The Standard - 2016 February 8 - Monday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXIX NO. 361 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 MONday : FEBRUaRy 8, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Grace humbled by new survey

VIOLENCE GREETS EVE OF CAMPAIGN A BARANGAY chairman was shot dead in Nueva Ecija while a town mayor was wounded in an ambush in the port city of Zamboanga two days before the campaign for the May local and national elections kicks off.

Police identified the fatality as Rolando Bautista, 42, a barangay chairman of San Carlos. His wife Lydia, and his sister-in-law Alice Abestejo were wounded in the attack and taken to hospital, while his one-year-old grandson who was also in the vehicle was unhurt. In Zamboanga City, a gunman riding a motorcycle opened fire on Mayor Jasper Que as he drove with his two bodyguards, at 9 a.m., police spokeswoman Senior Inspector Helen Galvez said. Que, a member of the ruling Liberal Party, suffered three gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and buttocks and was recovering in hospital, while his assailant escaped. On the cusp of the campaign period, the Philippine National Police said it has arrested more than 700 people for violating the pre-election gun ban. Next page

CdO airport to be used for storage, not as base By sandy Araneta THE Palace said Sunday that US forces will use part of Cagayan de Oro’s Lumbia Airport as a storage facility but not as a military base. “We would like to clarify. The facility is a storage depot for equipment used during calamities. This is part of the HADR [humanitarian assistance and disaster relief] program which is an important element of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement [EDCA],” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview over state-run radio dzRB. “We all know that a US military base is not allowed, since we are implementing the Visiting Forces Agreement, [which allows only] a rotating presence [of military personnel],” Coloma said. Next page

Ready for Chinese New Year. Wearing an ancient Chinese warrior armor, a mime artist roams Manila’s Chinatown on the eve of Chinese New Year. EY ACAsio

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BBL death to create ‘flashpoints’ ing to attract attention with their performances,” Earl Parreno, an analyst From A1 at the Manila-based Institute for Political and Economic Reform, said. “Programs and policies are secondChief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP ary... it’s a personality contest.” spokesman, said as of 8 a.m. Sunday, Aquino won in a landslide six years 746 persons have been apprehended ago largely due to the popularity of his for carrying firearms since the im- parents, who led the democracy moveplementation of the Commission on ment that saw Marcos flee into US exElections gun ban on Jan. 10. ile in 1986. These include 711 civilians, five poAquino’s preferred successor is USlice officers, 11 government officials, educated investment banker Manuel 12 security guards, five employees of Roxas II, a trusted ally with many a law enforcement agency, and two years governing experience who is members of the Civilian Armed Forc- vowing to continue the President’s es Geographical Unit, Mayor said. “straight path” agenda. He added that the PNP confiscated But Roxas, 58, is trailing in polls 592 firearms, 4,609 deadly weapons, and analysts say he has a huge task to 25 grenades, seven other explosives, ignite an electorate that generally per21 firearm replicas, 212 bladed or ceives him as having little charisma. pointed weapons and 4,344 rounds of “He is dry, he can’t connect to ordiammunition. nary people,” Parreno said. The three-month campaign begins In contrast is Vice President Jejomar Tuesday with most interest focusing Binay, 73, a natural campaigner who grew on a crowded contest to succeed Presi- up in poverty but rose to become one of dent Benigno Aquino III. the nation’s most powerful politicians. There are myriad other sub-plots, Binay heads the main opposition including a bid by the late dictator party but he has had to endure a barFerdinand Marcos’ son to take the rage of corruption allegations. vice presidency and eight-time world A Senate committee recently recomboxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s mended Binay be charged with graft run for a Senate seat. for kickbacks allegedly taken during The jailhouse campaigns of two pol- his long stint as mayor of the nation’s iticians charged with murder who are financial capital, Makati. running in local mayoral elections, Binay denies the allegations, insistas well as detained former President ing they are part of a smear campaign Gloria Arroyo’s run for a third term as by his opponents and that his family’s congresswoman fuel a sizzling politi- new riches have been earned legitical atmosphere of chaos and chican- mately. ery. Meanwhile, he has sought to portray There are four major contenders in himself as the man of the poor through the battle to move into the presiden- slick TV and Internet video clips. tial palace and most analysts predict Another top contender for the presithe deciding factors will—as usual— dency is Senator Grace Poe, 47, the be name recognition and charisma adopted daughter of a dead movie rather than ideology or policy. star whose success so far can largely “In the Philippines, elections are be attributed to her father’s enduring like a circus with the candidates try- popularity.

However, the Supreme Court could knock her out of the race before the May 9 elections, with justices currently listening to arguments she is ineligible based on citizenship and residency laws. The Constitution requires presidents have Filipino parents. But Poe does not know who her biological parents are. Complicating matters, she lived in the United States for many years and took US citizenship before renouncing it. Binay and Poe have over recent months swapped top spot in popularity surveys. The latest poll, released on Saturday, showed Poe edging back ahead by a small margin. The wildcard contender is Rodrigo Duterte, 70, a controversial figure nicknamed “The Punisher” for his ruthless but successful tactics fighting crime as mayor of Davao. Human rights groups have accused Duterte of running vigilante “death squads” that killed suspected criminals. Duterte has denied leading death squads but gave a speech late last year in which he bragged about killing drug traffickers. His vows to clean up crime and end corruption in the nation of 100 million people have won him many fans, both rich and poor. Meanwhile, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the dead dictator, has a strong chance to become the Philippines’ next vice president, currently in second place in polling. His father and mother, Imelda, are accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing widespread human rights abuses. The senator says he has nothing to apologize for and is counting on voters— many of whom were born after the 1986 “People Power” revolution—to cement a remarkable political comeback for the family. Ferdie Domingo, AFP, PNA

government of Cagayan de Oro. The government’s clarification about Lumbia Airport came amid sustained criticism from leftist groups of American involvement in Philippine affairs. The militant League of Filipino Students on Sunday told the US government to back off after US Ambassador Philip Goldberg criticized the Senate investigation of the Mamasapano massacre in which 44 police commandos were killed, saying that sensitive information was exposed during the inquiry. “The US should back off. They have no right to tell us what to do in our own country,” LFS National chairperson Charisse Bañez said in reaction to Goldberg’s statement. During the Senate hearings, military officials admitted the involvement of not only US troops but also “civilian types” possibly from the Central Intelligence Agency in Operation Wolverine, an operation to neutralize high-profile terrorists. Goldberg said such information should have been discussed in closed sessions, but the LFS said this was a way to hide the truth from the Filipino people. “We are fully entitled to know the par-

ticulars of the Mamasapano operation. It is part of the plight of the Filipino people in seeking justice and accountability. The US does not own a single right to keep us in the dark especially because the bungled foreign-engineered operation killed our countrymen,” said Bañez. “It is clear that the US has engineered the Mamasapano operation. The overwhelming evidence leads us to believe that they planned, funded, directed, and executed every part of it,” said Bañez. “The US fears that more information on the depths of their involvement will be revealed further. Also, the recent statement of Goldberg implies that the Mamasapano operation is just the tip of the iceberg with regards to the intensified intervention of US in our domestic affairs and local police and military operations,” she added. Bañez said President Benigno Aquino III must be held accountable for allowing the US to perpetually disrespect the Philippines. She added that the Filipinos are just being used as pawns for the geopolitical interest of US in the Asia-Pacific region.

Violence...

CdO... From A1

In calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes, the facility can help to extend immediate assistance to affected communities, Coloma said. Earlier, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed that Lumbia Airport would be converted into a US military depot. “As a depot, the airport would be utilized for military equipment necessary for rescue operations during emergencies,” Gazmin said. Lumbia Airport, about five kilometers southwest of Cagayan de Oro, stopped commercial operations after the opening of the new airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental in 2013. The 500-hectare airport complex, owned by the Department of Transportation and Communications, is currently home to the 10th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force. A pending House bill urges the national government to return the lot to the city

AN iNterNAtioNAl peace group repeated government warnings Sunday that violence is likely to break out after Congress failed to pass the Palace-backed Bangsamoro Basic law and as the country heads into elections. “As disappointment over the BBL mixes with electionrelated political tensions, flashpoints are likely. Rather than blame or condemn the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] or those who support the BBL, let us see take these as our prompt to study the BBL,” said Judy Gulane, communication specialist at International Alert Philippines. The group also agreed with the Palace that the BBL was “the best chance at self-determination” for Muslims, and the “best chance for peace in Muslim Mindanao.” The group said it welcomed the announcement that the government and the MILF would sustain the peace process even though Congress failed to pass the BBL, the lynchpin in the government’s peace agreement with the MILF. The group also urged the two sides to consult with groups that felt excluded in the previous peace talks as well as legislators who opposed the BBL before they refile the bill in the 17th Congress. International Alert also said it was important to sustain the development of Muslim Mindanao, with or without a new law. This was particularly important with the non-approval of the BBL and rising radicalism among the Muslim youth, the group said. Data show that despite higher investments by the Aquino government, economic growth of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remains among the slowest and its poverty incidence among highest in the country. In its remaining months in office, the Aquino government must continue to pour in funds that the region needs while the incoming government must heed the region’s growth requirements, the peace group said. “We urge regional and local government officials to continue pursuing growth plans and to always prioritize the welfare of their people. In this respect, we commend regional officials’ promise to forge ahead with development plans despite the lack of a BBL and municipallevel initiatives to draw business investments to the localities. We also commend businesses that have chosen to set up shop in the ARMM despite many uncertainties,” the group said. Sandy Araneta

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Farmers slam Duterte plan on foreign ownership THE farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Sunday expressed disappointment over Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s statement saying he supports allowing foreigners to own 70 percent of land in the Philippines. Rafael Mariano, KMP national chairman, said “farmers are dismayed with Duterte’s quick turnaround,” warning that “leasing land to foreigners renewable for 40 years would be worse than the current law allowing foreigners to lease land for 50 years and renewable for another 25 years.” “In less than 12 hours in the presence of big businessmen, Duterte retracted what he himself said in front of peasant leaders and advocates. That was quick,” Mariano said On Feb. 3, Mariano met with Duterte during a peasants forum at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Duterte expressed openness to genuine land reform and slammed the Aquino administration’s “sham” agrarian reform. “Duterte’s 180-degree turn and other presidential wannabes’ dismissal of farmers’ demands clearly shows that the 2016 election is a political circus with candidates taking the Filipino people [for] a roller coaster ride,” Mariano said in a statement. “The peasantry will continue to challenge all candidates on the demand for genuine land reform, the return of the multi-billionpeso coconut levy and free irrigation, among others.” During the 29th year of the Mendiola massacre, the farmers’ group challenged Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe and Duterte to distribute the Hacienda Luisita that belongs to President Benigno Aquino III and the Araneta estate owned by the relatives of administration bet Manuel Roxas II. “We are challenging the three presidential front runners Binay, Poe and Duterte on the genuine distribution of Hacienda Luisita and other vast landholdings: the Araneta estate in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Rodriguez, Rizal, owned by the relatives of Roxas,” Mariano said. He said the failure of the presidential candidates to declare and implement the genuine distribution of Hacienda Luisita and other plantations made them no different from the current haciendero government of Aquino. “We challenge them to reverse the Department of Agrarian Reform’s fake distribution scheme that was designed to displace the farm workers and divide their ranks,” Mariano said. Rio N. Araja

CCP event. Artists from different universities perform at the Cultural Center grounds in Manila for this year’s Pasinaya, an annual Cultural Center of the Philippines event that features more than 300 shows. DANNy PAtA

Poe humbled by survey putting her back on top INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe said Sunday she was overwhelmed and at the same time humbled after regaining the lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey for the presidential aspirants. Based on the January poll results, Senator Poe garnered 33 percent of the votes while erstwhile leader Vice President Jejomar Binay dropped to second spot along with administration candidate Manuel Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. ”It echoes the voice of the people who trust and believe in my capacity to be a leader no matter what hurdles are thrown my way,” Poe said in a statement. ”The Filipinos will always be my inspiration to stay the course and work harder, especially now that the official campaign period is about to commence. I am ready to serve and work to

bring the change that the Filipinos deserve.” Poe made her statement even as the youth group Anakbayan said the prevailing antiAquino sentiment made her regain her lead in the surveys. “If this shows anything, it it that Poe should maintain her independence and should continue to project herself as the candidate in contrast to the ruling party in the Palace,” Anakbayan national chairman Vencer Crisostomo said. Meanwhile, a group of adoptive parents has asked the Supreme Court to decide in favor of foundlings by ruling that Senator Grace Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen. The Adoptees, Adoptive Families and Foundlings Conference said such ruling would recognize the inherent rights of foundlings to hold high office and remove the social stigma attached to abandoned children. “We appeal to the humanity of the Supreme Court, group convenor Eric Mallonga said in a statement. “Our children are natural-born citizens as they embrace the Philippines and serve their fellowmen in the country of their

birth and culture.” Poe dropped to second place in the December survey after the Commission on Elections ruled in favor of the petition to disqualify her for being a foundling and for allegedly not meeting the residency requirement. Her camp elevated her disqualification case to the Supreme Court to seek the dismissal of the two petitions. Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, kept his lead in the vice presidential race by receiving 33 percent of the votes in January from 29 percent in December. Escudero kept his lead despite having no political ads, and with two days left before the 90-day election campaign period starts. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received 23 percent to remain in second place, while Roxas’ running mate Leni Robredo placed third after improving her ratings to 18 percent from 14 percent. Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, dropped to fourth place with 14 percent from 18 percent in December last year. PNA, with Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

Comelec to start printing of ballots at NPO today

Road train. The Department of Science and Technology’s electric road train traverses Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Sunday. The train is 40 meters long and each of its three coaches can accommodate 60 passengers. DANNy PAtA

THE Commission on Elections said Sunday it will start the printing of more than 55 million official ballots for the May 9 elections at the National Printing Office in Quezon City today, Monday. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said there will be dry runs before the ballots are printed. “There will be several preparatory parts just like in factories, so we will most likely have a dry run first this Monday,” he said. The Comelec will be printing the ballots using the three Canon printers at the NPO. It will be printing ballots for the 54,363,844 registered voters and 1,376,067 absentee voters abroad, as well as those needed in the final testing and sealing of the vote-counting machines. “It will be one [ballot] to one [voter],” Bautista said. I know there is a call for extra ballots, but it could pose a problem since it can

be perceived as a potential tool for poll irregularities.” Bautista said they were looking to finish the ballot printing by April 25. To be printed in front of the ballot are the names of the candidates for president, vice president, senators and partylist groups, while the names of the candidates for local positions like mayor, governor and councilor, will be printed in the back. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they were ready to start printing the ballots. “We have a buildup process in ballot printing which we call ramping up,” Jimenez said. “It will be a bit slow at the start, but at its peak it can average almost a million per day. So this will really be quick.” The original start of the ballot printing was Jan. 26 but it was moved twice: first to Feb. 1 and then to Feb. 8. PNA

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Wanted Abu kidnapper slain By Frankie Tuyay and Florante Solmerin

An Alleged member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group who took part in several high-profile kidnapping incidents was shot and killed by government security forces in Indanan, Sulu on Sunday. Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, identified the slain bandit as Haber, alias Abu Qudama. Haber died on the spot in Sitio Annur, Barangay Buanza, Indanan town at 1:03 a.m. Arrojado said Haber belonged to an ASG faction under subleader Sibih Pisih, who operates

in the municipalities of Indanan, Parang and Maimbung, all in Sulu. The slain bandit had pending warrants for his arrest for his involvement in kidnappings in Sipadan in 2000 and the attack on an exclusive resort in Samal, Davao del Norte in May 2001. He was among six armed men

who raided the Sipadan resort off the east coast of Borneo and abducted 21 people, including tourists from europe, South Africa and Lebanon and a Malaysian police officer on April 23, 2000. The kidnappers also took with them nine other Malaysians and two Filipino resort workers and brought them to the island province of Jolo. Around 20 suspected Abu Sayyaf members attacked the exclusive Pearl Farm resort in Samal Island on May 22, 2001 and killed two employees, wounding three. Most recently, the ASG staged another kidnapping at

the Oceanview resort on Samal island, taking two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman on September 2015. Government forces have been hunting ASG leaders involved in the Sipadan kidnapping incident for years and eventually captured Ibni Acosta in Poblacion, Zamboanga City in August 2015. The ASG is still holding at least nine hostages who are believed to be detained separately in the jungles in Sulu, a known hotbed of the notorious Muslim kidnapfor-ransom bandit group. With PNA

Pictures at the park. A couple and their child take photos of themselves in front of a Valentine’s Day-themed installation at Manila’s Rizal Park on

Sunday. EY ACASIO

Church joins fight against Zika virus THe Church’s health ministry has joined efforts in raising public awareness about the Zika virus and on ways to prevent its spread in the Philippines. Camillian Father Dan Cancino, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Commission on Healthcare, said they have started working with people living in mosquito-prone areas. “We started [an awareness drive] in areas vulnerable to the Zika virus. This is actually the same population that is vulnerable to dengue,” Cancino told Radio Veritas. Local health officials are bracing for a likely outbreak of the virus as the mosquito-borne disease spreads to more countries. The Health department on Wednesday said the country was still free from the virus and assured the public it can handle cases of Zika infection. Cancino urged the government to adopt a more aggressive approach to thwarting an outbreak similar to the one that is already widespread in the Americas. “Our appeal to the Department of Health is to [increase] awareness on the Zika virus. Although this is something new, there are still many people who are not aware of it,” he said. While there is no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent Zika virus, health officials said prevention is still the key and should start in everyone’s backyard. The priest said preventing an outbreak entails controlling mosquito populations and eliminating places where they lay eggs like water containers in and around the house.

Bam wants fines on erring telcos hiked FROM the current P200 fine per day for erring telco companies, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino wants to increase the amount to between P300,000 to P5 million every day per violation of any resolution or regulation of the National Telecommunications Commission. The proposal of Aquino to impose heavier fines and penalties on telecommunications entities that will violate directives from the NTC is in line with his advocacy for better Internet service. Aquino’s Senate Bill 3208 seeks to amend the outdated provisions of Commonwealth Act 146 or the Public Service Law to make it attuned to present times. It would also give NTC more

power in dealing with erring telecommunications companies. The bill also allows NTC to increase the amount of fines every five years, subject to a certification from the National economic Development Authority. Also, the measure empowers NTC to impose a P300-million fine on telecommunications entities that will perform any forbidden action or neglect or fail to perform a required act. “With heavier penalties, NTC can expect greater compliance from Internet providers to standards and regulations that have been set to advance Internet quality in the Philippines,” Aquino said. If enacted into law, Aquino

said the measure will improve the country’s slow and expensive Internet service. Aquino also called on stakeholders to band together to create a framework for the improvement of the country’s Internet system for the benefit of all Filipinos, especially those engaged in commerce. “When it comes to public services, we must do more than just keep up with the development of our neighbors and exceed them,” he said. For two years, the neophyte senator has been pushing for faster and cheaper Internet service, as he believes it will create jobs and livelihood and make the country more competitive. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Medical mission. A doctor confers with a woman who brought her child to the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila, where a free medical mission was held on Sunday. ANDREW RABULAN

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Endorsed. Senatorial candidate Rep. Martin Romualdez (middle) is endorsed by Region 7 Barangay Health Workers led by its president Emerlinda Abadjano (6th right) and all municipal chapter BHWs during the monthly general assembly of all BHWs. Also in photo is the congressman’s wife Yedda Romualdez (4th right).VER NOVENO

Co-op venture with LGUs draws Justice’s support By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice has expressed no objection to the enactment of a measure in Congress mandating the creation of local government unit-partnered cooperatives to administer credit surety funds to give micro, small and medium enterprises easy access to bank credit. In a reply-letter to Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Menardo Guevarra, the DoJ through Undesecretary Zabedin Azis said it has “no constitutional or legal objection to the passage” of Senate Bill No. 2909/House Bill No. 6007. Guevarra sought the comments and recommendations of the DoJ on the proposed bills to be known as the Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act of 2015. The Justice department said the

passage of the bill is in line with Article 2, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution which provides that “the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free people from proverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.” The bill aims to encourage, promote and assist in the creation

of a special cooperative, the CSF Cooperative, which shall be vested with juridical personality and enjoy all the rights and privileges of cooperative. The measure also seek to enhance the credit worthiness of member-MSMEs, cooperatives and non-government organizations, and broaden their access to the credit facilities of banks. Besides, the proposed law intends to sustain the continuous flow of credit in the countryside through the establishment of well and prudently managed CSFs which shall serve as surety covers. The bill also aims to generate more employment and contribute to the poverty alleviation program of the government through increased investments and economic activities.

Here comes the son: Marcos ahead in polls By Macon Araneta VICE presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday said the recent Pulse Asia survey and a mock poll showing him taking the lead in Metro Manila and Region 8 universities in the Visayas, inspired him to campaign harder to win in the May elections. “We will work harder to let our countrymen know our vision for a progressive future that we can all enjoy if we unite and work together,” said Marcos as he prepared to hit the campaign trail. The latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed Marcos as the top choice for Metro Manila voters with 33 percent. Marcos was also favored by Class ABC with 28 percent. Marcos was also the top vice presidential candidate among college students in the Regional Tertiary Schools Press Conference mock polls held at the Southern Leyte State University on last Feb. 4. He got 39.6 percent of the votes. He and his running mate Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago will kick off their campaign in the Marcos family hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

A mass will be first held at the Batac Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church in Batac. This will be followed by the kick off ceremony at the Marcos residence on Marcos Avenue. Marcos and Santiago will then proceed to the Mariano Marcos State University to address the students. They will proceed to Currimao to inaugurate a solar power plant. Meanwhile, Marcos urged the next administration to adopt policies like easing constitutional provisions on foreign ownership to drive down electricity cost in the country. He issued this statement in the wake of the announcement of Manila Electric Co. of a 42-centavo per kilowatt-hour hike in their charge this month. Meralco warned of higher electricity rates in the coming summer months. “We have among the highest power rates in Asia and our current generation capability can hardly keep up with the demand that some areas continue to experience rotating brownouts. If we can drive power costs down mothers can put more food in the table for their families,” said Marcos.

Palace saddened by death of 14 Filipinos in Iraq fire By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANG on Sunday expressed sadness for the death of 14 Filipinos in a hotel fire in Arbil, Iraq and pledged to bring their bodies home while assisting their bereaved kinsmen. “We are deeply regretful and saddened by the ordeal suffered by our countrymen who died in Iraq during a fire,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

“Our Charges d’ Affaires in Iraq, Elmer Cato, is currently in Arbil and coordinating with authorities in order to find out the names of those who died,” said Coloma. “The government will extend all help needed by the families of the Filipino victims,” Coloma also said. A fire that hit a hotel in the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region killed 19 people, 14 of them from the Philippines,

Iraqi officials said. Dozens more were injured and taken to a hospital. The Department of Foreign Affairs said they are still trying to identify the Filipinos who died in the fire. “Initial report we received from our embassy in Baghdad says that 14 Filipinos are among the 19 people who died in a fire that struck Capitol Hotel in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq,” DFA

spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement on Saturday. The embassy is in touch with Kurdistan Regional Government to ascertain the identities of Filipino victims. [The] acting ambassador [is] flying to Erbil to personally lead the effort,” he added. On Saturday, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said the DFA has sent some

of its personnel to Arbil. “We are very sad about this. It’s a terrible way to die. There were many of them and it was, I believe, in a massage center,” Quezon said over dzRB. “We would like to get more details and do everything that is possible to bring our countrymen home and, of course, to look at every possibility to assist their families at this time of sadness and need,” he said.

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Non-toxic lucky charms pushed Human health is no monkey business. On this premise, the EcoWaste Coalition warned consumers against purchasing lead painted “feng shui” amulets and charms for health and prosperity during the Chinese New Year of the Fire Monkey. “Lucky charms that are marketed to enhance a healthy, happy and successful year should be free from toxic lead, a hazardous substance linked to brain damage and other health and behavioral problems,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect. Lead is listed as one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern by the World Health Organization and the government has taken the bold decision to phase out lead in decorative paints effective Jan. 1, 2016, he said. “Local paint companies are reformulating or have reformulated their oil-based products to comply with the chemical control order that also sets 90 parts per million [ppm] as the maximum limit for lead in paint,” he added. Some lucky charms are still decorated with paints that contain outrageous levels of toxic lead, he lamented. “While not intended for children’s use, these products may get into the hands of a curious child who may think these are play things. Kids might even bite or, heaven forbid, swallow these toxic charms.” According to health experts, lead exposure among children even at low levels can interrupt and damage brain development and cause lifelong learning and behavioral problems, while exposure among adults can bring about miscarriage in women, reduced sperm count in men, hypertension and other health problems.

Dragon’s eyes. Filipino-Chinese leaders in Binondo, Manila place a dot on a paper dragon’s eyes during a ceremony held in preparation for the Chinese New Year at a mall on Sunday, Feb. 7. Dotting the dragon’s eyes signiﬁes energy, protection, abundance and good luck, according to Chinese belief. DANNY PATA

Chinoy heritage enriches country–Aquino PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Sunday joined the Chinese-Filipino community in celebrating the Lunar New Year. In his message, Aquino said the dynamic heritage of Chinese-Filipinos adds depth and vibrancy to the Republic’s history. “Your contributions are as far reaching as they are varied; your unique culture has become part of our collective

identity as Filipinos. Thus, the government is one with you in celebrating the Lunar New Year—one of the most significant events in the Chinese calendar,” said Aquino. “May this event enrich, highlight, and promote the qualities, values, and ideals that make your community a treasured component of our nation; may it embody the harmony and hope signaled by the turn of the year.”

Camarillo sets 23rd photo exhibit SONNY Camarillo, a freelance photojournalist and past president of The Camera Club of the Philippines and the Press Photographers of the Philippines will mount his 23rd photo exhibit entitled ‘Edsa 1986 Before & Beyond—Ipagpatuloy Ang Pagkakaisa Ng Bayan Para Sa Kaunlaran’ in partnership with Ayala Land Inc. The visual presentation consisting of ‘a thousand and one images’ will showcase pictures from the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and stories learned by the photojournalist such as the vision of Marcos for CAMARILLO the country and his fight against oligarchy. The show sponsored by Camerahaus, Pagcor, the Fil-Estate Management Corp. and RCBC, Yuchengco Group will be at the Ayala Malls Trinoma from Feb. 15-

29 during mall hours at the Cinema Lobby. This visual presentation, supported also by PCSO, JRS Express, Starbucks Coffee, Balikabayan Handicrafts and Osmundo Antiques, is free for public viewing. Viewers will travel back in time from Marcos time to the wake and snap elections, and eventually, Edsa revolution and beyond. In the past exhibits, viewers and students are amazed by the quality of the photos. The crisp and enhanced images are expertly digitized and printed by the YKL Digital Imaging. The viewers welcome these exhibits because they learned so much about our recent history that is “hardly touched” in schools. Many were touched and sentimental about the life of Ninoy but many viewers think “life seems to be better during Marcos time.”

The President said the strong, resilient, and vibrant country that is today, is empowered by the multifaceted milieu. “Let us rejoice in the stable environment that has allowed us to harness this multiplicity of talents and perspectives towards our resurgence, and continue to foster it as a foundation of a truly progressive and inclusive Philippines for all of our

people,” he said. Aquino wished the ChineseFilipino community happiness, prosperity, and good health for the coming year. Earlier, Aquino said, “the joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our ChineseFilipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people.” Sandy Araneta

Mayor’s detention sought By Rio Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has recommended to the Sandiganbayan the detention of former Rodriguez, Rizal town mayor Pedro Cuerpo, along with a former motor pool head—Aristotle Cruz—in connection with a criminal cases filed against them last Feb. 2. Assistant Special Prosecutor Cristina Hernandez submitted a “no-bail recommendation” against the two accused for illegal possession of hot lumber and other forest products worth P9,009,896. She alleged the duo violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705 in relation to Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the case information on Jan. 11 based on the recommendation of Hernandez and acting deputy special prosecutor Omar Sagadal. The duo were charged following a July

2005 raid by officers of the Rizal community environment and natural resource office and provincial environment and natural resources office, and the discovery of 28,050 board feet of assorted dipterocarp or tropical hardwood timber stocked inside the municipal motor pool in Barangay San Jose. Also seized during the raid were a 30-inch diameter band saw, a cutterplaner, a table circular saw, an electric motor, a compressor and a drill press. Cuerpo was not able to present legal documents for possession of forest products and forestry equipment. “[Defendants] deliberately refused to turn over said timber products, tools, and equipment to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources despite notice,” the prosecution noted. The accused reportedly used the lumber to manufacture chairs, tables, and cabinets within the motor pool premises despite failure to secure any license, permit or authority from DENR.

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Popcom workers protest benefits’ scrapping By Mel Caspe tHE Commission on Population Employees Association in Eastern Visayas has joined other health and science workers in the country to protest against the scrapping of their Magna Carta benefits under the proposed Salary Standardization Law. Copea-8 president Melanie C. Alberto said that despite repeated assurances from the Department of Budget and Management that the additional benefits of health and science workers, social workers and public school teachers would not be taken away in the SSL, they will strengthen their position to oppose the plan scrapping of these Magna Carta benefits. As part of the protest, all rank and file employees of the commission nationwide sported black shirts on Feb. 5. Alberto said that Copea has already forged alliance with the National DoH Employees Association to push for the deletion of said provision specified under the SSL by staging protest and mass action on a bigger scale until our demand has been granted. Popcom is an attached agency of the DoH. Section 20 states that Magna Carta laws are inconsistent with the SSL iV provisions and “are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.” RA 7305 grants public health workers “on call” pay, nightshift differential, subsistence allowance, remote assignment and hazard allowance, among others.

New classrooms. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez thanks USAID chief financial officer Reginald Mitchell who came to the city to inaugurate four climate-resilient and fully-furnished classrooms to the Tacloban City National High School. MEL CASPE

Group demands BFAR support for El Niño-affected fisherfolk By Sandy Araneta FisherFolk group Pambansang lakas ng kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Friday urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources to provide adequate economic support to the municipal fisherfolk who are affected by the el Niño phenomenon. According to BFAR, 100,000 fisherfolk throughout the archipelago are affected by the El Niño. the volume of fish catch in 15-kilometer municipal waters might also decrease by 279,000 tons, representing 23 percent of the annual figure. Pamalakaya urged the BFAR to mobilize its 2016 budget for the mitigation of the impact of the prolonged drought and for

the rehabilitation and direct support to the El Niño-stricken fisherfolk in the country. the BFAR has been allotted P6.7 billion this year, which according to them, majority of their budget is for combatting their so-called “illegal, unregulated and unreported” fishing or for the implementation of the amended fisheries code. But Pamalakaya told BFAR

that instead of spending the huge chunk of the budget for the implementation of the fisheries code, it would much better to use it to address the El Niño and other weather phenomenon that causes ecological disturbances to the marine ecology that adversely affecting the livelihoods of the fishers. BFAR should also provide a significant and concrete support to the fisherfolk that will modernize their backward fishing gear and technology so they can cope up with the inconstant climate and to uplift their impoverished conditions, Pamalakaya said. the fisherfolk group said the prolonged dry spell is causing massive fish kills and red tide in the archipelago. the coastal waters in the said

provinces had been affected by paralytic shellfish poison affecting the lives of thousands of fisherfolk who are dependent on farming, harvesting, transporting and marketing of shellfish and other red tide-prone marine resources. “thousands of El Niño-affected fishers are in dire need of support aid to resume their production and mitigate the devastating impact of this extreme heat besetting the country. We assert to BFAR Director Asis Perez to immediately provide genuine economic aid to the El Niñoaffected fisherfolk instead of squandering those millions of people’s funds for the construction of patrol and monitoring boats that are no significant help to the fishers,” said Salvador France, Pamalakaya vice chairperson.

San Fernando to build business district on ex-sugar compound By Romeo Dizon

Future stewards. Tourism students simulate a flight safety procedure during a competition at the 5th National League of Tourism Students Olympics. Eleven universities nationwide participated in the event held at the University of Baguio. DAVID CHAN

City of San Fernando, Pampanga —the 98-year-old Pampanga Sugar Development Corp. is now being dismantled to pave the way for the construction of a P25-billion central business district, Mayor Edwin Santiago said yesterday. Santiago said that project will be undertaken by the Megaworld Corp. for 10 years with integrated residential, offices, commercials, retail and institutional offices. there will also be a cyber park for business process outsourcing in 25 hectares of land owned by the sugar mills in Barangay Sto. Niño here. the mayor said the business district will benefit not only the residents of the city but other nearby towns of Pampanga.

He added that the chimneys of the sugar mill will be retained or put in a museum. “they show the progress of the city since its foundation in 1874.” the city of San Fernando is about 70 kilometers away from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway and 20 kilometers from Clark international Airport Pasudeco was incorporated April 1918 and started its operation in 1921 as purchasing and processing company for the surrounding sugar plantations of Pampanga, tarlac, Bataan and Zambales. the building was constructed by the Honolulu irons Works. A tragedy struck the sugar mill in 1939 when a labor dispute resulted in the death of three persons including Capt. Julian Olivas, Jose de Leon and Augusto Gonzales.

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Thick as a brick WHEN President Aquino once asked rhetorically in a State of the Nation Address where inept and corrupt public officials got the gall to do what they do, he should have turned to his side and directed the question at Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. The Cabinet secretary that Mr. Aquino once held up as an example of a new breed of leaders has been nothing but a disgrace after he took over the Department of Transportation and Communications in 2012. Since then, we have seen our commuter train services deteriorate right before our eyes—with millions of commuters paying the price. Workers who opt for other modes of transportation must suffer traffic snarls that have become so bad that they cost the economy an estimated P3 billion a day. Under Abaya’s watch, the country’s main international airport has moved from being the world’s worst to perhaps its most dangerous, with airport personnel regularly shaking down travelers by planting contraband in their luggage—until public outrage put a temporary stop to the corrupt practice. Chaos and indifference rule in the agency that issues driver’s licenses and license plates, with backlogs going beyond a year. Last week, the Senate subcommittee on public services led by Senator Grace Poe recommended the filing of charges against Abaya and other transport officials for negligence and inaction over the MRT mess and highlighted anomalous supply and maintenance contracts that Abaya approved. “In the course of the inquiry... the subcommittee observed the badges of negligence and inaction of the Department of Transportation and Communications officials led by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya indicating insensitiveness, callous indifference, and act(s) disadvantageous to the commuters, the Filipino public and the government,” said the draft report submitted to the committee chairman, Senator Sergio Osmeña III. Abaya shrugged off the report, saying he was not worried because his conscience was clear and that all contracts under his watch were clean and fair. “We strictly followed the procurement law at DoTC. Many complained because we were too strict. We are confident that there was nothing irregular about the procurement, that we leveled the playing field and that we violated no law,” he said in Filipino. This was not the view of Osmeña, who said Abaya should hang his head in shame. “The facts enumerated in the subcommittee report of Senator Poe are undisputed,” he said in a text message to reporters. “The sufferings of the riding public are undisputed. The gross mismanagement of the DoTC is not disputed. The report of the Hong Kong MRT on the horrendous state of MRT3 is not disputed. Abaya should at the very least hang his head in shame,” Osmeña said. We agree with the senator, but suggest the President, too, should hang his head in shame for inflicting Abaya upon us for the last four years. How thick do you have to be to do that and keep a straight face?

The currency of The unknown pEnséEs fr. ranhiliO callangan aquinO It was Ulrich Beck who developed the theory, also found in anthony Giddens, that the unknown has currency. It is not only a lacuna in our otherwise expansive comprehension of things, nor a gap in understanding. we plan on the basis of the unknown. we make choices

by assigning value to the unknown. we monetize the unknown. In fact risk is reckless when it does not recognize the currency of the unknown. That is the recklessness with which we face the national elections because we really do not know whether smartmatic is trustworthy. we do not know that the machines really work. we do not know whether we have allowed our trust in algorithms and intelligence systems far beyond our meager grasp of computers and their

logic to work to our undoing. we rush headlong into the elections in the rather naive but seemingly unavoidable trust that the precinct gadgets will faithfully, accurately and truthfully record, count and compute as the people choose. has smartmatic fully been identified? a corporation is itself a rather complex entity, and it becomes even more confounding when you have corporate layers to deal with, plus that deliciously confounding combination of the domestic and off-shore.

The values we assign it are completely arbitrary.

Throw that confusing lot to the citizenry who, by Richard Posner’s account, need not be interested in all that, whose only concern is getting their choices counted, and what you have is the dark side of the unknown’s currency. we trust it because we do not understand it. and what about the demand made by one of the Catholic Bishops

Conference of the Philippines’ offices not too long ago that the safety features that the law prescribed were, early on, dismantled by the Commission on elections? The trouble is that because we do not understand what these features are and how exactly they work, we will never know whether they have been restored, as the law ordains.

But the unknown has currency in yet another way in this national exercise. according to the one of the latest surveys, Ms. Grace Poe has regained the lead. That is just one more of the unknowns so potent in the Philippine scene—surveys. The methodology used, the respondents, margins of error and the whole beguiling science and prestidigitation of which statistics and statisticians are capable. But, again, because we do not understand exactly how it works and whether it really works

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-

or not, surveys have a potent way of swaying public opinion. Recognizing that surveys have become some kind of dangerous self-fulfilling prophecy, the CBCP, in an earlier admonition to voters, cautioned against making choices on the basis of supposed survey results. trends do not answer the question of merit. and this brings me to Ms. Poe. she chaired the first round of the Mamasapano hearings with a sense of fairness that impressed the nation. she was, we thought, the

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unblemished face of new possibilities in Philippine politics, perhaps, even a fresh start. But exactly what did she achieve as a legislator, and how long have we known her in public office? her political ads refer to the legacy of her adoptive father, Fernando Poe Jr. Remind me, please—what legacy is this? I am not saying that she is unworthy of office. I am, however, pointing to the workings of unknowing in her case. Many, it seems, are willing to bet on the Continued on A11

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the house of Representatives has fallen into such disrepute that even parliamentary rules are no longer observed. take the recent case of the microphone being turned off even when a member of the house was on the floor still speaking on a motion to override President Benigno aquino III’s veto of the pension increase for retirees. Buhay Party List Rep. Lito atienza deplored the lack of basic parliamentary courtesy just to please a sitting President, the fountainhead from which all powers and perks spring, something the ruling majority know they need to win reelection. with Congress’ pork barrel fund abolished, it’s now only President aquino’s discretionary funds that can be the source of campaign grist. That is, if you do the Palace bidding on administration bills certified “priority” and “urgent.” “Bastusan na talaga,” fumed atienza, who together with akbayan Party List Rep. Neri Colmenares, had gathered 57 signatures but needed more to override the President’s veto of the P2,000-monthly increase in social security system pension. It was Colmenares who was speaking on the need for raising retirees’ pension when the microphone was switched off. There was no mystery behind it; someone high up ordered the mike switched off. house Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales Jr. was then presiding. “This is an arrogant display of naked power by the ruling majority,” fumed atienza. Indeed, it also showed a lack of sensitivity by the congressmen considering the house gallery was packed with senior citizens and retirees hoping Congress would override aquino’s veto so they can have enough money for their medication and other basic needs. The house in an all-time low (no wonder it’s called the Lower house), showed it would rather curry the President’s favor than the people’s. atienza said this is the reason he decided against a run in the senate, opting instead to stay in the house. This, aside from the astronomical cost of running a campaign for a senate seat and his lack of necessary funds. he pointed out that Congress is the real battleground since most vital pieces of legislation emanate from the house, particularly national appropriations and tax bills affecting the citizenry. That’s also why “transactional politics,” particularly in the granting or stripping of franchises, are being carried outside and even inside the session hall, Lito lamented. I never thought atienza would say it, but he did. he recalled that when he was a member of the Batasang Pambansa during the Martial Law Continued on A10

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The values we assign it are completely arbitrary.

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A10 Searching for the cure ComPAreD to the plumbline ravages of dengue on local public pastor health, Zika the apollo virus en vogue may Quiboloy just be a pinprick. Last year, dengue downed 108,263 Filipinos and killed 300. But this is what’s merely flashed on the official scoreboard. The real tally could be higher as many victims didn’t know they had dengue so they just shrugged off their fever as the seasonal visitation of the lagnat which can be cooled down by antipyretics. Speaking of fever, let me digress a bit. In rural areas, in the 1970s (what millennials call ancient times) cool nipa suka soaked in cloth was dabbed on the skin to bring down fever. one ended up being marinated like paksiw but it was, to many who had no access to drugs or ice cubes, an effective cooling balm. As in many diseases, the reported dengue cases may have just been a fraction of the total. But the number of cases chalked up last year is by no means alarming. It meant that one Filipino was struck every 5 minutes. And daily, at least 300 hospital beds were being cleared for the dengue-afflicted. But if those who did not U-turn at a government hospital’s gate—upon seeing that the hospital was filled to the rafters—were included in the count, the tally surely would have been higher. So when politicos hyperventilate that we should brace ourselves for the Zika, in prose which conjures the image that a flying armada Common sense of vectors is heading does not come in our shores, it seems they have forgotten injectable vials. that we’re battling a mosquito-caused epidemic in our midst. In addition to human toll, dengue costs the country P16 billion yearly to fight, stop, and treat. Included in this calculation is the economic losses from skipping work, or income forfeited. So when Aedes aegypti dengue carriers bore a hole in a skin, it also burns a hole in the pocket. The blood its natural syringes may draw just be a tiny drop. What is large is the money it sucks out of the victim’s wallet. Take it from the Department of Health. It pegs the average cost of treatment per patient at P18,405, a princely sum in a country where the monthly minimum wage is lower than that amount, and the number of the jobless who get no pay at all outnumbers those who get little. No wonder dengue hotspots are usually lowincome places where lack of sanitation and open canals become Aedes nurseries. Yes, poverty also breeds dengue mosquitoes. This is not to say that a mosquito economically profiles its targets first. Dengue is an equalopportunity tormentor, afflicting all, comforting none. But resilience and survival favor those who have the resources to fight it. Not all victims hemorrhage from dengue. All of its poor victims, however, cannot escape financial hemorrhage. But it is not just Aedes aegypti that must be declared Public enemy No. 1 alone. Its cousin Anopheles, which is responsible for malaria, deserves to be hunted down, too. Luckily, malaria prevalence is going down. A hundred years ago, this was nation of nocturnal shiverers, courtesy of Anopheles, the micro vampire. From hundreds of thousands, the number of annual cases was pared down to 46,342 in 2005, and further slashed to 7,720 in 2013. From thousands of deaths half a century ago, only a dozen was registered in 2014. I hope we can declare total victory soon, with zero malaria deaths. I hope, too, that Zika won’t be substituting for malaria. But Zika is lugged by the denguespreading Aedes, which means that, like a multi-role

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the economic coSt of the zika viruS By mac margolis PeoPLe are scrambling as the scary, mosquito-borne virus Zika winds its way through 26 (and counting) countries and territories in the Americas. The commotion is understandable: The virus may be linked to an alarming spike in microcephaly, a birth defect, in Brazil, and a neurological disorder elsewhere, and there’s nothing like the prospect of a generation maimed to trigger panic. But amid alarm over the public-health emergency is a quieter menace—economic loss and hardship. There’s an important, albeit still crude, question underlying Zika’s spread: How much will the virus cost? It’s too soon to calculate. Until last year Zika, which is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito, was known for only scattered outbreaks and mainly mild symptoms. But some idea of the potential financial havoc the disease might wreak can be gleaned by looking at another sickness spread via the Aedes mosquito: dengue. Putting a dollar figure on a global scourge is no simple matter, given the spotty reporting from countries with precarious health care. But Donald Shepard, a health economist at Brandeis University, ran the numbers and concluded that in 2013 dengue cost the global economy $8.9 billion. That figure represents the price of caring for the 58.4 million dengue victims worldwide that year, plus the cost of lost time and productivity. Unsurprisingly, the burden was heavy on developing countries: The 10 countries (nine of them developing) with the highest aggregate cost from dengue bore 82 percent of the global cost in 2013. The disease was most expensive in Indonesia at

Quorum... From A9 regime, President marcos allowed debates and discussion of major legislation to go on until the wee hours of the morning. The remark comes as the nation is about to mark the 30th anniversary of People Power revolution at edsa next week. “Is this what we fought for at edsa?” asked Atienza, then a street parliamentarian. He also condemned some congressmen who deliberately do not show up

$2.2 billion. Brazil came in third at $728 million, but add in the cost of prevention and the estimate

rises to $1.2 billion. True, the comparison with Zika is not perfect. Dengue has a greater global reach; Shepard’s research looked at 141 countries and territories where there were signs of transmission. There are various strains of dengue virus, which can lead to the severe, and potentially fatal, dengue hemorrhagic fever. According to Shepard’s calculations, dengue took 13,586 lives in 2013; that’s a relatively small share of the total number of victims, but those deaths represented 11.9 percent of the disease’s global economic burden. Then there’s the price to pay as worry over a new, little known scourge spreads. As devastating as

just so there would be a lack of quorum when they don’t want to pass a major piece of legislation. This, even as they are quick to railroad bills when the rails are “greased, ” so to speak. For his part, Atienza can be proud to claim a 100-percent attendance. Staunchly pro-life as his Party List Buhay, he has stood up against the reproductive health bill, other abortion measures, same-sex marriage, divorce and the death penalty even as he supported the SSS allowance increase and the

fighter jet, the same kind of mosquito that dive bombs on Filipinos can carry the Zika payload as well. It’s not that Zika virus has not been to the Philippines. It has been detected here before. While our tripwires are up for Zika which, in this age of jet travel, can arrive here, either in mosquitoes or in men, the fight on the main front, against the ancient scourge that is dengue continues. So the news that the Health Department has begun vaccinating school kids against dengue can only be most welcome. The vaccine, made by a French pharmaceutical giant, is put to use after it underwent five years of clinical trials here in the Philippines, dengue’s Ground Zero. The study on the dengue vaccine was conducted in five Asian countries, including the Philippines, and it

Shepard’s findings are, they do not include the toll on tourism. Health officials in Australia, Denmark, the UK and the US have already reported Zika infections in people returning from Latin America and the Caribbean. “When outbreaks occur, people stay away,” said Duane Gubler, an infectious-disease expert at Duke-NUS Graduate medical School in Singapore, who used to write travel advisories for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fallout from other scourges can offer some insight. Tourist arrivals in Hong Kong were down 68 percent two months after the World Health organization issued a warning about the SArS epidemic in 2003, and 54 percent in South Korea two months after the 2015 alert about the merS outbreak, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. With Zika, stocks of travel companies have already slumped “after US health officials warned pregnant women and those planning pregnancies against visiting affected areas such as Brazil, Puerto rico and Barbados,” according to Bloomberg Intelligence. That’s bad news for recession-ridden Brazil, currently hosting its foreigner-friendly Carnival festivities and expecting as many as half a million tourists for the olympic Games in August, during the cooler, drier, less mosquito-friendly tropical winter. one modicum of financial hope within all of this may be for the travel-insurance industry: reuters reported that roamright, a leading US travel-insurance provider, has seen orders for policies covering trips to areas hit by Zika climb almost 10 percent since December. But that’s not much to celebrate. Bloomberg

Standardization of Government Workers’ Salaries.

out of the box rita linda v. jimeno Atty. Jimeno’s column will resume next week.

proved not only its efficacy but also the competence of Filipino researchers and scientists. The results reportedly showed that after three doses, the vaccine cut the possibility of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever by almost 90 percent and dropped hospitalization risks by two-thirds. While the results are promising, it doesn’t mean that after getting inoculated, one can now invite these winged pests to a drink-all-you-can-party without fear of being afflicted. The vaccine is just one weapon in the arsenal. The main weapon remains vigilance—and common sense like draining pots and pans of stagnant water, covering up canals, and observing general cleanliness and hygiene. Well, the classic ounce of prevention that is superior than a pound of cure. Common sense does not come in injectable vials. It needs no prescription at all.

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The sTarTing line Tomorrow, the 90-day campaign period prior to E-Day begins. It’s actually less than that, because of the traditional Semana Santa break. Pulse Asia has just released its numbers (crunched on Jan. 24 to 28) as of this writing. Laylo (this paper’s resident pollster) follows in a day or two. Pulse Asia’s second week December 2015 ratings had Binay soaring (and recovering) to 33, ahead of the three-pack Poe, Duterte and roxas. Now it’s Poe at 30, with the threepack of Binay, Duterte and roxas in a statistical tie. what a difference a month and a half could make in a keenly watched election. In end-November, Duterte zoomed in a privately commissioned Social weather Stations survey to Number one. By mid-December, he was third or fourth. How his fortunes changed, largely on account of a careless remark about the Pope. Binay was ahead in midDecember at the expense of Poe. Just as the Year of the monkey unfolds, Pulse says she has recovered part of the numbers Binay had stolen from her. what happened? It’s not likely because of the conclusion of Koko Pimentel’s Senate hearings on Binay pere et fils. That was ho-hum. The “negative”

ads asking Binay to come clean and explain his side had not yet been aired at the time of the survey. Binay has been as busy as anybody else in the campaign, boodleboodle here and there. And his ads once again took the “masa” bonding approach. Nognog and Pandak. I thought that was pretty good “kurot sa puso.” If Pulse correctly figured the pulse of the masses, then I was wrong. maybe they looked at themselves in the mirror and said, hindi naman ako nognog, at hindi rin ako pandak. As for Poe, the spotlight was on her travails at the Supreme Court, and weeks before, the “pang-aapi” she got from the Comelec. Cleverly, her promoters chose to release an ad alluding to the SC trial itself, added nostalgia about FPJ once suffering the same, and concludes with “Lumalaban!” followed by “Pero may puso”. That probably did the trick. Kit Tatad said it was an affront to the Court, but then again, the masa do not understand lese majeste. mar’s ads during the period had him threatening (albeit indirectly) about the loss of the four Ps or the Pantawid Pamilya dole to the E class. And Philhealth benefits as well. Clearly, these ads did not buy him sympathy. wise guys in the pondohan sa kanto might have chimed, “Aba, nanakot

the currency... From A9 unknown, or have assigned an arbitrary value to it, because they have decided that any perpetuation of the present order is unconscionable. So it is that mar roxas has been warned that insisting on “Daang matuwid” was not doing him any good. Lately, he seems to have realized this by conceding: “Kung may pagkakamali, itatama natin.” Equally unknown is what Poe stands for, and whom she stands for. Aside from platitudes and motherhood statements that customarily win applause from adulating fans, what is her foreign policy? what is her domestic policy? what does she plan on doing with the row we have with China? Does she in fact wear yellow underneath? while he was being pilloried day

#failocracy

So I See LIto banayo pa!” He has since changed tack, and in doleful soliloquy still, shown on TV just as February began, described himself as the “trabaho lang” candidate, versus the “paawa”, the “siga”, and the well… kawatan, though he cleverly dodged potential libel in the language. Duterte did nothing. The tandem ads with Alan Cayetano ended with Christmas. I don’t know if his forgettably horrible bowling and tanim-bala ads, were caught by the 24 to 28 January survey period of Pulse. He hardly moved from Davao during the period between Simbang Gabi and the end of January. His numbers are stagnant, at 20 percentage points. And his metro manila and Central Visayas numbers dropped. what are we trying to say? Snapshots, that’s what surveys are. As mar roxas properly says, although it sounds like whistling in the dark sometimes, the only survey that matters happens on may 9, 2016. *** The question on many minds is what happens if the

after day at the Senate hearings, paid for by taxpayers’ money, with witnesses recruited no doubt by “consultants” who, it turns out, cost the nation millions of pesos, Jojo Binay was making the rounds of the country, going wherever he could. But his reputation took a beating, at least insofar as corporate media goes. His name is associated with rapaciousness and greed, but once more, the unknown has currency here. If it cost his accusers millions of pesos to make their accusations, then how much of the indictment is trustworthy? It was to much fanfare and the flourish of the administration’s trumpets that President Gloria macapagal Arroyo and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile were charged—but nothing has so far come out of the charges. Almost as soon as

magistrates of the highest tribunal think and act like lawyers sworn to uphold the Constitution rather than the bleeding hearts that CJ Sereno and AJ Leonen want them to be? where would the disqualified Grace Poe votes go? who would gain the most, and by how much? Let’s do the numbers: All four candidates have a base support, seen through consecutive surveys, of anywhere from 15 to 25. Note that Binay rose to 33, and is now back to 23, a sharp 10-point drop, most of which went to Poe, who now rates 30. roxas and Duterte, who keep sniping at each other, for what useless purpose neither strategic nor even rational, hardly moved. Are we then to conclude that if Poe is disqualified by the Supreme Court, her 20 base points will transfer to Binay? maybe, maybe not. Politics is not simple addition. That simplistic notion, culled from the late Senate President Amang rodriguez, patriarch of the Nacionalista Party who died before martial Law was declared, is as passé as the transistor radio. Politics is an algebraic formula. Negative plus positive subtracts, not adds. The economist mar should know that. As should everyone

he assumed office, the President made it his priority to send GmA off to the slammer. He did so, but it has been six years, and the court is far from a judgment. As far as I know, the case against JPE has not even reached pretrial stage. Now, unless one is willing to charge the Sandiganbayan with being remiss in its duties—no one in his right mind will do—then the only reason these cases have thus far yielded no result favorable to the administration is because the court is hard put to nail the accused on the charges. And at one time—in fact until now— there are those who will protest the guilt of GmA and JPE and others similarly situated to the heavens. Is it not perhaps the same dreadful combination of unknowing and fanned hysteria at work in the case of Binay? we do not know if

else. If Grace Poe Llamanzares is declared a naturalized citizen by the Supreme Court, she loses even her Senate seat. If the same Court first rules on the residency issue, and states that she lacks the 10-year prior residency requirement, she may stay in the Senate, but she is not qualified to contest the presidency. If she then backs out, endorses one of the four other remaining candidates, how much of her core support (20 percent conservatively) will she sway to her endorsee? That depends as much on the strength and purpose of her appeal as to the compatibility of the message she and her endorsee espouse. Since she is party-less, it’s not going to be about trapo transferability; it will be about message compatibility. whether Grace Poe qualifies or not, it will be a tight race. Assume the Court makes a partial disqualification (residency first, the citizenship debate later, maybe dribbled) by mid-march, she will have roughly just 45 days to make her withdrawal meaningful. If she quietly sulks, her political relevance will be gone, forever. But the other candidates have to strategically decide what moves to make to capture the plum, whether or not Grace Poe is part of the end equation.

he is innocent. Neither do we know yet that he is guilty but this unknowing has taken its toll on him, or so say the figures! modernity works on the unknown— and it makes no sense to aspire for that degree of omniscience that makes of the unknown completely insignificant. But its currency can be deceiving. Not every check is in fact a substitute for money—as the many who have been victims of bad checks will attest. Sometimes, that which we thought had currency is completely valueless. my admonition is simple: to recognize the unknown as unknown and the values that we assign it, completely arbitrary! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

chong ardivilla

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Warriors rally past Thunder, 116-108 LOS ANGELES—Klay Thompson rattled in a clutch three pointer with 1:40 left as the Golden State Warriors won their ninth straight with a 116-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time). The Thunder made Golden State work for the victory as the Warriors led by 20 points at one stage then had to come-from-behind to erase a nine-point Oklahoma City lead. Golden State improved to 46-4 and tie the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers for the best 50-game start in league history. “This was a playoff-like atmosphere,” said Warriors Stephen Curry, who scored a team-high 26 points. “The intensity, the adrenaline

down the stretch that is what you expect in a playoff game.” The mighty Warriors are off to a historic start which has not only basketball fans, but also football fans in the San Francisco area buzzing this weekend. The only other hotter ticket in town than one of the 19,600 seats at Oracle arena is one for Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

“It is nice to play a great team like that in an atmosphere like this,” Curry said. Guard Curry had a rare off night from beyond the arc, missing sevenof-eight three-pointers. He made 10-of-25 shots overall, dished out 10 assists and scored or assisted on his team’s final 11 points. “He struggled but he still found a way, like all MVPs do, to take over at the end of the game and make sure we took care of business,” said assistant coach Luke Walton. Thompson finished with 18 points on eight-of-15 shooting but was just one-of-six on three-pointers. His lone three pointer was key however as it gave Golden State a 110-104 lead and it came just 19 seconds after Thunder star Kevin Du-

rant missed a potential game-tying three pointer. Durant led the Thunder with 40 points and point guard Russell Westbrook added 27. Westbrook also had 12 assists. Before Thompson’s clutch threepointer, Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter tied the game at 104-104 with 3:25 but the Warriors finished with a 12-4 surge to earn their 41st straight home victory. Forward Harrison Barnes added 19 points for Golden State while reserves Marreese Speights added 15 and Shaun Livingston had 10. Guard Tony Parker drained a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch and San Antonio turned up its defense in the last four minutes as the Spurs outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 106-102 to remain unbeaten at home. AFP

Russell Westbrook (0) of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives strong to the hoop a trio of Golden State Warriors defenders during their game on Feb. 6 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Manning, Newton take center stage as America stops for Super Bowl 50

Power couple. Latisha Pelayo (left) stands beside former NFL player Jerry Rice during the 5th Annual NFL Honors at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Feb. 6 in San Francisco, California. AFP

SANTA CLARA, California A perfectly scripted quarterback duel between Peyton Manning and Cam Newton will take center stage on Sunday as America comes to a standstill for the 50th edition of the Super Bowl. More than 100 million households across the United States and millions more worldwide will tune in to see if Manning can inspire the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over Newton and the Carolina Panthers. The climax of the National Football League season is the biggest event on America’s sporting calendar, a moneyspinning commercial juggernaut which sees millions gather for day-long viewing parties in bars and homes. The 39-year-old Man-

ning—poised to become the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history when the teams run out at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara—will be a sentimental favorite for many. The five-time NFL Most Valuable Player has battled through to Sunday’s showpiece after arguably the most challenging season of his 18year career which included a mid-term slump that saw him benched as Broncos starter. Manning’s fourth Super Bowl appearance is also shrouded by the poignant knowledge that it may well his final game. Manning has consistently stated that he has not yet decided on his future in the build-up to the game.

“I haven’t made my mind up and I don’t see myself making a decision until after the season,” said Manning, who passed Brett Favre this season to become the alltime leader in passing yards at 71,940. The key to Manning’s hopes of adding a second Super Bowl ring to the one he earned with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 may well rest with Denver’s formidable defense. But whether Denver’s defense can put the brakes on Newton and the free-scoring Panthers remains to be seen. The Panthers demolished the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC title game, winning 49-15 against a side who had been expected to threaten them. AFP

20,000 runners join Lagos marathon LAGOS, Nigeria—The infamously congested, concrete jungle of Lagos is far from a runners’ paradise, but with the launch of a new annual marathon on Saturday organizers hope to show that the city’s bad reputation is undeserved. Over 20,000 participants turned out before dawn on a typically muggy morning in Lagos to compete in the biggest marathon the city has seen in thirty years. The streets of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest metropolis, usually clogged with cars, battered mini busses and whizzing okadas -- motorbike taxis -- were cleared for the event and patrolled by lines of armed police and soldiers. Runners, some barefoot and others decked out head to toe in candy-colored athletic gear, braved the haze, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to run on a smooth road with air free of exhaust fumes. “It’s kind of hectic to stay in Lagos, but people make it work,” Lolade McJohnson, a 33-year-old lawyer cheering on runners, said to AFP. “After this, we’ll have more people interested in running, maybe now we’ll even have a Nigerian champion.” Unlike in Kenya and Ethiopia, two countries whose runners have dominated marathons for years, or in marathon-crazed South Africa, Nigeria has yet to develop a long distance running culture. AFP

Germany ties Switzerland in Fed Cup competition BERLIN—Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber got Germany’s Fed Cup World Group first-round match against Switzerland back on track with a straight sets win over Timea Bacsinszky on Saturday. Kerber, ranked second in the world, ran out a 6-1, 6-3 winner to make it 1-1 in the rubber in Leipzig, in her first match since beating Serena Williams last weekend to claim her maiden Grand Slam title. The 28-year-old admitted she was still feeling the effects of her Melbourne triumph after an endless round of media interviews on her triumphant return. “I felt the tiredness in the second set, but the spectators here helped carry me through,” she said after needing 74 minutes to see off Bacsinszky, ranked 15th in the world. AFP

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Pride volleyball. Participants of the First Quezon City Pride Volleyball Cup are shown with Councilor Mayen Juico, chairman of Quezon City’s committee on women, and Philippine Super Liga officials, led by Chairman Philip Juico.

Que seeks repeat win at Anvaya tilt ANGELO Que knows he will need to dish out another solid game to score a repeat at ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational given the depth of the competing field. But the former three-time Asian Tour winner remains confident of his chances when the P3.5 million event is fired off Wednesday in Morong, Bataan. Que set a course-record bogeyfree eight-under card in the final round to rally from six strokes down and beat Tony Lascuna by three for the inaugural crown at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club last year, making him the player to watch in the 72-hole championship kicking off this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. The long-hitting shotmaker described his then closing round as “perfect,” adding: “Everything was in place, including my irons and putting.” He hopes to brandish the same kind of game not just in the final round but in all four days in anticipation of a spirited challenge from an elite field bannered by the hottest player in the land today plus a slew of top guns all raring to get a

Participants of the 26th Yakult 10 Miler answer the starting gun at the CCP Complex grounds in Pasay City. Over 2,500 runners joined the 2015 run ruled by Kenyan Eliud Kering in 51 minute and 29 seconds.

crack at the top P650,000 purse put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Miguel Tabuena, for one, has opted to skip the Asian Tour leg in Bangladesh also set this week to vie against his local counterparts plus 15 foreign bets, who made the grade in the just-concluded PGT Q-School at Royal Northwoods. Tabuena tied for fourth with Mars Pucay here last year but the 21-yearold phenom went on to win four tournaments in the circuit to end Lascuña’s three-year as the Order of Merit champion. He then capped his breakout season with a victory in the Philippine Open and opened his campaign this year with a strong joint fourth effort in the Singapore Open. Aside from Tabuena, others go-

ing all out to foil Que’s back-to-back title drive in the event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Adidas, TaylorMade, Pacsports Phils., Custom Clubmakers, KZG, Sharp and Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club, are Lascuña. Jay Bayron, Cassius Casas, Elmer Salvador, Orlan Sumcad, Frankie Minoza and Pucay. Clyde Mondilla, a former PGT winner, and Keanu Jahns head the bumper crop of young guns out to steal the show from the veterans while QSchool topnotcher Toru Nakajima of Japan leads the foreign challenge along with Aussie Kevin Marques, Koreans Seok Jun Min, Park Jun Hyeok and Kim In Jae, Canadian Rick Gibson and American John Jackson. Meanwhile, the seaside layout, carved out in the Bataan mountains near the boundary of former US naval base in Subic and built inside the 470 hectares land owned by the Ayala Land Corp. where long-time golf patron ICTSI operates its container business, has been spruced up to championship condition ready to challenge the field’s shotmaking and putting skills and mental toughness.

Canlubang-Luisita PAL golf rivalry back THE return of old rivals Canlubang and Luisita is expected to raise the level of competition in the 69th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships set March 2 at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga. Defending champion Manila Southwoods will have its hands full against returning champions Canlubang and Luisita, which boast national players and standouts from the junior ranks. Canlubang, the most successful club in Interclub history with 17 titles, will be led by national champions Rupert Zaragosa and Jobim Carlos while Luisita will field top junior players Gido Mandanas and Dan Cruz. Manila Southwoods won its third championship last year in Cebu City, edging Orchard Golf and Country by two points. The Carmona-based squad will miss the services of Tonlits Asistio, who turned pro, but still has national player Justin Quilban in its fold. “It’s gonna be tougher, but we’re quite confident we can still compete,” said Southwoods official Jerome Delariarte.

Among the holdovers from last year’s squad aside from Quilban are Vince Lauron and Junjun Plana. They will be joined by current club champion Yuto Katsuragawa, Aira Alido, Ivan Monsalve, Ryan Monsalve, Brixton Aw and Chepe Dulay. Aside from Zaragosa and Carlos, Canlubang is fielding Gab Manotoc, Marco Olives, Luis Castro, Carlo Villaroman, Carl Corpuz, Aldrich Chan, Jose Campos Yulo and veteran Abe Rosal. Zaragosa, Carlos and Rosal were members of the team that won its last Interclub title in 2010 before its disbandment. Luisita, winner of eight crowns, the last coming in 1998, is fielding a young, talented crew built around Mandanas and Dan Cruz. The other members include Basti Lorenzo, Santi Lorenzo, Tom Kim, Brian Kim, Luigi Guerrero and Ivan Ferreras. The lifting of the handicap system in the championship division has prompted the return of two old champions. Not to be discounted are Orchard, Cebu Country Club and Del Monte, three other teams that have won the Interclub in the last five years.

Mizuno backs Yakult 10 Miler on March 6 MASTER Sports Corporation, the Philippine distributor of Mizuno shoes, bags, apparel and sports equipment, is supporting for the fifth straight year the staging of the annual Yakult 10 Miler slated for March 6 at the Cultural Center Complex grounds in Pasay City. The 10 Miler is expected to attract 3,000 running enthusiasts. Mizuno will serve as the official registration

center in their Trinoma Mall, SM Megamall, Bonifacio High Street, and the SM Mall of Asia Mizuno outlets. In addition, Mizuno will also award the top three finishers of the 16K run and the top finisher of the 5K run men and women with the Mizuno Wave Hitogami 1 and EvoLevetas running shoes. The top finisher of the 16K run men and women will also re-

ceive Mizuno running singlets. Now on its 27th year, the Yakult 10 Miler is the longest-running 10-Mile run in the country and is also supported by GoodAh!!! and Salonpas. Registration fees are P500 for the 16K; P400 for the 5K; and P300 for the 3K, inclusive of a starter’s running singlet and finisher’s shirts. Registration starts Thursday and will run until March 3.

the existence of hard rocks with ultimate tensile strength of over 60 Mega Pascals, which is beyond the rock cutting capability of available cable trenching machines;

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONDUCT OF DESKTOP STUDY AND HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY FOR THE WESTERN ROUTE OF THE VISAYAS-MINDANAO INTERCONNECTION PROJECT (VMIP), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Significant quantity of unexploded ordnance from the Battle of Surigao Strait in 1944 which consist mainly of torpedoes and high explosive shells likely to remain in the seabed; and

Increase in the overall cost estimate given that the recommended cable route is 70km, a distance that is longer compared to the shortest cable route option 1 which is only 30km in distance;

13. Considering the foregoing, NGCP deemed it necessary to continue with the study by exploring a western route for the connection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids to arrive at a more prudent investment decision that is beneficial to all the stakeholders;

ERC CASE NO. 2015-201 RC

14. Thus, this application.

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant. x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORKS 15. This project involves the conduct of Desktop Study and Hydrographic Survey for the interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids considering the western route option;

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

16. The primary goals of the Desktop Study are the following: • Assess the risks in the study area; • Describe the landing sites for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; • Present information that may impact the survey and actual implementation of the proposed interconnection; • Present information that may affect system maintenance; • Summarize the survey, installation and operational permits to be required; and • Define the boundaries of the area to be surveyed.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 13 November 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the conduct of desktop study and hydrographic survey for the western route of the Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project (VMIP), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority. In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following:

17. The Hydrographic Survey aims to obtain the following results: • • •

THE APPLICANT 1.

NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. NGCP is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. (R.A.) 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA);

Under R.A. No. 9511, entitled “An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through a HighVoltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes,” NGCP was granted a franchise to construct, install, finance,’ manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines;

One of NGCP’s functions and responsibilities enumerated in Section 9 of the EPIRA is to improve and expand its transmission facilities; consistent with the Philippine Grid Code (PGC) and the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services through the transmission system, provided that NGCP shall submit any plan for expansion or improvement of its facilities for approval by the ERC;

In accordance with its mandate to ensure and maintain the quality, reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the Grid, NGCP seeks the immediate approval from this Commission for the immediate implementation of the proposed Visayas-Mindanao Western Route (Cebu NegrosZamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection Project - Phase I, subject of the instant Application;

The interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids was first conceptualized in 1984 through the study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The study envisioned to link the three (3) major grids into a single national grid. The stages of the project were: (i) the Leyte- Cebu 230 kV Alternating Current (AC) High Voltage (HV) Interconnection Project; (ii) the Leyte-Luzon 35okVHVDC Interconnection Project; and (iii) the Leyte-Mindanao 250 kV HVDC Interconnection Project (Interconnection Project);

•

Determine the feasible routes for the proposed submarine cable interconnection; Assess engineering risks along the possible cable routes; Identify parameters and methods for the design and implementation of the submarine cable laying; and Determine other factors that should be considered in the detailed design of the project.

18. The figure below shows the chart of the strait between the Sulu Sea and the Bohol Sea with suggested survey corridor. The area to be surveyed covers possible cable routes from the islands of Cebu and Negros towards Mindanao.1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

STATEMENT OF FACTS

In 1996 the National Power Corporation (NPC) initiated the implementation of the Interconnection Project. In July 2001, Norconsult International A.S. of Norway completed the feasibility study and detailed design report. However, the Philippine Government deferred the implementation of the Interconnection Project. In 2004, the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) jointly with the Department of Energy (DOE), revived the implementation of the proposed Interconnection Project. Unfortunately, the Philippine Government did not carry out the project;

In 2011, the DOE directed the NGCP review the previous studies and update the assumptions of the Interconnection Project. Thus, on 14 March 2011, NGCP filed an application for the approval of the conduct of the feasibility study for the implementation of the Interconnection Project docketed as ERC under Case No. 2011-037 RC. In an Order dated 15 August 2011, the Commission granted the application. Thus, NGCP immediately conducted a new feasibility study;

Project Cost Estimate and Target Completion 19. The Desktop Study was completed in July 2014, while the target completion of the Hydrographic Survey is in June 2016. The total estimated cost of the Project is PhP152,462,757.16 inclusive of reformed value added tax and permit fee; 20. The Department of Energy, in a letter dated 2 March 2011, directed NGCP to lead and conduct the study relative to the Project and include such venture in the Transmission Development Plan (TDP). In addition, the Commission, in its Decision dated 15 August 2011 in ERC Case No. 2011-037 RC, ruled that the interconnection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids is necessary to open more investment opportunities in Mindanao both in terms of additional power generation and industrial loads; 21. Consequently, a 2,400 MW of additional capacity is expected to be injected in the Mindanao grids from the following power plants:

POWER PL ANT

NGCP engaged the services of China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) to conduct the System Study to review the design and technical aspects of the interconnection Electronic; and of the Geophysical Services Limited - Asia (EGS Asia Ltd.) to conduct the hydrographic survey between the areas of Southern Leyte and Surigao Del Norte. On the other hand, NGCP conducted the preengineering activities, such as transmission route survey, geologic investigations, and data gatherings;

FDC Power Plant

4 0 5 M W by 2 016

GN Power Coal

4 5 0 M W by 2 017 15 0 M W by 2 018

Therma South Coal

3 0 0 M W by 2 015 15 0 M W by 2 017 15 0 M W by 2 018

S M C D av a o C o a l

15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0

Southern Mindanao

200 MW

Results of the Hydrographic Survey for the Eastern Route 9.

EGS Asia Ltd. surveyed three (3) cable route options, as follows:

C A PAC I T Y

a. Option 1 (Esperanza - Bilaa); b. Option 2 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa via Dinagat Island); and c. Option 3 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa);

MW MW MW MW

by by by by

2 015 2 016 2 017 2 018

22. In the feasibility study commissioned by NGCP, it was revealed that the proposed Visayas-Mindanao eastern interconnection from Leyte to Surigao would encounter several significant environmental risks and perils as enumerated above. Thus, NGCP deemed it essential to consider an alternate route by exploring the western route for the connection of the Visayas and Mindanao grids; 23. With the expected substantial excess capacity in the Mindanao grid due to the upcoming power plants and the possible deficiency in the Visayas grid, power sharing of reserves must be immediately effected between them. These exchanges can only be realized through the implementation of the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection project. Thus, as an initial step, and similar to other significant projects in the power industry, NGCP must initially conduct of a feasibility study to determine the best and safest route for the cables and landings of the interconnection; 24. With provisional authority, NGCP may immediately commence the implementation of the conduct of a feasibility study of Visayas-Mindanao western interconnection from Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte; 25. Acopy of the JudicialAffidavit of Engr. Fernando S. Javier, Head of the Mindanao System Planning Division, Transmission Planning Department of NGCP, is attached to the application as Annex “B”; 26. It most prays of the Commission that: 10. Upon completion of the surveys, it was found out that there are seismic hazards in the Surigao Strait which may limit the possible viability of the cable route options. Thus, Option 1 (Esperanza - Bilaa) was immediately ruled out. The figure below shows the topography of the Surigao Strait and the identified geophysical hazards;

Immediately issue an Order provisionally approving the implementation of the VisayasMindanao Western Route (Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection ProjectPhase I; and

Approve, after notice and hearing, the application for the implementation of the VisayasMindanao Western Route (Cebu Negros-Zamboanga Del Norte) Interconnection Project Phase I.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on 19 February 2016 (Friday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired. All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon. All such persons who wish to have a copy of the application may request from the applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

11. EGS Asia Ltd. concluded that Option 3 (Cat-Iwing - Bilaa) has advantages over Option 2 (CatIwing - Bilaa via Dinagat Island) because the former only has two cable landings and eliminates the construction of an overhead transmission line. Similarly, it will free NGCP from the difficulty of acquiring right-of-way at Dinagat Island due to several mining sites;

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 25th day of January, 2016 at Pasig City.

12. Although Option 3 is the best among the proposed options, EGS had the following reservations: a)

The existence of geophysical hazards consisting of an underwater volcano, fault lines and unstable rock slabs that pose seismic hazards, such as, fluidization of sediments, bulk ground displacement, strain on cable during passage of seismic wave, landslips and turbidity currents and tsunami.

Strong seabed currents ranging from 0.58 meter per second (m/s) to 2.00 m/s - these currents would certainly be sufficient to move either a bare cable or cable in shells. In any case, surface laying is not recommended. Generally, 0.50 m/s and below can be deemed safe for surface laying. On the other hand, cable trenching is likewise not recommended due to

TTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN ATTY. Chief Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO 1

A c o p y o f t h e P r o j e c t D e t a i l s a n d J u s t i f i c a t i o n i s h e r e t o a t t a c h e d a s A n n e x “A n .

(TS-FEB. 1 & 8, 2016)

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UST jrs subjected to abuse? By Peter Atencio TWO members of the University of Santo Tomas high school cage team were allegedly subjected to verbal and physical abuse under its former head coach Allan Ascue. The incidents, which reportedly took place in the first round of the ongoing 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament, compelled concerned parents to file a complaint before the Department of Social Welfare and Development. In the ensuing investigation, Ascue was eventually replaced by former cager Richie Melencio, who handled the UST Tiger Cubs for the rest of the second round. The names of the two young players are being withheld by The Standard upon request by sources because they are minors. The firing of the UST junior coach came as school officials also included Growling Tigers’ coach Segundo “Bong” dela Cruz III in their probe last month. Dela Cruz was placed under investigation but not suspended. He has since been asked to stay out of team practices and wait for the decision of the University administration. School officials, led by Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute for Physical Education and Athletics, has been silent about the subject of their investigation. The only thing that De Sagon said in his official statement to the official school paper, The Varsitarian, was that it was “about our basketball program in reference to the University’s policies.” De la Cruz III has since denied allegations that he, or members of the team were involved in game fixing, and that he was physically and verbally abusive to his players. “Alam ko sa aking sarili na malinis ang aking konsensya subalit mas pipiliin ko na kung kinakailangan ay sa tamang lugar o sa proper forum ako magsasalita upang maipahayag ko ang aking panig,” said Dela Cruz, who added that he decided to break his silence after his family got affected.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Uytengsu is PSA Executive of Year A FORMER Philippine team member, who went on to become one of the country’s most prominent executives will be honored with a special award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association during its Feb. 13 Annual Awards Night presented by San Miguel and MILO at the One Esplanade. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., chief executive officer and president of Alaska, is the recipient of the Executive of the Year award from the country’s oldest media organization for his involvement in the promotion and development of various sports, ranging from basketball, triathlon, to football. At the same time, the billionaire businessman will also address the local sports community and his fellow awardees, led by Athletes of the Year Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire Jr., and Miguel Tabuena, as guest speaker of the formal rites that honor the best and brightest who did the country proud in the year that has just passed. “It’s with great honor and LOCKER ROOM RANDY CALUAG

pride for the Philippine Sportswriters Association to pay tribute to a true sportsman in Mr. Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., by bestowing upon him the Executive of the Year. The country’s sportswriting community couldn’t think of any better person of integrity deserving of the award than him,” said PSA president Riera Mallari of The Standard As Executive of the Year, Uytengsu is in great company as past recipients of the award in a list that included Manny V. Pangilinan, Hans Sy, Ricky Vargas, Dan Palami, and Chito Salud. The gala night starts at 7 p.m. to be hosted by Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, with the Philippine Sports

Commission as major sponsor and supported by long-time friends of sports such as Smart, MVP Foundation, Maynilad, SM Prime Holdings, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Basketball Association, Globalport, Rain or Shine, One Esplanade, and National University. A graduate of University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Uytengsu was a one-time national athlete as part of the Philippine men’s swimming team that competed in several international meets, including the 1981 Southeast Asian Games here in Manila.

Jawo to Gilas: Ibigay n’yo na lahat

I DIDN’T dream of becoming a sportswriter. All I wanted back then was to watch playing coach Robert “Sonny” Jaworski and his never-saydie Ginebra team in the PBA without paying for my seat. But while in college, I got the opportunity to work as a sportswriter with Junep Ocampo, now my kumpadre and a revered PR man, in a Filipino evening tabloid. Back then, the PBA was considered the premier sports beat and we were in an era when the Jaworski-led Ginebra cult following was at its peak. Every game was like, as they say, filled with a hometown crowd for the Gins. There was a time when the PBA ran out of tickets and Ginebra diehards, who were stuck outside the Philsports Arena in Pasig during a Shell-Ginebra championship game, destroyed the metal barriers and banged the glass panels as they attempted to get inside. Riot police intervened in time and put things back in order. Inside the jampacked arena, the game would be halted several times as Ginebra fans, unhappy with some referees’ calls, pelted the court with coins and half-filled water bottles. We would then hide under the officials’ table and pick those coins as many as we could, coins which we, as working students, would become our “extra baon” for the next

day in school. Jaworski was so competitive that you either hate him or love him. As for us sportswriters, we love Jawo for his quotable quotes after the game. *** Several years after he retired from the PBA and politics (he served as senator for one term), Jaworski took time out from his busy business schedules for a rare chat with his media friends. His wit and humor remain the same. The line “Kung away mong masaktan, mag-chess ka na lang” would forever be etched in basketball articles as truly his own. When, he was asked about his age, he paused for a while, before retorting back “Ha, sa UE.” The former University of the East Warrior is turning 70 on May 8, and now, he leaves the door open for a possible return to the PBA either as coach or team executive. The Living Legend or the Big J is giving himself another chance to bring back the kind of Ginebra magic that he has brought to the league years ago. *** Jaworski also had some words of advice for the national team. A former national player himself, Jaworski extolled the would-be members of the Gilas Team that will take a shot at an Olympic slot,

Painting... From A16

will be very happy if someone offers $1,000 dollars or P50,000 for that particular work. But because Manny has signed it, it has become priceless and so Jun said he will keep it as a treasure. And Pacquiao smiled at him. Jun’s paintings portray Pacquiao as a good warrior, a sports icon. “Sometimes, I experiment with colors and styles to tell the audience that Pacquiao’s life is

to give it their all. “Aba, ibigay niyo na lahat (Give it all what you’ve got),” Jaworski said when asked about what he can advise the players. Jaworski said there’s no better feeling for an athlete than represent his/her country in international competitions. “Maaring maalala kayo na naglaro kayo ng basketball, pero mas maalala nila kayo na nag-national team kayo. Saka ang national team, ibig sabihin nu’n, ni-represent niyo ang lahi niyo. Pilipino ako.” Jaworski was a national player in 1966 and was a member of the 1973 Philippine team that won the Asian Basketball Confederation championship trophy. As a national coach, he piloted an All-PBA team to a silver-medal finish in the 1990 Asian Games in Hiroshima. When asked about the difference between then and now, Jaworski said nothing should change. “Pare-pareho naman ang dapat na maging damdamin at isipan ng sumasali diyan o sasali diyan at ‘wag ka nang mag-isip ng iba pa.” But then, one must be ready to go to war. “Kung iniisiip mo ma-iinjure ka, hindi naman tangke ang sasalubungin mo. Basketball lang naman ‘yan kaya mag-prepara ka.” Which goes back to his famous line, “Kung ayaw mong masaktan, mag-chess ka na lang.”

so colorful, there is no dull moment, it is full of electrifying power. Manny’s life is an art and a perfect example of his quote, ‘The Lord raised me from nothing into something for a purpose and that purpose is to bring glory to His name’,” said Jun. Jun does not sell Manny Pacquiao paintings especially if it is signed. He has donated all his paintings to Pacquiao, who displayed them in his Las Vegas and Los Angeles homes. “We have an agreement that we will sell that only if we have an auction for charity events or fund raising. The price range for a

South African Bradley Weiss crosses the finish line after besting another crack field to complete a back-to-back title feat in the men’s Open of the 2016 XTERRA Albay.

Weiss keeps Xterra Albay triathlon title LEGAZPI, Albay—Bradley Weiss of South Africa bucked the wet and slippery wet condition then pounced on Aussie Ben Allen’s miscue in the bike stage to retain the men’s crown while New Zealand’s Lizzie Orchard marked her XTERRA Albay debut in impressive fashion before a big crowd here yesterday. Weiss, 26, came out second to Allen in the 1.5km swim stage on the shores of Lidong at Mayon Rivera but surged ahead as his Aussie rival miscalculated a move and took a spill in one of the downhill parts of the 35km bike course from Sto. Domingo to the Cansagwa ruins, enabling the South African to take control en route to victory in 2:29:56. Allen settled for second in 2:33:59 while another Aussie bet Brodie Gardner clocked 2:34:08 for third followed by Japanese Ogasawara Takahiro (2:41:04) and Guam’s Charlie Epperson (2:43:40) in the top off-road triathlon organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and hosted by the Province of Albay. Meanwhile, Sunrise Events donated $1,000 to David DeSantis, who joined Xterra Albay to kick off his 16-country tour to raise funds for challenged athletes. A melanoma-stricken triathlete who is now in remission, DeSantis was awarded the Xterra warrior honor in Maui last year for his courageous return to the sport. “Ben (Allen) fell off in the bike portion that gave me the lead. The rain made the bike part very slippery and technical, but at the same time, the nice and cool weather also made it easier for

small painting in a 2014 charity event in Beverly Hills was $5,000 to $10,000; the big ones from $20,000 to $50,000,” said Jun. One of Jun’s wildest dreams was to have his art inside the Oval Office of President Obama. Thank God, and Manny Pacquiao, that dream came true. He painted Pacquiao with the US President and Manny gave this to Obama as a present when he was invited at the National Prayer Breakfast, a yearly affair in the United States capital. Jun is busy now finishing a 3x4 painting of Manny vs Bradley 3, named “Pacific Storm vs the Dessert Storm.”

me to defend my title as compared to last year when it was hot and humid,” said Weiss. Lone Filipino pro Joseph Miller suffered multiple flat tires on his hard-trail bike and struggled to finish ninth out of 10 in the pro division of the event sponsored by 2Go Express as the official logistics and courier partner, Columbia, Finisher Pix and David’s Salon and supported by Shotz Sports Nutrition, DOT/TPB, Cetaphil, Intercare, Human Heart Nature, Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. Coca Cola Femsa (official hydration partner), and Tri Life Magazine, TV 5 and The Philippine Star (media partner) and Timex (official timing partner). Like Weiss, Orchard also trailed Jacqui Slack of Great Britain but wrested control in the downhill portion midway in the run stage to snatch the women’s crown on her first try in 2:52:14. “I have never seen such a huge crowd cheering at the course. The kids’ cheers made the bike part feel easy. It makes my first race here in Albay and in the Philippines very memorable, plus of course this is my first time to be a champion as a pro,” said the 30-year-old Orchard. Slack finished second in 2:54:30 while Guam’s Mieko Carey came in third with a 3:07:35 clocking. Philippine triathlon team mainstay John Leerams Chicano shared the spotlight as he emerged as the first Asian elite champion since the country hosted Xterra in 2011.The Asian elite class was added in Xterra-Malaysia last year to give honors to the region’s best who have not yet turned pro.

LOTTO RESULTS

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A16

M O N DAY : F E B RUA RY 8 , 2 0 1 6 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

Painting the Pacman By Robbie Pangilinan

Artist Jun Aquino makes the finishing touches to his latest painting Pacific Storm vs Desert Storm.

Donaire sets up Vegas camp for title defense By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has decided to set up his training camp in Las Vegas, where his trainer/father “Dodong” Donaire has a lot of fighters. Donaire said they already have one sparring partner lined up, but are “looking for more with styles similar to Zsolt Bedak, the former Hungarian Olympian, who the Filipino battles for the 122-pound title

at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 23. Donaire told The Standard that training has gone well. “I am trying to change up a little bit and put more combinations (in his repertoire of

DUBS IMPROVE TO 46-4 TURN TO A12

punches). That’s what we are working on now,” said Donaire, who, however, conceded, “it’s a tough style to acquire because it is tiring to get combinations (together).” Donaire said he had watched fight tapes of Bedak. “He is very methodical, moves well. He’s fast but not as strong,” said Donare, who won the WBO super bantamweight title for the second time when he dropped No. 1 contender Cesar Juarez twice in Round 4 to eventually score a lopsided points’ decision in a brutal fight in Puerto Rico

last Dec. 11 that reignited fight fans’ interest in him. The “Filipino Flash” said he will train in Las Vegas until the first week of April. Donaire will leave for Las Vegas after he receives the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s prestigious “Athlete of the Year” award, along with the longestreigning Filipino world champion, WBO light flyweight king Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and outstanding young golfer and Asian champion Miguel Tabuena on Feb. 13 at the One Esplanade near the Mall of Asia.

WEISS KEEPS XTRERRA CROWN TURN TO A15

MANNY Pacquiao has been portrayed in different ways for his different roles, using different mediums. Jun Aquino presents the Pacman in paintings. It all started in the 1990s when Pacquiao first became a boxing superstar when he defeated Mexico’s Antonio Barrera. Jun was commissioned by a large format printing company to make a giant billboard printed in tarpaulin for the campaign WOW Philippines. His expertise was needed to create a 120feet display of the People’s Champ that will be put up along EDSA and near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. All Jun had was a low quality picture of Pacquiao, a newsprint picture that was so pixelated and not clear. So he started tracing it and putting colors using Photoshop. Overnight, he finished it and the agency was very happy that they gave him a bonus. From then on, Jun has followed Manny’s career, drawing and painting him, knowing that one day, they will meet. That day came in 2011 when he met him at Pan Pacific Hotel where Pacquiao was staying with wife Jinkee. Pacquiao’s adviser, Wackee Salud, introduced the two. “I personally delivered to his hotel room my gift to him – a 4x4 feet oil painting of him running with his dog Pacman, and one 4x4 feet I have requested Manny to sign so I can give it to my son Kyle,” Jun recalled. Pacquiao asked Jun if he was selling his paintings. He answered: “No, that is for you, I’ve wanted to give you this a long time ago.” “How much is this kind of painting if someone wants to buy?” Pacquiao asked. Jun told him that he Turn to A15

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 8, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

HGC rejects Romero’s offer PSe comPoSite index Closing February 5, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,765.13 112.30

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing February 5, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.660

44.00

43.00

HIGH P47.650 LOW P47.755 AVERAGE P47.710 VOLUME 561.500M

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

oPriceS il P

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

STATE-RUN Home Guarantee Corp. rejected the P5billion settlement offer of R-II Builders Corp. on the controversial Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project. HGC officer-in-charge Cora Corpuz said over the weekend the agency found the compromise offer of R-II Builders “low and unacceptable.” “The P5-billion [offer] is definitely low and is not acceptable,” Corpuz said. R-II Builders chairman Reghis Romero II offered on July last year to reimburse HGC’s exposure to the reclamation project. Some members of the House subcommittee on housing in a hearing last week urged HGC to accept the comprise agreement between the government and R-II Builders, the

private contractor of the Smokey Mountain reclamation prpoject. HGC lawyer Dexter Licuanan earlier stressed the need to settle the two-decade dispute and urged Romero’s group to make a fair offer. Licuanan was vocal in rejecting the offer of R-II Builders during the House hearing. Corpuz said HGC was open to a settlement “as long as this will be for the best interest of HGC and the government.” Former HGC president Manuel Sanchez earlier said the property was worth P9.5 billion, or way above Romero’s offer to settle the dispute between the two companies. “Romero also wants mutual withdrawal of cases. If we do that, the claims of the government will be lost forever. We have to make sure that the settlement would be fair and proper,” Sanchez said. R-II Builders and the National Housing Authority formed a joint venture to develop Smokey Mountain. R-II Builders agreed to finance all aspects of development—including the construction of 2,992 temporary housing and 3,520 units of medium-rise housing and

the development of an industrial and commercial site within Smokey Mountain area. The government and R-II Builders later had disagreements after Romero’s company failed to finance the Smokey Mountain project. Sanchez earlier said the government was also losing billions in Harbour Centre Port Holdings Inc., after Romero failed to recognize the 32 percent stake of the government in HCPI. “The government has been shortchanged millions and millions of pesos every year because Mr. Reghis Romero doesn’t want to recognize our remaining 32 percent share in HCPHI,” Sanchez said. “All these years he is acting and benefiting as a full owner of HCPHI. We don’t have any seat in the board although we own 32 percent of the company. They don’t give us a copy of the records. So, we don’t know how much they are making a year and how much we are entitled every year,” Sanchez said. HGC is a government-owned-and-controlled-corporation mandated by law to promote sustainable home ownership by providing risk coverage or guarantees.

today

P20.40-P23.80 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, February 5, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.7530

Japan

Yen

0.008570

0.4092

Pound

1.459000

69.6716

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128434

6.1331

Switzerland

Franc

1.007658

48.1187

Canada

Dollar

0.727061

34.7193

Singapore

Dollar

0.716435

34.2119

Australia

Dollar

0.722178

34.4862

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657242

126.8913

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

12.7375

Brunei

Dollar

0.713878

34.0898

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000073

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028129

1.3432

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.0032

Euro

1.121100

53.5359

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0404

China

Yuan

0.152332

7.2743

India

Rupee

0.014798

0.7066

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241255

11.5207

New Zealand

Dollar

0.671682

32.0748

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030277

1.4458 Source: PDS Bridge

US food show. Philippine specialty food products under the Food Philippines brand delights the hearts and appetite of the US market during its appearance in the 41st Winter Fancy Food Show, the largest food and beverage trade show in the West Coast, on January 17 to 19 2016, at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco. Food Philippines is a branding initiative of the Trade Department and Center for International Trade, Exposition and Missions Inc. that uniﬁes the promotional efforts of the government in overseas trade exhibitions and events. A total of 540 inquiries and negotiated sales worth over $44 million signiﬁed a promising market in the West Coast.

GSIS plans to double infrastructure investments to $800m STATE-RUN Government Service Insurance System plans to double its investments in infrastructure projects in the Philippines to $800 million, the agency’s top official said over the weekend. GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara said participating in infrastructure projects would be a good investment that would generate better returns for the pension fund. GSIS manages the pension fund of nearly 2 million government employees, public school teachers, court employees, military and

police personnel nationwide. Vergara said the infrastructure investment of the fund was currently at 2 percent to 3 percent of total investment portfolio, or about $412 million. “I really think investing in infrastructure in the Philippines is based on our experience. It’s a certainly a very good asset, generates returns that we need. So certainly, I will be recommending that we explore the possibility of increasing our allocation to infrastructure,” he said. “I think we can easily double

the position, take it to 5 percent. If you look at the other sovereign wealth funds or other pension funds, their allocation to infrastructure is 10 to 15 percent, so certainly the empirical evidence is this is something that deserves an allocation,” he said. Vergara said the fund was interested in investing in core infrastructure projects such as power, transportation and fuel depots. GSIS earlier said 76 percent of the $412 million it committed to Philippine Investment Alliance

for Infrastructure in 2012 had already been invested. GSIS teamed up with Asian Development Bank, Dutch pension fund manager Algemene Pensioen Groep and Australia’s Macquarie Group to set up the $625-million Pinai fund in 2012 to finance infrastructure projects in the Philippines. GSIS allocated $412 million for the program while ADB provided $25 million. APG and Macquarie raised the remaining $200 million while Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets

was tasked to manage the infrastructure fund. Vergara said the past three years was a learning period in infrastructure investment in the country. “I think that the learning period [in infrastructure investment] has been very favorable, so i think we will probably make a recommendation,” he said. Vergara said with interest rates expected to increase following the US Federal Reserve’s action, it would be more risky to increase the fund’s fixed-income allocation. Gabrielle H. Binaday

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 8, 2016

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

The STandard BuSineSS Weekly STockS revieW FEBRUARY 1-5, 2016 Close Volume AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

2.89 44.8 101.00 90.00 35.2 2.50 1.31 14.3 16.6 6.70 0.72 1.78 570.00 0.450 75.3 0.91 15.00 51.35 103.2 275 33.5 144.1 1310.00 56.50 1.45

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. LBC Express Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ SPC Power Corp. Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

42.2 4.52 0.67 1.26 10.2 16.32 107 19.56 37.5 2.09 1.88 11.6 8.200 7.30 5.23 5.50 1.79 18.9 56.55 11.50 13.80 5.2 2.510 214.60 8.5 25.00 1.81 2.9 39.35 26 15.02 5.5 312.80 4.05 2.97 6.69 2.99 11.50 3.60 1.36 2.3 3.80 2.7 4.91 139.5 4 2.44 0.142 1.01 2.10 199 4.64 0.6 1.02

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.325 57.7000 14.70 1.18 6.20 0.208 0.230 694.5 7.35 11.90 4.72 4.74 0.220 1273 5.70 9.72 66.70 5.13 0.55 16.32 0.52 5.7 0.0290 1.130 2.040 2.74 73.00 2.4 847.00 1.07 0.80 122.000 0.2800 0.2050 0.270

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. À’ Centennial City Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Keppel Properties Megaworld Prop.

7.100 0.77 1.180 32.150 2.46 4.5 5.5 0.510 0.960 0.120 0.400 21 0.890 0.145 0.94 1.50 1.25 4.49 3.6

Value

FINANCIAL 10,918,840.00 6,077,865.00 1,538,353,903 1,530,223,186.50 7,483,900.00 77,500.00 2,267,680.00 740,292.00 39,176,480.00 148,090 720 137,910.00 229,450.00 802,550.00 1,239,319,869.50 46,010.00 10,095,402.00 26,192,302.00 1,032.00 932,298.00 30,203,775 589,277,320.00 273,325.00 26,672,786.00 1,087,880.00 INDUSTRIAL 20,851,300 867,443,290.00 2,956,000 13,474,710.00 2,117,000 1,313,810.00 1,635,000 2,094,610.00 22,900 229,622.00 2,276,700 36,318,956 20 2,140.00 651,400 12,721,058.00 633,100 23,702,365 1,731,000 3,592,860.00 51,566,000 104,156,950.00 152,500 1,794,184.00 47,975,500 384,622,206.00 4,589,900 33,574,373.00 84,920,900 452,366,265.00 2,912,800 15,542,948.00 1,000 1,790.00 38,120,500 711,759,026.00 2,688,660 152,225,254.50 800 9,016.00 119,900 1,697,188.00 563,300 2,850,213.00 45,375,000 112,091,370.00 6,288,900 1,311,138,232.00 532,100 4,158,828.00 1,900 47,500.00 356,000 643,260.00 2,000 5,800.00 4,900 184,565.00 4,753,100 120,662,805.00 15,645,400 226,963,990.00 798,900 4,440,165.00 1,263,570 387,999,506.00 4,000 16,200.00 943,000 2,800,660.00 30,325,100 200,060,541.00 16,000 43,650.00 5,600 62,772.00 2,854,000 10,262,710.00 1,046,000 1,396,790.00 5,739,000 13,902,720.00 672,000 2,526,830.00 1,701,000 4,592,300.00 57,000 279,518.00 69,120 9,708,277.00 39,000 156,000.00 11,752,000 28,304,740.00 2,590,000 373,060.00 415,000 434,980.00 21,621,000 45,469,850.00 12,368,510 2,404,956,107.00 624,000 2,844,740.00 448,000 266,350.00 1,093,000 1,116,870.00 HOLDING FIRMS 3,140,000 964,550.00 10,022,540 570,976,610.00 37,739,500 552,095,652.00 304,000 322,890.00 95,700 574,332.00 14,830,000 2,976,110.00 50,000 11,500.00 1,845,460 1,242,706,685.00 7,261,500 53,631,282.00 35,385,400 406,388,278.00 501,900 2,539,313.00 898,000 4,217,640.00 760,000 154,500.00 1,536,000 1,965,415,080.00 126,500 669,483.00 10,195,500 98,692,620.00 10,262,310 670,056,179.00 15,071,200 79,753,264.00 748,000 416,150.00 39,719,000 625,620,856.00 336,000 177,670.00 197,424,800 1,086,388,364.00 56,800,000 1,627,000.00 45,000 50,220.00 24,858,000 51,118,240.00 183,000 499,520.00 5,028,220 361,139,336.50 4,000 9,050.00 1,332,220 1,106,208,890.00 2,067,000 2,105,140.00 47,000 36,200.00 631,240 71,884,735.00 19,870,000 5,539,300.00 1,050,000 206,180.00 4,660,000 1,249,600.00 PROPERTY 7,646,200 53,837,012.00 11,398,000 8,748,910.00 168,000 184,090.00 64,904,500 2,060,874,370.00 8,485,000 20,602,770.00 148,000 669,060.00 9,900 54,765.00 15,646,000 7,921,695.00 20,003,000 19,202,880.00 7,400,000 866,000.00 13,300,000 5,731,400.00 4,664,500 95,407,663.00 17,191,000 15,177,360.00 80,000 12,230.00 21,407,000 19,529,250.00 73,419,000 109,430,000.00 7,554,000 9,753,470.00 1,000 4,490.00 274,163,000 952,854,460.00 3,463,000 136,700 15,401,380 17,136,710 212,600 31,000 1,587,000 52,500 2,442,600 23,500 1,000 78,000 400 1,710,000 17,047,140 52,000 683,800 513,990 10 3,480 916,800 4,097,650 215 474,090 754,000

JANUARY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume Value 2.9 44.7 102.00 87.65 34.6 2.50 1.42 14.32 15.88 6.20 0.72 1.81 580.00 0.450 71 0.92 15.58 50.00 97.9 270 32.75 41.8 1260.00 56.90 1.45

976,000 151,900 12,934,810 10,432,690 178,300 177,000 432,000 403,700 725,100 600 10,000 23,000 58,030 4,900,000 15,658,270 569,000 144,600 482,400 4,570 8,520 1,952,100 4,641,740 330 132,920 250,000

2,705,630.00 6,766,485.00 1,285,681,645 902,361,093.00 6,195,865.00 442,330.00 590,840.00 5,825,776.00 11,540,270.00 3,720 7,200 39,420.00 75,400.00 2,198,150.00 1,120,977,517.00 508,450.00 2,142,140.00 22,448,045.00 432,143.00 2,215,756.00 63,484,500 650,413,101.00 419,850.00 7,521,081.50 367,630.00

41.6 4.33 0.63 1.27 9.5 15.58 105 19.72 40 2.08 2.29 11.82 8.100 7.34 5.48 5.58

8,934,400 1,502,000 2,438,000 38,076,000 8,000 2,655,000 40 2,650,100 2,307,600 2,782,000 29,759,000 187,700 77,885,300 32,460,600 70,556,800 7,396,300

366,832,500.00 6,477,260.00 1,488,240.00 48,259,250.00 76,424.00 42,397,566 4,000.00 52,002,910.00 96,726,660 5,830,850.00 76,695,270.00 2,179,530.00 595,132,362.00 232,740,199.00 386,355,573.00 42,040,852.00

18.4 55.8 11.84 14.30 5.08 2.250 205.20 7.44 25.00 1.7 2.99 39.35 24.3 13.7 5.5 310.00 4.04 2.95 6.50

22,228,200 2,361,310 300 25,500 1,465,500 22,699,000 6,244,110 52,500 10,800 55,000 21,000 20,100 4,412,400 10,222,400 1,257,000 691,120 1,000 2,471,000 28,966,400

408,572,628.00 128,360,271.50 3,552.00 364,590.00 7,275,394.00 51,483,540.00 1,268,722,515.00 351,521.00 266,390.00 94,950.00 61,300.00 757,450.00 109,572,045.00 140,435,056.00 6,910,280.00 213,807,668.00 4,040.00 7,230,450.00 178,819,135.00

11.50 3.50 1.35 2.32 3.80 2.43 6.34 138.6 3.95 2.49 0.146 0.98 2.10 193 4.64 0.6 0.98

15,800 1,267,000 1,827,000 1,587,000 15,726,000 11,000 12,700 121,040 17,000 4,440,000 14,660,000 122,000 8,276,000 16,080,300 28,000 2,341,000 461,000

178,222.00 4,549,610.00 2,500,520.00 3,589,110.00 57,970,770.00 27,320.00 64,818.00 15,444,199.00 67,200.00 11,139,550.00 2,098,670.00 122,960.00 17,641,700.00 3,016,654,482.00 129,570.00 1,363,650.00 451,900.00

0.290 58.5000 14.80 1.06 6.00 0.200 0.180 679.5 7.37 11.40 5.75 4.51 0.223 1290 5.34 9.53 67.00 5.25 0.54 15.9 0.48 5.5 0.0280 0.940 1.940 2.7 72.90 2.35 827.50 1.00 0.77 104.900 0.2650 0.2100 0.275

1,370,000 8,630,970 46,649,300 309,000 140,400 1,530,000 580,000 2,046,280 10,989,900 72,099,300 20,100 410,000 4,010,000 1,099,195 15,000 15,324,700 8,943,020 14,366,300 3,740,000 42,246,200 70,000 243,846,500 133,200,000 20,000 12,478,000 97,000 7,158,350 2,000 1,514,760 212,000 169,000 620,110 9,920,000 1,980,000 4,530,000

398,500.00 490,230,480.50 660,653,496.00 309,620.00 842,380.00 297,950.00 105,600.00 1,359,565,285.00 79,992,738.00 806,962,808.00 101,075.00 1,666,910.00 781,730.00 1,372,593,935.00 80,100.00 144,989,503.00 564,359,300.50 74,169,046.00 1,892,740.00 669,949,298.00 33,700.00 1,323,701,692.00 3,681,800.00 18,500.00 24,533,240.00 255,900.00 479,852,950.00 4,410.00 1,199,728,800.00 212,220.00 120,360.00 57,694,904.50 2,508,200.00 387,940.00 1,214,470.00

6.760 0.72 1.050 31.400 2.37 4.6

525,500 13,300,000 28,000 80,251,800 44,037,000 196,000

3,447,901.00 9,483,030.00 29,650.00 2,445,376,995.00 100,135,330.00 893,610.00

0.500 1.020 0.118 0.390 20.9 0.790 0.149 0.89 1.48 1.16

43,270,000 40,001,000 41,780,000 2,800,000 8,223,800 747,000 270,000 29,013,000 123,419,000 367,000

19,266,600.00 38,001,020.00 4,371,320.00 1,075,050.00 166,354,643.00 577,480.00 39,910.00 25,488,560.00 180,927,620.00 422,460.00

3.57

330,264,000

1,125,247,230.00

STOCKS

FEBRUARY 1-5, 2016 Close Volume

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.075 0.2600 0.365 8.39 25.50 1.45 3.05 21.00 0.75 4.59 0.960 4.250

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons Retail SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils. Yehey

6.3 55.5 1.14 0.420 10.06 28.45 4.11 0.0430 3.23 77.5 9.99 1.6 6.00 955 1898 6.51 17.56 1.18 58.7 11.24 0.0081 0.144 1.1700 2.07 7.12 4.12 1.21 18.00 0.550 1.94 2.05 3.47 0.255 0.730 18.3 4.50 2.4 100.00 28.00 2190.00 0.390 0.710 33.85 61.10 5.06 3.25 0.415 3.8 0.330 4.200

Abra Mining Apex À’ Atlas Cons. À’ Atok-Big Wedge À’ Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining À’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À’ Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À’ Semirara Corp. TA Petroleum

0.0041 1.82 4.32 12.00 0.207 4.8000 0.54 0.400 6.80 0.670 0.260 0.182 0.199 0.0110 0.012 1.81 5.05 2.55 0.4850 1.1300 0.0097 3.48 4.85 1.56 0.0100 126.10 1.92

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B1’ First Gen F First Gen G FPH Pref C GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure & Resort Pref. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F

54.65 500 118 114 500 523 6.02 1.1 111 1023 1065 1025 105 108 79 82.5 78.75 77 79.5

Leisure & Resort Warr.

2.530

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Xurpas

3.45 2.54 2.49 12.8

First Metro ETF

110.5

JANUARY 25-29, 2016 Close Volume Value

Value

1,240,000 1,140,000 1,470,000 1,300 21,657,900 1,305,000 80,000 56,697,900 6,339,000 9,000 29,441,000 51,528,000

92,540.00 259,110.00 509,350.00 10,907.00 536,379,465.00 1,921,770.00 236,730.00 1,194,354,705.00 4,806,710.00 39,520.00 29,231,020.00 207,257,690.00 SERVICES 187,300 1,181,883.00 348,280 19,385,953.00 557,000 634,780.00 14,610,000 6,032,050.00 136,500 1,372,954.00 2,300 61,240 67,902,000 292,398,440.00 144,100,000 6,122,000.00 285,000 899,230.00 3,350,570 257,695,457.50 6,700 65,072.00 14,000 22,530 342,200 2,036,520.00 600 573,320.00 361,075 674,332,180 282,100 1,835,581.00 61,500 1,079,946 387,000 455,760.00 8,647,590 500,228,408.50 6,457,200 72,598,064.00 20,000,000 163,200.00 53,960,000 8,280,060.00 13,984,000 16,954,800.00 17,000 34,740.00 897,300 6,449,493.00 707,000 2,876,530.00 1,000 1,210.00 3,400 61,200.00 99,000 53,330.00 24,000 46,720.00 319,398,000 710,891,380.00 14,506,000 48,663,450.00 730,000 181,750.00 73,207,000 53,729,610.00 15,600 286,806.00 144,000 638,650 71,000 170,300.00 1,004,030 100,403,000.00 986,800 22,488,092.00 679,825 1,468,158,990.00 2,200,000 839,200.00 110,341,000 80,641,710.00 5,823,900 196,702,910.00 6,012,870 362,987,128.50 7,223,200 36,932,038.00 86,112,000 288,221,980.00 6,140,000 2,507,800.00 2,725,000 10,352,540.00 790,000 256,400.00 426,000 1,706,160.00 MINING & OIL 3,914,000,000 16,550,300.00 990,000 1,780,850.00 7,933,000 33,818,400.00 31,200 362,190.00 410,000 83,860.00 14,000 67,180.00 2,607,000 1,408,090.00 4,710,000 1,845,650.00 162,600 1,037,761.00 269,769,000 190,469,000.00 470,000 75,150.00 56,390,000 10,199,340.00 5,410,000 1,075,470.00 164,100,000 1,678,300.00 37,800,000 453,000.00 3,137,000 5,618,620.00 75,520,000 362,491,129.00 3,496,000 8,841,090.00 110,000 52,900.00 606,000 701,520.00 30,000,000 280,500.00 56,000 191,100.00 13,103,000 60,527,400.00 18,630,000 28,723,900.00 895,000,000 9,706,900.00 3,017,880 369,884,456.00 488,000 933,970.00 PREFERRED 1,359,880 74,228,388.00 268,000 2,373,210.00 260,750 30,752,350.00 5,750 655,500.00 8,000 4,000.00 4,610 2,410,150.00 112,800 677,437.00 390,000 426,750 2,000 222,000.00 3,020 3,093,100.00 100 106,500.00 14,715 15,100,470.00 10,000 1,050,000.00 2,520 271,760.00 44,800 3,381,050.00 102,460 8,460,577.00 118,130 9,249,480.00 275,580 21,220,537.00 258,200 20,503,803.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 4,171,000 11,243,080.00 SME 198,000 643,870.00 4,000 10,180.00 1,383,000 3,452,560.00 5,416,900 70,316,230.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 333,390 36,019,211.00

0.076 0.2850 0.340 8.39 25.00 1.49 3.05 21.15 0.76 0.46 0.860 3.740

3,680,000 680,000 1,730,000 198,800 18,152,600 12,526,000 175,000 96,212,000 7,469,000 4,680,000 2,478,000 68,243,000

265,560.00 151,330.00 563,950.00 1,669,320.00 439,277,325.00 18,773,950.00 526,650.00 1,992,533,249.00 5,576,290.00 21,530,000.00 2,100,280.00 254,756,220.00

6.35 55.75 1.2 0.400 11.5 26 4.10 0.0410 3.3 77.1 9.5 1.58 6.02 989 1864 6.55 21.00 1.16 60.8 11.96 0.0078 0.147 1.3500 1.95 7.10 4.00 1.21 18.00 0.500 1.97 2.26 3.15 0.250 0.640 18.4 4.35 2.4 100.00 20.00 2220.00 0.385 0.750 33.00 59.05 5.00 3.20 0.390 3.84 0.340 3.750

515,600 139,370 49,000 4,270,000 107,100 500 96,154,000 97,700,000 1,087,000 2,556,930 10,600 536,000 570,500 840 488,000 307,900 167,000 305,000 6,231,230 35,400 58,000,000 65,880,000 6,083,000 17,000 1,411,600 1,476,000 3,000 11,700 40,000 227,000 434,195,000 18,039,000 1,190,000 20,028,000 403,700 10,000 186,000 23,550 460,946 1,040,875 14,290,000 383,553,000 4,954,900 10,781,790 7,796,000 74,025,000 11,900,000 2,058,000 80,000 677,000

3,264,940.00 7,595,069.00 55,660.00 1,598,950.00 1,128,450.00 12,420 371,314,660.00 3,928,200.00 3,609,290.00 195,968,729.50 100,604.00 804,660 3,443,788.00 802,550.00 881,178,540 1,997,261.00 3,507,000 340,310.00 375,364,111.50 406,360.00 455,800.00 9,104,770.00 8,599,760.00 34,100.00 10,008,948.00 5,862,670.00 3,670.00 218,015.00 20,000.00 437,850.00 806,905,600.00 55,267,690.00 300,150.00 12,526,410.00 7,369,204.00 43,550 435,040.00 2,377,480.00 4,212,318.00 2,218,190,150.00 5,602,000.00 267,148,070.00 164,949,780.00 624,368,012.00 37,169,360.00 213,985,340.00 4,724,950.00 7,690,490.00 25,850.00 2,491,160.00

0.0042 1.65 4.00 13.40 0.203 3.2000 0.54 0.400 6.20 0.600 0.250 0.168 0.181 0.0098 0.011 1.72 4.1 2.42 0.4450 1.1000 0.0094 3.35 4.07 1.48 0.0110 118.70 1.88

489,000,000 699,000 978,000 16,100 650,000 2,000 423,000 42,100,000 83,900 159,665,000 3,430,000 33,810,000 7,710,000 184,300,000 192,600,000 3,357,000 80,739,000 2,955,000 370,000 1,391,000 12,200,000 379,000 4,323,000 5,188,000 60,000,000 1,920,610 623,000

2,009,800.00 1,093,400.00 3,901,160.00 207,429.00 131,470.00 6,400.00 217,800.00 16,628,050.00 502,400.00 97,629,265.00 815,430.00 5,583,560.00 1,429,270.00 1,810,940.00 2,056,300.00 5,443,540.00 319,257,930.00 6,682,390.00 166,300.00 1,492,390.00 127,800.00 1,239,060.00 17,303,170.00 7,108,850.00 622,450.00 227,804,990.00 1,162,040.00

55.2 521

1,024,360 3,000

54,975,390.00 1,580,200.00

514 6.2 1.09 111 1023 1065 1025 105 108 80.5 83 79 78.5 79

20,280 52,400 1,123,000 45,910 950 160 30,995 2,510 5,160 13,320 381,800 411,300 386,760 322,380

10,537,700.00 315,491.00 1,231,070 5,118,510.00 971,850.00 170,600.00 31,772,335.00 263,560.00 554,630.00 1,072,260.00 31,509,702.50 32,248,360.00 30,425,535.00 25,389,762.00

2.730

9,422,000

21,472,240.00

3.1 3.01 2.51 12.86

51,100 72,000 2,327,000 4,426,800

158,220.00 183,120.00 5,736,520.00 54,178,150.00

111.5

306,560

32,229,114.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ Melco Crown Megaworld Prop. Ferronickel Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. Manila Mining `A’ Boulevard Holdings Premium Leisure SSI Group

VOLUME 3,914,000,000 895,000,000 319,398,000 274,163,000 269,769,000 197,424,800 164,100,000 144,100,000 110,341,000 86,112,000

STOCKS Universal Robina Ayala Land `B’ GT Capital Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI PLDT Common Jollibee Foods Corp. Ayala Corp `A’ Metrobank SM Prime Holdings

VALUE 2,404,956,107.00 2,060,874,370.00 1,965,415,080.00 1,538,353,903.00 1,530,223,186.50 1,468,158,990.00 1,311,138,232.00 1,242,706,685.00 1,239,319,869.50 1,194,354,705.00

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 8, 2016

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

Car supply chain.

The Board of Investments and the US-Asean Business Council hold a workshop on ‘Supply Chain Readiness Training’ for the automotive sector at Acacia Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The workshop aims to transfer information, knowledge and skills from multinational companies to broader Philippine small and medium enterprises. Shown during the workshop are (from left) Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez, Trade assistant secretary Rafaelita Aldaba, Federation of Automotive Industries of the Philippines president Vicente Mills and Philippine Parts Makers Association president Ferdinand RaquelSantos.

Globe’s proﬁt jumps to P16.5b By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said net income in 2015 jumped 23 percent from a year ago, bolstered by record revenues and onetime gains. The Ayala-led telco said net income hit P16.5 billion last year, up from P13.4 billion it booked in 2014. The growth in profit was supported by one-time gains coming from the sale of a 51-percent equity stake in Yondu Inc. and the acquisition of a 98.6-percent stake in Bayan Telecommunications Inc. Globe’s core net income,

which excludes the impact of non-recurring charges, including one-time gains and accelerated depreciation charges, foreign exchange and mark-tomarket charges, also grew 4 percent to P15.1 billion from P14.5 billion in 2014. Excluding Bayan’s results, Globe’s net income and core net income jumped 22 percent and 5 percent, respectively from 2014, the company said. Globe said it recorded consolidated service revenues of P113.7 billion last year, or 15 percent higher than the previous record of P99 billion in 2014. “We made history again in 2015 as Globe delivered a banner year, closing 2015 with record revenues, Ebitda [earnings before income, tax, depreciation and amortization] and net income. We have proven year after

year our strong commitment to create and deliver value for our customers and shareholders. Our latest achievements continue to motivate us to be more efficient, focused and ready to take on new challenges in the years ahead,” said Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu. “As we foresee an increasingly challenging competitive landscape moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our leadership in the digital space, gearing all our efforts toward uplifting the state of Internet services in the country and fortifying the Globe brand as a whole to be the customer’s first choice for all their data needs,” Cu said. Globe’s mobile revenues grew 9 percent to P85.1 billion in 2015 from P78.1 billion reported a year ago, driven by strong revenues across all mobile brands.

Stock index seen testing 6,800 level By Jenniffer B. Austria TRADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain volatile in this shortened trading week, as investors attention will be fixed on the US Federal Reserve’s next action on interest rates. The market will reopen Tuesday, after the government declared Feb. 8 as a holiday in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Analysts said there was a growing expectation the Federal Reserve would keep interest rate unchanged for the remainder of the year, amid a slowdown in China and the steep decline in oil prices. F. Yap Securities investment analyst Jason Escartin said a delay in Fed rate hike might bode well for equities in general, while a rate increase in March could lead to more gyrations for

the US dollar. “Upcoming significant data releases include the widelywatched US non-farm payroll data and the unemployment rate. Volatility is still seen for this week’s trading, especially given the uncertainty of central bank actions globally,” BPI Asset Management said in its weekly outlook report. BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said he expected the market to test the 6,800-point level this week on positive investor sentiments. “A break above 6,800 could test the 7,000 levels. A failure to break 6,800 could prompt some profit-taking and retest the 6,400 levels,” Ravelas said. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index jumped 1.2 percent last week to close

at 6,765.13 on Feb. 5, its second week of gains, as investors sentiments were lifted by recovering oil prices. Except for the services subindex which was down 0.01 percent, all other major sub-indices ended in the green led by mining and oil (9.2 percent), industrial (2.1 percent), financials (2 percent), property (1.7 percent) and holding companies (1.1 percent). Foreign investors were net buyers last week by P523.4 million, as total foreign buying reached P19.51 billion while overseas selling amounted to P18.99 billion. Notable gainers last week week were mining stocks Nickel Asia Corp. (up 23.2 percent) and Philex Mining Corp. (up 19.2 percent) as well as property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. ( up 13.6 percent).

Globe’s mobile subscriber base reached 52.9 million as of end2015, up by 20 percent from 44 million subscribers reported in 2014. Mobile data service revenues surged 55 percent in 2015 to P22.1

billion in 2015 from P14.3 billion in 2014 while broadband business, which now includes Bayan, also sustained its growth momentum, increasing both in revenues and subscriber base by 38 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

Republic of the Philippines Depar tment of Environment and Natural Resources COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE

Office of the CENR Officer Masinloc, Zambales

N OTIC E O F B ID D IN G (L e a se o f Fo re s h o re /O f f s h o re L a n d) N o t i c e i s h e r e by g i ve n t h a t t h e D E N R - C E N R O a t M a s i n l o c , Z a m b a l e s w i l l a c c e p t o r a l o r w r i t t e n b i d s n o t l a t e r t h a n (10 : 0 0) o 'c l o c k A . M . o n M a r c h 0 9 , 2 016 f o r t h e l e a s e o f t h e t r a c t o f l a n d h e r e i n b e l o w d e s c r i b e d: Location

Binabalian, Candelaria, Zambales

Description

B o u n d e d o n t h e N o r t h by S o u t h C h i n a S e a & u n o c c u p i e d Fo r e s h o r e L a n d; S o u t h by S o u t h C h i n a S e a & u n o c c u p i e d Fo r e s h o r e l a n d; We s t by S o u t h C h i n a S e a; E a s t by S a l v a g e Z o n e

Boundaries

P o r t i o n o f L a n d: L i n e 1- 2: S . 2 2 ° 3 6 ' E ., 87. 5 3 m .; L i n e 2- 3: S . 8 9 °19 ' W., 2 51. 07 m .; L i n e 3 - 4 N . 01° 41' E . 91. 2 8 m .; a n d L i n e 4 -1 S . 8 8 ° 01' E . 214 . 8 5 m .

Area

20,000 square meters

Appraised

Land

: P10 ,70 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0

Va l u e o f

Proposed/Existing I m p r o ve m e n t s

: P39,80 0,0 0 0.0 0

A p p l i e d f o r by

B E N G U E TC O R P N I C K E L M I N ES , I N C R e p r e s e n t e d by : M r. L e o p o l d o S . S i s o n I I I P r e s i d e n t & C EO

A p p r ove d A n n u a l R e n t a l - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P 719 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 The right to lease the land will be awarded to the person of fering the highest annual rental, which shall not be less than three percent p e r c e n t u m (3%) o f t h e v a l u e o f t h e l a n d p l u s o n e p e r c e n t u m (1%) o f t h e v a l u e o f t h e p r o p o s e d a n d /o r ex i s t i n g i m p r ove m e n t s . I n o r d e r t h a t a p e r s o n m ay b e e n t i t l e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e b i d d i n g h e m u s t b e a qualified public land applicant, and must, before the commencement o f t h e s a m e , m a ke a d e p o s i t e q u i v a l e n t t o a t l e a s t t h r e e (3) m o n t h s’ r e n t a l . O n l y d e p o s i t i n c a s h , m o n ey o r d e r, t r e a s u r y w a r r a n t , c e r t i f i e d check or manager 's check can be accepted. A person bidding in r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a n o t h e r m ay d o s o u n d e r a d u l y exe c u t e d p o w e r o f a t t o r n ey. D u r i n g t h e b i d d i n g , t h e b i d d e r h a s t o m a ke a n a d d i t i o n a l d e p o s i t eve r y t i m e h i s b i d i s r a i s e d , t o c o m p l e t e t h e t h r e e (3) m o n t h s ' rental, other wise, such bid as raised shall not be accepted. The right i s r e s e r ve d t o r e j e c t a ny o r a l l b i d s .

R AY M O N D A . R I V E R A CENR Of ficer ( T S - J A N . 18 / 2 5 / F E B . 1/ 8 /15 / 2 2 , 2 016)

B4 Peso seen to gain on weak US job figures By Julito G. Rada THE peso is expected to strengthen further against the greenback this week after US non-farm payrolls data in January showed 151,000 jobs were created, lower than the 190,000 expected for the month. Nicholas Antonio Mapa, research officer of the Ayala-controlled Bank of the Philippine Islands, said a lower-than-expected employment data in January would weaken the greenback against other currencies, including the peso. “We’ll see if the dollar continues to lose ground with non-farm payroll data out later tonight. If it’s weaker than 190,000, then we may see the peso continue to appreciate,” Mapa said in an e-mail to the Standard, prior to the release of the jobs data Friday night (Manila time). The peso on Friday closed at 47.66, P0.11 stronger than 47.775 on Thursday. Mapa said the dollar had been weakening due to disappointing latest economic data. “... [This] may convince the Fed to delay its interest rates hike cycle,” Mapa said, adding the stronger Philippine Stock Exchange index was also helping the peso as foreign players returned to the Philippines. Reports prior to the release of the January jobs data said the US economy was expected to have added 190,000 new jobs compared with the 292,000 created in December. Analysts said if the data missed expectations, the dollar would be expected to weaken against other currencies. The peso posted a fresh sixyear low against the dollar on Jan. 26, 2016, when it closed at 47.995. It was the lowest level since the 48.05 recorded on Sept. 16, 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis. Economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific projected that the peso might trade between 48 and 49 versus the greenback this year, taking into consideration the volatility in the global financial markets.

Agricultural support. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (second from right) turns over P83.3 million worth of machinery to agrifishery stakeholders in Sorsogon province. Qualified beneficiaries composed of farm groups and irrigators association were awarded with 4,961 bags certified palay seeds, one unit hand tractor with trailer, one unit palay thresher, one cassava pulverizer, two units of cassava grater with juice extractor, one cassava granulator, one cassava chipper, 16 bags of assorted vegetables, 48 sets of garden tools, three green houses, three shallow tube wells and one unit 4-wheel drive tractor.

PH signs agreement on unlimited flights By Darwin G Amojelar

THE Philippines signed a multilateral agreement on unlimited flights to neighboring countries that will pave the way for cheaper travel in the region this year, the Transportation Department said over the weekend. Under Protocols 5 and 6 of the Asean Multilateral Agreement in Air Services, Philippine air carriers will be allowed to fly unlimited frequencies to and beyond the capital cities of other Southeast Asian nations, leading to better connectivity and translating into more competitive fares and services. “This will enhance regional trade and investment opportunities for Philippine businesses that are looking to expand their markets. It will also provide better access to Filipino individuals, such as professionals and students, who wish to explore job

and educational opportunities in the Asean region,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said. “We expect it to benefit our local tourism and service industries, as the agreement allows foreign airlines to increase their flights to Manila and other cities as well. Just as it will encourage more visitors to come to the country, Filipinos will also enjoy a wider array of flight options and ticket prices to the rest of the Asean,” he added. Data from the Tourism Department showed Asia contributed the biggest arrivals for the Phil-

ippines in October last year with 254,149 visitors for a share of 62 percent of total arrivals. The East Asian region recorded total arrivals of 2.20 million visitors in the first 10 months of 2015, up 14 percent from 1.92 million arrivals in the same period in 2014. The DoTC and the Civil Aeronautics Board will now assist Philippine air carriers in securing additional flight schedules with each of the nine other member States of the Asean. The government plans to make the new flights operational within the next six months. The MAAS is part of the Asean’s Roadmap for Integration of Air Transportation Services, essentially laying down the foundation for the envisioned Asean Single Aviation Market, which would in turn foster seamless connectivity within the region. The ratification of Protocols 5 and 6 provides unlimited access

to any point within the Asean area, more competitive and better airline services, as well as lower fares and broader options for passengers. It highlights the Philippines’ commitment to the realization of the Single Aviation Market, and in creating a unified Asean Economic Community with an efficient and fully-integrated transport network. Moreover, the development presents an opportunity for growth of our aviation sector, which will compete directly with other Asean carriers. It will encourage service upgrades among Philippine airlines, which have thus far proved to be competitive players in Southeast Asia and other regional markets. To meet the expected impact of greater tourist and economic air activity, the Transportation Department continues to modernize the country’s airport infrastructure.

San Miguel registers HK$16.9-m loss in Hong Kong operation By Jenniffer B. Austria SAN Miguel Brewery Hong Kong, a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., registered a consolidated net loss of HK$16.9 million in 2015, a turnaround from a profit of HK$37 million in 2014, on lower volume due to the non-renewal of distribution agreements with AnheuserBusch. SMBHK said in a statement posted on its Web site the group’s

consolidated revenues stood at HK$569.5 million, down 22 percent year-on-year. “Overall sales volume of the company in the [Hong Kong] territory declined by 17 percent, mainly because of the slow demand in the on-premise sales channel partly due to lower tourist arrivals and the non-renewal of distribution agreements with Anheuser-Busch In Bev China Sales Company Limited and Anheuser-Busch InBev International GmbH & Co KG in 2014,

as disclosed in a profit warning announcement last 25 January 2016,” SMBHK said. Also contributing to the net loss were operating costs associated with the sales and marketing operations of the affected products, which were redirected and reinvested in the development of new, premium, specialty and craft brands. The company said it signed up and develop a new stable of premium, specialty and craft brands in line with the company’s key busi-

ness strategy of sustaining a broad and diversified portfolio of brands. SMBHK earlier signed an agreement with Mahou S.A. as the exclusive distributor of Mahou Cinco Estrellas. It also started selling Angry Orchard Cider, Mac’s Great White, Samuel Adams Rebel IPA, Spitfire Kentish Ale, Whitstable Bay Blonde and Whitstable Pale Ale. Kirin beer brands, which the company distributes exclusively within the territory, also continued

to perform strongly, registering a 32-percent volume improvement over the previous year’s level. SMBHK’s South China operations, meanwhile, posted double-digit improvement in consolidated sales volume over the previous year, with sales revenues up slightly. Despite these improvements, South China operations registered operating losses compared with the previous year due to one-off gains in 2014.

M O N D AY : F E B R U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

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

Nido undaunted, to expand Galoc By Alena Mae S. Flores

“In relation to the potential Galoc phase three development, the joint venture continued to progress sub-surface and preliminary engineering studies and is still considering a possible appraisal well in the mid-Galoc area of the field to confirm the commerciality of the project” Nido managing director Mike Fisher said in the company’s quarterly report ending December 31, 2015. Fisher said Nido, operator of the Galoc oil field, was evaluating new exploration, development and production assets “and is actively considering a number of opportunities.” He said while the low oil price environment remained a challenge, company “is continuing to take all steps necessary to maximize shareholder return by embarking on significant cost-cutting initiatives and reducing expenditure where possible.” The Galoc oil field produced a gross average daily of production of 5,707 barrels with a total output of 525,024 barrels during the last quarter of 2015. “Nido is well positioned to capitalize on opportunities in this current low environ-

ment and we are looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead as we strive to build a significant regional upstream E & P business,” Fisher said earlier. Nido and its joint venture partners earlier unveiled a plan to develop the mid-Galoc area northwest off Palawan to increase production of the country’s largest oil field as early as July last year. Nido, which has a 55.88-percent interest in service contract 14 C, said the mid-Galoc area was being considered a potential development project using horizontal drilling and sub-sea completion technology. The preliminary development plans for mid-Galoc are based on drilling two horizontal, subsea development wells, tied back to the Galoc field floating production storage and offloading facilities, or FPSO. Crude oil will be sold by ship-to-ship transfer from the FPSO to the shuttle tanker. Gaffney Cline and Associates ealirer completed an independent contingent resources assessment of the mid-Galoc area of the Galoc oil field. GSA said the mid-Galoc area was estimated to contain resources of 6.2 million to 14.6 million stock tank barrels. Nido earlier said oil production from the new field was expected to start on Jan. 1 2018, with an uncertainty range in initial per well oil rate between 2,500 barrels per day and 3,000 per day, attributable to variable reservoir performance. The Galoc oil field is estimated to continue production beyond 2020. The Galoc oil field was earlier estimated to contain 25 million barrels of oil. It first produced oil in 2008.

Benitez

Hofileña

NIDO Petroleum Ltd. of Australia and its joint venture partners are still keen on pursuing the expansion of the Galoc oil field in northwest Palawan to boost production.

With Rear Adm. Allan Rosal, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; former AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista (retired), AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri; Marge Macasaet-Barro, executive director of the Makati Medical Center Foundation; Atty. Francis Ballesteros, Jr., Philex Mining Corp.’s Division Manager for Public and Regulatory Affairs; AFP spokesman and Civil Military Operations deputy chief-of-staff Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr.; and Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Office chief

A Meeting With Generals I HAD the privilege of sitting down to a luncheon meeting with AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando A. Iriberri, and Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace (with rank of Undersecretary), former AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T. Bautista (retired), as well as other members of the AFP General Headquarters. It was an informal gathering to discuss ways on how the private sector can actively support the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Joining us for the meeting was Marge Macasaet-Barro, executive director of the Makati Medical Center (MMC) Foundation. The MMC Foundation is currently assisting the AFP with the modernization of its hospitals. There was a time in our history when the AFP General Hospital in Quezon City was considered as one of the top five hospitals in Asia. There is hope that, with the MMC foundation’s support, it will regain its former glory. At the end of the sumptuous lunch, a token of appreciation was given by no less than General Iriberri himself—a commemorative mug with the AFP seal

and the engraved name and signature of the Chief of Staff. In light of other tokens or gifts received from the Armed Forces through the years, especially during my stint in government, I wonder if this particular one serves as encouragement to healthy drink and conversation with our distinguished officers and gentlemen. No need, as I later surmised, for any engaging conversation with the current AFP High Command is always highspirited, minus the alcohol, of course. The AFP needs all the support that it can get in securing our nation both from internal and external threats. More than just a privilege, it is the duty of the business sector to render assistance in any way that it can. A snappy salute to our men and women in uniform. Mabuhay!

Insular Life names two trustees THE Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd., largest Filipino-owned life insurance company, announced the appointment of Luis Benitez and Jesus Alfonso Hofileña as members of the board of trustees. Insular Life said in a statemen Benitez and Hofileña replaced Vicente Ayllón and Ricardo Librea, respectively, as regular members of the board on their retirement early this year. Benitez was former vice Chairman of Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. While at SGV, he was a senior partner and head of the audit division. His area of specialization is in the financial services industry. He is currently a director of a number of corporations where he chairs audit committees. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, major in accounting. He earned his

Master’s degree in Business Administration at the Stern School of Business, New York University. Hofileña has been with Insular Life for seven years as head of sales and marketing group. He has extensive experience in sales, marketing, and agency management in both the life and non-life industries. He is also a director of Insular units Insular Health Care Inc. and Home Credit Building and Loan Association, as well as president of Insular Life Assurance Company General Agency. He is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, summa cum laude. Insular Life ranks second in terms of net income, and net worth, and third in terms of assets in the whole life insurance industry in the country, based on Insurance Commission’s 2014 official figures.

It was a pleasure meeting with AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri

We had an engaging conversation during our meeting with the generals

MONDAY: FEBRUARY 8, 2016

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH bans Indiana poultry imports By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Agriculture Department has imposed a temporary ban on poultry imports from Dubois County, Indiana in the United States, where an outbreak of bird flu was reported. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alacala issued Memorandum Order No. 03-16, ordering a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Dubois County. The department said the ban was based on a report submitted by Dr. John Clifford, deputy administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture, to the Office of Internationale Des Epizooties about an outbreak of the H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Dubois County. OIE is an inter-governmental organization that informs governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and ways to control the diseases, coordinates studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and harmonizes regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products. The outbreak has affected the commercial turkey flock in Dubois County as confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Alcala ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances on the importation of poultry products from the affected US territory.

Big ecozone locators invested P77b in ’15 By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said over the weekend it approved 17 major projects in economic zones, with an investment of at least P1 billion each last year. Data from Peza showed foreign and local companies invested a combined P77.4 billion in the electronics, tourism and energy sector in 2015. Peza director-general Lilia de Lima said the 2015 figure covered new and expanding enterprises, with an investment of at least P1 billion each. She said electronic companies dominated the list of big investors in the economic

zones. “Most of the new companies started construction last year with several companies wrapping up construction in early 2016, but most of them are expected to start operations within the year,” de Lima said. She said the biggest investment in 2015 was a new project by a Dutch export company, which infused P25.15 billion worth of capital.

Major investments in economic zones also included P15.72 billion by another Dutch company; P10.1 billion in an expansion project by a Korean company; P5 billion in a tourism enterprise by MJC Investments Corp.; P3.2 billion by renewable energy producer Petrosolar Corp.; P2.96 billion by a Japanese electronics company; P2.1 billion by a Dutch IT company; P1.7 billion by Infinity Philippines; and P1.5 billion by DCS Development Corp. Data showed other big investments last year were P1.4 billion in an expansion project of a Japanese company; P1.3 billion by a Dutch power components firm; P1.3 billion by a US electronics company; P1.2 billion by a Japa-

nese electronics company; P1.6 billion by a Dutch IT company; P1.2 billion in expansion project of an American electronics export company; P1 billion in an expansion project of a Dutch IT firm; and P1 billion in an expansion project by a Japanese car parts manufacturer. De Lima said exports from the country’s economic zones likely grew 2 percent to 7 percent last year. The final figures have yet to be submitted to the government. Electronic products remained the top export items of locators in economic zones, with latest figure showing electronic export receipts of $2.774 billion or 54.2 percent of the total exports revenue in November.

Education award. The Education Department Region VII confers the harvest of excellence award to Aboitiz Foundation in recognition of its exemplary contribution in promoting quality education in Region VII. Shown during the awarding ceremony at the DepEd Ecotech Pavillion, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City are (from left) DepEd Region VII education support services division chief Luz Jandayan, human resource development division chief Flordeliza Sambrano, ofﬁcer-in-charge regional director Juliet Jeruta and Aboitiz Foundation executive vice president and chief operating ofﬁcer Augusto Carpio.

Reﬂections on Suze Orman’s Five Laws of Money BASED on the video seminar Suze Orman conducted, she mentioned that people have two goals in mind: (1) Keep what you have; and (2) Create what you deserve in life. I personally agree with what she mentioned that the usual technique that our parents or grandparents had been doing in terms of their finances is not applicable in today’s generation. She mentioned that because of the accessibility of the information we were able to receive. In this case, it would be easier for us to decide what we need to do in our finances. I think that most of the people would agree on this; thus, she introduced the five laws of money that she deemed as timeless in which one can apply any time and it is applicable from one generation to another. Truth creates money, lies destroy it. This law seemed simple, but as Ms. Orman explained the reason, I was now able to understand what she was trying to say. It is really true that when we want something that we cannot afford, we sometimes have the tendency to use our credit cards to pay for the said item even if it is not something we really need. Thus, it causes us to have an illusion that we can borrow something that we do

not really need and if we were not able to manage our finances well, it would cause us more stress to pay the debt or even the compounding interest the credit card companies are charging. No wonder, credit card companies kept on increasing a person’s credit card limit at the same time, keep on giving us credit cards even if we did not have any intention to apply for one. In this situation, it is important to be truthful with oneself such as accepting the fact that you cannot afford to buy a certain item and borrowing money to acquire a certain item is not an acceptable idea, as a small bad decision can lead to a series of bad decisions, which would eventually become an issue that would be hard to overcome. Look at what you have not at what you had. This is the law in which I fully agree. As a person who invest in stocks, I usually have the tendency of looking at stocks that are quick moving at the same time would assure that it would give me a high interest rate so that I could at least get my income on the right track. Personally, I think it is important to know that the past should be used as a lesson for the present so that we could prepare ourselves for the future. However, if we keep on looking

SARAH JANE GO

GREEN LIGHT back at the past or reminiscing the good things that we had in the past, it will not be helpful in our present, which might affect the future that we could have. Do what’s right for you before what’s right for your money. The third law states that we should prioritize our own welfare before our money’s welfare. I think one should be able to determine first his/her risk profile such as determining whether one is a risk taker, risk avoider or had a balanced approach. Aside from determining the risk profile, it is also important for an investor to be informed that when he/ she decided to become a risk avoider, he/she should know that he/she should not expect something huge in return, as the saying goes, the higher the risk, the higher the returns. In my situation, sometimes when the stock I chose does not have a chance to get back to the price that I initially bought, I sometimes had

the tendency to sell everything so that I would be at peace with myself even if it meant that I lost around a thousand pesos for a bad decision that I made. I think for every loss, it should be taken note that there is a lesson that is being incorporated. However, I know that I can still sleep even if the stock that I bought went down as I had bought other financial instruments that would give me dividends and interest. Invest in the known before investing in unknown. I think this all boils down with ensuring that a person is at least investing in something that is stable or guaranteed such as savings. Ms. Orman also mentioned that one should also have at least eight months of emergency fund in which it would enable a person to tackle the unknown in order to be known. Example of known according to Ms. Orman is buying a roof over your head (house) and an example of an unknown is the stock market since one cannot predict whether the market will go up or down. Always remember that money has no power on its own. Lastly, it is extremely important to take note that we should not allow money to control nor define who we are. We

are the ones who are in control of our money. It is up to us to determine what we are supposed to do about it. As Ms. Orman had mentioned in the last part of her video, she mentioned that we are given two wings, the first one is the Wing of Grace in which it keeps on flapping even without our effort. The other one is the Wing of Self-Effort, which meant that we should keep on exerting our effort in order for both of the wings to flap together. If one wing (specifically the wing of self-effort) is not doing it’s part, we would not become successful as it would require two wings for us to function well and be successful in our own life. The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at http://sarahjanego. blogspot.com/. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators

M o n D aY : F e b r u a r Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Race to save earthquake victims TAINAN, Taiwan— Rescuers raced Sunday to free more than 120 people buried under the rubble of an apartment complex felled by an earthquake in southern Taiwan that left 24 confirmed dead, as an investigation began into the collapse. The death toll rose as emergency workers dug for survivors of the 6.4-magnitude quake that toppled the 16-storey complex of almost 100 homes in the city of Tainan on Saturday. Officials said an investigation had been launched as questions were raised over the safety of the residential blocks in the complex. Tainan mayor William Lai said survivors and relatives had reported legal “violations” but gave no further detail. “I’ve contacted judicial units and prosecutors have formally launched an investigation,” said Lai. “We’ve also commissioned three independent bodies to preserve evidence during the rescue so we can assist the residents if they want to file lawsuits in the future. We will hold the builder responsible if they have broken the law.” Local media reported the construction company that built the complex had gone out of business and also raised questions over the quality of the materials used. Yueh Chin-sen, whose mother-in-law’s family of eight is still trapped, said the residents had complained of defects in the building. “They complained that the building wasn’t well constructed as there were cracks in the walls and tiles fell off after several quakes in recent years,” he told AFP. “I hope the government will prosecute the builder on criminal charges as people lost their lives” Rescuers said 126 residents were still missing, with 103 of them trapped “very deep” in the rubble, according to Lai. “There’s no way to get to them direct, it’s very difficult,” Lai said, adding that emergency workers were having to shore up the ruins to ensure they were secure before digging. AFP

Present. From left, actress Nina Dobrev, sales executive coordinator at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Shaylyn Riley, and Ash Dragon attend the DirecTV Super Saturday Night co-hosted by Mark Cuban’s AXS TV at Pier 70 on February 6, 2016, in San Francisco, California. AFP

‘The Revenant’ continues Hollywood tradition LOS ANGELES—Shot in brutal weather to a punishing schedule, Oscar favorite “The Revenant” belongs to a fine Hollywood tradition in which the truly creative must suffer for their art. Leonardo DiCaprio went through hell to inhabit the character of 19th century frontiersman Hugh Glass, eating a raw buffalo liver, bathing in icy rivers and climbing mountains laden with furs. In an era where much of the heavy-lifting is done in postproduction by CGI artists, the tough conditions endured by cast and crew of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s survival and revenge epic resulted in several resignations, months of delays and a soaring budget. The Mexican director’s claims that all this hardship would be worth it in the end appears to have been borne out, with the film proving a box office hit and picking up

12 Oscar nominations. Inarritu is the latest, but by no means the first filmmaker to put his actors through the mill in the service of perfection. Francis Ford Coppola created his own mini-hell in the Philippines for the infamous “Apocalypse Now” (1979), which updates the setting of Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness to the Vietnam War. Chief among numerous problems and setbacks were Martin Sheen’s near fatal heart attack, a typhoon that flattened expensive sets and Coppola’s chronic indecision, which led Marlon Brando to improvise much of his dialogue. “Jaws” (1975), which ushered in the era of summer blockbusters and propelled Steven Spielberg into the Hollywood stratosphere, also has its place in the pantheon of nightmarish shoots. “The mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, wasn’t working

and didn’t really inspire fear,” said Jonathan Kuntz, a professor at UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. At one point, the hull of the ship carrying the crew broke up at sea, causing a mini-mutiny. Meanwhile, Bruce’s problems led Spielberg to decide only to show the briefest glimpses of the shark, which in the end proved far more terrifying. The filming of “Titanic” (1997), one of the two highest grossing movies in history along with “Avatar”—both by James Cameron—was in itself a titanic struggle. Hours of filming in a huge tank led to colds, infections and delays. Rumor has it that a crew member, infuriated by Cameron’s despotic style, spiked a soup in the canteen with a hallucinogenic drug. German director Werner Herzog is also “famous for his in-

tense and exhausting cinematography,” Kuntz said. On “Fitzcarraldo,” a film about an Irishman who becomes obsessed with building an opera house in the jungles of Peru, he forced his cast to pull a real steamboat weighing hundreds of tons up a muddy hillside. Leading man Klaus Kinski was enraged and his screams of protest led the Peruvian Indian extras to offer to kill the temperamental star, the director would later claim. Michael Cimino’s excesses on the production of epic western “Heaven’s Gate” (1980), starring Christopher Walken and Isabelle Huppert, finished off studio United Artists. The budget and shoot time spiraled out of control as he built and rebuilt set after set, picking extras by hand and insisting on waiting for the right cloud formation before allowing the cameras to roll. AFP

Hundreds mourn murdered Quebecers

Awards night. Moderator Dave Karger, actor Jacob Tremblay, actor Paul Dano, actor Geza Rohrig, actress Elizabeth Banks, actor O’ Shea Jackson Jr., and actress Kelen Coleman speak at the Virtuosos Award at the Arlington Theater at the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 6, 2016, in Santa Barbara, California. AFP

QUEBEC CITY—Hundreds of family, friends and dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended funerals Saturday for the six Quebecers killed during attacks in Burkina Faso’s capital. A funeral service was held in the morning for Suzanne Bernier, a retired school director, at a church in Quebec City. At a packed afternoon service, four members of the Carrier family and Louis Chabot were laid to rest in the provincial capital. The six Canadians were killed in Ouagadougou on January 15 while

enjoying a last meal after their flight home was delayed. A total of 30 people—around half of them foreigners—were killed and 70 others hurt in the attack on a cafe and the four-star Splendid claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Yves Carrier, his wife Gladys and two of their children had been in the West African nation with two friends helping build a school when they were killed. Carrier and his family had been coming to Burkina Faso for years on humanitarian missions to help the country of 18 million people, 40 percent of them living below the

poverty line. The country for some was seen as an NGO “paradise” because it was safe and largely stable in contrast to other nations on the southern edge of the Sahara facing violence and instability. Just two days before the attack in Ouagadougou, a Canadian citizen from the Montreal suburbs was killed in Jakarta when suicide attackers linked to the so-called Islamic State group struck the Indonesian capital. Combined, the attacks made for the worst death toll for Canadians in attacks since September 11, 2001. AFP

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cEsAR BARRiOqUiNtO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

Carnival. Dancers participate in the “diablada” or devil’s dance on February 6, 2016, during the carnival in Oruro, Bolivia, 240 km south of La Paz. The Carnival of Oruro is a Unesco Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. AFP

Anger at N. Korea rocket launch SEOUL—North Korea hailed an “epochal event” but its latest long-range rocket launch Sunday prompted international anger and plans for talks on a US missile defense system for the peninsula. Pyongyang’s state TV announced it successfully put a satellite into orbit, “legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes”. Many others saw a clear defiance of multiple UN resolutions—a disguised test of a ballistic missile which could one day deliver a warhead as far as the US mainland. The United Nations labeled the launch “deeply deplorable” and Japan termed it “absolutely intolerable”. Even the isolated state’s sole major ally China expressed “regret”. The international community is still struggling to reach agreement on how to respond to Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test—of what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb— on January 6. After Sunday’s launch, South Korean and US defense officials

announced they would begin formal talks on deploying a US missile defense system in South Korea. The US says the highly advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system would be a deterrent necessitated by the North’s advancing ballistic missile program. But China and Russia fear it could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region. United Nations chief Ban Kimoon called the North’s actions “deeply deplorable” and demanded it “halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations”. At Seoul’s request the UN Security Council will hold emergency talks on the launch later Sunday. The United States and its allies want to intensify sanctions on the North. But veto-wielding council member

China, Pyongyang’s main trading partner and oil supplier, has in the past blocked tougher measures. Washington denounced the launch as “destabilizing and provocative”. “North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs represent serious threats to our interests— including the security of some of our closest allies—and undermine peace and security in the broader region,” National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the North’s actions “absolutely intolerable”. Russia termed the launch a serious blow to regional security including that of Pyongyang itself. “It is obvious that such actions lead to a serious aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia on the whole... [and] inflict serious damage to the security of the countries of the region, first and foremost North Korea itself,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. AFP

S. Korea, US to discuss missile defense system SEOUL-South Korean and US defense officials said Sunday they would begin formal talks on the deployment on the Korean peninsula of a US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea. The announcement followed a North Korean rocket launch that the US and its allies condemned as a covert ballistic missile test. “It has been decided to formally start talks on the possibility of deploying the THAAD system to South Korea as part of steps to bolster the missile defense of the Korea-US alliance,” said Yoo JehSeung, the South’s deputy defense minister for policy. There has been speculation for years about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area

Defense system—one of the most advanced in the world—to the South, one of Washington’s main Asian allies. The US insists that it is a deterrent necessitated by the North’s advancing ballistic missile program, while China and Russia argue that it would undermine stability and could trigger an arms race in a delicately balanced region. “The Korea-US alliance had no choice but to take such a defense action because North Korea staged a strategic provocation and is refusing to have a genuine dialogue on denuclearization,” Yoo said in a joint briefing with Lieutenant General Thomas Vandal, commander of the US Eighth Army based in the South. AFP

UN to hold talks on Pyongyang rocket

Playing with fire. An Egyptian dancer peforms during a show at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh late on February 6, 2016. AFP

UNITED NATIONS—The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Sunday in New York over North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket, diplomats said. The closed-door talks were requested by South Korea as well as council members Japan and the United States, which have both denounced the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. They will begin at 11:00 am (1600 GMT). Tokyo and Washington called the consultations over the launch

of a “so-called ‘satellite’ by North Korea in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions,” in a letter to the Venezuela mission, which currently holds the council presidency. The resolutions bar Pyongyang from any ballistic missile or nuclear activity. UN Secretary-General Ban KiMoon condemned the launch as “deeply deplorable.” Ban “reiterates his call on the DPRK to halt its provocative actions and return to compliance with its international obligations,” a spokesman said, referring to North Korea.

“He reaffirms his commitment to working with all sides in reducing tensions and achieving the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The unpredictable hermit state made good on its threat to launch a satellite-bearing rocket, despite US and South Korean warnings, the South Korean military confirmed. The launch took place as the international community was still struggling to reach consensus on how to respond to Pyongyang’s detonation of what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb on January 6. AFP

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

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

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

E AT, DRINK , T R AV EL

LIFE

INDULGE IN ROMANTIC VALENTINE’S OFFERINGS

ebruary is always one of the most celebrated months, shrouded in a sea of red. Today, people are enjoying the extra day for a long weekend to celebrate the Chinese New Year, so kung hei fat choi to everyone! And by next Sunday, love will fill the air as most lovers and friends (let’s include all the single ones, alright?) commemorate the month of hearts.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila: Je T’aime de 21 Façons

Heart-Shaped Chirashi

Celebrate 21 ways to say “I love you” in Sofitel as the hotel prepared various artistic interpretations of love, from gastronomy and wine to culture and design. Enjoy a feast for the senses at Spiral’s 21 Dining Ateliers with culinary offerings from local to international cuisines available on February 11 and 12 at P2,966.22 for lunch per person and dinner at P4,513.82 per person (lunch and dinner sets for kids aged four to 11 cost less). For Valentine’s weekend running from February 13 to 14, enjoy the featured heartwarming culinary offerings at P4,642 per person for lunch and P4,771.75 per person for dinner. When you make your reservation at Spiral, send your favorite couple’s photograph and you may request a dining set up tailored for you with a featured personalized framed photo For other culinary offerings, head to Le Bar and be serenaded by live soulful jazz renditions (you may also request your own love songs) while enjoying a romantic dinner set for two persons which features four courses with dessert and sparkling wine or Valentine’s cocktail for two available at P7,369.05. This also includes a gift from Jewelmer. For a more breezy dinner date, Sofitel also offers a romantic poolside dinner buffet under the stars at Sunset Bar. On the 14th of February, a special fireworks display will light up the sky and women diners at the Sunset Bar will receive a red rose. The buffet costs P2,972.37 on February 12 and P3,119.76 on February 13 and 14. If you’re more into an intimate outdoor dining experience, you may book Sunset Bar’s Adam and Eve Cocoons featuring a four-course dinner menu, a round of sparkling wine, three roses for your lady love and a box of pralines all celebrated with live string music playing in the background, available at P22,108.05. If you’re feeling like it is the right time to propose to your partner, then take advantage of a luxurious Sky High Engagement by the helipad prized at P500,000. For this price, you get to have a private limousine Continued on C2

Around the world, people will celebrate Valentine’s Day with sweet notes, chocolates, candies, flowers, romantic dinner dates and gifts. We’ve compiled places and dining options for you to indulge in with your loved ones, so take advantage of the special rates on offer this love month.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

From C1 transfer, private butler, canopy 6-course dining at the helipad while you toast with Dom Perignon, then hand to your lady a bouquet of styled roses by Botanicals while a string quartet serenades you. Top off the celebration with your own private show of fireworks. Make sure she’ll say yes as this is quite pricey! There are many more offerings from the hotel as they prepared special surprises for your loved ones including room service, spa, pampering at the salon and special messages in their other F&B facilities. For more information and for reservations and inquiries, please call Sofitel Philippine Plaza at (632) 551.5555, and for restaurant reservations, call (632) 832.6988 or email h6308-fb12@ sofitel.com and h6308@sofitel. com for room reservations.

Poolside Barbecue

Le Spa

Sky High proposal at the Helipad

A Romantic Journey at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Get into the romantic mood with Paparazzi's heart- Fall in love with the captivating line up of palm-twitching romance from a sweet weekend stay to a one-of-a-kind shaped tortelli with sea urchin broccoli sauce gastronomic journey

Romantic Rendezvous at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila A surprise for your loved one is always a winner during the love month, so her for a weekend stay at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila with a rose petal room setting amidst the spectacular view of the city skyline. Then partake of the gastronomic journey in the hotel’s amorous Italian restaurant Paparazzi, the all-day dining restaurant HEAT or the intimate setting at the Lobby Lounge. The Valentine’s room package includes a romantic dinner with a glass of champagne, an appetizer and dessert buffet for two at the Lobby Lounge and buffet breakfast at HEAT, priced at P14,000. At Paparazzi, indulge in a four-course dining experience specially prepared by Italian executive chef Marco Ghezzi with two glasses of wine for P5,000 per person. The menu starts with a scrumptious seafood trio appetizer of tuna tartare, carpaccio of sea bass and belon oyster, followed by a heart-shaped tortelli with sea urchin broccoli sauce. Choice of main course are pan-fried beef tenderloin in red wine sauce with mashed potato and foie grass or a rolled salmon with prawn and spinach in

saffron sauce that will surely ignite your taste buds. End your dining with delectable dark chocolate leaves interlaced in a chocolate grand mariner mousse topped with gold leaf dusting with white chocolate truffle ice cream on the side. By the Lobby Lounge, treat your lady to a sumptuous dinner paired with a glass of champagne amidst a soothing serenade for only P4,000, which includes appetizer and dessert buffet. The HEAT highlights for Valentine’s is not to be missed as the resto’s culinary experts have prepared international specialties with one glass of white, red or sparkling wine and a long stemmed rose for your lady for only P3,988 per person. For inquiries or reservations, please contact Restaurant Reservations and Information Center at (63 2) 633 8888 or email summerpalace.esl@shangri-la. com. Visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/ edsashangrila or stay connected by liking Facebook.com/edsashangrila, follow @ edsashangrila on Twitter and @edsashangrila on Instagram.

Plan your Valentine staycation with your special someone at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila and enjoy a choice of a buffet breakfast for two at Cucina or an intimate in-room Valentine breakfast for two packaged at P5,800 available from February 13 to 15. Another option is to avail of a lavish Valentine brunch for two at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge all for P8,500 on February 13 and 14. If you’re feeling like a VIP, book a Continental Club Room inclusive of a romantic and appetizing Valentine dinner for two at the Hotel’s VIP Continental Club Lounge. Enjoy premium amenities and special Continental Club privileges and benefits while staying at the two topmost floors of the Hotel tower. Indulge in this romantic getaway with a loved one for only P10,500 on February 13.

Marco Polo’s chefs at Cucina will prepare a special Valentine-themed buffet spread, Amor Mio, available from February 9 to 14 and priced at P2,200 per person for lunch and P2,700 for dinner. For a romantic setting with your partner, say cheers with special cocktails while watching the skyline at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge. There will be delectable buffet tapas for P2,600 per person, inclusive of one welcome drink. Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge will open for lunch on February 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. To know more about Marco Polo Ortigas Manila’s Valentine’s offerings, contact (02) 720 7777 or book online via www.marcopolohotels. com or email: manila@marcopolohotels.com. Visit facebook.com/MarcoPoloOrtigasManila, follow @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter or Instagram.

A Romantic Journey at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

Peninsula Manila: Memories that last a lifetime Peninsula Manila is also set up for that romantic mood as it will pamper its guests with a number of romantic delights. Enjoy the Ruby Valentine room package inclusive of an Escolta buffet breakfast for two adults with two children under six, a P1,500 dining credit at The Lobby, a special V-Day gift and a pair of sweet monogrammed pillow cases for you and your wifey. Room rates start at P10,500 for a Grand Deluxe room valid until February 21. On February 12 and 13, Chef Gregory Georges at Escolta will prepare a scrumptious seafood dinner buffet paired with a glass of champagne for P3,600. On February 14, Sunday brunch is priced at P3,750 with free-flowing Champagne. The Lobby is also prepped for the love month as it indulges guests with a tea and tapas buffet. The tea buffet is available on February 13 and 14 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. priced at P1,550. The tapas buffet will be set up by 6:00 to 10:00 pm for only P2,200. Old Manila offers its Valentine’s Day five–course dinner menu on the 12th and 13th for only P5,400 with a glass of bubbly. You may also check Spices and Salon de Ning for special offerings. For more information, call +632 887- 2888 or email diningpmn@peninsula.com or reservationpmn@peninsula.com or visit the site at www.peninsula.com.

Sweet treats from the Peninsula Manila

We have more options for you this Valentine’s Day at www.thestandard.com. ph/lifestyle, visit our site and check out offers from Sisterfields Tagaytay, Ascott Makati, Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Discovery’s Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Thani Manila, The Henry Hotel, Midas Hotel and Casino, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, Resorts World Manila, and restaurants like Lucia and Casa Armas.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Fog slowly covering the city towards late afternoon

Cows grazing in the field, as seen from our suite’s large balcony

LOVE THAT LUXE SANCTUARY

hen I attended the inauguration of Hotel Monticello in Tagaytay late last year, I wanted so much to stay overnight, as I was so pleased looking at the hotel’s facilities and its luxurious accoutrements, totally awed by the dazzling lobby chandelier made of Swarovski crystals which, I learned later, were imported from Europe. However, I had to stay only for the inaugural party and had to drive back MERCURY RISING time to Manila immediately after for another engagement early the BY BOB ZOZOBRADO following day. A few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to get away, for an entire weekend, from the metro’s polluted concrete jungle, and luxuriate in Tagaytay’s fresh, clean, cool air that city folks like us always hanker for. Naturally, I satisfied my yearnings and checked in at Hotel Monticello, now known as the city’s newest tourism gem. The spacious, well-designed and completely furnished suite that my sons and I stayed in had a breathtaking and soothing view of verdant fields below. In fact, I could see cows happily grazing in the greens, a pretty picture which reminded me that I was far away from the noise, the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. This calming view of green pastures does wonders to the psyche of perennially stressed concrete jungle combatants like you and me… more so when you see fog slowly blanketing the city towards late afternoon and early evening. As I took a closer look at the hotel and its facilities, I could see the hand of somebody who has a penchant for beautiful, attractive and classy things – the décor inside the ballroom, the items on display at the lobby, the lounging chairs by the pool, the piano at the bar, the odds and ends displayed inside the suite, etc. – they all reflected the taste of somebody who knows what class is all about. So, when I had the chance to chat with the hotel general manager, Jose Eduardo “Dondi” Valdez, I probed deeper to satisfy my curiosity. I found out that everything about the hotel was conceptualized by his mother, Ma. Feliza “Nini” Valdez, the hotel’s chief financial officer and also the vice chairman of PATTS College of Aeronautics which owns the hotel. The aforementioned items are all according to her precise specifications and most of them were purchases from her various trips all over the world. This explains why there are so many knickknacks to marvel at, as you go around the hotel premises. Having been pleased by what I have seen, I then proceeded to check on the other important factor that draws people to any hospitality establishment – food! My sons and I tried the Café Mercedes, Trattoria Maria, the Roma Piano Bar, and even room service. We were not disappointed with the culinary fare in these outlets, thanks to the expertise of the hotel’s executive chef who, I learned later, is JR Royol, the young innovative first winner of that highly rating TV show, Pinoy Master Chef. No wonder the food is really good! With the hotel’s interiors satisfying my visual yearnings and the food pleasing my taste buds, what else was there to ask for? A nice relaxing massage! The well-appointed spa, which is open Fridays to Sundays and on holidays, offers the ultra-destressing “hilot” guaranteed to untangle every single knotted muscle and nerve in your body. My sons, however, preferred the temperature-controlled swimming pool, especially when they caught a glimpse of some PYTs

(pretty young things) taking a dip, as well. And if communing with nature is your thing, you can even just sit in the garden gazebo, do nothing, and let the cool mountain breeze, blowing non-stop from all sides, lull you into total relaxation as you lapse into a daydreaming state of mind. Now, that’s what you call “unwinding with the wind.” It was indeed a perfect weekend for us and I’m glad that I now have this sky-high sanctuary where I can, every now and then,

seek refuge from the tough corporate arena that career gladiators like us continue to struggle in. For this month of hearts and love, you might want to try out the hotel’s “Love That Luxe Sanctuary” promo – overnight accommodation for two, dinner for two, massage for two, a bottle of wine, chocolates and bouquet of flowers for the lady – all for only P8500 net. A great a bargain indeed, to please your one true love! So, are you ready for some beautiful memories this weekend?

The hotel lobby dominated by the elegant chandelier Our suite’s spacious dining room, with my son enjoying his favorite TV show in the living room made of Swarovski crystals from Europe

The temperature-controlled swimming pool

The hotel’s hardworking honchos (from left) executive chef JR Royol, general manager Jose Eduardo Valdez, and chief financial officer Feliza Valdez

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:

Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie, the bartender, “Pour me a stiff one. Just had another fight with the little woman.” “Oh yeah,” said Charlie, “and how did this one end?” “When it was over,” Mike replied, “She came to me on her hands and knees!” “Really,” said Charlie, “now that’s a switch! What did she say?” Mike replied, “she said, ‘Come out from under the bed, you little chicken’!” For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Vikings Luxury Buffet now accommodates private events at new Venue

elebrations for Filipinos have always been synonymous to huge amounts of food servings on the table. From birthdays to family gatherings, and just about any type of merriment, there will always be a wide array of choices to indulge in. Most of the time, if we don’t celebrate at home with home cooked meals or a huge catering, we go out to dine in buffet restaurants where all different choices are available to satiate any palate. Since Vikings Luxury Buffet opened its restaurant in its first branch in the SM by the Bay area of the Mall of Asia, families and friends have gathered to indulge in international cuisines as prepared by its experienced chefs. From specialty seafood, meat, to vegetarian dishes and desserts, their delectable dishes never disappoint. Vikings has become so popular as a place for celebrations that people have begun requesting for it during various events, and this paved the way for the opening of a Vikings Venue in the Seaside Boulevard of the SM By the Bay. The new place is specifically designed to cater to huge gatherings that require wider spaces, but at the same time is also a private

place that offers an all-you-can-eat dining experience. The best part is that guests do not have to pay for use of the place, only the buffet, which includes well-loved dishes from the Vikings restaurants. Vikings Venue has five function rooms that can be combined to accommodate more guests. Function Room 1 can fit 120 to 150 pax, Function Rooms 2, 3, and 4 can accommodate 50 to 70 people each, and Function Room 5 can accommodate 120 to 150 guests. Romantic wedding receptions as well as big family reunions or fun birthday celebrations can now be held without worrying about the cost for the venue. Guests also have an option for event styling needs as Vikings has partnered with Carousel Styling by A. Sia Design. Clients can also book events suppliers such as party stylists, photo booths and entertainment to personalize their celebrations. Vikings Venue is located at Building A By the Bay, Seaside Blvd., SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines. For more information on how to eat and party like a Viking, contact 824.3888/824.48888, with mobile numbers 0917.548.4888/0998.988.48888 or email to reservations.vikingsvenue@gmail.com.

Celebrate any occasion at the newly opened Vikings Venue

Function hall

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Say it with Cadbury

Midea's Yellow Cake

#WonderFilled Oreo

Toblerone's Valentine's Day limited edition red sleeve

Sofitel's pralines

TWG Tea's Mon Amour Tea and Mon Amour Tea Macarons

Wicked's Drunken Naked Cake and heartshaped S'mores

GIFTS THAT SHOW YOUR LOVE Villa del Conte Amore Gift Box

Say it with chocolate

It is said that it was Richard Cadbury who made chocolate a popular gift among lovers during Valentine’s Day when he packaged their chocolates in cupid and rosebuds-bedecked heart-shaped boxes in 1861. Fast forward to today, Cadbury is at it again as the popular British confectionery brand dresses up its chocolates with limited edition Valentine packaging where you can say how much you love that particular person in your life (lover, crush, friend or family) by writing a short and sweet message on the heart-bedecked carton sleeve. Express your love, #SayItWithCadbury.

From Switzerland, with love

There are only a few things that define high quality quite like Swiss chocolates, and one popular chocolate brand that makes it possible for us to enjoy and share Switzerland’s cacao treat is Toblerone. To make the season of chocolate-and-flower-giving more special, the legendary Swiss treat is wrapped in limited edition red metallic sleeve for the bold lovers to express their deepest feelings. A lucky couple will also get a chance to not just enjoy a Swiss-made chocolate, but go on an all-expense paid romantic date in Switzerland. Every

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

oses are red. Violets are blue. There is no problem with saying “I love you,” but better if you show it, too. In case you didn’t know it yet, the equally cherished and despised event, Valentine’s Day, is less than a week away. But there is no reason

to panic, because the presents that prove your love to your special someone need not be complicated. A wise man once said, “When in doubt, buy chocolates.” So here’s a few saccharine treats, and then some, that go perfectly with that Hallmark card you were initially planning to give by itself.

purchase of Toblerone worth at least P250 entitles patrons to a raffle ticket that will allow them to #GiveTheBestLove that their significant other deserves.

might actually end up with a Valentine’s date that will share more of life’s wonder with you even after the occasion.

Artisanal treat

Staying in a hotel this coming weekend? While you’re exchanging sweet nothings with your loved one, take a sweet bite in between. At Diamond Hotel’s Lobby Lounge, you can choose from an array of luscious cakes and meltin-your-mouth chocolates. If you’re billeted at Sofitel, head over to Galette Patisserie Chocolaterie where you can get a speciallymade Valentine’s Day cake available at P1,125 nett. Or if your passion is better expressed by pralines, check out Spiral 2 Go’s Valentine offer which allows you to make a sweet message spelled with artisanal chocolates. Keep your message short or go all out with each praline that costs P100.

If you prefer to give chocolates lovingly made by hand, surprise your special someone with a charming Villa del Conte Valentine box. Choose from any of the following: The heart-shaped Amore Gift Box that contains 15 pieces of mixed praline balls, the square box which has 20 pieces of mixed praline balls, or the rectangular white box or minisculo which you can fill up with five to six pieces of pralines. Say “I love you” the Italian way with Padova’s Villa del Conte. Its stores are located at SM Megamall, Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-La Mall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center and Robinsons Magnolia.

Share the wonder

Don’t have a Valentine yet? Give an Oreo to someone you have eyes for and see what might happen. That person might agree to go out with you, or if not, at least you might end up making that person’s day great. Packaged in a quirky box, the sandwich cookie allows you to show that looking at life through open eyes and curious heart is always better. Who knows, you

Fantastic pastries

Sinfully sweet

As a prelude to the mischiefs you and your loved one are about to get in to, indulge in sexy and intoxicating desserts first at Wicked. Cravings Group’s desserts restaurant serves up the intoxicatingly divine Drunken Naked Cake, a dense chocolate buttercake drunk in rum, filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with assorted chocolate confections. Meanwhile, a beautiful

marriage of Wicked’s signature s’mores comes together in Trio of Hearts – three-inch heart-shaped s’mores in white, milk and dark chocolate in one box. Bring home these sinfully sweet treats, or better yet, bring your loved one to Wicked which is located at 5th level, Shangri-La Mall East Wing, Mandaluyong City.

Cup filled with amour

Cherish every moment with your special someone while enjoying a luxurious cup of TWG Tea’s Mon Amour Tea. A perfect partner for the sweet delights that you are about to enjoy, every sip of this black tea, which is blended with white flowers and exotic fruits, is guaranteed to whisk you and your lover away to a romantic and ethereal sanctuary. Mon Amour Tea is packaged in a caviar tin and comes in a blue box, a truly regal gift for the king and queen of your heart. Each tin retails at P1,595. If your significant other is not a fan of tea, let him or her enjoy Mon Amour's fine taste with Mon Amour Tea infused macarons. The macaron gift box comes in 6, 12 and 24 pieces, for P330, P605 and P1210, respectively.

Bake a cake

Now, if you want to go the extra mile this Valentine’s Day, why not make something yourself – like

Heart-shaped macarons with raspberry filling

baking a cake? Baking requires precision and specialized equipment, which makes it difficult for many to make one instead of buying from the local bakeshop. But, believe it or not, you can bake a cake sans oven with the help of Midea’s pressure cooker. Midea Pressure Cooker is built to provide quick, easy, and healthy meals. Its Thermal Circulation Technology provides even heating and it also comes with seven levels of pressure for quick, effortless cooking. Impress your loved one with this easy-to-bake Yellow Cake from Midea. Ingredients: 1 pack Yellow Cake Mix (Maya Decadence 520g) 1 cup + 1 tablespoon water 3 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil Procedure: 1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well blended. 2. Pour the mixture into the pressure cooker pot. 3. Select the bake function. Cook for 45 minutes. Check doneness of the cake with the toothpick test (if the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready; otherwise let it bake for a couple more minutes). 4. Remove the pot from the cooker. Gently invert the cake onto a cooling rack or plate. 5. Top with powdered sugar or

m onDAY : F EbRuA RY 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

HBO

AsIA’s OscARs LIvE

BROADcAsT

rom Feb. 29 at 8 a.m., HBo Asia delivers the complete oscars® experience live across multiple screens. Starting with the live broadcast and streaming of the Oscars® Red Carpet and The 88th Annual Academy Awardson HBo and HBo Go, HBo Asia will post red carpet highlights on the network’s social media platforms and release backstage interviews and web exclusive footage on www.hboasia.com/oscars. Reporting live from the star-studded 2016 oscars® red carpet, HBo Asia’s social media crew and TaiwaneseAmerican host, Janet Hsieh, will share the best red carpet moments, pictures, video interviews and heartfelt celebrity shout outs as they interview Hollywood’s most talented stars right before the ceremony. For the very first time, HBo Asia’s microsite (www. hboasia.com/oscars) will feature all major moments of the oscars® ceremony, including special footage from cameras fixed on Hollywood’s elite in the audience of the Dolby Theatre® throughout the ceremony, capturing candid moments not seen anywhere else. Taking viewers behind the scenes as the ceremony unfolds, HBo Asia’s microsite will also feature backstage footage of winner interviews and their thank you speeches as they come off stage after accepting their awards. The 88th Annual Academy Awardswill be broadcast live on HBo on Feb. 29, starting with the Oscars® Red Carpet ‘Live’at 8a.m .(with primetime encore at 7p.m.), and The 88th Annual Academy Awardsat 9.30a.m. (with primetime encore at 8p.m.). The awards show is also streamed live on HBo Go. Hosted by Chris Rock, the 88th Annual Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood. The oscar® presenters and performers announced to date are:Benicio Del Toro, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Ryan Gosling, Kevin Hart, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Charlize Theron, Jacob Tremblay, The Weeknd, Pharrell Williams,Steve Carell, Priyanka Chopra,Quincy Jones,Byung-hun Lee, Jared Leto,Julianne Moore, Olivia Munn, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel, Andy Serkis, J.K. Simmons, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon.

Tom Hanks in the American historical drama bridge of Spies

Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson in brooklyn

Cate blanchett and Rooney mara in Carol

matt Damon in the Ridley Scott film The martian

Jennifer Lawrence in Joy

mark Ruffalo, michael Keaton, and Rachel mcAdams in Spotlight

Creed stars Sylvester Stallone and michael b. Jordan

The Danish Girl is a british biographical drama film directed by Tom Hooper

2016 cOnvERsE PREss PREvIEw:

sPIcED uP By MOnkEy BAy brie Larson and a child actor in Room

michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs

Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs

Monkey Bay Wines graced the well attended, successful press preview of Converse held at Pineapple Lab in Makati recently. As the invitees gathered around the Brand Ambassadors showcasing the exciting designs of Converse, everyone enjoyed their glasses of Monkey Bay wines. The evening featured a selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Rosé varieties. The event was characterized by the shared personalities of Converse and Monkey Bay wines, both fun and contemporary. Thus, it made Monkey Bay the ideal social drink for the momentous Converse Press Preview. Monkey Bay Wines, originating from new Zealand, is the no. 1 new Zealand wine brand in the Philippines. It is a crisp, easy-drinking, fruit-driven wine that exudes a vibrant, contemporary lifestyle that is fun and lighthearted.Monkey Bay is an actual name of

The crowd at the Converse press preview in makati

the place in Marlborough, new Zealand, where grapes for Monkey Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are grown. It is one of new Zealand’s sunniest and driest maritime regions. Full of easy drinking style and charm,Monkey Bay is perfect for social occasions with friends, thus making it the perfect drink for the 2016 Converse Press Preview. Monkey Bay is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Future Trade International.

m onDAY : F EbRuA RY 8, 2016

EDITOR

SHTICKS JOSEpH pETER GOnzalES

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED

isahred @ gmail.com

nORa aunOR plEaSED wITH ‘lITTlE nanay’

little nanay star nora Aunor

ora Aunor reveals how pleased she is with her currently running soap opera over at GMA-7 called Little Nanay. “it’s a great and wonderful experience doing the show,” she says. “everyone involved in the production is exerting his or her best efforts to come up with a must-see program, the reason for the positive feedback and good ratings we have. i’m really happy and proud to be part of this project.” The superstar particularly cites her fellow actors in the soap as one huge factor why she enjoys doing it, saying, “They’re good actors! They really give fine performances so it would challenge you to deliver your best. That’s why i always look forward to reporting to the set.” Considering her stature as one of Philippine entertainment’s greatest actresses of all time, many ask what Guy (nora Aunor) can say about co-star Kris Bernal who delineates the pivotal role of Tinay in the said Ricky Davao-helmed soap. “Honestly, she’s a good actress. i only have good words for her. i can see the dedication in her craft. Certainly, she’s got a long way to go in the ‘biz.” Does Kris seek acting tips from her? “Oh, no! she doesn’t. not even once.” now that she’s back doing a prime time soap, nora gets to compare its dynamics to shooting movies. “in truth, they’re basically the same, more or less. Like when you want to correct or improve a particular scene in both films and soap operas, you can re-take it. Only, in movies, it’s not continuous unlike in soaps where everything is more fast-paced. This is the reason why in my opinion, it’s more taxing to do a soap opera than a movie!” speaking of movies, the cinema legend advises that she is to shoot one anytime. “Yes, this is under Adolf Alix, Jr. whose details i can’t divulge at this point. But it’s something very challenging again which excites me to no end. Apart from this, i also have three finished projects which are due for commercial exhibition namely, Padre de Familia, Kabisera and Whistle Blower. i hope the viewers support them when they hit the theaters soon,” nora concludes.

******** iT’s been awhile since Regine Velasquez headlined a soap opera. To date, her last prime time project was I Heart You Pare opposite Dingdong Dantes in 2011. But now, it’s confirmed that she’s to do a series once again for GMA-7. “That’s right!” says regine. “it’s official that i’ll be back acting in the small screen again. The title of my new soap is Poor Señorita.” The songbird is definitely excited with this development. “Of course, i missed doing soaps. Towards the last part of I Heart You Pare, i got pregnant with Nate, remember? so after giving birth, i prioritized my new role as a mom. As everyone noticed, i just concentrated on my singing. Acting took a backseat but after five years, i feel it’s high time to make a comeback!” Her latest prime time program is simply promising. “it will be directed by Dominic Zapata. Joining me here are Mikael Daez, Sheena Halili, Jillian Ward, Valeen Montenegro, Kevin Santos and my good friend Jaya,” says regine.

Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid

Winners of mr. and ms best model Asia-Pacific 2016

mR & mS bESt moDEl ASIA-PAcIFIc PHIlIPPInES 2016 Winners of the new Mr. & Ms. Best Model AsiaPacific Philippines 2016 were chosen during the recent finals night at the UrBn Bar on Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Rey Martinez of Mabalacat, Pampanga and Lucia Alcantara of rizal bested 29 other male and female candidates to win the Model search and a chance to compete in the regional modeling contest this year. Jefferson Quinto and Abby Dizon were named Ms. & Mr. Fashion Model, while Jimmy Dionisio of Bacoor, Cavite and Gracia Elizabetta Mendoza took the title Mr. & Ms. Best Model Tourism. named Mr. & Ms. Best Model Brand Ambassador were Mark Lester Latina of Candelaria, Quezon and Vivian BellezaWladkowski of Makati City. The Mr& Ms. Best Model Asia-Pacific search was organized by Otek Lopez, president and CeO of Altcom Corporation, with fashion designer Arrielle Agasang. reigning Manhunt international June Macasaet and elite Model Look Philippines 1995 RolenCaralde served as fashion consultants Mr. & Ms. Best Model Asia-Pacific aims to give an opportunity for young men and women who aspire to become successful professional models. These potential and promising models can gain automatic exposure and experience from their participation in the model search to prepare them in the highly competitive field of modeling and a chance to break into the world of fashion. – Eton B. Concepcion

m onDAY : F EbRuA RY 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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From C8

gRACE DREAmS About HER FAtHER

tubig at Langis lead stars Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe marudo

ZAnjoE AnD CRIStInE REunItE In ‘tubIg At LAngIS’ ZanJoe Marudo and Cristine Reyes, together with Isabelle Daza, team up once more to topbill a different kind of love story that tests the limits of marriage, challenges the strength of family, and shows the true value of love in aBS-CBn’s newest series Tubig at Langis. Follow the journey of Irene, a young woman who vows to do everything in her capacity to keep her family intact, especially after her mother abandoned them when she was young. She falls in love with Jaime, a seemingly perfect prince charming, and promises to stay by her side through all her challenges. But Irene soon finds out that he is already a married man. This breaks her heart and no matter how hard she tries to forget the pain, she is left with a living reminder --- their son Myko. after a few years, Irene’s childhood

friend natoy returns to her life. The two fall in love and later on get married. Finally, Irene gets what she has always wanted, until one night when natoy succumbs to barrio lass Clara, whom he met during one of his business trips. What will Irene do once she finds out the truth about natoy’s infidelity? How will she protect her family? also included in the cast of Tubig at Langis are Vivian Velez, Lito Pimentel, nadia Montenegro, Marco Gumabao, Ingrid Dela Paz, Dionne Monsanto, archie alemanie, Victor Silayan, and Miguel Vergara. Tubig at Langis airs weeknights on aBSCBn. For updates, follow @taLabscbn on twitter and Instagram or like www.facebook.com/taLabscbn.

Senator Grace Poe revealed that her father, Fernando Poe, Jr., always appears in her dreams. apparently, she misses him a lot. “Palagi sa panaginip kapag nakikita ko ang tatay ko parang palaging normal lang na mabilis na parang may pupuntahan siya ulit. Na hinahabol ko siya,” said the senator. When asked what the dreams could mean, she said, “Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin pa noon hanggang ngayon.” according to Grace, she is hurdling a

lot of stumbling blocks regarding her candidacy and that might have triggered her dreams about her father. “Pero minsan kapag meron akong mga hamon sa buhay, nag-iisa na lang, may magte-text sa akin at magsasabi ay huwag mo kakalimutan iyong sinabi ni FPJ noon na masmataas sa batas ang kapakanan ng mga tao,” Grace said. While she continues to look for her biological parents, she doesn’t forget that her adoptive parents –Susan Roces and FPJ – had showered with love.

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WuRtZbACH AnD CRuZ‘S SECREt to FIt boDIES DYan Castillejo was lucky to spend some time with the reigning Miss Universe, Pia Wurtzbach, during her homecoming.She able to steal some tips from the alluring beauty queen about fitness as seen on the Feb. 4 edition of Sports U. actor-dancer Rayver Cruz also shared his own secrets in staying healthy and buff in the Celebrity Fit segment. also featured in the show is figure skater Jules alpe, who dreams of becoming the next Michael Martinez, as he

chases his olympic dream. Sports U promotes athletes who have inspiring stories to share and who have potential to become future sports stars of the country. It also promotes fitness and healthy lifestyle by looking into how celebrities stay in shape. Sports U airs thursdays right after Bandila on aBS-CBn. Follow their Facebook page at http://facebook.com/SportsUtv and official twitter account (@SportsUtV) for more updates.

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gmAAC StARS unItE FoR CAuSE SInCe February is considered to be the Kapuso month, some of the network’s brightest and promising singers unite for an all-star charity album,One Heart, available on Valentine’s Day. One Heart features some of the best performers from GMa artist Center including Glaiza de Castro, Yasmien Kurdi, Derrick Monasterio, Kristoffer Martin, Kylie Padilla, Ruru Madrid, Julian Trono, Betong Sumaya, Gabbi Garcia, Maricris Garcia, Rita Daniela, nar Cabico, Ralf King, Lindsay De Vera, and Denise Barbacena.

one Heart logo

the carrier single is “Sa Puso Mo”, an inspirational ballad song written and arranged by Korean composer Kim Hyun Jik and sung by all the participants in the album. other tracks included in the album are “tonight,” “Sumigaw, Igalaw,” “Kapit Lang,” “Free,” “Para Lang Sayo,” “Wait a Minute,” “Panahon,” “You are never alone,” “Love You The Way I Do,” and “Broken.” Pre-selling of the digital album on itunes started on Feb. 7.Part of the proceeds goes to the GMa Kapuso Foundation.

miss universe Pia Wurtzbach joins AbS-Cbn’s Sports u

CElEbRaTE ChInEsE nEw YEaR aT aRanETa CEnTER a weekend of festivity and vibrant colors of red, yellow and green await visitors to the araneta Center where you and your loved ones can celebrate Chinese new Year. Lots of fun and exciting activities are lined up such as the Dragon Dance, Calligraphy Fair, and Live Body Painting, among others. Watch the traditional Fly Dragon Lion Dance, believed to bring good luck, long life and wisdom, as it snakes around the streets of araneta Center 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Unleash the artist in you and get Free calligraphy souvenirs from a two-day calligraphy fair at ali Mall and Farmers Plaza. raffle prizes will also be given away. Yesterday, an amazing display of live body painting was opened at Gateway Mall at 2p.m. until 8 p.m. You can likewise get a calligraphy-inspired Henna tattoo, and learn basic calligraphy and post card making today also, watch a spectacular fireworks display as culmination of festivities at 7p.m. There will also be a Giant Scroll installation with inscriptions of auspicious Chinese

proverbs at ali Mall, Farmers Plaza, and Gateway Mall until Feb. 10. It sure is a great backdrop to capture memories of you and your family Welcome the Year of the Monkey at the araneta Center and expect nothing but a fun and memorable one with your family and friends! to know the latest happenings at the Center, visit www.aranetacenter.net and the araneta Center Facebook page.

Araneta Center joins Chinese new Year celebration

M ONDAY : F EBRUA RY 8, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

Andre and Yassi team up in a Viva Entertainment movie Girlfriend for Hire

ANDRE PARAS AND HIS ‘GIRLFRIEND FOR HIRE’

ossibly one of the best looking young actors appearing in local movies these days, Andre Paras finally gets his biggest break from Viva Entertainment. He stars in the youth-oriented film Girlfriend for Hire with Yassi Pressman, one of several young female actors the multi-media company is building up after Nadine Lustre. Paras and Pressman are the next love team Viva is pushing after Lustre and James Reid after the tandem eased into the A list at ABS-CBN with their current nightly soap On The Wings of Love. While Paras and Pressman’s love team are exclusively in the movies, the potential of becoming a major tandem looms as the two are not frequently seen together – he is paired with an-

ISAH V. RED other girl on GMA Network and she with other guys on TV5. On Wednesday, fans of the two can watch them in the muchawaited movie adaptation of the hit Wattpad novel with more than 68 million reads titled, Girlfriend For Hire. The romance-comedy movie marks the third team-up of the YanDre (Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras) tandem introduced in the 2014blockbuster Diary ng Panget with Reid and Lustre. In the film, Yassi plays Nami Shanaia San Jose, a first year HRM working student wholives with

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JULIA MONTES’ BEST FACE FORWARD BY BELO JUST because she is a star doesn’t mean that she has absolutely no imperfections. Star Magic’s talent and one of ABSCBN’s television princesses Julia Montes is one of those whom ordinary people can identify with in this regard. Although young and very pretty, Julia Montes has always been dissatisfied with the shape of her face. She felt that it was too rounded for her own comfort and when seen on television screens, the added pounds miraculously rendered by the screen appearance, does nothing to give her comfort. That’s why Belo Medical Group’s latest breakthrough beauty solution called Face Out Fat clinched the deal for the young actress. Face Out Fat is all about achieving a slimmer face with non-invasive treatments. Right there and then, Julia knew that this was for her. Julia says, “as soon as Dr. Vicki Belo gave us this option, I was very happy to really explore the idea of doing it. It was addressing my concern quite specifically and I knew that by doing it, it will give me more confidence to do my job. Now,

I’m very happy with the result and many people have noticed my slimmer face.” Doctor to the Stars explained that Face Out Fat involves facial slimming procedures that are done quite excellently at the BMG. Some of them are Botox Masseter, Exilis for the face and Ulthera . “The great thing about these procedures is that they give very noticeable results. Many of these procedures are quick and you can resume your daily routines in a few minutes. It’s the best option for busy individuals like Julia who can’t afford to go through a long recovery period,” says Dr. Belo. Botox Masseter is a specialized treatment that involves injecting Botox into the masseter muscle in the jaw to reduce its size, giving the face a smoother and softer contour. It has been used on patients struggling with chronic jaw locking and jaw pain, adding the benefit of comfort on top of beauty. Exilis Elite is an exciting new technology that uses radio frequency (RF) energy for body and face contouring and skin tightening. It is a non-surgical procedure

that reduces fat and firms skin in the face and body. Ulthera is a new type of non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that uses focused ultrasound and the body’s own natural healing process to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin on the face, brow, neck, under the chin, and even the décolletage (upper chest area). It is US FDA-cleared machine that helps make your face more rejuvenated, tightened/firm and smaller. Face Out Fat from Belo is truly a wonder and Julia’s billboards up this month shows just how wonderful it is. The young lady’s beauty is enhanced so much more. For more information about the Face Out Fat campaign, you may call 817BELO and begin the journey to a more beautiful and confident you. Continued on C7

Beautiful imperfection: Julia is the face of Belo’s latest beauty treatment

her auntie and two cousins. Andre, meanwhile, is Bryle Caleb Stanford, a rich, arrogant grandchild of the Stanford owner. The romantic spin comes in when Bryle hires orphaned poor girl Nami to pretend as his girlfriend to avoid his grandfather’s plan of marrying him off to a woman he doesn’t love. In exchange for Nami’s service, Bryle gives her a posh condo unit and a fat weekly salary but with this catch: She’s not allowed to fall in love with him. Supporting Andre and Yassi in Girlfriend for Hire are Shy Carlos, Donnalyn Bartolome,Clint Bondad, Ara Mina, and Ronaldo Valdez. Catch the craziest love story ever told in Girlfriend for Hire in cinemas nationwide on Feb.10 from VIVA Films and SMDC.