8” Nigerian import as one of the team’s major strengths.

Co is also confident with Mapúa’s basketball system, which the coaching staff has been adamantly implementing, saying that the team has a pretty good defensive scheme.

“In college teams, you do not just play basketball.

There has to be a system,” said Co. “And I think that if we embrace this system wholeheartedly, we have more chances of winning games.”

The Cardinals’ new team captain CJ Isit further noted that the coaches have come up with a great training regimen, pushing them to work harder especially in the areas where they need to improve.

Continued to A15

B1

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 22, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PCCI backs special powers

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is fully supporting the calls of several sectors to grant special powers to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to solve the transportation crisis.

“We fully support the position of granting special powers to [President) Duterte to solve the traffic problems of Metro Manila,” PCCI chairman Emeritus Francis Chua said Tuesday.

He said Duterte with his political will “can just proceed to exercise his Presidential powersw while waiting for special powers from Congress.”

The chamber has been critical of the port congestion that af-

fected the flow of traffic within the metropolis and caused the slowdown of the movement of exports and imports, especially export-oriented companies inside the economic zones.

It came up with a 12-point set of resolution during the 41st Philippine Business Conference and Expo in October 2015 for adoption by the incoming government.

One of the resolution centers on

logistics.

The PCCI, whose members include exporters and importers, supported the shift of cargo traffic from Manila to Subic and Batangas ports to prevent another congestion. It also asked both the national government and local government units to coordinate traffic regulations on trucks to avoid congestion.

The Makati Business Club, meanwhile, said the MBC Philippines was near transportation crisis that needed urgent action and solutions.

MBC said if the solutions to address the transport crisis required emergency powers, it was prepared to support well-defined emergency roles for the transport sector, as long as they were

specific, limited and timebound.

They should also he anchored on a solid national policy and complemented by a strong system of accountability.

“We strongly believe that inclusive, people-oriented mobility and transparency must be the guiding principles that all policies and projects arising from these emergency powers will follow, and that the private sector and civil society should be provided with a substantial role in implementation and monitoring,” MBC said.

It noted the surge in the demand for mobility, as seen by the increasing number of motor vehicles on the road and more domestic and international trips for social, business or tourism purposes.

PSe comPoSite index Closing June 21, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,767.23 101.90

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing June 21, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.380

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.320 LOW P46.390 AVERAGE P46.368 VOLUME 428.350M

P427.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.35-P43.45 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P24.75-P29.60 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, June 21, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate

‘Balik Eskwela’ fair. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (second from right) and Trade capital region officer-in-charge and director Emma Asu-

sano (second from left) check items displayed at the Diskwento Caravan Balik Eskwela Edition on June 13 to 15, 2016 at the main lobby of the Quezon City Hall. The Department of Trade and Industry conducted the fair, aimed at providing consumers access to basic and prime commodities, especially school supplies, at discounted prices ranging from 10 to 70 percent. The products include food items, school supplies, uniforms, shoes and other school-related merchandise.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.3630

Japan

Yen

0.009623

0.4462

UK

Pound

1.470400

68.1722

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128864

5.9745

Switzerland

Franc

1.039717

48.2044

Canada

Dollar

0.781067

36.2126

Singapore

Dollar

0.744768

34.5297

Australia

Dollar

0.745700

34.5729

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651816

122.9461

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.3671

Brunei

Dollar

0.742005

34.4016

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028433

1.3182

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.6240

Euro

Euro

1.131800

52.4736

Korea

Won

0.000863

0.0400

China

Yuan

0.151976

7.0461

India

Rupee

0.014806

0.6865

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246184

11.4138

New Zealand

Dollar

0.711900

33.0058

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031017

1.4380 Source: PDS Bridge

Duterte to study tax reforms, other business sector’s proposals

By Gabrielle H. Binaday DAVAO CITY—President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday agreed to review the recommendations submitted by businessmen, including comprehensive tax reforms.

About 450 businessmen went to this city and joined the Sulong Pilipinas business consultation forum, which generated hundreds of recommendations based on the incoming administration’s 10-point economic agenda.

“I assure [you] we will study

and review it. It’s just a matter of doing it,” Duterte told the businessmen.

The businessmen and entrepreneurs, who attended the two-day forum, pushed for the adoption of a comprehensive tax reform program, including the expansion of the value added tax and the simplification of tax payments by micro-, small- and medium- enterprises.

They also suggested the reduction of the corporate, personal and capital gains tax rates.

“The tax rates may be pegged with Hong Kong and Singapore

or even down to the Asean neighbors and make a little lower to attract investors,” Mindanao Business Club president George Lau said, referring to the collective recommendations.

The businessmen want to increase excise taxes by expanding the definition of luxury goods to compensate for the expected deficit resulting from reduced income tax rates.

Participants in the forum also cited need for a national ID system to allow government agencies to provide more targeted social services and prevent dou-

ble-counting or leakage.

“The system is expected to improve access health, education, food, shelter and conditional cash transfer programs, aside from enhancing peace and order,” they said.

Third on the list was the call for the automation and streamlining of processes at the local and national levels to reduce processing time for permits and bottlenecks in land titling.

Other suggestions to cut red tape were expansion of the “single window” concept, extension of validity for various licenses and

use of “negative confirmation” for government approvals.

Amending the existing telecommunication law or Republic Act 7925 should be prioritized, along with the passage of a law to regulate wireless/mobile internet services to make the country competitive with Asean neighbors, according to the businessmen.

“To ensure enhanced connectivity, workshop participants recommended the creation of internet cooperatives in far-flung areas similar to existing electric coops,” they said.

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 22, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Tuesday, June 21, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 89 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5.25 12.98 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 40.3 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.87 8.45 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 6.66 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 2.99 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 3.52 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 0.550 2.26 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.86 3.78 46.1 45.95 110.10 108.70 97.50 97.00 38.25 37.85 1.39 1.36 14.2 13.98 18.46 18.16 6.94 6.80 1.8 1.77 595.00 595.00 0.550 0.540 89.5 88.5 0.92 0.91 15.04 14.94 23.00 23.00 56.50 53.90 410 310 262.8 261 32.4 31.95 203 201.6 1380.00 1374.00 65.40 65.20 1.52 1.52 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

46.25 47 46.35 Agrinurture Inc. 3.78 3.85 3.7 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.83 0.83 0.81 Alsons Cons.

2.01 2.15 1.98 Asiabest Group 12.38 12.38 12 Bogo Medelin 55.4 55.1 55.1 C. Azuc De Tarlac 189.00 190.00 172.00 Century Food 21.4 21.6 21.35 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 195 195 184.2 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 16.72 17.38 16.56 Concepcion 47.3 47.2 46.1 Crown Asia 2.17 2.28 2.07 Da Vinci Capital 5.21 5.21 5.17 Del Monte 11.3 11.46 11.3 DNL Industries Inc. 9.650 9.900 9.690 Emperador 7.21 7.35 7.26 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.29 5.43 5.34 EEI 7.74 7.85 7.68 Euro-Med Lab 1.72 1.72 1.72 First Gen Corp.

22.5 23.05 22.7 First Holdings ‘A’ 64.1 64.85 64.2 12.00 12.00 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.00 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.80 15.02 14.82 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.55 5.59 5.49 Ionics Inc 2.300 2.340 2.300 Jollibee Foods Corp.

238.00 239.40 230.00 Liberty Flour 33.00 32.55 32.55 LMG Chemicals 1.86 1.85 1.84 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.29 3.35 3.35 Macay Holdings 38.65 38.70 38.70 Manila Water Co. Inc. 27.1 27.05 27.05 Maxs Group 28.3 28.5 27.9 Megawide 6.6 6.6 6.52 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 322.80 324.80 322.80 MG Holdings 0.270 0.265 0.265 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.4 3.45 3.38 Petron Corporation 11.60 11.64 11.48 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.20 6.27 6.15 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.73 1.73 1.70 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.8 2.79 2.73 RFM Corporation 4.24 4.21 4.18 Roxas Holdings 4.17 4.15 4.01 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 216 216 216 Splash Corporation 2.5 2.57 2.5 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.148 0.149 0.147 TKC Steel Corp.

1.63 1.65 1.60 Trans-Asia Oil 2.50 2.51 2.47 Universal Robina 204.6 207 204.8 Victorias Milling 4.65 4.71 4.52 Vitarich Corp.

0.91 0.92 0.88 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.27 1.27 1.25 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.385 0.385 0.370 Aboitiz Equity 73.50 75.40 73.50 Alliance Global Inc. 15.70 15.88 15.76 Anglo Holdings A 1.16 1.14 1.12 Anscor `A’ 6.27 6.28 6.10 ATN Holdings A 0.365 0.370 0.355 ATN Holdings B 0.375 0.355 0.355 Ayala Corp `A’ 841 853.5 840 Cosco Capital 7.85 8 7.9 DMCI Holdings 12.84 12.94 12.86 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.08 5.1 5.07 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

6.48 6.48 6.40 Forum Pacific 0.225 0.225 0.225 GT Capital 1445 1505 1447 House of Inv. 6.34 6.46 6.31 JG Summit Holdings 84.35 85.80 84.45 Keppel Holdings `A’ 5.6 5.81 5.23 Keppel Holdings `B’ 5.6 7.26 5.6 Lopez Holdings Corp.

7.52 7.59 7.42 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.72 0.7 LT Group 15.56 15.66 15.5 6.64 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 6.67 6.91 Pacifica `A’ 0.0320 0.0320 0.0320 Prime Orion 1.840 1.840 1.810 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.63 2.63 2.51 San Miguel Corp `A’ 78.85 79.00 78.30 SM Investments Inc. 982.00 998.00 984.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.15 1.18 1.14 South China Res. Inc. 0.80 0.80 0.80 Top Frontier 188.000 190.000 184.800 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3100 0.3100 0.3100 Wellex Industries 0.2020 0.2010 0.1970 Zeus Holdings 0.320 0.315 0.300 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.660 7.660 7.450 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.40 7.39 7.30 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.28 1.30 1.25 Araneta Prop `A’ 2.160 2.230 2.170 Ayala Land `B’ 39.550 40.300 39.500 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.31 3.38 3.33 Cebu Holdings 5.13 5.17 5.15 Century Property 0.500 0.51 0.495 City & Land Dev. 1.05 1.06 1.01 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.070 1.030 1.030 Crown Equities Inc. 0.138 0.139 0.135 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.620 0.680 0.620 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

Close

SHARES 15,363,145 97,952,368 124,353,887 252,395,759 229,304,183 1,241,676,281 1,967,397,139

3.88 45.5 108.60 97.10 37.9 1.40 14.2 18.14 7.00 1.85 595.00 0.560 88 0.92 15.00 23.00 53.90 437 261 32 199.9 1374.00 65.20 1.52

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.82 46 110.00 97.20 38.1 1.38 13.98 18.16 6.93 1.8 595.00 0.550 89 0.91 15.04 23.00 56.35 410 261.8 32.2 203 1374.00 65.20 1.52

-1.55 1.10 1.29 0.10 0.53 -1.43 -1.55 0.11 -1.00 -2.70 0.00 -1.79 1.14 -1.09 0.27 0.00 4.55 -6.18 0.31 0.63 1.55 0.00 0.00 0.00

72,000 7,000 3,561,800 864,140 108,800 41,000 5,400 545,600 11,400 9,000 220 223,000 8,594,980 20,000 71,800 3,400 406,720 90 10,080 281,900 469,730 110 47,340 7,000

46.9 3.79 0.83 2.1 12.32 55.1 190.00 21.45 184.2 17.38 46.1 2.1 5.2 11.32 9.900 7.33 5.37 7.75 1.72 22.9 64.65 12.00 15.00 5.5 2.320 230.00 32.55 1.84 3.35 38.70 27.1 28.2 6.54 322.80 0.265 3.44 11.52 6.22 1.72 2.74 4.20 4.15 216 2.53 0.147 1.61 2.48 205.6 4.71 0.88 1.26

1.41 0.26 0.00 4.48 -0.48 -0.54 0.53 0.23 -5.54 3.95 -2.54 -3.23 -0.19 0.18 2.59 1.66 1.51 0.13 0.00 1.78 0.86 0.00 1.35 -0.90 0.87 -3.36 -1.36 -1.08 1.82 0.13 0.00 -0.35 -0.91 0.00 -1.85 1.18 -0.69 0.32 -0.58 -2.14 -0.94 -0.48 0.00 1.20 -0.68 -1.23 -0.80 0.49 1.29 -3.30 -0.79

2,046,800 1,056,000 58,000 19,755,000 4,700 130 1,760 699,200 640 1,748,800 64,100 11,098,000 171,000 6,500 2,478,900 1,343,800 23,926,300 567,900 1,000 3,206,300 83,710 86,900 297,300 577,400 1,688,000 802,280 50,000 6,000 1,000 1,400 5,987,900 294,400 112,000 190,530 60,000 3,252,000 2,156,800 1,401,600 205,000 100,000 1,611,000 13,000 40 260,000 1,810,000 1,299,000 2,699,000 1,014,340 59,000 3,438,000 150,000

0.380 75.10 15.80 1.14 6.27 0.360 0.355 850 7.95 12.90 5.07 6.40 0.225 1500 6.46 85.80 5.23 6.98 7.59 0.7 15.62 6.91 0.0320 1.820 2.51 78.85 996.00 1.18 0.80 190.000 0.3100 0.2010 0.305

-1.30 2.18 0.64 -1.72 0.00 -1.37 -5.33 1.07 1.27 0.47 -0.20 -1.23 0.00 3.81 1.89 1.72 -6.61 24.64 0.93 0.00 0.39 3.60 0.00 -1.09 -4.56 0.00 1.43 2.61 0.00 1.06 0.00 -0.50 -4.69

410,000 2,397,580 13,711,800 69,000 4,800 2,790,000 30,000 1,130,610 1,869,500 4,395,600 8,300 33,400 10,000 365,595 25,100 5,690,780 5,600 132,500 2,682,500 39,000 3,654,700 62,963,200 10,800,000 173,000 45,000 226,230 215,290 140,000 22,000 20,150 850,000 270,000 8,800,000

7.460 7.30 1.28 2.180 39.600 3.35 5.15 0.500 1.01 1.030 0.138 0.660

-2.61 -1.35 0.00 0.93 0.13 1.21 0.39 0.00 -3.81 -3.74 0.00 6.45

3,899,300 8,100 1,011,000 623,000 15,632,300 1,031,000 44,000 4,695,000 5,000 100,000 10,310,000 89,126,000

266,775.00 24,846,842 468,148.50 -72,040.00 -3,846,578.00

-3,850.00 78,301,348.00

1,124,653.50 -2,512,278.00 765,550 28,358,570.00 -1,634,553.00 -24,608,055.00 -45,500.00 -477,170.00 322,880.00 -6,547,635.00 16,620.00 2,521,750 -38,370.00 68,251.00 -45,200.00 9,421,213.00 7,069,343.00 8,364,649.00 -34,901.00 14,527,330.00 -1,983,501.00 2,965,500.00 -579,400.00 -57,412,302.00

-150,780,990.00 623,450.00 13,039,316.00 1,518,050.00 6,241,402.00 908,426.00 -63,090.00 1,949,240.00 -52,340.00 -75,000.00 -73,560.00 -481,920.00 897,720.00 30,369,200.00 -93,450.00 -11,100.00 20,538,585.00 -7,435,582.00

194,491,460.00 4,903,784.00 16,443,330.00

92,058,045.00 45,432.00 251,496,274.50 -2,207,262.00 11,603,324.00 87,222,338.00 -60,800.00 -18,200.00 -103,670.00 -2,893,290.00 117,572,490.00 -23,000.00 -605,010.00 -24,800.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

-126,500.00 -16,240.00 -1,277,550.00

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

Double Dragon 58.45 Empire East Land 0.790 Ever Gotesco 0.156 Global-Estate 0.99 Filinvest Land,Inc. 2.01 Keppel Properties 4.21 Megaworld 4.4 MRC Allied Ind. 0.089 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2500 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.465 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 42.90 Primex Corp.

9.3 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.40 Rockwell 1.74 Shang Properties Inc. 3.07 SM Prime Holdings 25.40 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.9 Starmalls 6.5 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.010 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.200

-1.63 1.27 -1.28 0.00 1.00 0.00 2.50 2.25 0.00 0.00 -5.36 4.30 3.57 0.00 1.63 1.57 -1.11 4.15 0.99 2.69

2,692,340 344,000 380,000 3,223,000 18,437,000 1,000 68,023,000 1,710,000 1,930,000 150,000 500 187,700 4,610,400 1,148,000 31,000 15,954,200 280,000 1,400 941,000 5,842,500

10.5 66 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

1.97 35.2 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 95.5 1 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 3.1 0.650 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 18 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 8.8 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.00 1.34 -1.56 0.00 33.09 0.00 3.39 2.13 0.10 7.33 -5.92 2.63 -0.79 0.87 0.49 -0.74 -0.60 0.53 0.00 -0.10 0.00 1.94 -3.04 0.00 -1.04 10.44 -0.10 3.57 0.00 -5.97 -0.25 0.72 0.00 1.04 12.03 3.16 2.89 -0.41 4.43 0.00 -3.39 0.35 1.85 0.00 1.86 -1.69 -3.88 6.06 0.00

69,800 74,600 903,000 9,900 313,800 13,901,100 4,378,000 1,896,000 630,440 29,000 58,500 113,955 395,000 4,000 977,250 21,200 60 12,700 3,900,000 709,300 13,480,000 1,496,000 62,000 87,100 696,900 3,091,000 200 98,000 5,000 55,283,000 3,528,000 3,174,000 2,800 9,000 118,000 1,235,600 15,440 51,200 292,310 4,440,000 35,333,000 2,809,400 968,160 2,506,900 25,300,000 1,894,000 4,903,000 100,000 7,000

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.00 -6.50 -2.01 -0.85 -0.87 0.00 -3.13 -1.01 -0.89 -3.16 -3.28 -7.78 -7.02 -6.67 -6.25 -2.08 -5.63 -3.57 0.00 -5.97 0.00 1.23 -12.17 -10.94 0.00 0.23 -1.76 0.00

587,000,000 233,700.00 2,212,000 394,000 -215,410.00 10,300 440,000 1,400 -8,560.00 286,000 -30,500.00 2,190,000 -186,200.00 9,400 53,023,000 10,838,710.00 290,000 -14,750.00 159,670,000 20,570,000 -29,700.00 194,900,000 19,000,000 364,000 -5,580.00 18,649,000 -6,476,540.00 976,000 -57,000.00 934,000 244,000 -31,250.00 33,300,000 24,000 13,315,000 -8,504,850.00 11,823,000 554,400.00 66,800,000 1,128,490 8,146,280.00 361,000 3,990.00 53,700,000 -220,000.00

70 553 515 8.21 111

33 490 480 5.88 101 74.5 75

0.00 0.00 0.00 -4.69 0.09 0.53 0.63 0.12 0.66 0.00 -0.64 -0.45 0.13 -0.06

126,900 1,000 1,800 1,000 590 1,750 4,000 4,280 40,100 104,570 2,150 26,870 149,830 33,180

-1,135,965.00 249,320.00

78.95 84.8

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

-2.54

3,460,000

-94,630.00

-0.75 -8.31 -5.85 0.12

3,604,000 9,000 1,707,000 995,900

-307,940.00 -16,090.00 297,780.00 1,771,912.00

1.35

33,130

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,754.00 (UP) 16.74 INDUSTRIAL 11,798.11 (UP) 3.03 HOLDING FIRMS 7,671.76 (UP) 128.43 PROPERTY 3,381.86 (UP) 32.22 SERVICES 1,639.83 (UP) 35.31 MINING & OIL 11,451.84 (DOWN) 488.55 PSEI 7,767.23 (UP) 101.90 All Shares Index 4,600.83 (UP) 36.17 Gainers: 97; Losers: 92; Unchanged: 48; Total: 237

Close

2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

58.45 54.4 57.5 0.800 0.800 0.800 0.155 0.154 0.154 1.00 0.98 0.99 2.03 1.99 2.03 4.21 4.21 4.21 4.65 4.42 4.51 0.091 0.088 0.091 0.2500 0.2500 0.2500 0.465 0.460 0.465 42.90 40.55 40.60 9.88 9.14 9.7 30.65 29.55 30.45 1.81 1.69 1.74 3.14 3.07 3.12 26.15 25.60 25.80 0.89 0.88 0.89 6.77 6.2 6.77 1.040 1.000 1.020 5.380 5.240 5.340 SERVICES 7.22 7.3 7.18 7.22 48.6 49.4 48.7 49.25 0.640 0.640 0.610 0.630 11.3 11.3 11.3 11.3 6.8 9.5 7.09 9.05 6.02 6.18 5.93 6.02 0.0590 0.0620 0.0590 0.0610 2.82 2.9 2.78 2.88 97.6 98.95 97.65 97.7 1.91 2.05 2.03 2.05 6.59 6.48 6.20 6.20 2280 2354 2286 2340 6.35 6.38 6.28 6.30 1.15 1.18 1.16 1.16 60.7 61.95 61 61 13.44 13.48 12.52 13.34 167 166 166 166 11.28 11.34 11.34 11.34 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 9.61 9.61 9.42 9.60 0.325 0.330 0.320 0.325 1.5800 1.5500 1.6100 1.5500 2.3 2.24 2.22 2.23 12 12.02 12 12 7.69 7.80 7.60 7.61 3.16 3.49 3.16 3.49 20.00 19.98 19.02 19.98 0.560 0.580 0.560 0.580 1.96 1.96 1.96 1.96 3.35 3.51 3 3.15 4.04 4.07 4.01 4.03 2.790 2.850 2.770 2.810 12.5 12.78 12.5 12.5 4.80 4.85 4.80 4.85 2.41 2.85 2.49 2.7 8.24 8.51 8.1 8.5 121.00 124.50 121.00 124.50 24.50 24.50 24.00 24.40 2030.00 2134.00 2048.00 2120.00 0.430 0.435 0.420 0.430 1.180 1.190 1.130 1.140 42.60 42.95 42.60 42.75 81.00 83.00 80.20 82.50 6.54 6.72 6.45 6.54 3.23 3.36 3.12 3.29 0.590 0.600 0.580 0.580 3.61 3.73 3.42 3.47 0.330 0.355 0.350 0.350 6.580 6.580 6.310 6.580 MINING & OIL 0.0042 0.0042 0.0041 0.0042 2.46 2.45 2.28 2.30 4.47 4.47 4.38 4.38 11.70 11.68 10.60 11.60 0.230 0.234 0.228 0.228 7.2500 7.2500 7.1100 7.2500 0.64 0.63 0.61 0.62 0.495 0.495 0.490 0.490 8.96 8.97 8.58 8.88 0.950 0.960 0.900 0.920 0.305 0.305 0.295 0.295 0.270 0.265 0.245 0.249 0.285 0.280 0.260 0.265 0.0150 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.0160 0.0150 0.0140 0.0150 1.92 1.94 1.84 1.88 5.33 5.4 4.85 5.03 2.8 2.89 2.64 2.7 0.5700 0.5700 0.5700 0.5700 1.3400 1.3400 1.2500 1.2600 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 4.05 4.10 4.05 4.10 9.12 8.98 8.01 8.01 4.57 4.63 4.03 4.07 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 129.50 132.00 129.00 129.80 3.98 4 3.9 3.91 0.0120 0.0120 0.0100 0.0120 PREFERRED 47.9 49.1 47.9 47.9 542 542 540 542 541 541 541 541 6.4 6.1 6.1 6.1 111.9 112 111.9 112 114 114.6 114 114.6 80 80.5 80.5 80.5 81.8 81.9 81.9 81.9 75.5 76 76 76 76 76 75.8 76 78.5 78 77.5 78 77 77 76.65 76.65 76.5 76.6 76.25 76.6 76.95 76.95 76.9 76.9 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.150 3.230 3.040 3.070 SME 4.02 4.25 3.98 3.99 3.49 3.3 3.2 3.2 4.96 4.96 4.5 4.67 16 16.4 16 16.02 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126 127.7 125.5 127.7

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,388,802,726.25 1,171,342,052.24 3,231,933,740.71 1,813,605,743.47 1,762,074,541.41 517,337,412.258 9,928,255,300.14

Low

10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

153,350.00 19,463,997.00 -36,500.00 30,670.00 -124,830.00 118,172,775.00 1,802,300.00

Close

-7,120,102.50 -235,200.00 8,459,440.00 -51,419,610.00

13,062,900.00 -16,140.00 125,199,445.00 -17,600.00 -391,220.00 -3,376,862.00 -3,600.00 6,400.00 13,306.00 26,169,611.00 -103,700.00 8,400.00 -10,356,436.50 31,100.00 -19,374,220.00 5,278,304.00 -3,320.00 1,919,907.00 19,200.00 -227,290.00 -303,670 159,000.00 -9,800.00 -1,503,300.00 3,618,860.00 -29,330.00 -25,800.00 -9,847,940.00 742,436.00 -149,905.00 60,524,330.00 -21,250.00 -236,260.00 18,916,100.00 -8,037,569.00 -39,600.00 10,452,110.00 -159,000.00 -3,206,980.00

-2,241,240.00 228,000.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Berjaya Phils. Inc.

9.05

33.09

Philex `A'

8.01

-12.17

Keppel Holdings `B'

6.98

24.64

PhilexPetroleum

4.07

-10.94

Paxys Inc.

2.7

12.03

Makati Fin. Corp.

3.2

-8.31

Liberty Telecom

3.49

10.44

Lepanto `A'

0.249

-7.78

Discovery World

2.05

7.33

Lepanto `B'

0.265

-7.02

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.660

6.45

Manila Mining `A'

0.0140

-6.67

Waterfront Phils.

0.350

6.06

Keppel Holdings `A'

5.23

-6.61

Phil. National Bank

56.35

4.55

Apex `A'

2.30

-6.50

Alsons Cons.

2.1

4.48

Manila Mining `B'

0.0150

-6.25

PLDT Common

2120.00

4.43

Philippine trust Co.

410

-6.18

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 22, 2016

B3

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

SSS earmarks P2b to RCBC

By Julito G. Rada

SOCIAL Security System allocated P2 billion to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., one of the country’s largest lenders, to help the latter facilitate lending to local businesses and social facilities.

RCBC executive vice president and head of the national corporate banking group Michael de Jesus said in a statement Tuesday the funding was intended to spur the bank’s lending activities to the commercial or middle markets, small entrepreneurs and expansion of educational, healthcare and social empowerment facilities.

He said RCBC shared the pension fund’s aim to stimulate eco-

nomic growth through financial assistance designed to create more employment opportunities.

“It is our duty at RCBC to contribute to the country’s social development goals and nurture the growth of business and entrepreneurship particularly among small and medium enterprises, which make up 99 percent of registered businesses in the country,” de Jesus said.

Targeted businesses are those

engaged in agri-business, food processing, manufacturing, commercial production, trading business and service-oriented facilities such as hospitals, schools and other vital social institutions.

The loan could be used for additional working capital, acquisition of equipment and upgrade of facilities.

RCBC said the SSS allocation would allow it to surpass its firstquarter 2016 loan portfolio attainment of P302 billion, a 12-percent increase from last year. Interest income from its lending business accounted for 81 percent of its total interest income.

RCBC said the rapid deployment of SME lending centers showed its commitment to boost iloan portfolio in the SME market. Starting with just four centers

in 2007, it now has 13 lending centers with 14 lending satellite offices nationwide, complemented by a dedicated team of specialized account officers under its commercial and SME banking segment and retail banking group.

RCBC’s consolidated net income grew 12.4 percent in the first quarter to P1.8 billion from P1.6 billion a year ago, on the strength of core businesses.

Net interest income grew 17 percent to P4.21 billion, which represented 67 percent of gross income. Even with the intense pricing competition, the bank still achieved an annualized net interest margin of 4.27 percent, which remained one of the highest in the sector and a 12-basis-point improvement over the 4.15 percent NIM a year earlier.

PLDT quiz winners. PLDT Inc. concludes the 8th PLDT Home DSL Broadband Quiz Finals at SM Megamall Event Center. The Philippines largest online academic competition is a major event of PLDT’s Infoteach Outreach Program aimed at promoting school-based digital literacy skills education. Shown are (from left) University of the Philippines–Open University assistant professor Robert Figueroa; columnist Domini Torrevillas; Aimee Joy Javilagon (grand champion, teacher category) of Sta. Filomena Integrated School in San Pablo, Laguna; Jarah Ann Balgos and Hadjie Bernales (grand champions, student category) from Commissioner Ruiz R. Asis National High School in Panay, Capiz; Evelyn Del Rosario, head/ consultant of PLDT’s community relations division; and UP-OU chancellor Melinda Bandalaria.

LT Group earmarks P10b to expand businesses

By Jennifer B. Austria LT GROUP Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, expects to perform better this year amid the government’s crackdown against illicit cigarettes and continued growth of the banking business, a top executive said Tuesday.

LT Group president Michael Tan said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting that while all operating units were expected to perform well this year, the main growth drivers would be the tobacco and banking units.

LT Group has stakes in cigarette manufacturer PMFTC Inc.,

Philippine National Bank, Philippine Airlines, Tanduay Distillers Inc. and Eton Properties Inc. Tan said the group was expected to benefit from the incoming administration’s move to increase infrastructure spending and focus on developing the countryside.

LT Group earmarked P10 billion in capital expenditures this year to fund expansion programs in the beverage sector, building construction and land acquisition for the property sector and technology upgrades for the bank.

“Aside from strengthening our current brands and products, we’re launching new ones, putting up new plants, expanding in new

areas, and forging new partnerships,” Tan said.

Tan said in the tobacco sector, there was more room for margin improvement once illicit trade was substantially reduced and a level playing field was achieved.

Tan said he was optimistic about the entry of the Duterte administration which promised a no-nonsense leadership style and zero-tolerance for crime and corruption.

“We’re ready to work closely with incoming President Duterte’s handpicked finance team led by incoming secretary Carlos Dominguez to fight illicit trade and increase tax collection especially in the tobacco and alcohol

sectors,” Tan said.

He said liquor unit Tanduay planned to improve earnings through new product offerings targeting the youth and cost-efficiency measures such as energysaving initiatives that might also provide additional sources of revenues.

Property unit Eton Properties Philippines will put up more BPO office buildings to expand its leasing portfolio, he said.

Tan said the conglomerate would also be interested in some of the infrastructure projects that the incoming administration planned to bid out. He said the group was interested in airport projects.

Market extends rally; PLDT advances STOCKS rose for a fifth day, pushing up the benchmark index to a 13-month high, as regional markets advanced on hopes Britain will choose to stay in the European Union.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 101 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 7,767.23 Tuesday, the highest since it reached 7,810.17 on May 22, 2015. The bellwether closed at a record 8,127.48 on April 10, 2015.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 36 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 4,600.83, on a value turnover of P9.9 billion. Advancers led losers, 97 to 92, while 48 issues were unchanged.

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

by PLDT Inc. which gained 4.4 percent to P2,120 and GT Capital Holdings Inc., which picked up 3.8 percent to P1,500. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. rose 3.6 percent to P6.91.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks also traded higher Tuesday, on hopes Britain will vote to remain in the EU. With a series of polls putting the “Leave” and “Remain” camps neck and neck ahead of Thursday’s poll, two of the world’s investment titans, Li Ka-shing and George Soros, warned an exit vote would spell economic doom for Britain.

While stock traders built on the past two sessions’ gains, the pound edged up after enjoying its best single-day gain in eight years.

“The markets have a myopic focus on one thing: the UK referendum vote,” Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG Ltd. in Melbourne, told Bloomberg News.

“All the euphoria of yesterday has seemingly abated and we hit the refresh button. We almost need to take this week one day at a time, such is the nervousness around trading.”

Dealers are also awaiting testimony on the US economy

by Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen from Tuesday.

By the close of play, Tokyo jumped 1.3 percent as a morning yen surge faded, while Sydney gained 0.3 percent and Seoul added 0.1 percent.

In afternoon trade, Hong Kong added 0.7 percent. Singapore edged up 0.1 percent while there were also healthy advances in Taipei and Jakarta.

However, Shanghai gave up early advances to close 0.4 percent lower. with Bloomberg, AFP

B4 SMC tests coal-fired power unit in Davao

By Alena Mae S. Flores SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., started testing and commissioning the first phase of its 300-megawatt coalfired power plant in Malita, Davao, officials said Tuesday.

Acting Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol confirmed the development when asked for a comment. An SMC Global official said reliability test runs would be conducted within the month, with full commercial operations to follow.

The source said the first 150MW unit was undergoing testing and commissioning, with the second unit to follow within the year.

San Miguel earlier bared plans of putting up a power plant that will help support the economic growth of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

San Miguel signed an agreement with the ARMM, which is composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, to build a power plant to help provide long-term solutions to Mindanao’s power crisis.

San Miguel has committed to build the power plant that will serve the entire ARMM region, with an estimated 573,446 households, over the next two years.

Only 30 percent of households in the region currently have electricity. Brownouts, especially during the dry months, are prevalent.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a statement earier that instability and lack of infrastructure and stable power supply had made investors wary.

Ang said San Miguel’s vote of confidence in the war-torn province would create muchneeded jobs and entrepreneur opportunities, and provide a major economic boost to ARMM and ease worries over perceived investment risks.

Holcim PH awards. Holcim Philippines Inc. bags outstanding communication awards for its employee volunteerism program on education and two videos explaining its progressive rehabilitation thrust and workplace safety culture during the 2015 Philippine Quill Awards. Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo(fourth from right), Holcim Philippines head for communication and corporate affairs and 2014-2016 International Association of Business Communicators Philippines chairman and IABC International executive director, lead her team in receiving the prestigious Gold Quill awards given by IABC Philippines on May 17, 2016. The company is also set to receive its second international Gold Quill from San Francisco, California-based IABC in June.

Cemex PH offering lures 6 key investors

By Jennifer B. Austria

Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. has attracted six cornerstone investors for its planned initial public offering.

Bloomberg reported six cornerstone investors, including BlackRock Inc. and Fullerton Fund Management Co., an arm of Singapore state investment company Temasek Holdings Pte, had agreed to buy about $104 million worth of Cemex Holdings’ shares.

Avanda Investment Management Pte, founded by former senior executives at Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, and a client of Wellington Management

Co. have also agreed to buy stock in the Cemex Holdings.

Bloomberg reported that Cemex Holdings set a price range of between P10.50 and P12 per share, or significantly lower than the initial indicative price of P17 apiece.

At P12.50 per share, Cemex Holdings will raise as much as P29.2 billion in proceeds from the sale of 2.337 billion common shares to foreign and local investors.

The IPO will be the country’s biggest IPO since Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.,’s maiden share offering that raised as much as P28.1 billion in proceeds.

Cemex Holdings, according to the latest prospectus posted on its website, plans to offer up to 2.032 billion in primary shares at a price of up to P17 apoiece to raise P34.5 billion, and another 304.9 million in overallotment shares to raise another P5.18 billion.

Citigroup Global Markets Ltd., The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. Singapore Branch and J.P. Morgan Securities PLC are the joint global coordinators and book runners, while BDO Capital & Investment Corp. is the domestic lead under-

writer.

Cemex Holding plans to use proceeds from the fund raising activity to partially reduce debts.

The offering period is set from July 4 to July 11, while listing date has been tentatively scheduled on July 18. The shares will be listed in the main board of the PSE. Cemex Holdings after the IPO will have a market capitalization of P88.32 billion and a public float of 45 percent.

Cemex Holdings is the newlyformed subsidiary of Cemex Asian South East Corp., a wholly-owned indirect united of Cemex España, S.A., which in turn is indirectly owned by Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V., one of the largest cement companies in the world.

Port users want PPA to defer action on tariff hike petition PORT stakeholders said it will be prudent for regulator Philippine Ports Authority to defer action on the proposed 37.45-percent tariff increase petition of Manila North Harbour Philippines Inc. until President-elect Rodrigo Duterte appointed a full complement of PPA officials.

The proposed MNHPI tariff hike was termed as both unwarranted and unjustified by port stakeholders in separate position papers submitted to the PPA. The Philippines Inter-Island Shipping Association, the umbrella group of domestic shipping and related associations, said the PPA should delay any action “on

the MNHPI rate-increase petition until a new board of directors is appointed” by Duterte, “specially the vice chairman in the person of the general manager of the authority which is presently held by an officer-in-charge.”

A technical working group composed of PPA officials and government agencies will review the position papers, as well as MNHPI’s reply, and make a recommendation to the PPA board, which will make the final decision.

PISA cited PPA statistics showing a steady increase in volume handled at the North Harbor, which enabled NHPI to generate a net income or total comprehen-

sive income of P177.9 million for 2012, P305.7 million for 2013 and P332.6 million for 2014.

“Percentage-wise, net income to revenue, MNHPI’s net incomes for the said years represents 13 percent, 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively,” it said.

It noted a proportionate revenue earned to compensate costs at MNHPI for every increase incurred for any cost driver reflected as expense computed per twenty-foot equivalent unit.

MNHPI in August last year sought the increase in cargo-handling tariff, saying it needed to compensate for the “upward trend in cost drivers” and the increased cost

of operating Manila North Harbor.

At a PPA public hearing almost a year later, the agency gave stakeholders until June 1 this year to submit their position papers on the petition.

The PPA had granted MNHPI, which operates North Harbor for domestic cargo and passenger shipping, a total of 18 percent increase in tariffs from 2013 to 2014.

MNHPI said its new petition for a tariff increase was to keep up with cost drivers in its operations which are labor, fuel, power and repairs and maintenance.

The Philippine Liner Shipping Association, in a position paper on the labor cost driver, ques-

tioned the basis of MNHPI’s claim that it needed to expand its pool of port workers from 1,100 in 2014 to 1,470, or a 34 percent increase.

“Despite so, shipping lines have complained of insufficient deployment of ‘mano’ [dock hands] middle of last year,” it said.

PLSA said this “could be because port workers are on a no-work, no-pay scheme which means that there is no regularity on the personnel it deploys.

“This lack of manpower was remarkably felt nearing the last quarter of 2015, worse during the Christmas season where most vessel operations had to stop due to non-deployment of mano,” it said.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

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

B5

17 more solar projects okayed

By Alena Mae S.Flores

THE Energy Department endorsed 17 solar power projects with a combined capacity of 417.05 megawatts for feed-in tariff eligibility.

The projects will likely be granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission a feed-in tariff of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour under the second wave of solar installation targets.

“The DoE, through the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, has worked day and night to ensure that each eligible solar developer strictly followed the process and technical requirements,” Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said in a statement.

The projects granted a certificate of endorsement for FIT eligibility were the 23-MW San

Carlos solar power project of San Carlos Solar Energy Inc.; 6.23MW Centrala of nv vogt Philippines Solar Energy One Inc.; 13.14-MW Pampanga of Raslag Corp.; 2.66-MW Burgos II of Energy Development Corp. and 50.07-MW Tarla of PetroSolar Corp.

The others were the 14.15-MW Hermosa of YH Green Energy Inc.; 10.26-MW Cabanatuan solar project of First Cabanatuan Renewable Ventures, Inc.; 63.3 Calatagan of Solar Philippines Calatagan Corp.; 20-MW Currimao of Mirae Asia Energy Corp.;

8.5-MW Valenzuela of Valenzuela Solar Energy; 2.04-MW Lian of Absolut Distrillers Inc. and the 180-MW Bais of Monte Solar Energy Inc. The department also endorsed the 22.33-MW Clark of Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Inc.; 10.49-MW Kibawe of Asian Greenergy Corp.; 5.02-MW Palauig SPARC Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corp.; 15-MW Bulacan III of Bulacan Solar Energy Corp. and 132.5MW Cadiz of Helios Solar Energy Corp.

The projects will be endorsed to the ERC for issuance of the certificate of compliance, after which the developers will have to sign a payment agreement with National Transmission Corp., which manages the FITAll Fund.

Monsada assured that the best

interest of the public and all renewable energy developers were met in achieving the country’s commitment toward sustainable and cleaner energy.

The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 allowed the grant of incentives through FIT scheme.

“We have a binding law which is the RE Law, and the DoE is mandated to implement it,” Monsada, adding the policies and programs had undergone stringent procedures following the guidelines provided under the law.

Under the FIT System, qualified developers of emerging RE sources are offered a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour of their exported electricity to the distribution or transmission network.

Solar companies that earlier received a higher feed-in tariff rate of P9.68 per kWh under the first

round of solar installation target totaling 108.9 MW were the 22MW San Carlos phase A and B of San Carlos Solar; 10-MW Pampanga of Raslag; 4.10-MW Burgos 1 of EDC; 41.3-MW Cavite of Majestic Energy Corp. and the 1.5-MW SM North.

Philippine Solar Power president Tetchi Capellan earlier scored the government for the delay in the issuance of the solar FIT endorsement.

“We encourage government to disclose the parameters of the companies that were included in the list, full disclosure of the companies so that there will be no questions that will arise as we move forward into the next FIT,” she said.

Capellan said the government should explain the basis for their decision on which companies were included in the list.

VW’s ‘Dieselgate’ woes far from over VOLKSWAGEN once dreamed of being king of the road by beating Toyota and General Motors in the car manufacturing game. Unfortunately, “Dieselgate” turned the dream into a nightmare when news broke out that the German manufacturer had been cheating on emissions tests by putting in software that calibrated toxic nitrogen oxide emissions during testing to register lower levels. But once the cars on the road, the “cheat software” allowed higher toxic emissions.

Unfortunately, a group of vigilant former US Environmental Protection Agency officials noted the discrepancy during a study on real driving emissions commissioned by the International Council on Clean Transportation—and this “cheating” scandal caused Volkswagen’s reputation—not to mention its stocks—to take a nosedive.

VW suffered another blow when German authorities decided to investigate former CEO Martin Winterkorn and another top official for allegedly failing to inform investors about the potential fallout from the emission cheating scandal. According to a complaint filed by a financial watchdog, the failure of VW officials to inform its shareholders on time about the cheating scandal which caused VW share prices to tumble. According to reports, some 11 million diesel engines worldwide had been fitted with the cheat device.

Investors are raring for a showdown at the upcoming annual shareholders’ meeting, and several of them are contemplating a class action suit especially since they are unhappy with the drop in their annual dividends from €4.86 to €0.17 per share—while members of the board are still likely to get hefty bonuses.

Volkswagen has allocated some $18 billion for the cheating scandal, with the money to be spent on the cost of vehicle refits plus a still undetermined amount as settlement with US authorities fro violating anti-pollution laws. That amount does not even cover the costs of litigation for cases filed in both Germany and the US—and from the way things look, the prospects are bleak because the head of Volkswagen’s US legal team was removed.

Meantime, a lot of VW customers are going to other brands, with many complaining that the value of their cars have been diminished because of the scandal. Complaints are also mounting because many customers can no longer wait for the refit. Adding to the aggravation is the rather slow pace of the internal investigation since VW has yet to actually pinpoint who was really the bright guy who thought up the scam—aside of course from the former CEO who has been accused of deliberately withholding the information to manipulate the market.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ happyhourmanilastandard. We’d be very happy to hear from you.

Cheers!

BoI certification. The Board of Investments passes the second stage audit for implementing quality management systems in the organization as the Certification International-Philippines recently conferred the ISO 9001:2008 certification to the agency. Trade Secretary and BoI chairman Adrian Cristobal Jr. (second from right) witnesses the conferment of the award to BoI, led by BoI executive director Raul Angeles, who is also the agency’s ISO management representative (third from right). Giving the ISO certification is Certification International Philippines president and managing director Renato Navarrete (third from left). They are joined by BoI executive director for management services Efren Leano (right) and ACF Consultancy Inc. Consultants Gerry Antonio (left) and Angelica Fraginal (second from left), BoI’s ISO consultants.

Dell reviews changes in PH operations

By Darwin G. Amojelar COMPUTER maker Dell Inc. said on Tuesday it is reviewing possible changes to its Philippine operations, including the size of its workforce amid the looming merger with US-based EMC Corp.

“Our commitment is that there’s gonna be no any changes to the rest of our fiscal year. So, from the day one of the integration happens in February, we are not going to make any changes,” global vice president Gaurav Chand of the Enterprise Solutions Group of Dell said, when asked if the Philippine operations would be affected by the merger between Dell and EMC. Chand said the integration team was reviewing possible changes to its global operations of the two companies.

“We don’t know all the answers

on our people rationalization or product rationalization, [but] from sales standpoint, we are not going to move any of these staff until February of next year when the new fiscal year begins,” he added.

Dell country manager for the Philippines Chris Papa said the company had about 500 employees in the Philippines, including sales and marketing as well as it business process outsourcing operations in Eastwood in Quezon City.

Chand added Dell expected to finalize the acquisition of EMC

by October this year.

“The only two remaining items for us is the approval of the shareholders, which is slated on July 19 and the approval of China regulation,” he said.

Earlier, the US regulator approved Dell’s $67-billion purchase of EMC, which sells data

storage, information security, virtualization, analytics and cloud computing.

Dell also announced the expansion of its cloud portfolio with a new hybrid solutions designed to break down the barriers that customers experience on their path to cloud.

The Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft is the country’s first integrated, modular hybrid cloud solution. The new system delivers simplified, automated deployment and maintenance capabilities; and unparalleled hybrid cloud governance, control, and policy-based automation for Microsoft Azure and other cloud.

“The challenges most customers face on their cloud journey are clear. They tell us it’s too complex, the cost risk is too high and control is not transparent,” Chand said.

WEDNESDAY: JUNE 22, 2016

B6

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

New BIR, Customs chiefs push reforms

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

DAVAO CITY—The incoming commissioners of the government’s largest revenue-generating agencies on Tuesday committed to implement reforms to address corruption and bottlenecks in the Internal Revenue and Customs bureaus.

Incoming BIR commissioner Cesar Dulay said at the sidelines of the Sulong Pilipinas business consultation forum he would recall the recently issued Revenue Memorandum Order 24-2016 of incumbent chief Kim Henares.

“Well, there was the latest issuance only three weeks ago on a lifestyle check on the buyer, whether the buyer is qualified or has the money to buy the property. We just want to recall and take a look at that particular [issuance],” Dulay said.

Henares, with only few days left before the change of administration,

issued on June 7 Memorandum Order 24-2016 which laid out tax probe rules for property buyers and sellers found to have no financial capacity to hold onto their assets.

“When you recall, a lifestyle check, it’s an opening and a tool for harassment and corruption,” Dulay said.

“We’ll have to review all the others I haven’t seen. There were ten others I have heard from the businessmen,” he said.

Dulay said he would stop all pending tax investigations and audit currently “sitting on the hands of the” BIR examiners.

“The mandate of the president is to stop corruption, and stopping corruption would include the processing time. We have considered initially on the first day to recall all letters of authority and ask revenue district offices and examiners to give an account,” he said.

“I hear feedback that LOA can last as long as two to three years.

We should put a cap on that period because it is an opportunity for what we call negotiation,” he said.

The BIR issues an LOA to inform a taxpayer that he or she is being investigated for possible tax violations.

Meanwhile, incoming Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said he would instill several reforms such as pushing for the computerization of processes in the agency.

“I already stated the reforms.

There are at least four reforms that we are envisioning to do. One is we have to fast track the computerization,” Faeldon said.

“Another thing is that we want

to remove the compulsory utilization of brokerage, because some unscrupulous brokers are using their services to smuggle commodities into the country. We will see what the CMTA [Customs Modernization and Tariff Act] can do to aid us in the transition from compulsory to optional usage of brokerage,” he said.

He said he would look at possibly extending the conduct of the shipment inspection and containerized goods to be subjected to a shipment inspection. “We really what to predetermine the quantity and quality of goods or commodities before leaving the ports of origin. And finally, we really want to coordinate with importing countries to our country to give us a more accurate government certified prices of commodities. These are not very easy things to be done because we need approval and participation of the importing and exporting parties,” he said.

Bai Hotel taps Samsung. Bai Hotel chooses Samsung Electronics Philippines Hospitality IPTV for their 668 hotel rooms. Bai Hotel is now under construction and expects to soft launch in December 2016 and become fully operational by February 2017. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Bai Hotel vice president for operations and general manager Alfred Reyes, Nilo Domingo, Bai Hotel president Angelli Suzanne Lua-Domingo, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. product marketing group manager Jonathan Filart and Samsung Electronics Philippines display solutions sales manager Ina Estrolavio.

Coconut oil exports fell 31% in 4 months

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales COCONUT oil exports dropped 31 percent in the first four months from a year ago, on continued low supply of raw materials, the United Coconut Association of the Philippines said Tuesday.

Ucap executive director Yvonne Agustin said based on preliminary data, coconut oil exports reached 209,982 metric tons in January-to-April, down from 308,050 MT in the same period last year.

“There is a continued tightness of copra, the raw material for making coconut oil, as a result of the El Niño. This resulted in lower CNO production for the period,” said Agustin.

Data showed that in April alone, coconut oil exports slightly went down to 54,500 MT from last year’s 54,776 MT. Agustin said prices of CNO averaged 1,580 per MT in the four-month period, while palm kernel oil prices averaged $1,289 per MT. “The dry weather condition has been felt in most of the coconut areas in the country. Copra production has been weak, since late last year as El Niño strengthened,” Agustin said.

Agustin said the country’s coconut oil industry was expected to bounce back in the second half due to a more favorable weather.

“There will be a significant improvement from last year.

But we have to remember that we have a very low base comparison,”Agustin said.

Agustin earlier said exports of coconut oil were expected to drop 11 percent in 2016 to 750,000 MT from 840,000 MT last year, because of the impact of the drought.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed coconut oil imports reached $251.2 million in the first four months, down by 40 percent from $415.9 million in the same period last year.

Bangko Sentral seen to increase term deposits offer for auction

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to increase next month the amount of deposits offered in the weekly term deposit auction to be more effective in siphoning off excess liquidity in the financial system, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said Tuesday.

Bangko Sentral has been offering to banks and trust entities P10 billion worth of term deposits for the seven-day tenor and P20 billion for the 28-day tenor, or for a total of P30 billion weekly, since

June 8 this year. “[The] BSP may increase the term deposit auction amount for July at this week’s BSP-MB monetary policy meeting. The weekly BSP term deposit auctions have been oversubscribed by more than five times the offered amount of P30 billion per week,” Cuyegkeng said.

He said the weekly auctions over the past two weeks saw term deposit rates at 2.5 percent although Bangko Sentral’s expectation was that these rates should be between the overnight deposit rate of 2.5 percent and the over-

night reverse repurchase (borrowing) rate of 3 percent.

“The announcement of a higher TDA amount is possible after this Thursday’s monetary policy meetings. Market has seen such oversubscription as an indication of systems liquidity,” Cuyegkeng said.

The first TDF auction on June 8 attracted much interest from banks and trust entities. The P10 billion offered under the 7-day tenor generated total bids of P82.438 billion, while the P20 billion auctioned under the 28-day tenor attracted total tenders of P117.271 billion.

Both tenors fetched a 2.5-percent weighted average yield.

The second auction on June 15 was also highly oversubscribed.

Total bids for the P10-billion offered for the week-long tenor reached P63.937 billion, or more than six times oversubscribed.

Total tenders for the P20 billion offered for the month-long tenor hit P92.847 billion, or more than four times oversubscribed. Both tenors fetched a weighted average accepted yield of 2.5 percent that matched the floor rate in the overnight deposit facility.

The term deposit facility is Bangko Sentral’s latest tool to siphon off excess money in the financial system.

The interest rate corridor system is expected to help improve monetary policy transmission and limit interest rate volatility. Bangko Sentral said with this, banks would manage their liquidity better, there would be increased interbank market activity, which could strengthen pricediscovery process, add depth to money markets and eventually help develop capital markets.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

B7

Perilous jobs for Nepalis abroad

HK leader raises concerns over bookseller detention

KATHMANDU—The deaths of 14 Nepali guards in Afghanistan have highlighted the Himalayan nation’s role as supplier of security forces to the world, an industry fueled by poverty and built on the centuries-old reputation of its Gurkha troops for courage and loyalty.

While the number of Gurkha soldiers Britain recruits annually in the impoverished nation has fallen in recent years, the global demand for Nepalis as private security guards remains high.

“Everyone wants a Gurkha to protect their assets—from a billionaire in Hong Kong to private firms in Kabul,” said Mahesh Shrestha, Nepal country manager for British security giant G4S. “Gurkhas have always been a big craze as far as the market for security [personnel] is concerned,” Shrestha told AFP. The industry provides lucrative jobs for retired Gurkhas as well as former Nepal army and police staff willing to risk their lives in conflict zones around the world.

Nepalis were first recruited overseas by the British East India Company after the Anglo-Nepali war that ended in 1816.

Impressed by their bravery, the British struck a deal to hire their former foes as soldiers, using Gurkha troops to crush riots in 19th-century India and fight for Britain in World Wars I and II. The Gurkhas’ World War I exploits also secured the Himalayan kingdom’s sovereignty via a 1923 treaty between Nepal and Britain.

Famed for their ferocity and skillful use of razor-sharp curved kukri knives, the Gurkhas have fought in every British conflict for the last two centuries.

More than 45,000 have died in action.

They have also enlisted in the Singapore police force and the Indian army, whose former chief of staff Sam Manekshaw is reported to have said: “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha”. AFP

HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday he had raised concerns with China about the case of a bookseller who reported being detained for eight months on the mainland, amid fears Beijing is tightening its grip on the city.

Lam Wing-kee was one of five employees of a Hong Kong firm which published gossipy books about leading Chinese politicians to go mysteriously missing last year. All later emerged on the mainland.

Lam has said he was seized just across the border from Hong Kong, taken away blindfolded and then kept in a cell, under interrogation and without access to his family or a lawyer, for alleged involvement in bringing banned books into the mainland.

Hong Kong’s Beijingbacked Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who has been accused of dragging his feet over the issue, said he had

written to Beijing relaying local concerns.

A leading pro-democracy activist called the government “pathetic”, and said its actions failed to allay residents’ fears that the semi-autonomous city’s freedoms were being eroded.

Lam, who was placed on suicide watch during his detention, made his explosive disclosures about his detention in Hong Kong last Thursday.

He said Chinese authorities had allowed him to return home to collect a list of mainland customers for the banned books, but he is refusing to go back across the border.

Leung told reporters his letter asked Beijing

to clarify how relevant mainland departments handle cases in which Hong Kong people have broken mainland laws, and whether or not mainland personnel had carried out cross-border law enforcement in the city.

Mainland law enforcers are barred from operating in the city under the “One country, two systems” agreement governing Hong Kong’s return from Britain to China in 1997.

Leung said his letter also asked “if the handling of the issue affected One country, two systems and the Basic Law, which guarantees the freedoms and rights of Hong Kong people”.

Civic Party lawmaker Claudia Mo described

the Hong Kong government’s response as “pathetic, as everyone’s expected it to be”.

“Leung is quite terrified obviously, to take up the issue clearly and loudly with the Beijing authorities; he obviously wants to make sure that he doesn’t embarrass his master in any way,” Mo told AFP. “This is probably the most striking, the most unsettling case that actually hampers the One country, two systems promise.”

Lam, 61, likened his ordeal to Cultural Revolution-era repres-

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF FOUR (4) LOTS THREE (3) -YEAR JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR SATELLITE OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG) 4 UNDER ITB NO. PB16-065COR-06 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Procurement of Four (4) Lots Three (3) - Year Janitorial Services for Satellite Operations Group (SOG) 4 under ITB No. PB16-065COR-06.

Lot No.

Brief Description

A p p r o v e d B u d g e t f o r t h e C o n t r a c t ( A B C) ( VAT E x c l u s i v e , Z e r o - R a t e d Tr a n s a c t i o n)

1

P r o c u r e m e n t o f T h r e e (3) -Ye a r Janitorial Ser vices for Citystate Satellite

A n n u a l A B C: Tw o M i l l i o n O n e H u n d r e d Tw e n t y - N i n e T h o u s a n d T h r e e H u n d r e d T h i r t y -T h r e e P e s o s a n d 7 6 /10 0 ( P h P 2 ,12 9 , 3 3 3 .7 6) To t a l A B C f o r t h r e e (3 ) y e a r s: S i x M i l l i o n T h r e e H u n d r e d E i g h t y - E i g h t T h o u s a n d O n e P e s o s a n d 2 8 /10 0 ( P h P 6 , 3 8 8 , 0 01. 2 8)

2

P r o c u r e m e n t o f T h r e e (3) -Ye a r Janitorial Ser vices for Madison Satellite

A n n u a l A B C : O n e M i l l i o n E i g h t H u n d r e d S i x t y -T h r e e T h o u s a n d F o u r H u n d r e d S e v e n t y - F o u r P e s o s a n d 4 8 /10 0 ( P h P 1, 8 6 3 , 474 . 4 8) To t a l A B C f o r t h r e e (3 ) y e a r s : F i v e M i l l i o n F i v e H u n d r e d N i n e t y T h o u s a n d F o u r H u n d r e d Tw e n t y -T h r e e P e s o s a n d 4 4 /10 0 ( P h P 5 , 5 9 0 , 4 2 3 . 4 4)

3

P r o c u r e m e n t o f T h r e e (3) -Ye a r Janitorial Ser vices for PanPacific Satellite

A n n u a l A B C: Tw o M i l l i o n T h r e e H u n d r e d S i x t y -Tw o T h o u s a n d S e v e n H u n d r e d S i x t y - S i x P e s o s a n d 7 6 /10 0 ( P h P 2 , 3 6 2 ,7 6 6 .7 6) To t a l A B C f o r t h r e e (3 ) y e a r s: S e v e n M i l l i o n E i g h t y E i g h t T h o u s a n d T h r e e H u n d r e d P e s o s a n d 2 8 /10 0 ( P h P 7, 0 8 8 , 3 0 0 . 2 8)

4

P r o c u r e m e n t o f T h r e e (3) -Ye a r J a n i t o r i a l S e r v i c e s f o r Tr o p i c a n a Satellite

Annual A B C: One Million F o r t y -Tw o Thousand Six Hundred Sevent y- One Pesos and 6 0 /10 0 ( P h P 1, 0 4 2 , 6 71. 6 0) To t a l A B C f o r t h r e e (3 ) y e a r s : T h r e e M i l l i o n O n e H u n d r e d Tw e n t y - E i g h t T h o u s a n d F o u r t e e n P e s o s a n d 8 0 /10 0 ( P h P 3 ,12 8 , 014 . 8 0)

MEMORANDUM : THE PUBLIC

FROM

: DR. URDUJAH A. TEJADA DOST Assistant Secretary and Head of DOST-TRC Transition Team

SUBJECT

: TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CENTER (TRC) TO DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DOST)

DATE

: 07 JUNE 2016

Three of the other booksellers have disputed parts of Lam’s account. Lee Bo has denied he told Lam that he [Lee] was taken to the mainland against his wishes.

Gui remains in custody in China while Lee has insisted he is a free man voluntarily helping the investigation into the smuggled books.

Two other booksellers who were detained in China have briefly returned to Hong Kong on bail, but then traveled back to the mainland. AFP

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

Republic of t he Philippines DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TO

sion during an interview with AFP Sunday.

He told a local radio station he had no hopes Leung’s follow-up actions would bring about change.

“The Hong Kong and the Chinese governments are not on equal terms,” he said.

Lam and two other booksellers went missing in the city of Shenzhen just across the border from Hong Kong, while a fourth—Gui Minhai— disappeared in Thailand and a fifth, Lee Bo, went missing in Hong Kong itself.

To t a l A B C

The total annual A BC is in the amount of Seven Million T h r e e H u n d r e d N i n e t y - E i g h t T h o u s a n d Tw o H u n d r e d F o r t y - S i x P e s o s a n d 6 0 /10 0 ( P h P 7, 3 9 8 , 2 4 6 . 6 0) , VATE x c l u s i v e , Z e r o - R a t e d Tr a n s a c t i o n , w h i l e t h e t o t a l A B C f o r t h r e e (3) y e a r s i s i n t h e a m o u n t o f Tw e n t y -Tw o M i l l i o n One Hundred Ninet y- Four Thousand Seven Hundred T h i r t y - N i n e P e s o s a n d 8 0 /10 0 ( P h P 2 2 ,19 4 ,7 3 9 . 8 0) ,VATE x c l u s i v e , Z e r o - R a t e d Tr a n s a c t i o n .

C o n t r a c t D u r a t i o n:

W i t h i n a p e r i o d o f T h r e e (3) Ye a r s c o m m e n c i n g f r o m t h e ef fectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

S o u r c e o f Fu n d:

I n t e r n a l l y Fu n d e d

Bidder should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidder. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

Pursuant to the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 07 August 2014 and Governance Commission on Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG) Memorandum Order No. 2015-11 dated 27 October 2015, the Technology Resource Center (TRC) was abolished.

Accordingly, effective 31 October 2015, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), being the Supervising Agency of TRC, shall implement the winding down of the operations, disposition of the assets, and settlement of the liabilities of the TRC, in accordance with the directive of H.E. the President.

The public is hereby advised that all transactions related to the TRC shall now be undertaken by the DOST Central Office through the Office of Assistant Secretary and Head of DOST-TRe Transition Team, Dr. Urdujah A. Tejada.

Any transactions done with unauthorized personnel shall not be honored.

Activities 1.

2.

3.

4.

Issuance of the Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule June 22, 2016 (Wednesday) to July 12, 2016 (Tuesday) June 30, 2016 (Thursday) at 2:00 p.m.

July 12, 2016 (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m.

July 12, 2016 (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix, from the address below: Approved Budget for the Contract

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos)

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for sale of bidding documents not later than the date of the submission of bids.. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either Fee Slip for the sale of bidding documents which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 3 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two (2) or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 671.

Thank you. ( T S - J U N E 2 2 , 2 016)

ALBERTO R. VILLARAMA (SGD) Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 3

(TS-JUNE 22, 2016)

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

B8 Man held in Brussels following bomb alert BRUSSELS—A man with a fake suicide belt was arrested after a bomb scare at a shopping center triggered a major anti-terror operation in central Brussels on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said.

Belgium remains on a high state of alert after Islamic State-claimed bomb attacks in March left 32 dead at the airport and on the metro.

Tuesday’s incident began at about 6:30 am (0430 GMT) after a report of a man acting suspiciously near the City 2 shopping center set off a bomb alert.

“The situation is for now under control. We remain vigilant,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said after an emergency meeting of his security cabinet.

A bomb squad team was immediately deployed at the shopping center, one of the main retail hubs of the Belgian capital.

“No bomb has so far been found.

The suicide vest found on a suspect was fake,” the Brussels prosecutors office told AFP. Only one exit remained open at the nearby Rogier metro station, where soldiers checked passengers bags and belongings.

Police and soldiers sealed off the immediate area, an AFP reporter on the scene said The incident comes only days after Belgian authorities charged three men with “attempted terrorist murder” after raiding dozens of homes linked to a reported threat to fans watching during a Euro 2016 football game.

Prosecutors charged the three men, named as Samir C., Moustapha B. and Jawad B., but released nine others after questioning.

The areas searched included neighborhoods in Brussels where November’s jihadist attackers in Paris and the Brussels suicide bombings had planned their assaults.

Authorities said at the time they were responding to a need for “an immediate intervention”.

Per capita, Belgium has the highest number of the so-called foreign fighters in the EU who have traveled to wage jihad in Syria and Iraq, an estimated 500.

After Saturday’s swoop, Michel said the country would be taking “additional and updated security measures.”

However, he pledged that public events planned for the coming days would go ahead, including those linked to the Euro football championships in France. AFP

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD US Senate rejects four gun-control measures WASHINGTON—The Republican-controlled US Senate rejected four competing gun control measures Monday just days after the Orlando club massacre, highlighting the partisan feuding over an issue set to resonate during a heated presidential election year.

With a month to go before Republicans and Democrats formally nominate their White House hopefuls, lawmakers failed to compromise on one of the most sensitive issues in America.

Even as they sought to appear keen to take action following the deadliest mass shooting in US history that left 49 dead at a gay nightclub in Orlando a week ago, Republicans and Democrats voted down four amendments—two from each party—that would have limited some gun purchases, including those by suspected terrorists.

The two Democratic texts sought to bar those on FBI watch

lists or no-fly lists from buying firearms, and to strengthen criminal and mental health background checks for those seeking to purchase firearms at gun shows and on the Internet.

Republicans are opposed to those measures—in general, they oppose any effort to limit gun rights, saying they are protected by the US Constitution’s Second Amendment.

They proposed a 72-hour waiting period for those on FBI watch lists seeking to buy weapons, so that the government has time to seek a court order to block the sale if need be.

The second Republican proposal

aimed to improve the background check system. Democrats rejected both GOP measures.

Such efforts often struggle to pass the Senate, where 60 of 100 votes are needed for legislation to advance.

The Senate voted on similar measures in the wake of the December 2012 Connecticut school massacre and the San Bernardino attacks last year, but to no avail.

“Every single senator wants to deny terrorists access to guns they use to harm innocent civilians, but there’s a right way to do things and a wrong way,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

Number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin was livid at the failure of lawmakers to come together on such a pressing issue after yet another shooting.

“Tonight, the Senate turned its back on victims of gun violence from Orlando to San Bernardino, from

Newtown to the streets of Chicago,” Durbin said in a statement.

There are 46 senators who are Democrats or generally vote with Democrats, and 54 Republicans.

Susan Collins, a moderate Republican senator from Maine, was expected to unveil some kind of compromise legislation, but it also seemed unlikely to pass.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has spoken out at length about the need to curb gun violence in the week since the Orlando tragedy, but she had a shorter message Monday.

“Enough,” she said in a one-word statement, followed by the names and ages of the 49 Orlando victims.

The Democrats know they have only a slim chance of succeeding with gun reform ahead of the November elections. Their goal for now is to push the debate on guns—and turn it into a true campaign issue. AFP

International Yoga Day. In this photograph released by the Indian Press Information Bureau on June 21, 2016, Indian Armed Forces personnel take part in a yoga sesssion to mark International Yoga Day on the Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Mumbai. AFP

Great Barrier Reef bleaching could cost a million tourists SYDNEY—The severe coral bleaching on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could cost it more than a million visitors a year and huge sums in lost tourism revenue, a survey said Tuesday.

The World Heritage-listed reef, which teems with marine life, experienced an unprecedented bleaching earlier this year that saw much of it whiten and almost a quarter of its corals die.

“The reef tourism areas are at risk of losing over one million visitors per year,” a discussion paper from the independent think-tank the Australia Institute said.

It added that A$1 billion (US$747 million) of potential revenue could be lost if those visitors do not travel to the tropical reef region.

Some 10,000 jobs in Queensland state were also at risk from a drop in tourism, a major industry in the

area, it added.

“Continued bleaching could not only impact the reef ’s status as Australia’s premier international tourist destination, but also impact Australia’s identity as an international tourist destination,” it said.

The report said that last year, about 3.5 million tourists, mostly Australians, visited areas along the reef.

The institute surveyed thousands of Australians and others from the

major tourism markets of China, the United States and Britain.

More than a third of Australians said they were more likely to travel to another part of the country if the bleaching continued.

In terms of foreign tourists, more than half the Chinese respondents, and about a third of the American and British participants, said they were more likely to visit somewhere other than Australia if

the reef ’s deterioration persisted.

The 2,300-kilometer long reef— the world’s biggest coral ecosystem—is suffering from its worst bleaching in recorded history due to warming sea temperatures.

Bleaching occurs when abnormal environmental conditions, such as warmer sea temperatures, cause corals to expel tiny photosynthetic algae, draining them of their color. AFP

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

isahred @ gmail.com

WRITER

FAS HION & BE AU T Y

LIFE

Jessica Minh Anh (center) and young models presented Miranda Konstantinidou's collection at Le Jean Bruel in Paris, France

Philippine-based brand impresses Paris with stunning collection

F

ashion show producer and model Jessica Minh Anh celebrated another phenomenal catwalk success in the fashion capital on June 16 with Philippine-based brand Miranda Konstantinidou as J Summer Fashion Show 2016 lightened up the Seine River.

Guests were strategically seated facing the multi-faceted glass windows of Le Jean Bruel to watch models walking in front of them as if they were walking on water.

A perfect portrait of modern beauty with limitless energy, Jessica Minh Anh opened the highly anticipated showcase in a striking multi-colored exotic creation by Miranda Konstantinidou.

Following the stunning catwalk producer is a youthful line up of models in intricate silk dresses teamed with architecturally cut statement jewelry.

Miranda’s collection, which added a lot of excitement to classic chic, defined the concept of “extroverted but relaxed” luxury.

J Summer Fashion Show 2016 also premiered innovative designs by Lebanese haute couturier Antoine Kareh, Polish designer Teresa Rosati, Pakistani talent Syeda Amera, Icelandic jewellery brand NOX, Saudi Arabian designer Ot Kutyr Turk Jadallah, and Ukrainian brand LaFress.

The red carpet event was supported

by Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, DJ Battle, SLA Academy Paris, Neville Salon London, Opéra Cadet, Singer France, The Invite Shack London, Surrey Banners, and First Hotel Paris among others.

Known for her eccentric productions, Jessica Minh Anh is a Vietnamese model and fashion show producer who’s behind large-scale productions at the Eiffel Tower and London’s Tower Bridge, along with the new One World Trade Center building in New York and a glass bridge 4,000 feet above the Grand Canyon. For more info, visit www.jmodelmanagement.co.uk.

Miranda's jewelry is made using the combination of ancient methods and new techniques

Miranda’s collection, which added a lot of excitement to classic chic, defined the concept of “extroverted but relaxed” luxury Models walked the runway wearing silk dresses complemented by architecturally cut statement jewelry.

C1

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

C2

LIFE isahred @ gmail.com

Amaia Land launches the retail strips of Amaia Steps Sucat and Steps Bicutan in Parañaque City. From left: Au Viray, Amaia Sales geo head for South Projects; Tricia Macawile, customer care group manager; Kristel Manalo, project development manager; and Dana Kison, project development associate.

Amaia Steps Sucat launches its first community retail strip.

Commercial stores at Steps Sucat and Steps Bicutan

A

maia Land treated its guests with good food and great music when it launched its first community retail strip at Amaia Steps Sucat and Amaia Steps Bicutan during one memorable weekend. The retail strip is envisioned to bring convenience and new choices to Amaia residents and neighboring villages.

“Our retail outlets will house convenience stores and small restaurants so our homeowners won’t have to go outside the community for quick errands.

We want to show our homeowners that you can live at ease with Amaia,” said Loreene Natividad, Amaia’s marketing manager.

During the two-day event on April 15 and 16, guests and residents of Amaia Steps Sucat enjoyed a festival called Music and Food Sesh, wherein the company set up food trucks and had live performers entertaining its residents and guests during the acoustic night.

Amaia Steps Bicutan likewise launched its retail strip simultaneous with the blessing of its first building on April 16.

The occasion was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and official turnover of residential units to homeowners.

“It was indeed a big weekend for us.

Amaia Steps Sucat and Amaia Steps Bicutan’s twin events were meant as a way of thanking our valuable homeowners for choosing us,” Natividad said.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the Makati Central Business District, the two Amaia projects in Parañaque City take pride in its proximity to key conveniences that best serve most homeowners’ needs. And soon,

the residents can also enjoy and do their quick errands at the newly launched retail strip of Amaia.

“Both Amaia projects are strategically located, affording its residents the perks of city and suburban living—close enough to the Makati CBD, yet far enough to be considered a sanctuary from the noise and bustle of the city,” Natividad added.

For leasing inquiries, you may call 09175092044 or email amaialandretail@gmail.com.

Orange Blush Salon is now in Cubao The first branch in Metro Manila of Orange Blush salon will open at Spark Place Cubao in July.

Its first branch is located in Nueva Ecija and it opened to the public in 2003.

“It was already a small salon by then, owned and operated by a hairstylist and two other junior stylists. It was about to close down due to financial difficulties, and I was at that time, looking for a place already to put up my own small salon since I had always been interested in the beauty business,” says Joby Linsangan Moreno, proprietor of Orange Blush Salon.

Joby took pride—and still does— in Orange Blush being a proud and successful probinsyano brand. And, she knows deep in her heart, that inevitably, the day would come when she would have to expand the reach of the business outside Nueva Ecija either through

Joby Linsangan Moreno

franchising or putting up new companyowned branches.

“The plan was to move to conquer the metro, carrying with us that unique and probinsiyano brand that we represent,” she explains.

Now, they are all set to launch a branch in Spark Place Cubao and even have special promos. These include an opening promo of P20 per haircut if a customer wears orange (this will go on for three days following the opening, she says); anybody who comes in with an Orange Blush salon flyer will get a 25 percent discount in the newlyopened salon; a Loyalty Card that entitles the customer to a free hair treatment on the fourth visit and a free manicure and pedicure on the eighth visit.

“There will also be freebies to be given away during the opening,” says the excited Joby.

But that’s not all. Joby also shares that the first franchise salon of Orange Blush will open in Bambang, Sta. Cruz, also in July and later three more franchises will also open soon.

With this move to the big city, Metro Manilans will finally get to experience the kind of impeccable service that Orange Blush has become known for in Central Luzon.

Joby and her staff are looking forward to welcoming clients and having them try their rebonding services, their manicure and pedicure, hair treatments and hair coloring.

Orange Blush is one of the very few (if not the only) salon that is so confident about the services it offers that it has a moneyback guarantee in case customers are not happy with the service.” Sinasabi namin lagi na sa Orange Blush salon, warantisado ang kagandahan. Meron po warranty ang lahat ng customer ng Orange Blush,” Joby adds.

Ken Samudio and his Save My Bag collection Another hot young artist joins Kiana Valenciano, overall style curator and creative team captain of a special, bespoke, Save My Bag collection in the name of Ken Samudio, internationally acclaimed accessory designer.

Samudio caught the attention of the principals of Little White Box, local purveyors of Save My Bag (which are 100 percent made in Bergamo, Italy). They introduced him to Valenciano. Intensive creative and artistic meetings then took place, resulting in a series of bags that are sure to delight and catch the fancy of bag and accessory aficionados.

The story behind Samudio’s entry into the glamorous world of fashion is one that is immediately fascinating.

It’s worth noting that he is a marine biologist by profession.

It was while still involved in the study of undersea creatures and marine life that he began dabbling into accessories design,

Ken Samudio's design features elements of nature made using acrylic beads and indigenous materials

although at that time he saw it as nothing more than a hobby and a diversion.

And, despite having no formal training in fashion, armed only with raw natural talent, the drive to excel, and the help of no less than global style icon Josie Natori who took him under her wing, he was soon able to earn

a string of accolades, among which were the Selection by Vogue Italia as one of the Vogue Talents for Accessories in 2014 and the inclusion to their 50th Anniversary Issue.

The British Fashion Council and Sarah Mower of Vogue US, on two occasions, personally handpicked him to participate

in IFS 2014 and 2015 at the London Fashion Week respectively.

For his latest endeavor, Ken makes use of his distinctive technique to transform the bags, exploring the organic, almost alien forms found in nature, mimicking ‘reef-life’ and floral textures and thereby achieving a highly tactile feel, by using acrylic beads and indigenous and recycled materials endemic to the country. Thus, the resultant pieces possess color and depth, redolent of the earth’s unusual hues.

“My work is evidently inspired by the wonders of nature,” Samudio relates.

“There’s simply so much beauty to be found there!”

So for those seeking to get a piece of Ken’s mesmerizing artistry, this time in the form of bespoke Save My Bags, should head on over to the Little White Box PopUp store, the style portal for international brands, located at the 3/F, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

C3

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

T

33 VIE FOR MISS MANILA 2016

he City of Manila and MARE Foundation, together with VIVA Live once again work in partnership to crown Miss Manila 2016.

And the 33 Manileña beauties were presented to the members of media on June 15 at Diamond Hotel, with Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada in attendance.

On its third consecutive year, the search is not only looking for a woman of exquisite beauty, but also empowered, personifies social awareness and embodies a true Manileña with grace, passion and optimism.

The grand coronation night will be held on June 24, Araw ng Maynila, 7 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) with delayed telecast on TV5. Edu Manzano and KC Concepcion will host the pageant.

Proceeds of this year’s pageant will benefit MARE Foundation, a non-profit institution headed

by Chairperson and Pageant Director Jackie Ejercito.

The winner will receive 500,000 pesos, and a contract with VIVA. She will also represent the City of Manila in different functions and events.

The mission of MARE Foundation is to help improve the quality of life of the

The 33 Miss Manila 2016 contestants meet with the members of the press

Miss Manila 2015 Kaycie Lynn Fajardo and Manila Mayor Joseph 'Erap' Estrada

Jackie Ejercito and Boss Vic del Rosario

underprivileged Filipinos all over the country. It has committed itself to the uplifting and promotion of the welfare and

interest of less privileged Manileños through its various socio-economic programs. After 23 years of implementing its

pro-poor programs, it has helped thousands of men and women, seniors and youth through its free medical, surgical and dental missions, medical assistance program, feeding programs, livelihood projects, scholarships, and relief assistance to families who are victims of floods, fire and other calamities including conflict situations.

In Manila alone, close to 100 medical and dental missions were conducted last year benefitting some 250,000 indigent individuals. Almost everyday a team of volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, health promoters and other medical staff visit the different barangays of Manila to give free consultations,

do diagnostic examinations, refer for medical management to different hospitals, teach proper hygiene and nutrition and provide supplemental feeding to young children.

Equally worth mentioning is the Dialysis Center Project of the Foundation in partnership with the City Government of Manila which provides free dialysis sessions to poor Manileños. This kind of project goes back to the time when Dr. Loi Estrada was First Lady and helped build a dialysis center in Malacañang.

The foundation also encourages families to raise varieties of nutritious vegetables to promote urban farming as a mode of livelihood program. One good example of such is found in Baseco including in some selected school grounds.

MARE is also there when calamities like fire strikes to poor communities. It gives assistance like food, medicine, clothes, person hygiene kits and even construction materials to the affected families.

MARE has continually networked with various hospitals, NGOS and the private sector to gain support and cooperation in successfully conducting and promoting its programs and activities.

Responsible luxury in leather goods manufacturing “The whole idea is to luxe up our products,” Yoling Sevilla, president and CEO of The Leather Collection, says on the launch of two new product lines under the GREAT Women brand during the recent Manila FAME trade show.

The GREAT Women brand, otherwise known as the Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women, is founded by the ECHOsi Foundation in collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) with the objective of elevating the quality of goods produced by women microentrepreneurs from different

The Bagobo Textile Collection features fashion accessories made of inabal fiber and top grain leather

regions of the country.

The Bagobo Textile collection takes pride in its feature of the inabal, a traditional cloth used by Bagobo

ancestral royalty, in their line-up of fashion and home accessories. Using kinatkat, ine and bandila fibers, the Bagobo women of Davao in Southern Mindanao weave exquisitelypatterned textiles, which will then be sewn together with genuine leather to produce bags, wallets, clutches and holders. Sevilla adds that this product line particularly highlights the artisanal skills of one of their master weavers, Vivencia Mamites, who learned the traditional skill of weaving from Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee Salinta Monon.

“We are combining their weaving craftsmanship with our leather craft,” Sevilla explains.

Aside from the Bagobo women, the company works with the women of Sibaltan, a quiet and small coastal town in El Nido, Palawan. They weave leather strips to produce bags, wallets, and other leather goods for the Woven Leather line.

The collections showcase the beauty of traditional weaving skills of indigenous women in cultural communities in the Philippines.

However, Sevilla further clarifies, “We are not just talking about carrying our culture. It is more about responsible luxury.” She shares that their enterprise, along with the GREAT Women brand platform, provides sustainable

livelihood to disadvantaged women, and also encourages the preservation and continuation of traditional skills and design.

They do not only include the communities of women into their supply and value chain, they also teach them about pricing and increased productivity to enable them to have sustainable income while also promoting their crafts to the global market.

The brand platform was first launched during the APEC Summit in November, and participated in the 63rd edition of Manila FAME to introduce their products to the global market.

Model Mom wins Mrs. Asia International 2016

Model Moms Philippines 2016 awardee Vivian Yano was a big winner at the recent World Grand Finals of Mrs. Asia International Pageant 2016 held at the grand ballroom of E-city Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Yano bested some 30 ladies from around Asia taking home the titles Classic Mrs. Asia International 2016, Cosmopolitan Classic Mrs. Asia International 2016 Ambassador and Mrs. Popularity Queen.

Mrs. Asia International Pageant 2016, now on its 6th year, by the Official Tourism Board Selangor, Malaysia, offered a platform for married and senior ladies in Asia to showcase their beauty, talents and success stories in the contemporary world. While beauty is the key element, the ladies were also encouraged to voice their opinions about marriage and current global issues. The married women, young wives, mothers and grandmothers who participated were from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, India, China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Yano, a 46-year-old widow and entrepreneur based in Japan, was handpicked by Ovette Ricalde, franchise holder of Mrs. Asia International Philippines, to compete along with Rizalina

Asa, a former Mrs. World contestant now based in Oregon, USA. Asa was named Classic Mrs. Asia International Tourism 2016 Goodwill Ambassador and was awarded the Most Beautiful Body special award while finishing 3rd in the Talent competition.

Other winners in the Mrs Category (Top 7 Winners) were Vietnam’s Kim Nguyen, Malaysia’s Melissa Seow, Singapore’s Karine Estelle, Malaysia’s Hilary Lok, Japan’s Shibata Chie, India’s Sima Subedi Shrestha and Hong Kong’s Zhang Hong. In the Classic Category - Top 6 Winners were China’s Zhang Shu Hong, Japan’s Miki Inage, Malaysia’s Pat Sung, and Singapore’s Elizabeth Lim. “I could not be more proud for Vivian and Riza’s win. This is the best showing of a Philippine delegation in the last seven years that we joined the pageant,” Ricalde said on his ladies homecoming.

“We want to dedicate this honor to our countrymen, especially, to all the Filipina mothers who sacrifice a lot for the welfare of their families, and who believe in women empowerment, to have a voice in society in issues affecting our lives,” the winning pair proudly said. – Eton B. Concepcion

46-year-old widow Vivian Yano (left) takes home the grand prize at the Mrs. Asia International Pageant 2016. With her is Rizalina Asa, the Classic Mrs. Asia International Tourism 2016 Goodwill Ambassador.

W E D N E S D AY : J U N E 2 2 , 2 0 1 6

C4

LIFE

isahred @ gmail.com

Wearing the jacket, cyclists can turn up their music or block a phone call by touching a patch on their wrists.

L

Project Jacquard makes it possible to weave touch and gesture interactivity into any textile using standard industrial looms.

LEVI’S, GOOGLE TEAM UP FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

evi’s is the first official partner of Google for Project Jacquard, which will apply the search engine giant’s technology to the brand’s iconic Commuter jacket. This is the jacket everyone will want to wear in 2017, when it will be available in Levi’s stores worldwide.

What makes the jacket so different?

There is a sensor at the wearer’s left cuff, which you can take off and charge with a USB plug-in that is linked to the special yarns in the jacket’s fabric. The sensor is touch sensitive, allowing wearers to answer or decline calls, skip songs and adjust the volume on their playlists and even access turn-by-turn directions with simple gestures like swipes and taps.

Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group unveiled Project Jacquard and named the Levi’s its first official partner at Google I/O 2015.

“When it came to choosing a first partner for Project Jacquard, the Levi’s brand was a natural fit. Levi’s is an iconic brand that’s authentic, highly innovative and fashionable. Levi’s brings to Jacquard their deep knowledge and understanding of apparel, their consumers and what they

There is a sensor at the jacket’s left cuff, which you can take off and charge with a USB plug-in that is linked to the special yarns in the fabric.

value,” said Ivan Poupyrev, a Technical Product lead (TPL) for Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group.

According to Google, Project Jacquard makes it possible to weave touch and gesture interactivity into any textile using standard industrial looms. Everyday objects such as clothes and furniture can be transformed into interactive surfaces.

“In our hyper-digital world, people constantly struggle to be physically present in their environment while maintaining a digital connection. The work that Google and Levi’s are embarking upon with Project Jacquard delivers an entirely new value to consumers with apparel that is emotional, aspirational and functional,” said Paul Dillinger, head of global product innovation at Levi’s.

“Levi’s has always stayed true to our iconic products, while continuing to introduce innovations that address the current challenges of modern life,” he added.

Innovation is in Levi’s brand DNA. Invented 142 years ago during the gold rush era in California, Levi’s created the world’s first blue jeans and jeans for women. The brand is known for its button fly 501s, which are considered the world’s most popular jeans.

The jacket will be officially known as Levi’s Commuter x Jacquard by Google jacket. It is being designed with cyclists in mind, so riders will be able to do things like turn up their music or block a phone call by touching a patch on their wrists. The jacket will have three basic components: The jacket, with the woven gesture-sensing technology; a removable tag that connects to your phone via Bluetooth; and an app that lets you set up what different gestures, like tapping versus swiping, will control which apps.

For those wondering if the Levi’s Commuter x Jacquard by Google jacket is washable, it is. When you take the sensor off, the rest of the jacket can be washed just like any other garment.

SM Megamall elevated to PRA Awards Hall Of Fame SM Megamall, the largest mall in the country, was elevated to the Hall of Fame at the recent Philippine Retailer’s Association’s Shopping Center of the Year Awards (PRA) during the 19th Outstanding Filipino Retailers & Shopping Centers of the Year Awards at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Newport, Pasay City. The 474,000-square meter shopping center was honored in the large category.

Widely known to have spearheaded “malling” in the Philippines when it opened in 1991, SM Megamall is known to have revolutionized many exciting retail and leisure concepts. These included the Artwalk and Art Center’s gallery-in-themall, which brought art closer to shoppers; the Mega Trade Hall; and an ice skating rink that highlighted the Filipino’s fire on ice by winning many world championships.

More recently, it has become a premier shopping, dining, and lifestyle destination with the opening of the Mega Fashion Hall, its game-changing new wing.

Creating an exciting new presence on EDSA and giving SM Megamall a fresh, iconic identity, the Mega Fashion Hall is home to the first H&M store in the Philippines and the flagship store of Uniqlo, some of the world’s most popular fashion brands. Many global brands have opened their first store in the Philippines in this new wing: Denmark’s Vero Moda, Spain’s Pull & Bear, L.A.-based Joe’s Jeans, London’s Savile Row and Burton, French shoe brand Nao de Brasil, and Sfera. USbased Crate & Barrel also opened its first store in the Philippines in the new wing.

SM Megamall, which is said to have started the malling phenomenon in the Philippines, was elevated to the Hall of Fame Large Mall Category in the Philippine Retailers Association Shopping Center of the Year Awards.

SM Megamall was elevated to the Hall of Fame in the Shopping Center - Large Category during the Philippine Retailers Association’s 19th Outstanding Philippine Retailers and Shopping Centers Awards held recently at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. president Hans Sy (third from left) receives the award from Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr. and PRA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim. Also shown in photo are SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia, senior vice president for Operations, Premier Malls, Steven Tan, and assistant vice president for Operations, Premier 2, Christian Mathay.

The Mega Fashion Hall has also brought together some of the most exciting international dining concepts–Hong Kong’s Michelin Star dimsum restaurant Tim Ho Wan, the first St. Marc Café of Tokyo, Din Tai Fung of Taiwan, The Halal Guys of Manhattan, New York, and gyoza specialist Osaka Osho as well as Ippudo Ramen and TuanTuan.

The Mega Fashion Hall sets the standards for premier leisure and entertainment.

Here, film enthusiasts can enjoy the largerthan-life IMAX Theater, as well as private screenings functions at the Director’s Club, which has its own butler service. An

Olympic-size ice skating rink and a fully computerized 14-lane Bowling Center complete the mega lifestyle experience.

As a responsible member of the community, SM Megamall has spearheaded many corporate social responsibility projects such as handicap friendly facilities, and environmental endeavors like a sewage treatment plant and the Trash for Crash recycling programs.

During the same event, other members of the SM Group also received awards.

These included the Surplus Shop and Pet Express, which were elevated to the Hall of Fame in the Fashion Apparel-Large and

Specialty Retailer – Medium categories as well as SM Hypermarket and Save More which were also elevated to the Hall of Fame in the Hypermarket and Supermarket categories. Uniqlo received the award in the Foreign Brand Retailer in the large category, while Ace Hardware received an award in the Foreign Brand Specialty Retail, Home Improvement Center category.

The annual search for the Outstanding Filipino Retailers seeks to recognize Filipino retailers who have epitomized the model of a successful retailer in terms of growth and good ethical business practices.

PRA introduced the Shopping Centers of the Year category in 2002, which recognize the Philippines’ world-class shopping centers’ part in promoting the growth and development of the retail industry.

W EDNES DAY : J UNE 2 2, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

“E

at-sleep-rave-repeat” is now a phrase that you would normally hear from the youth’s mouth, with music festivals, clubs, and parties that are swarming around Manila.

What makes these festivals and clubs a go-to place for ravers and party animals, a night filled with the new mainstream that is EDM (Electronic Dance Music)?

“With EDM, it’s like a genre where you get to dance and jump a lot,” said Bp Valenzuela, a Manila-based music producer.

The age of hip-hop, rap, and punk rock are long gone and overdue with the cultural shift of popular music to EDM. On the international scene, Coachella, the annual three-day music extravaganza in California, is one of the biggest festivals where EDM dominates the diverse music performed.

From international artists such as Zedd, Ingrosso, Steve Aoki, among others, EDM is now making its way to the local scene with the rise of Filipino DJs like Deuce Manila, Migs Santillan, Kat DJ, and Franco Zarate, to name a few.

With a little creativity, variety, some talent, and a laptop, any aspiring DJ’s budding career is far from impossible, given the amount of appreciation it has been receiving lately.

But what does EDM really mean?

Marga Bermudez, a former DJ and now an emcee and who’s been in the industry working alongside DJs, said people have a common misconception of what EDM actually is. “Most people who don’t know the difference between genres often mistake EDM as just ‘loud party music with strobe lights to boot.’”

She added that it consists of many other different electronic genres, like dubstep, house, trance, etc.

EDM has made its way quickly to the music scene, with the presence of local bands and artists here in the Philippines. It has been the new craze in the country.

Bermudez said that lifestyle was the key in the rise of EDM to fame, both here and abroad.

“Music is universal, so anything that catches the ear and eye is what makes anything boom in any country.” She said a change of scene and lifestyle is also a factor that led Filipinos to appreciate EDM.

MUSIC

Is EDM the new mainstream?

BY ANNE RENEE SUAREZ

The annual Coachella Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, attracts thousands of music aficionados all around the globe

“Local bands were the key in music and entertainment in the Philippines but I guess we’re always looking for something new.”

In an interview with Franco Zarate, a Redbull Thre3Style 2015 PH National Finalist and one of the leading DJs in the country today, he said feeling the vibe and what track to play in every festival are always the hardest.

“How the crowd will react to the music or mainly the life of the event solely depends on how much the DJ is able to connect to the audience through music, that’s what makes each [DJ] different from the others ” said Zarate.

As for the future of EDM in the country, so much is yet to happen and discover but EDM is definitely “in the know” and according to Bermudez, “to appreciate music is to have an open mind and ear.”

(Anne Renee Suarez is a Journalism student at University of Sto. Tomas.)

At 70, Phil-Aussie relations rock at SM North Edsa As part of its year-long festivities marking seven decades of bilateral ties with the Philippines, the Australian Embassy held a Social Media Day during the launch of the Celebrate Australia: Say G’Day exhibition at The Block at SM City North EDSA. The event hosted by Magic 89.9 DJ Nikko Ramos rocked with the presence of Australian DJ Callum David, who played music while students and bloggers took photos of the exhibit. The energy of the younger crowd and the use of technology reinforced how dynamic and vibrant Philippine and Australian relations continue to be over the years.

The highlight of the event was a contest wherein participants posted their most creative photos online using the hashtag #First70Years. There were different categories including Best Dressed, Most Creative ‘Take Me to Australia’ photo, Best Groufie, and Best Aussie Photobooth. Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorley also selected the Ambassador’s Choice award given to the winning online photo.

Mall visitors also had the rare opportunity to learn more about Australia and its relations with the Philippines in an exhibit. A weekend fair featur-

C5

Mixing some beats. Australian DJ Callum David delights the audience on the Social Media D ay

ing leading and emerging Australian brands in the Philippines was also held during the event.

The Celebrate Australia: Say G’Day Social Media Day is one of the many exciting cultural events at the SM Supermalls.

On EDM scene, Alesso (left) and Zedd (right) are legendary rockstars

C6

W EDNES DAY : J UNE 2 2, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXIEST

L

ast month, Jessy Mendiola flaunted her enviable “LaBoracay” figure the hottest way imaginable with a virtual peep show on her Instagram feed in red and grey two-piece bikinis.

The photos, which captions talked about how she could stay on the island forever and how confident she is with her body amid numerous criticisms, launched a number of memes that aim to support the young actress’s statement of being content with her own curves.

“My body may not be perfect but that will not stop me from being confident with myself,” she stated disallowing negative comments to affect her.

One month since her photos went viral, Jessy topped the annual “FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World” online poll. The Banana Split mainstay grabbed the top spot from On the Wings of Love star Nadine Lustre, based on the partial unofficial results as of June 11.

Nadine, whose real-life boyfriend (James Reid) jokingly castigated her fans for sending her to the top spot, now settled for second place. Jennylyn Mercado is now on the third spot after being named the sexiest woman in the country last year.

Kapamilya star Angel Locsin and Kapuso darling Rhian Ramos maintained their fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

And, also in the top 10 are actresses Arci Muñoz, Glaiza De Castro, Kim Domingo, Marian Rivera and volleyball superstar Rachel Anne Daquis.

There are strong messages this “sexiest poll” tells us with Jessy and Nadine in the top two. First, a sexy woman is no longer limited to someone who has a thin

Bikini-clad. FHM 2015 sexiest woman Jennylyn Mercado walks the Bro Con ramp (top, pictured center), current leader in the sexiest online poll Jessy Mendiola (left), and strong “sexiest” contender Nadine Lustre (right)

waist, round butt, plump breasts, and long legs. And a woman can

CROSSWORD PUZZLE (2 wds.)

Shirt-pocket stain Cheesy snacks Term paper abbr.

Schnoz-related Hither and — It’s unfathomable Cameo role Barbecue treat Finite Hit head-on Sudden foray Gambling mecca Persia, nowadays Give the eye Stops up Banned thing (hyph.)

68 Non-verbal OKs 69 Shangri-La site 70 Chew on DOWN 1 Feudal worker 2 Goddess’s statue 3 Dossier 4 Wire 5 Assail 6 Make shore 7 Way back when 8 No neatnik, this 9 Body temperature 10 Buoyant 11 Swain 12 — -carotene 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 52 53 57 61 62 64 65 66 67

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Make flour finer 5 Wild party 10 “Fernando” group 14 Adams or McClurg 15 Birdie beater 16 Intuit 17 Teacher’s roster 18 Meddle 19 Eleventh-hour 20 Pulled a scam

22 24 25 26 29 32

Make camp Kind of instinct Width of a cir.

Tight-knit team Outshine Toss here and there 36 Libretto feature 37 Police action 39 Ait, on the Seine 40 Atlantic menace?

be called sexy without taking her clothes off. Take Nadine for in-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

13 21 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 37 38 41 42 47 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 63

He played Obi-Wan Pool stick Panoramic view Hut Ice hockey locale Lairds’ daggers Hepburn and — Lawn products brand Argentine dictator Beatles’ “Eleanor” Mystery writer — Peters Uproots?

Town in Oklahoma Mom’s girl Dark Mouse activity Stays a while Call in sick Lure Perch Hubbard of sci-fi (2 wds.)

Bard’s villain Springlike Surrealist painter Hamster’s digs Rust component Elcar or Wynter Sufficient, in verse Young wolf

stance, do a quick Google search and type “Nadine Lustre in biki-

ni” on the search bar. You’ll hardly find a photo of her in bikini or in revealing outfits except for a photo she posted on Instagram a year ago where she can be seen wearing a one-piece floral swimwear with a flower tucked in her left ear. She has since taken the photo down for a reason we wouldn’t really know.

In a similar sense, the names that appear in the top 10 and top 20 give us a better glimpse of how people define what makes women sexy.

During the decade of big hair, spandex, and neon clothing, a sexy woman is someone who had an aerobics trained body – toned yet still looked feminine.

Think of Jane Fonda for a better illustration.

Just over the past 30 years, the ideal figure that makes women look sexy has changed.

During the 90s, skinny and model-type women were hot.

In 2000s, the almost unattainable Barbie figure was in. It’s only now that the “toned yet still looked feminine” women are viewed ideal and, of course, sexy once again, hence, the emergence of “fitspo” culture.

Actresses like Coleen Garcia, Anne Curtis, Solenn Heussaff and Yassi Pressman, who all landed in the top 20 of the annual sexiest poll are good examples of fitspo. They promote an active and healthy lifestyle to achieve the figure they believe is sexy.

In the next few weeks, the new sexiest woman in the world (or rather in the Philippines) will be named. It will culminate in a whole day general men’s interest expo/convention called Bro Con where fans can meet and greet with this year’s sexiest women apart from seeing them sashay the runway in an “ultimate viewing event.” Feminists call this convention a blatant way to commodify women. But they are not irked because the event defines sexy as purely physical.

But of course, this calls for an entirely different story.

W EDNES DAY : J UNE 2 2, 2016

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

T

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

C7

ABS-CBN TFC and Western Union connect more Filipinos to Kapamilya shows

he ABS-CBN Global Group and Western Union recently entered into an agreement that brings together their core services to reach more Filipinos worldwide. Representing the industry movers during the formal memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held in May at the Restaurant 9501 of the Eugenio Lopez Communications Center in Quezon City were ABSCBN Asia Pacific Managing Director Ailene Averion, Regional Finance Officer Lawrence Reyes, and Western Union Senior Vice President for Southeast Asia and Oceania Patricia Riingen.

As part of the agreement, one of the biggest names in remittance, Western Union, will provide senders a free, 30-day TFC.tv Lite package for every valid transaction.

TFC.tv is the online platform of ABS-CBN Global’s flagship service, TFC, which provides access to ABS-CBN programs and other content to viewers outside the Philippines. Customers who make valid transactions using wu.com; Western Union® or Vigo (Canada only); agent retail locations in the U.S., Canada, as well as selected countries in the Middle East, Oceania, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, can redeem up to three times within the promo period.

At the onset, Riingen said given the two industry giants’ vision and mission, the tie-up made perfect sense from the very beginning.

From left: ABS-CBN’s Ailene Averion, Western Union’s Patricia Z. Riingen, and ABS-CBN Regional Finance Officer Lawrence Reyes during the formal memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing

“We were really interested in the collaboration with TFC because we can potentially leverage our combined strengths. We’re both in the business of connecting migrant workers and Filipinos who live and work abroad and to their families as well as to the Philippines.”

Riingen said TFC and Western Union’s goals run parallel, “Our thrust is to be able to provide a means for consumers to send their money reliably and conveniently and to connect them with their families. It’s the same prin-

ciple that TFC has. It’s to connect Filipinos abroad with the Filipino culture here. I think it’s a good collaboration and it’s one that really complements each other.”

Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and senders in selected countries will benefit from the promotion as they get two values for the price of one. With the TFC.tv Lite Package, qualified senders can get updates on news programs as well as entertainment from ABS-CBN’s topraters, from drama to the comedy genre. It also includes a livestream of ANC and a seven-day archive of

ABS-CBN shows ( Terms and conditions apply).

On top of these programs, qualified senders can also enjoy films with award-winning Kapamilya actor and current Western Union brand ambassador John Lloyd Cruz. These include A Very Special Love, Dubai, It Takes a Man and a Woman, Unofficially Yours, You Changed My Life, 24/7 in Love, My Amnesia Girl, One More Chance, Now That I Have You, and The Trial.

According to Averion, currently, TFC subscribers can only

enjoy this content through the platforms of TFC as ABS-CBN’s international arm, but they can now be enjoyed by a wider audience.

“Today, Filipinos across the world can choose to watch nearly all of the available ABS-CBN shows on TV and radio through our available platforms: our cable partners, our digital box (IPTV) or through TFC.tv. And with this synergy between Western Union and TFC, OFs, both our customers and non-customers will be able to experience our core offerings and strengthen that link through remittance and content.

We look forward to more opportunities for synergy in the future,” she added.

The opportunity for cooperation is wide for both TFC and Western Union. According to the latest Stock Estimates of Filipinos overseas, there are over 10 million OFs and the numbers are increasing.

In 2015, remittances amounted to $25.76 million, or a 4.6 percent increase from $24.63 million in 2014 according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. With this growth in population and remittance needs, both companies can look at more areas for synergy.

The event was hosted by Boto Mo, Patrol Mo and ABS-CBN News Channel’s Gretchen Ho with performance from The Next Big Diva Morissette Amon.

For more information on the promo, visit www.tfc.tv/wu

Find ‘Dory’ at SM Cinema!

Laugh for the Children Internationally acclaimed Filipino-American comedian Rex Navarrete is home for “Rebuild,” a benefit comedy show for the National Children’s Hospital.

“Let us laugh to forget the stresses of our daily grind, and what’s better, we laugh for the benefit of the children served by the National Children’s Hospital,” said Robert Nazal, chairman of Healthwell Nutraceuticals.

Sponsored by Anagen, GlutaMAX, Nice Day Coffee, YSA Botanica Kojic Acid and YSA Skin Care Corporation, the unforget-

table comedy show is at 7:30 tonight at the Music Museum.

“Let us help ‘rebuild’ the hospital while supporting international Filipino talent,” said Healthwell President Jose Paulo Legaspi.

Navarrete will perform with Premier Home Grown Laugh-aMinute Crew and Comedy Manila in the project by the Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa, Quezon City.

Ticket prices at P1,200, P1,000, and P800, available at Ticket World 891-9999 (www.ticketworld.com.ph) and the Music Museum 721-6726 (www.musicmuseum.com.ph).

SM Cinema invites you to find Dory through interactive exhibits at Mall of Asia. The friendly but forgetful fish discovers her way to IMAX theatres and SM Cinema branches nationwide.

SM Cinema joins the funny and loveable but forgetful blue fish named Dory as she embarks on another big adventure in DisneyPixar’s Finding Dory, the eagerly awaited sequel to Finding Nemo.

In anticipation of the year’s most heart-warming animation, SM Cinema invites families to just keep swimming at the Mall of Asia. With activities distributed in the mall, finding the amnesiac blue tang fish has never been this fun. At the MOA activity center, a Dory-themed exhibit features

games such as the Water Tank Escape: help Dory escape from the Marine Life Institute’s water tank by finding her in a wind tunnel filled with different fish. Bring Dory home through the buzz wire game where players are tasked to go through an electric maze taking Dory from the far flung ends of the sea to her family. Help her remember her past: At the Exploreum, patrons are invited to a magnified memory game. Take a selfie with Dory at IMAX. Find the well-travelled blue fish at IMAX lobbies and post a selfie for a chance to win premium items from Disney.

SM Cinema, a brand under SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc and Disney is working to bring back to

Filipino families the habit of watching movies together. This June, SM Cinema and Disney joined forces to create an unforgettable experience with Disney·Pixar’s “Finding Dory” installation.

Spend a day with your family at SM Cinema, as Dory sets out to find hers. Visit Disney·Pixar’s Finding Dory at Mall of Asia and in IMAX theatres nationwide.

Catch Disney·Pixar’s Finding Dory” at IMAX, Director’s Club Cinema, and SM Cinema theatres across the country.

For more ticket inquiries and information, log on to www. smcinema.com or follow SM Cinema @SM_Cinema on twitter and instagram, and /SMCinema on Facebook.

Well-loved Disney characters Nemo and Dory in the much awaited sequel to “Finding Nemo” animated movie

W EDNES DAY : J UNE 2 2, 2016

C8

ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Two generation of ators. Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day, 1996) joins Liam Hemsworth (right) in the upcoming science fiction disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich

Liam Hemsworth leads new generation of heroes in ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ ISAH V. RED

I

t’s Liam Hemsworth now leading a team of young pilots in fighting aliens in Independence Day: Resurgence directed by Roland Emmerich with an all-star cast including Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Sela Ward, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher and Angelababy.

The aliens are back with a vengeance in Independence Day: Resurgence, which represents director Roland Emmerich’s huge return to the genre that made him famous.

The 1996 original shot into the public imagination with its vistas of destruction, its memorable characters and huge impact on both science fiction and disaster movies.

With giant alien spaceships unleashing incredibly devastating power upon the world, it took brain, brawn and heroics to figure out a way to fight back.

Now, 20 years later, humanity has united to rebuild the world’s major cities, while salvaged alien technology has been utilized to work on solving many big problems such as climate change. But the lingering threat of the extra-terrestrials’ return still hangs over our heads and the Earth Space Defense program has formed to be ready for when that day comes. Ominously, it appears that our greatest enemy is indeed back.

Demonstrating versatility and skill in a range of performances, Hemsworth has proven to be one of the most sought-after actors of his generation. In Independence Day: Resurgence, Hemsworth plays Jake Morrison, a hotshot fighter pilot whose family was killed in the original alien attack chronicled in Emmerich’s groundbreaking 1996 sci-fi thriller. Growing up an orphan, Jake joined the military, and quickly showed an aptitude for daring flight missions.

Hemsworth particularly enjoyed exploring the character’s motivations to be at the frontlines of this new battle against the Aliens.

“Jake’s parents were killed during the War of 1996, so he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder in this fight.” The chip on Jake’s shoulder impacts his behavior with authority. Hemsworth elaborates, “Jake can be a

A scene from the “Independence Day” sequel featuring Maika Monroe (left) and Jeff Goldblum (right)

scrap. As a result of growing up as an or- around from point A to B, on the moon,” phan, Jake became resentful and jealous of says Hemsworth. “It’s not the most excitother people’s positions.” ing job for Jake, who knows he belongs Jake’s candor as in a fighter jet. And well as his fearlesshe will end up in a ness and occasional fighter jet.” disregard for authorHemsworth says he Now, 20 years later, ity land him into hot jumped at the chance humanity has united to water. He gets his to be a part of “Indewings clipped and is rebuild the world’s major pendence Day: Resurrelegated to piloting gence,” because the cities, while salvaged a Moon Tug, which film is one of his alien technology has been first is more or less like all-time favorites, alworking a giant fork- utilized to work on solving though he was only six lift or tug boat, transmany big problems such years old when it was porting weapons to released. “Battling an as climate change the military’s moon Alien invasion fleet in defense base. this film was a dream The outpost is a come true for me,” says first-response centhe actor. ter in the event of another Alien attack.

Independence Day: Resurgence opens “The Moon Tug is a lot slower than the today in cinemas nationwide (2D, 3D, jets Jake is used to flying, and basically and IMAX) from 20th Century Fox to be his day consists of moving heavy parts distributed by Warner Bros.

“

Australian actor Liam Hemsworth as Jake Morrison, a U.S. pilot serving in Earth Space Defense

little outspoken, because he’s always been the underdog who had to fight for every

”