What’s incinemasthis week

Floyd hasbecome moredangerous

VOL. XXIX NO. 42 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : MARCH 26, 2015 www.manilastandardtoday.com editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Makaticouncilors’pay delayedA3

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Miriam knowswhy PNoy won’tapologize A4

COMELEC: POLLSTO GO MANUAL

On to college. A total of 1,090 high school students graduated at the Araullo High School on United Nations Avenue in Manila on Wednesday wearing only their school uniforms. They were the last batch to graduate before the implementation of the government’s K-12 program. DANNY PATA

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Miriam roots for‘MVP’ in ‘16 election

Comelec: Manual pollsif PCOs deal is shelved

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World TB Day. Health Secretary Janette Garin (center) shares a light moment with Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and Vice Gov. Mark Leviste during World TB Day on Monday afternoon in Batangas City. PNA

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NEWSeditorial@thestandard.com.ph

“Manual elections remain in the realm of possibilities,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Wednesday, a day after the SC stopped the controversial P268-million diag-nostic and repair deal the Comelec awarded to the Smartmatic-TIM con-sortium.

“We’re not just talking about one time line. We’re talking about parallel. This is on a parallel track. The rest of preparations are unaffected,” Jimenez said.

Although the probability of re-turning to manual elections is “low,” Jimenez said the poll body is not dis-counting the possibility and the Com-elec was preparing contingencies.

“[The SC decision] is a significant development [because] that consti-tutes the bulk of the machines that will be used in 2016,” he said.

“You have to understand that ma-chines are the bulk of machines we will be using. Look at how long we planned the diagnostic. The whole project will last 5 months if we can get TRO lifted [so] early resolution of this TRO would mean we have time to fin-ish the program within the year,’’ he said.

Although the Comelec is also con-tracting the acquisition of 23,000 more voting machines, that can only cover “a small section of the Philip-pines,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec is consider-ing the possibility of allowing its own computer experts to refurbish the old machines instead of commissioning

Smartmatic.“I believe that we have technical

competence to do it. That’s something we can include in the planning. The Comelec is not discounting the pos-sibility of doing that itself,” Jimenez said.

Even retired Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., who was severely criticized for pushing the Smartmatic contract although he was already set to retire, is concerned at the possibil-ity that the 2016 elections will revert to the manual system

‘’The possibility of going manual is growing stronger and stronger,” Bril-lantes said. “The longer it takes to re-solve the issue, the more possibility of manual elections coming in.”

The former Comelec chief ex-plained that the election automation law, or Republic Act 9369, specifies that if there is no settlement to the voting machine issue, the poll body has to go back to the manual system.

But another former Comelec com-missioner, Gus Lagman, said the Comelec should just diagnose and repair the old PCOS machines itself and discard of those that that are un-repairable.

“It’s the most logical approach to make Comelec & some pro-Smart-matic-TIM congressmen happy. Use the still running PCOS units,” Lag-man said. “At the same time try out the more transparent and less expen-sive technology.

Lagman proposed the so-called transparent and credible election

system (TCrES) that “will only use laptops, servers, printers, projectors that Comelec can buy directly from computer shops. Don’t buy any new PCOS.”

The Citizens for Clean and Credi-ble Elections (C3E), which was among the groups that asked the SC to stop the deal, called on the Comelec to abandon its negotiated contract with Smartmatic-TIM.

“Abandon the negotiated contract with Smartmatic. Waste no more time justifying before the Supreme Court a patently unlawful act,” said C3E in a statement.

A TRO, the group said, only proves that they have been right in their op-position to the extended warranty agreement on the repair contract of the PCOS machines.

Instead of insisting its position, C3E said the Comelec should view the SC TRO as a wake-up call for them on how to better handle the electoral system.

“See the SC decision as an oppor-tunity for Comelec to rectify errors and to redeem itself. Be the guardian of people’s vote and the protector of Philippine democracy,” said C3E.

But Jimenez said C3E’s position is premature because the TRO is not yet a final decision on the merits of the case but just an opportunity for the Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM to explain further the details of the deal.

“It does not prove anything to that effect. Again, the TRO is not a deci-sion to the merit. It is just the expres-sion of the SC’s prudence... Please don’t break out the champagne just yet,” said Jimenez.

Smartmatic-TIM President Cesar Flores on the other hand expressed confidence that the firm will be able to surpass a legal hurdle in its P268-million deal with Comelec.

Flores said Smartmatic-TIM is con-fident that the SC will declare valid its

contract with the Comelec.‘’We respect the ruling of the Su-

preme Court. We understand that in issuing the TRO, the Court wants to be enlightened on some matters re-garding the contract, something we are always more than willing to do,’’ Flores said.

‘’This calls to mind the year 2012 when the Court issued a TRO against the option to purchase. After the oral arguments, the Supreme Court up-held with finality the validity of the contract. Similarly, we are confident that after the Court hears our argu-ments, it will eventually decide for the soundness and validity of this con-tract.”

The Comelec-Smartmatic contract was signed on January 30, 2015, three days before the retirement of Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes.

The Integrated Bar of the Philip-pines earlier assailed the deal for not undergoing public bidding. The deal was sealed via direct contracting or single source procurement.

The IBP said the Comelec’s use of “tight time schedule” to justify the deal should not be allowed as it is “not a ground to dispense with the conduct of the public bidding under the law.”

Meanwhile, Smartmatic-TIM wel-comes the decision of the SC to dis-miss the petition to stop the Comelec from proceeding with the public bid-ding for the supply, lease, or purchase of Optical Mark Readers and Direct Recording Electronic Machines.

‘’In its judiciousness, the High Court has rightly decided that the Comelec is well within its rights to procure more machines to ensure an even smoother conduct of elections in 2016,’’ Flores said.

The high court said the petition is premature. It noted that Comelec and its Bids and Awards Committee did not have the opportunity to pass upon the matter.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THERE is a possibility that the 2016 elections may re-vert to the old manual system if the Supreme Court rejects the use of the 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan machines that were used in previous elections.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

AFTER saying she would run for Presi-dent once she won her battle with stage 4 lung cancer, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Wednesday endorsed tycoon Manny Pangilinan for president in 2016.

Speaking during the Maynilad water company leadership forum at the UP Toy-ota GT Center in Quezon City, Santiago told her audience, “I want you to think about Mr. Manny Pangilinan as president of the Philippines.”

In a press briefing afterwards, Santiago confirmed she was endorsing Pangilinan-an, saying that people like him, and not ce-lebrities from the entertainment industry, should be in positions of power.

“In movies, presidential candidates al-ways play the role as defending the abused. We have to distinguish between what is real, and what is not,” she said.

Santiago said while a person’s honesty was the no. 1 qualification, professional excellence and academic excellence were also important.

She said she hoped the Constitution could be amended to require candidates for public office to have at least a college degree.

Right now, she said, a person must have a college degree before becoming a police-man, but can run for president without graduating even from high school.

“Imagine, a policeman must be a col-lege graduate but a president or senator must only know how to read and write,” Santiago said.

Asked about her own presidential am-bitions, Santiago said running was still an option.

“I’m just saying, thinking aloud, to the young people what type of candidate I have in mind,” said Santiago.

She said educating the masses was a requisite to improving the quality of pub-lic officials.

Santiago also took potshots at President Benigno Aquino III, who has seen his ap-proval and trust ratings decline.

“That’s the problem with presidents of the Philippines; they become obsolete. In their first year, enjoy. They think they are so intelligent, they are boastful. That’s why the popularity of all presidents goes down towards the end of their term be-cause they believe their aides, and get mad when they are criticized. It shouldn’t be that way,” Santiago said.

She also attacked her nemesis, former senator Panfilo Lacson for a full-page ad in a national broadsheet in which former generals endorsed him and Senator Grace Poe as their presidential and vice presi-dential bets in 2016.

“The ad comes from them,” she said, referring to Lacson and Poe.

“Iin practical terms, you cannot think of any person or persons who will come together and say let’s spend our money on a full-page ad. It’s too expensive to express casual opinion. And number two, they did not present any strong case why they should pick these two people together. It’s not like they have experience working to-gether. It makes you suspicious. These are just the rrumblings of the clash of tectonic plates that will occur in 2016. This is just the start of the campaign,” said Santiago.

Pangilinan, who listened to the speech, later told reporters he was not sure if the senator was just joking.

“I thank her for that but I’m not sure if she was totally serious. I respect her opin-ion. Her opinion counts a lot but I’m not a politician,” Pangilinan said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay had ear-lier said he wanted Pangilinan to run as his vice presidential candidate in the 2016 elections.

Pangilinan is chief executive of Hong Kong-listed First Pacific, which owns PLDT; TV5 and the Manila Electric Co. He is also chairman of Philex Mining Corp.

The Vice President earlier met Pang-ilinan and asked the businessman to con-sider his offer, but the latter said he would rather focus on social concerns like pro-viding assistance to victims of calamities.

Also on Wednesday, the political advi-sor of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the “Dirty Harry of Davao” would ei-ther run for president or seek reelection as mayor, indicating he would not consider running instead for vice president.

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Napeñas: Moro group can’tescape blame for massacre

Santiago knows why PNoy won’tapologize

DOJ vows action on MILF rapsTraining program. President Benigno Aquino III chats with TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva during the TESDA-Coke Store Training and Access to Resources Program at the Mall of Asia. Malacañang PhoTo Bureau

Plea. Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chairman of the MILF’s Central Committee, asks government leaders to lead the MILF to a peaceful Mindanao to pave the way for a better Philippines during a forum at the Adriatico Circle in Malate, Manila. Danny PaTa

By rey e. requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday said she would look into the findings of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which blamed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the Mamasapano incident in which 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were killed on Jan. 25.

De Lima also said she granted the request of the Justice Depart-ment task force to move the dead-line for the submission of its find-ings from April 2 to April 16.

She said this would enable the task force to evaluate the sources of the MILF findings, particularly those that said the SAF comman-dos were liable.

She also said she would look into the MILF’s claim that a survivor among the SAF commandos had killed four MILF fighters who were sleeping in a makeshift mosque.

“That will be part of the verifi-cation in our investigation. That’s a question of fact so we have to de-termine if that is true or not. That should really be part of the investi-gation,” De Lima said.

Apart from the MIlF report, the Justice Department task force will also validate the factual findings of the police board of inquiry as well as the Senate.

The Senate report branded the killing of the SAF commandos as a “massacre” and said President Benigno Aquino III was ultimately responsible for the debacle.

The police board, on the other hand, said President Aquino vio-lated the chain of command when he dealt with his good friend, then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisi-ma, who was serving a suspension at the time on corruption charges.

De Lima said her team was particularly intersted in the Sen-ate’s recommendation that murder charges be brought against MILF fighters involved in the incident.

De Lima declined to confirm reports that their key witness was able to identify members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who killed the SAF commandos, many of whom were shot in the head at close range.

De Lima insisted that there would be no piecemeal disclosure of of the

task force findings, since these could lead to premature conclusions.

The Justice Department probe is aimed at determining the crimi-nal liabilities of people involved in the clash.

The Palace on Wednesday said it would leave it to the Justice De-partment what to do with the MIlF report.

“This report, as well as those of the PNP board of inquiry and the Senate, provide different views and perspectives on the incident that would hopefully contribute to the process of determining responsi-bility and accountability, such that the ends of justice may be served,” said Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma, in a statement.

“The Department of Justice has initiated an investigation and will take appropriate legal action. We also note that the MILF report al-ludes to certain ceasefire violations which may be handled by the third party arbiter, the international monitoring team,” Coloma added.

Also on Wednesday, a police of-ficial based in Mindanao debunked allegations that he duped some mili-tary commanders by inviting them to a “drinking spree” in a resort in Koronadal City on Jan. 24 to distract them from the Mamasapano opera-tion the next day.

Senior Supt. Manolo Ozaeta, commander of the PNP Intel-ligence Group, told his superiors in Camp Crame that the party he threw for the officers of the 601st Infantry Battalion was a gesture of gratitude for their help in previous successful joint operations, and had nothing to do with Operation Exodus the next day.

Ozaeta explained his side after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV re-vealed that military officials were treated to a drinking spree the night before Operation Exodus. – With Sandy araneta, Francisco Tuyay and Florante S. Solmerin

By Macon ramos-aranetaPRESIDENT Simeon Benigno Aquino III is refusing to apologize over the Mama-sapano debacle that led to the “massacre” of 44 SAF troopers because he is dodging culpability for the deadly operation after his term ends in 2016, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago explained Wednesday.

But Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in-sisted that there is nothing shameful in apologizing for the failed Mamasapano mission and the courage to apologize showed a great man and a real statesman, a point Santiago disputed because of the legal implications.

“Remember that when he is no longer President, he becomes liable to all manner of suits,” Santiago said, adding that apolo-gizing for the disastrous operation could be considered a confession admissible in court.

“That is why he does not want to apolo-gize. He wants to evade any criminal or even civil liability after 2016,” said San-tiago, a former regional trial court judge.

The important hindsight question, she said would be “how should he have han-dled the situation?”

“It should have started at the very be-ginning. The truth should have been revealed immediately. The moment that the crisis began brewing, immediately the President should have, by himself, told the truth to the Filipino public,” said Santiago.

“Now, there is a question of, ‘Well if that is the truth, why are you not apologiz-ing?’” Santiago asked.

Palma echoed Santiago’s point and ad-vised Aquino to apologize because there is nothing shameful in admitting mistakes or lapses in judgement.

“For me, it’s also a sign of a great man to be sorry if we feel we are remiss so I leave that to him. For me, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have done something wrong,” Palma said.

Palma is one of the many individuals who have been urging Aquino to apolo-gize after the PNP Board of Inquiry found that the President may have bypassed the PNP chain of command.

Palma also urged the House of the Repre-sentatives to push through with the probe so the public may know the truth last Jan. 25.

By Francisco Tuyay

SACKED Special Action Force (SAF) di-rector Getulio Napeñas assailed the Moro Islamic Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for trying to escape liability in the Ma-masapano incident after they exonerated their fighters and blamed the Philippine National Police for the bloody Jan. 25 clash in which 44 police commandos were killed.

He also denied the MILF claim that the PNP had violated the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Muslim rebels, when they went after Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir and Filipino bomber Abdul Basit Usman.

“The MILF are trying to cover up what they have done in this incident. Simple. Saying they do not know Marwan and Ab-dul Basit Usman was in their territory is totally absurd and unbelievable,” Napeñas said in a TV interview.

Napeñas said police and military in-telligence reported Marwan had sought sanctuary in MILF and Bangsamoro Is-lamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) areas and was the target of numerous failed opera-tions until the SAF commandos cornered him in Pidsandawan village in Mamasa-pano, Maguindanao.

On Tuesday, the MILF submitted the results of its own investigation to the Sen-ate, insisting that its fighters acted in self defense, and that the police were to blame for not coordinating their movements with the MILF.

The MILF also said it would not sur-render its fighters who were involved in the killings but would impose its own dis-ciplinary actions.

Napeñas also defended PO2 Christo-pher Lalan, the lone SAF survivor who the MILF accused of killing four of its mem-bers who were sleeping in a makeshift mosque.

But Napeñas said Lalan knew he was outnumbered and would not have fired first.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo dared the MILF to prove that Lalan had killed its members while they were sleeping that day, and challenged them to file charges against the police commando if they believed he committed a crime.

The PNP, Cerbo said, would provide legal assistance to Lalan should there be a complaint filed against him.

Cerbo said the PNP board of inquiry gave weight to the testimony of Lalan that he just acted in self defense contrary to the MILF’s claims.

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NEWS

No pay day for Makati dads

But the release of the sala-ries and allowances of 17 city councilors and 83 regular personnel of the city council for the same period was put on hold following Peña’s re-fusal to sign their checks so those could be cashed.

The Ombudsman sus-pended Binay over the al-legedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and

replaced him with Peña, but the Court of Appeals has stopped the Ombudsman from suspending him.

Councilor Marie Alethea Casal-Uy said the officials and employees affected by the leadership dispute at city hall might be in for a long wait because Peña had also returned unsigned the payrolls for their salaries for

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Makati City government said Wednes-day 8,000 city hall officials and employees had started receiving their salaries for the pe-riod March 16 to 31 as the leadership dispute between Mayor Junjun Binay and Vice May-or Romulo Peña Jr. entered its second week.

Rosales admits Akbayan dividedover support for administration

Palacelawyer isnew CoAchairmanPRESIDENT Benigno Aqui-no III has appointed Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Aguinaldo as chairman of the Commission on Audit, presi-dential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Wednesday.

He is the deputy of Ex-ecutive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

“We are pleased to an-nounce that President Aqui-no has appointed Attorney Michael G. Aguinaldo as chairman of the Commis-sion on Audit,” Valte said in a statement.

“The appointment was made yesterday, March 24, 2015.”

The post of COA chair-man became vacant after the term of COA Chairwoman Grace Pulido-Tan expired in February.

Tan was appointed in Feb-ruary 2011 to serve the un-finished term of then COA Chairman Reynaldo Villar, who resigned from the post.

Before he worked for the government, Aguinaldo was a partner at the Romulo Ma-banta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles law office, a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila Law School and the Far Eastern University-De La Salle University J.D.-M.B.A. Joint Degree Program.

His practice area was main-ly special projects, particu-larly the infrastructure and telecommunications sectors and other public utility work.

He provided legal coun-sel in mergers and acquisi-tions, corporate structuring, contract negotiations, and labor and human resources integration. He also handled litigation and arbitration for Philippine and foreign clients and was a member of the law firm’s executive committee.

He was a consultant of the Asian Development Bank from 1998 to 2005.

The COA chairman serves for seven years.

April 1 to 15.As vice mayor, Peña signs

the payrolls and checks for the city councilors and their staff.

“We appeal to Vice Mayor Peña to consider the welfare of the employees,”Uy said.

“Why is he doing this when all along he has been saying he will not hamper the release of salaries to City Hall employees?”

All the incumbent coun-cilors ran and won under Binay’s political party in the 2013 midterm polls.

Some employees under the Sangguniang Panlung-sod also expressed dismay over the indefinite delay in their salaries. They said aside from the coming Lent-en break next week, many of them had children graduat-

ing at the end of this month and in April.

“We are saddened that even our families are suffer-ing because of the situation at City Hall. This is sup-posed to be a time of joy and celebration, especially for parents like me whose chil-dren are about to graduate,” said Mila Pilar, one of the af-fected employees.

“We are hoping that the vice mayor will be enlight-ened soon so that our fami-lies need not suffer much longer from financial dif-ficulties caused by the delay in the release of our salaries.”

Peña has returned un-signed two checks to the Treasury Department, one amounting to P927,545.20 for the salaries and allow-

ances of councilors and staff, and the other for P144,500 in allowances for councilors.

Peña also refused to sign the payroll for the salaries of officials and person-nel covering April 1 to April 15, which amounts to P620,410.90.

Meanwhile, Mayor Binay rejected Pena’s offer for them to sit down and discuss the issue about the employees’ salaries.

He said there was nothing to talk about because it was normal and business as usual in city hall, adding that more than 8,000 city hall employ-ees had started receiving their March 31 salaries.

Binay also said he had al-ready signed all the vouchers for the next payroll.

Vice Mayor Peña declines to sign pay vouchers for execs

By Rio N. Araja

THE Akbayan party-list group is not solidly be-hind President Benigno Aquino III because some of its members are critical of him, Commission on Hu-man Rights Chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales said on Wednesday.

“A number is critical of the President,” such as those from the workers’ groups and the Freedom from Debt Coalition,” Rosales said in a television interview.

“I can say that some prob-ably feel that [the presi-dent]…made mistakes.”

Former FDC president and resigned Akbayan rep-resentative Walden Bello

was very critical of Aquino over his refusal to apologize over the firefight in Mama-sapano, Maguindanao, that resulted in the killing of 44 police commandos, she said.

Bello also slammed the President for not removing Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over his creation of the Disbursement Alloca-tion Program, which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional, under the Office of the President.

But Rosales said she be-lieved Abad had been doing a good job introducing re-forms in his department.

Bello’s resignation had been a test of loyalty for the organization, Rosales said. But she said there were

prominent Akbayan leaders who were still supportive of the President.

She said Aquino still en-joyed the backing of party-list stalwarts such as Ronald Llamas and Joel Rocamora.

When asked about the President’s biggest mistake, Rosales said: “It has been said over and over again. I guess we should learn to distance ourselves from the rest of the crowd. It’s a lonely post being President, but it’s necessary.”

Rosales said the issue was Aquino’s decision to include former Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima in the botched Mamasapano operation despite his suspension.

Protest smarts. High school students joined members of the League of Filipino Students from various universities in calling for the abolition of the K-12 program at a protest rally at the Plaridel Hall of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. MANNY PALMERO

Schools not war camps. Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman (right) and Major General Edmundo R. Pangilinan of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (2nd from right) lead the launching of the repair of three school buildings of the Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways will construct nine school buildings and eight water and sanitation projects costing approximately P50 million, and the Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division will construct a mosque and a steel footbridge amounting to approximately P11 million. OMAR MANGORSI

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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news A5

ERC chief was Napoles’escort—whistleblower

Stradcom row: CA rules in favor of Quiambao group

Merlina Sunas, after her absence from last Monday’s bail hearing due to over-fatigue, was able to take the witness stand before the Sandigan-bayan’s Third Division and testified that Ducut accompanied Napoles in her series of visits at the House of Representatives.

Sunas said she personally wit-nessed how Ducut would escort Na-poles during those rounds of visits.

Suñas also claimed she was with Napoles and Ducut when they went to the offices of some lawmakers whose surnames were Estrella and Romualdo as two of Napoles’ clients

to fund several of her foundations’ ghost projects.

Associate Justice Amparao Cabo-taje Tang, Third Division chairper-son, questioned the witness if the word “rounds” would mean to trans-fer from one office to another.

“Yes, she (Napoles) was with Con-gresswoman Ducut, but I was not al-lowed to go inside (the office),” Suñas told the anti-graft court.

She, however, said she was not al-lowed to listen to the discussions be-tween Napoles and the lawmakers.

Napoles, who was present dur-ing the bail hearing, through her

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has over-turned the order of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court of Quezon City mandating the accounting of the P1 billion payment made by the Land Transportation Office to its informa-tion-technology provider Stradcom Corporation.

In a 17-page decision, the CA’s Spe-cial Sixth Division through Associate Justice Francisco Acosta granted the petition filed by the group of Cezar Quiambao seeking to set aside the order issued by QC RTC, Branch 93, Presiding Judge Arthur Malabaguio

giving the group of Bonifacio Sum-billa the right to inspect Stradcom’s bank accounts, corporate books and other records to account for the P1 billion released to Quiambao’s group.

The Quiambao and Sumbilla groups are fighting for control of Stradcom and are still locked in an interpleader case that was initiated by the government in order to settle Stradcom’s ownership issue.

Interpleader refers to a proceed-ing to enable a person to compel parties making the same claims against him to litigate the matter between themselves.

In its interpleader case, the gov-

ernment noted that the ownership issue over Stradcom has caused confusion among the officers and personnel of the LTO as they are “at a loss as to who it will recognize as the rightful representative of Strad-com Corporation.”

In its decision, the appellate court stressed that the Sumbilla’s group has yet to prove it has right over Stradcom.

It said that such order for account-ing of the P1-billion would entail the inspection of the corporation’s books and records including the list of all banks, financial institutions, prisons and entities that it transacted with re-

gard the said amount.According to the appellate court,

such right to inspect corporate books and records is given only to a stock-holder.

“As such we cannot just give license to the said group to sail in such fish-ing expedition allowed by the Rules without giving us an iota of evidence that, indeed, they also have legitimate interests over Stradcom,” the appel-late court ruled.

Instead, the CA sustained an order denying Sumbilla’s group motion for production of documents, which it claimed were necessary to prove its interest over Stradcom.

By Rio N. Araja

ONE of the whistleblowers in the pork barrel fund scam on Wednesday linked Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Zenaida Ducut to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.

counsel denied the witness’ testimony.

In another devel-opement, former law-maker Samuel Dan-gwa of Benguet on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and malversation filed against him with the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.

His son—Erwin Dangwa, former chief of staff—and alleged pork barrel fund scam mas-termind Janet Lim Napoles also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The ex legislator is facing six counts of graft case, six counts of malversa-tion and five counts of bribery for allegedly receiving P26.7 million in kickbacks from his Priority Develop-ment Assistance Fund.

On Feb. 11, the Dangwas posted a P530,000 bail each for their provisional lib-erty.

The elder Dangwa was among the second batch of lawmakers sued by the Office of the Ombudsman be-fore the Sandiganbayan for their

alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

The other lawmakers were for-mer Masbate representative and incumbent Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, former APEC party-list representative Edgar Val-dez, former Cagayan de Oro repre-sentative Constantino Jaraula and former Agusan del Sur representa-tive Rodolfo Plaza.

Seoul hikeslabor quotafor ManilaSOuTH Korea is in need of thousands of Filipino workers in the manufacturing industry as it has increased its 2015 la-bor quota for the Philippines, according to the Department of Labor and employment.

“This 2015 quota shows sustained demand for OFWs in the last three years in the Korean manufacturing sector,” said DOLE Secretary Rosa-linda Baldoz.

The Ministry of Employ-ment and Labor of South Ko-rea has set this year’s ceiling of 4,600 for the Philippines in terms of new workers who will be allowed to work in the country’s manufacturing sec-tor under the Employment Permit System.

She said that there is no ceil-ing for newcomer-workers for all industries in South Korea other than manufacturing.

Baldoz said South Korea’s overall foreign workers quota in the manufacturing sector this 2015 is set at 42,400 for foreign workers.

The Philippines captured the 13.98 percent of the quo-ta for new entrants allocated by the MOEL in the manu-facturing sector.

“If we go by the total num-ber, there was an increase in demand for OFWs. Last year, the quota for the Philippines was at 12.71 percent. In 2013, out of the 42,600 quota, we were given a total of 4,400 slots, or at 9.86 percent of the workforce allowed in the man-ufacturing industry,” she said. Vito Barcelo

Don’t letprejudicesderail BBL,solons toldCOTABATO Archbishop Or-lando Cardinal Quevedo on Wednesday urged legislators not to allow biases and preju-dices derail the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law which he described as “the most signif-icant hope for a just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines.”

Quevedo issued a state-ment through the Peace Pro-cess Media Bureau as both chambers of Congress were set to resume hearings on the draft BBL.

“The search for truth and the pursuit of justice must be done with objectivity and without prejudgment,” the first Roman Catholic Church cardinal from Mindanao, also known as the “Cardinal of Peace” said in an open letter addressed to legis-lators, in reference to the Ma-masapano incident, which led to misinformation and unfair judgment on the BBL.

“These judgments have misinformed the public about the nature of the BBL and raised public opinion against a document that is the most sig-nificant hope for far of a just and lasting peace in southern Philippines,” Quevedo noted. Sandy Araneta

ERC chief Zenaida Ducut

Anti-TB drive. Health Secretary Janette Garin (left) receives donations from Gloria Steele, Mission Director-USAID Philippines and Asia Pacific and Dr. Roberto Salvino, Medical Director of Johnson/Jannsen during the World TB Day 2015 Monday March 23, 2015 at the Batangas Provincial Auditorium, Batangas City. Health officials mark the day to campaign against the dreaded disease. PNA

A6editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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news

Bills on builders trigger feud

Pinoys in HK, visitors warned vs ‘winter flu’

The Court of Appeals has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to iden-tify its personnel allegedly involved in harassing a human rights lawyer, and file appropriate charges against them.

In a 22-page decision penned by Associate Justice hakim Abdulwahid, the CA’s Former Special Sixth Division also ordered the military to produce before the Court for possible de-struction all information, records, photographs and dossiers gathered by the military on lawyer Maria Catherine Dannug-Salucon, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers in Isabela.

The lawyer was able to prove her allegations that she was subjected to sur-veillance and harassment by individuals working under the command of the respondents, the CA ruled. Rey Requejo

‘Harassed’lawyer getscourt writ

By Vito Barcelo

The Philippine Consulate Gen-eral in hong Kong on Wednesday warned the Filipino Community and visiting Filipino nationals of “winter influenza” which has already claimed 118 since January 2015.

The Centre for health Protec-tion of hK’s Department of health reported the deaths in its latest sur-veillance data for the winter influ-enza season.

It urged the local residence in

hong Kong to heighten vigilance and get vaccinated early against sea-sonal influenza, the PCG said in its website.

“It is an infection caused by vari-ous influenza viruses and it is usu-ally more common in periods from January to March and from July to August in hong Kong,” the Philip-pine consulate said in its report.

“There are two types of influenza viruses that were recognized name-ly: Influenza A (h1 N1 ) virus which has now become one of the seasonal

influenza strains in hong Kong and the (h3N2) which is the winter’s dominant virus strain,” according to the Philippine consulate.

The Consulate said it continues to monitor developments and will resume advisories to Filipino com-munities.

There are about 180,000 Filipinos in hong Kong, mostly working as domestic helpers, according to the Philippine Overseas employment Administration.

Patients with influenza usually

experience fever, a sore throat and coughing. They may also have head-ache, muscle pain, runny nose, redness, loose stool and vomiting. The disease usually improves in 2 two 7 days, but it may cause seri-ous complications such as infection of the lungs or inflammation of the airways.

The influenza mainly spreads through droplets and contact with the respiratory tract secretions of pa-tients. Good personal hygiene pre-vents spread of the disease.

Two proposed measures in Congress have proved to be highly contentious, with archi-tects and engineers locking horns over their roles once the proposals are enacted into law.

Charity on wheels. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials led by Vice-Chairman and General Manager lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II (right) joins Cebu municipal mayors during the turnover of brand-new PCSO ambulances donated to the 12 towns of Cebu, held at the charity agency’s branch office in Osmena St, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City. With them are (from left) Mayor Butch Sepalveda of Borbon, PCSO Assistant GM for Charity Sector Dr. Larry Cedro and Director Betty Nantes, Aly Arguillano of San Francisco, Camotes, PCSO Visayas Manager Federico Damole, Mayor Lissa Marie Streegan of Sogod, Mayor Ronald Cesante of Dalaguete, PCSO Director lawyer Mabel V. Mamba, and PCSO AGM Remeliza Gabuyo. JOSEPH MUEGO

Sergio A. Evangelista, 87, died at UERM hospital in Sta., Mesa, Manila on Tuesday (3:25 am), March 24, 2015. The cause was cardiac arrest.

His remains now lie in state at the St. Peter Chapels, Araneta Ave, Quezon City (near Funeraria Nacional). Ser-vices will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 1 p.m.

He is survived by his wife, Victoria, sons Romie and Roy, and daughter Lita.

The family requests rela-tives and friends to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

ObituaryEvangelista, 87

The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) urged civil engineers in the construction and building sector to respect the role of the architectural profession in the area of ar-chitectural drawings of all types, and “not to encroach into clearly defined areas of professional practice.”

UAP National President Ma. Benita Ochoa-Regala noted that engineers have been “acting as architects, and such action transgresses professional delineation of their respective practices. A case in point is the signing by engineers of architectural plans when securing build-ing permits in clear viola-tion of the National Build-ing Code.”

“That’s why we are pushing

two bills in both the house of Representatives and the Sen-ate, which will more clearly delineate our respective areas of professional practice,” Re-gala pointed out.

Two bills now pending in the two houses of Congress are house Bill 5127 and Sen-ate Bill 2623.

The house bill is jointly authored by Reps. Susan Yap of Tarlac and Gary Alejano of Magdalo while the Sen-ate version is authored by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV. The house ver-sion has been scheduled for second reading.

UAP President Regala, a respected architect, stressed: “We at UAP maintain that architectural plans and documents of buildings

and structures are the ex-clusive domain of the archi-tect based on law, academic training, professional com-petencies and government licenses issued to enable one to practice.”

Specifically addressing civil engineers, Regala de-clared: “We respect the pro-fessional competence of civil engineers with regard to the civil and structural design of buildings and structures.”

“In turn, we expect the

civil engineers to accord the same respect for our pro-fession,” she said, adding: “With due respect to all civil engineers in the country, we wish to emphasize one legal and professional point: “The architectural practice must be limited to architects”

The passage of the two bills will see “the dawning of a new era of mutual respect between and among archi-tectural and engineering professions,” Regala pointed out. The law will establish professional accountabili-ties based on each of the disciplines involved in the construction and building industry, in the interest of public safety and welfare.

“We should put our house in order before the imple-mentation of the Asean in-tegration by the end of this year, so our foreign coun-terparts may now practice in our country without any ambiguity in any of our pro-

fessional laws, Regala said.The bill will make the

UAP compliant with the pro-visions of the ASeAN Mu-tual Recognition Agreement.

Both pieces of proposed legislation seek to amend Republic Act 9266, other-wise known as the Archi-tecture Act of 2004, in a bid to more clearly delineate the practice of architecture, and distinguish it from other professions.

The UAP, which is also rec-ognized by the Professional Regulation Commission as the integrated and accredited professional organization of architects, has under its um-brella 35,000 architects all over the country.

The existing law, RA 9266, already explicitly provides that only registered licensed architects shall practice ar-chitecture and as such shall exclusively prepare, sign and seal architectural plans and documents. Maricel Cruz

TheRe is nothing wrong with the reported P21-million settlement offer to the family of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude for a plea bar-gain deal in their murder case against US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pem-berton, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

“We have to remember that in preliminary confer-ence or pre-trial, plea bar-gaining is allowed – subject to agreement of parties,” De Lima told reporters.

Nonetheless, De Lima vowed to study the allegation made by the Laude family against Olongapo City Pros-ecutor emilie delos Santos for excluding them in the negotia-tions with Pemberton’s camp on the plea bargain deal.

De Lima disclosed that she already the Olongapo City prosecutor to answer the pro-test filed by Laude’s mother Julita and sister Malou earlier this week. Rey Requejo

Pemberton plea bid legit—DOJ

Rep. Susan Yap

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

T h u r s d ay : m a r c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

A7

The new Standard. Officers and senior staff members of The Standard take centerstage with Chairman Philip Romualdez and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The new office. Key officers and staff pray during the blessing of the new Standard offices in Legazpi Village, Makati.

a PhoTo es say

office blessing and launch ParTy of

Tuesday, march 24, 2015

28thanniversary

6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Main Ballroom, New World Makati Hotel, Esperanza Street, Makati City

A8T h u r s d ay : m a r c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Father Manny Domingo chats with Standard President Arnold Liong, Babe Romualdez, board member Pepe Rodriguez and Life Editor Bambina Olivares-Wise during the office blessing.

Chairman Romualdez throws coins for good luck after the blessing.

Babe Romualdez, Rollie Estabillo, Rep. Martin Romualdez, Chairman Philip Romualdez, President Liong, Board Member Pepe Rodriguez and Corporate Secretary Atty. Jordan Pizzaras pose in front of the logo in the new office lobby.

Operations head Jocelyn Domingo has her office blessed.

The chairman spends some quality time with the editorial staff.

The Romualdezes discuss the paper’s direction with Liong.

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez stresses a point in the boardroom.

Publisher Rollie Estabillo lights his candle.

A9editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Chairman Romualdez invites the guests at the New World launch to check out the changes at the paper.

President Liong goes into deeper detail about his plans for The Standard.

CJ Sereno talks to Chairman Romualdez and Lutz Kunack.

Businessman Macario Te, Ambassador Tony Cabangon Chua and Rep. Martin Romualdez huddle.

Rep. Martin greets Shell’s Ed Chua.

Iran Ambassador Ali Asghar Mohammadi discusses the local scene with Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa.

Perry Pe and Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo engage in small talk.

Jo Bautista, Joy Cabrillos, Carl Cuevas and Isa Romualdez of Weber Shandwick man the reception desk. Hans Sy and Felix Ang meet as Babe Romualdez looks on.

Philex’s Mike Toledo buttonholes Liong.

Rodriguez and Chairman Romualdez talk to the Spanish ambassador.

T h u r s d ay : m a r c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

A10T h u r s d ay: m a r c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Argentina Ambassador Roberto Bosch, Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena, CJ Sereno, Panama Ambassador Rolando Guevarra and Tony Rufino strike a pose.

Guevarra welcomes Senator Nancy Binay to the party.

Kurt Hoyer of the US Embassy talks to Chairman Romualdez.

The staff gets a “groupie” with the Chairman.

Photos by Lino SanToS, Sonny ESpiriTu and ramon JoSEph ruiz

Editor-in-Chief Jojo Robles catches up with Life Editor Bambina Olivares-Wise.

Chairman Romualdez explains his plans for The Standard to RCBC president Lorenzo Tan and his wife.

Hans Sy and Macario Te catch up with Babe and Philip Romualdez.

The Romualdezes discuss current affairs with Ambassadors Camarena and Guevarra.

opinion

[ EDI TORI A L ] Telling all, seeing noThingPresident Aquino is expected to face the new batch of graduates of the Philippine national Police Academy today, the same school that produced six of the 44 members of the special Action Force who died in Mamasapano, Maguindanao two months ago.

Mr. Aquino has told some media organizations that this would be the last time he would ever speak on the controversial police operation that killed a Malaysian terrorist but claimed the lives of the sAF commandoes and five civilians as well as some members of the Moro islamic Liberation Front.

the focus of his speech, Mr. Aquino said, would be his own questions regarding what happened in Mamasapano, given the information available to him at that time. “that’s how i want to be judged,” he added.

some anticipate that he would

“tell all” about Mamasapano – although we have learned from experience that “all” eventually turned out to be only “some” as the President’s version of events evolved as he went along.

in fact, a survey said that eight out of 10 Filipinos felt that the President’s explanation of Mamasapano was not enough.

The President’s address also comes on the heels of the release of yet another survey—Pulse Asia’s survey on Urgent national Concerns. Mr. Aquino, who won the 2010 elections on a platform of good governance and reform, failed to obtain majority approval ratings on his performance in 12 key issues—responding to the needs of those affected by calamities (net 31%), stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment (net 26%), defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners (net 20%),

fighting criminality (net 20%), enforcing the law on all, whether influential or ordinary people (net 12%), increasing peace in the country (net 11%), fighting graft and corruption in government (net 9%), creating more jobs (net 7%), improving/increasing the pay of workers (0).

significantly, on two urgent issues—reducing the poverty of many Filipinos and controlling inflation—President Aquino registered negative approval ratings of both -12%

We wonder whether he would at all refer to this latest finding, explaining away and bashing critics anew, or whether he would dismiss these numbers as he normally plays down issues that paint him in a bad light. All he said was that he would push governance, create jobs and fight poverty in the last 15 months of his presidency.

in fact, at an investors’ forum held tuesday in Makati City, Mr. Aquino appeared jolly and upbeat, recounting the supposed economic gains realized under his administration and tracing “the success story that is the Philippine economy.”

Promising more economic gains, the President told the forum participants: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

For once, we tend to agree with the President. Given the paucity of his concrete achievements in the last fou years, we really haven’t seen anything yet.

A11ADELLE chuAe D i T o R

ManilaStandardTODAY

MEMBERPhilippine Press InstituteThe National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI

can be accessed at:www.manilastandardtoday.comONLINE

MSTPublished Monday to Sunday by Kamahalan Publishing Corporation at 2nd Floor PJI Building, Railroad corner 20th Streets, Port Area, Manila. Telephone numbers 521-8507 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 521-5581, (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 (Advertising), 521-8507 (MIS) 521-5591 (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

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MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Chairman Arnold C. Liong President & Chief Executive Officer Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Jocelyn F. Domingo Director of Operations Ron Ryan S. Buguis Finance Officer

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joel P. Palacios News Editor Francis Lagniton City Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief PhotographerMa. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Francis Lagniton City Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

MEMBERPhilippine Press InstituteThe National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI

can be accessed at:www.manilastandardtoday.comONLINE

MSTPublished Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

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

Mr. Robles’ column will resume tomorrow.

lowDown

jojo a. Robles

T h u R S D AY : M A R c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

to reward itself for its breaches, or worse, enrich itself at the ex-pense of the people who patron-ized the project.

It is an elementary rule of fairness that no man shall be af-fected by a proceeding in which he is a stranger. Since loca-tors, unit owners and subleases are not a party to the arbitra-tion case, BCDA cannot by any stretch of the imagination now include them.

The Camp John Hay develop-ment is a PPP (private-public project) gone haywire because of Casanova’s ob-session to eject the Sobrepena group and award it to some other party he likes.

If Casanova and BCDA lawyers do what they intend to do in violation of existing laws, he may end up like his boss, the President when a new ad-ministration is installed— in jail.

* * *There was nothing new in

the investigation findings of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that its leaders and its peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal have not already said in their press releases. That is, if the MILF ever made an inves-tigation at all about what hap-pened in Mamasapano.

Note that the MILF re-mained steadfast in its version that it was the Philippine Na-tional Police-Special Action

Force that violated the ceasefire agreement. The first shot, killing MILF members, came from the police commandos who failed to coordinate with the MILF when they entered the latter’s territory.

Note also that the MILF said they had casual-ties, including some civilians and an eight-year-

Continued on A13

OPINIONT H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

A12

SEVERAL Camp John Hay unit owners, locators and sub-lessees I know have ex-pressed concern

over what would happen next with the Bases Conversion Development Authority. The agency issued a statement that as a result of the three-man Arbitration Tribunal’s decision on the de-cades-old controversy between itself and John Sobrepena’s Camp John Hay Development Corp., they may have to be ejected from the Camp.

BCDA president Arnel Casanova and lawyers have been saying that as a result of the Arbitra-tion Board’s decision terminating the 1996 Orig-inal Lease Agreement for CJHDevco to develop the former US naval reservation in Baguio City, all contracts should now go to the BCDA. This will help them seek a refund from CJHDevco. The developer was also rewarded approximately P1.42 billion in rentals it had paid since 1998.

Failure to do so, Casanova and BCDA lawyers say, would force BCDA to take over their units and other structures built.

BCDA also claims that CJHDevco is autho-rized to lease Camp John Hay properties and units for only 25 years. Thus, the 50-year leases are illegal.

�I don’t know where Casanova and his lawyers are coming from in wanting to eject the Sobrepe-na group out of the camp. Didn’t they study civil law or read the Civil Code or the Constitution? Possessors in good faith have vested rights, and no man can be deprived of his property without having his day in court.

Besides, Section 1385 of the Civil Code ex-pressly states that an order of mutual restitution cannot include properties currently in the pos-session of third persons who acted in good faith. More importantly, my gulay, locators, unit own-ers and sub-lessees are not parties to the arbitra-tion case.

Contrary to BCDA’s assertions, the final award of the Arbitral Tribunal is not executory since under the law, CJHDevco cannot be required to turn over the Camp until and unless the arbitra-tion award is confirmed by the Regional Trial Court of Baguio, which ordered the arbitration.

Under the law, BCDA cannot repudiate con-tracts entered into by the Camp developer since BCDA has expressly consented to the same. Both the BCDA and CJHDevco have been found to have committed mutual breaches.

An examination of the 2008 Restructuring Memorandum Agreement between the BCDA and CJHDevco will lead to no other conclusion other than that the state agency expressly con-sented to the subletting of real estate develop-ments found within the Camp. This is but logical as the main obligation of the developer is pre-cisely to develop the leased property and sublet it to third parties.

Now, take note of this. From 2009 to 2011, the BCDA had four nominees in the CJHDevco board. Thus, the Limited Warranty Deeds is-sued by the developer confirming the existence of subleases until October 2046 were approved with the participation of BCDA’s nominees.

Thus, BCDA was fully aware of the LWD. It could have objected if some issues were unac-ceptable to its representatives. It never did. Un-der the circumstances, BCDA cannot now dis-claim knowledge of the sublease contracts nor claim that it never consented to subletting the properties. Otherwise, BCDA would be allowed

Defying the law

too many investigationsTHERE are too many investigations being conducted on the Mamasa-pano encounter. The results of four have now been released. Well, five, if the President’s own investiga-tion which he reported during that prayer rally meeting in Malacañang is included.

The trouble with that investigation, however, is that the President keeps on adding to his findings. First, it was the fault of Napeñas. Then Purisima did not fol-low his explicit order to inform PNP OIC Espina. The story keeps on changing. The public does not know what to believe or whether more revelations are forth-coming.

The public has a chance to find out when he speaks during the Philippine National Police Academy grad-uation. It was reported that the President would tell all in that speech. Let us hope that he will finally say everything that has to be said so that perhaps the na-tion can start to move on.

It has been two months that the nation’s attention has been focused mainly on Mamasapano and the tra-vails of the President. We have to start thinking of tackling other important issues.

For instance, the Smartmatic issue with the Com-elec has to be dealt with. Otherwise, the elections in 2016 will be manipulated by syndicates who have part-nered with Smartmatic. This would be catastrophic to our electoral process.

Another issue that has just emerged is the press re-lease by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that the na-tional debt of the country is now $20 billion more the $57B that has always been maintained by the BSP over the years – and no one seems to be asking questions. Where did the $20B in debt come from and how did we accumulate this additional debt out of the blue? It is as if the BSP took advantage of the preoccupation of the public on the Mamasapano incident to sneak the announcement in the hope that no one is paying at-tention. If this is so, it seems to have worked.

The Commission on Human Rights report is now out together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front report. The MILF findings did not come as a surprise to many. The findings were predictable. It is not their fault but the fault of the PNP SAF. They only fought back. Never mind if Zulkifli bin Hir was photographed in MILF- and BIFF-controlled areas. The MILF find-ings, I can understand and I expected as much.

What blew my mind was the findings of the Com-mission on Human Rights. By what right or author-ity does CHR have to find fault on the findings of the other investigative bodies like the Senate report? This is not its business and the CHR is way out of line. The CHR arrogated unto itself to be the agency that can pass judgment on the report of others. Etta Rosales

simply exposed her bias and true color with her report.

The CHR has also intruded into an area that it is not competent. It declared that the firefight was a misencounter. Does the CHR even know the meaning of the word?

What the CHR should have limited itself to was es-tablishing whether there were any human rights viola-tions in the Mamasapano encounter and if there were, who were responsible.

This report has zero value. There are still three in-vestigations going on. The Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the House of Repre-sentatives. We can almost predict the outcome of the DOJ investigations. One of the findings will almost certainly exonerate the President of any culpability because there is no violation of chain of command, the PNP being a civilian organization. This is what we call the De Lima Doctrine.

Thankfully, this will only last for 14 months, after which it will be swept into the dustbin of history. The Ombudsman investigation is more intriguing. Unlike the Secretary of the DOJ who has always something to say, the office of the Ombudsman has kept to itself. We therefore do not know the scope of the investiga-tion and is hard to predict what it will come up with. There might be a chance that it will be less partisan and come up with more objective findings.

The House investigation will be more raucous; I hope it does not turn into a circus. And being con-trolled by the President’s allies, it will most probably attempt to shield the President. But there are many good lawyers in the opposition who will try to prevent this and come out with more credible findings. Still, I am being optimistic here.

The outcome of these numerous investigations will prove immaterial because the public has already made their own conclusions. These have already been re-flected in opinion surveys. It is doubtful therefore that the public would still change its mind and be more forgiving to the President as the Palace would want.

What may be crucial now is what the President says during the PNPA graduation rites. If he comes out sin-cere and humble, it will go a long way in assuaging the hurt feelings of the public who have grown tired of the way he has been handling the Mamasapano crisis. But if he continues to stand his ground and blame others and not accept his own shortcomings, then his speech will be useless.

I do not think that the public is blaming him for all that has happened. But what they want is for him to accept his part of the blame and not keep on pass-ing them to others. Clearly, being a direct participant, he made bad decisions in handling the Mamasapano operation.

I don’t know where BCDA’s Casanova

and his lawyers are coming from.

to the poInt

emIl p. jurADo

DutyCAlls

florenCIofIAnzA

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

A13adelle chuaE D I T O R

T h u R S d aY : M a R c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

The welfare of our coconuT farmers

CoConuts are one of the most important crops in the Philippines. With about 27 percent of total national agricultural land planted with coconuts and some 3.5 million coconut farmers, we are the second-largest coconut producer in the world, ac-counting for 26.6 percent of global production. Moreover, 25 million Filipinos, or nearly one-fourth of the population, are directly or indirectly dependent on the coconut industry. Ironically due to years of neglect and ineptitude of those lead-ing the government agencies who are supposed to look after their welfare, our coconut farmers are considered among the poorest of the poor. they remain one of the most vulnerable segments of the population compared to their counterparts in the agricultural sector. In comparison with the average farmer who earns a meager P23,000 a year, coco-nut farmers earn an even more deplorable P15,000 an average per year.

Coco farmers have also been burdened with both natural and politically motivated storms that have doubly made their plight more diffi-cult. unlike farmers of other agricultural prod-ucts like sugarcane, rice, and tobacco farmers who have been afforded the necessary legislation (like like RA 7171 for tobacco farmers) relative to their interests and welfare, coco farmers have

none of the sort.one of the most long drawn-out issues that has

affected our farmers is the coco levy issue. the controversial funds came from taxes that were collected from coconut farmers during the mar-tial law years, when then President Marcos is-sued Presidential Decree no. 755, authorizing the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to use the levy funds to acquire 72.2 percent of First unit-ed Bank (FuB), which was later renamed uCPB. uCPB became the administrator of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund, which consequently acquired numerous assets including the shares in san Miguel Corp. When the Marcos administra-tion was deposed, the government sequestered the fund and a lengthy court battle ensued. Coconut farmer groups have long lobbied for the funds to uplift their lot and help them improve their liveli-hood.

Last week, President noynoy Aquino signed two executive orders (Eos) relating to the contro-versial Coco Levy Fund. the first, Eo 179, directs the Presidential Commission on Good Govern-ment  to coordinate with other government agen-cies to identify all known coco levy assets within 60 days from the effectivity of the order.

the second, Eo 180, requires government agen-

cies to protect and recover the government’s rights and interests in coco levy assets. Accordingly, both Eos are in line with the supreme Court decision on the issue. this should help facilitate the trans-fer and re-conveyance of the coco levy assets to the government together with the shares of stock of uCPB, the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) companies and CIIF holding companies, san Miguel Corp. (sMC) and those named to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) --“solely and exclusively for the benefit of all the coconut farmers, and development of coco-nut industry.”

under the Eos signed by the President, howev-er, control rests solely on the government and our coco farmers will only be engaged and consulted when the “would-be” government program (what-ever shape or variety this would take) is already being implemented. this means our coco farmers will not have any voice on the type of program the government would undertake.

I therefore believe that we should heavily scru-tinize these new Eos to fully determine and safe-guard the welfare of our farmers. If we are not careful, instead of improving the lives of coconut farmers, the entire exercise might end up benefit-ing unscrupulous parties.

pOp gOEs ThE wORlD

jEnnyORTuOsTE

mInORITyREpORT

DanIlOsuaREz

advice To Krisel HIGH school salutatorian Krisel Mallari gave a speech not heard around the world, for the reason that she was cut off midstream by the member of the faculty.

Instead of delivering welcome remarks, she discussed the alleged unfairness of the sto. niño Parochial school in not consider-ing her for valedictorian honors and the need for the school to revisit their systems.

  A video of school officials preventing Krisel from fin-ishing her speech went viral. netizens stormed cyberspace to support her, saying under the principle of freedom of speech, she should have been allowed to finish.

school officials said Krisel’s message was not appropri-ate. the valedictorian told Krisel, on a tV interview, to ac-cept that she did not get the top place, and that her speech “tarnish[ed] the school’s reputation.”

the Department of Education is investigating the matter. Was Krisel really cheated out of the top spot? We do not

know that for a fact. Were any of her rights violated when she was not allowed to complete her speech? that’s for law-yers to say. 

 What is clear is that Krisel was moved by strong emo-tion – disappointment, frustration, anger, bitterness, which may have been justified. However, she was asked to give welcome remarks, which she did not do, and thus failed to consider the thoughts and feelings of the other attendees at the graduation ceremony, while focusing on her own.

 Krisel believed she should have graduated as class vale-dictorian. she worked hard and sacrificed much to achieve that goal, as all other honor recipients have. But not being valedictorian is not the end of the world. If she was cheated out of what was rightfully hers, that is not her burden to bear, but that of those who did.

 As someone who’s been in similar situations, here’s my advice to Krisel – take “Frozen” as your peg. Let it go.

Krisel, those much-vaunted honors will not guarantee success or happiness. Academic awards, even intelligence, are not always highly valued IRL - in real life. our society values social skills more than knowledge, relationships and

connections over test rankings. If you want to be successful, learn how to

hobnob, press the flesh, kiss babies – in short, the traditional politician shtick.

Grow a strong stomach for rich food and liquor. Much relationship-building with principals and suppliers takes place over late-

night inuman. Know your wines and whiskies, your fine dining and private hang-outs.

observe your boss’s habits and find out how you can serve her with “extras.” Competence as a requirement for the job is a given. set yourself apart from the herd by performing those little attentions that mean so much – checking in her luggage when you go on official travel, getting her a glass of water at meals before she asks, driv-ing her around when her driver is off duty.

Develop your networks. As I was told by a classmate in MBA school, “We’re not here to study – we’re here to make connections.” Befriend everyone - judges, mayors, celebri-ties; the lady in accounting who issues the checks, the guy who signs the licenses. that way, when you need a favor for yourself or for your boss, you have contacts who can help.

You don’t need to be a salutatorian – much less a valedic-torian – to do these things.

In the real world, no one really looks at your school grades or awards, Krisel. In the end, that’s just information on your resume or personnel data sheet that goes into a fil-ing cabinet. Earn them, enjoy them, use them to gain what points you can, but in the end, what matters is that you can deliver the goods and the “extras” if need be. Be resourceful, make do with what you have. Work with grace under pres-sure and by golly deliver on time or even earlier.

so let it go, Krisel. You may have a right to be aggrieved. But you won’t carry the burden of having done an injustice. You can hold your head high and move on. there is much more to life than school and grades.

***

Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Blog: http://jennyo.net

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Defying...From A12

old girl. And they denied coddling the two known terrorists. they also de-nied that the killing of a helpless and wound-ed sAF commando was done by the MILF.

so, according to the MILF, the Mamasapano slaughter was all the fault of the police comman-dos, adding insult to in-jury and most of all pain, anguish and indignation to a nation now undergo-ing turbulent times.

If the President and his peace negotiators head-ed by Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and peace adviser teresita Deles would still push for the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law knowing the duplic-ity of the MILF leaders, they would be selling the country down the river.

* * *President Aquino

needs a big dose of real-ity check.

His acceptance and trust ratings among the people, his bosses, have declined to a new low – the lowest since he as-sumed office. Majority of the people no longer trust him and even doubt all his explanations about what happened in Mama-sapano.

A14T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTSsports@thestandard.com.ph

One bull’s-eye at a time for AyaBy Arman Armero

THEY don’t call her “Bulls Aya” for nothing.Amaya “Aya’ Paz-Cojuangco, arguably the country’s

finest female archer of her generation, was again on target after winning two gold medals in the recent Asia Archery Cup held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Aya led the women’s compound team event in a difficult, but rous-ing victory over powerhouse India, 224-223, with teammates Jennifer Chan and newcomer Andrea Robles, and won another gold after pairing with Jeff Adri-ano in the mixed team event. She also settled for a silver in the indi-vidual compound.

The 29-year-old Aya has been hitting her target since she picked her first arrow at a young age of 15, when she first tried the sport one summer after dabbling with swimming and football for a time.

“My father was watching the Olympics one time and was watching archery, and he said, ‘yan, kaya ng mga Pilipino ‘yan. Then one summer, I just de-

cided to try the sport kasi ‘yung archery range sa UP (University of the Philippines) nadadaanan namin ‘yun.

Asked whether how many gold medals she had won over the years, Aya admitted she had al-ready lost count.

“Hindi ko na maalala, siguro mga more than 20 na. Meron ding mga silver and bronze med-als,” she said.

Aya won her first gold med-als (compound individual and compound team) in the Viet-nam Grand Prix (now the Asia Archery Cup) and had since been on a roll in the tournament, where only the best Asian archers compete.

As of last count, Aya had won

six gold medals in the Asian tournament, and is looking forward to add to her burgeon-ing gold-medal collection in the coming 25th Southeast Asian Games in June.

Aya last won in the SEAG in the 2007, but stopped joining competitive archery after marry-ing her teammate Kit Cojuangco (now the vice-governor of Tarlac) and giving birth to a baby boy they named Alfonso, who is now three years old.

Kit, being a former archer himself , is Aya’s number one supporter.

“He really pushes me. He’s very supportive,” said Aya of her hus-band. She laughingly admitted, though, that “she’s now better than him” as an archer.

Aya is confident that she can deliver the gold medal in the SEAG. After all, she is ranked among the Top 10 in Asia, and no one among the SEAG countries could come close to her level.

“Sa tingin ko kaya naman, basta maganda ang conditions,” Aya said.

For the veteran archer, a perfect condition for shooting arrows is a weather that is not too windy and not too sunny.

“Kailangan medyo mahina lang ang hangin at medyo makulimlim para hindi mainit,” she said.

Aya also debunked the popular notion that archers need to have 20-20 vision to accu-rately hit their marks.

“Dati, nagsasalamin ako, pero nagpa-laser lang ako. It’s not actually kailangan na 20-20 ang vision, kasi yung ‘feel’ mo sa distance ang mas importante.”

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuang-co, who was one of the guests in the presentation of the winners in

the Asia Cup, said that he sees archery as the

sport that could give the coun-try its first gold medal.

And with “Bulls Aya” con-stantly hitting her marks, the first gold medals look possible in

the horizon, one bull’s-eye at a time.

LadyFalconsgun forcrown

ADAMSON University guns for a fifth straight championship when it clashes with University of the Phil-ippines today in the UAAP Season 77 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Lady Falcons coach Ana San-tiago hopes to get the job done and douse any hopes of a Lady Ma-roons’ fightback in Game 2 sched-uled at 9 a.m.

“We will make some adjust-ments,” said Santiago, whose play-ers are mostly came from Bacolod.

Toting a remarkable 61-0 slate since 2011, the thrice-to-beat Lady Falcons are gunning for their 14th crown overall since the sport was reinserted in the league’s calendar of events in 1995.

With reigning MVP Annalie Benjamen striking out 12 batters, Adamson dominated UP, 6-0, in last Tuesday’s Finals opener. Facing an enormous task of beat-ing the Lady Falcons three straight times, the Lady Maroons will take things one inning at a time. “We will bounce back, that’s the plan,” said UP coach Kiko Diaz.

Aside from its impressive pitch-ing from Benjamen, Adamson’s hitting also clicked as Queenie Sa-bobo and Krina Paguican also de-livered in Game 1.

For the Lady Maroons to extend the season, pitcher Cochise Diolata needs to elevate her game to frus-trate the Lady Falcons, along with their sluggers Isabelle Mendoza and Chantel Bongat.

“Siyempre, championship na ito, ibang level na,” said Santiago.

Bucks win thriller. The Milwaukee Bucks celebrate after winning the game against the Miami Heat at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwau-kee. Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the host Bucks an 89-88 victory. In other NBA games, Monta Ellis scored 38 points on 16-of-27 shooting to spark Dallas over visiting San Antonio, 101-94, while NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 11 assists to lead Oklahoma City over the Los Angeles Lakers 127-117. AFP

Juico elected athletics’ chief, gets POC nodBy Peter Atencio

FULL recognition has been for-mally granted to the leadership of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

The Philippine Olympic Com-mittee General Assembly welcomed newly elected athletics’ president Philip Ella Juico following a meet-ing yesterday afternoon at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.

Earlier, the former Philippine Sports Commission Chairman laid out his priorities after he was

formally elected as president of the athletics’ body.

Juico talked about his plans for the association, after the morning election, which was attended by POC first vice president Joey Ro-masanta as an observer.

“We are now setting up the different committees required. And we will have to appoint the vice presidents and the regional directors, so that we will have a national presence,” said Juico.

Juico discussed plans to overhaul the structural setup of the associa-tion during the board meeting and general assembly held yesterday

morning at the Orchid Suites in Vito Cruz, Manila.

Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez was named Chairman, while Nicanor Sering was voted the vice president and Lucy Artia-ga, treasurer. Maricor Pacheco took the post as treasurer and Jeanette Obiena was named as auditor.

Go Teng Kok, who Juico suc-ceeded as president, was named in the nine-man board of directors, with Benjamin Espiritu, Agapito Capistrano, Dato Yusuph Nana, Fe-lix Tiukinhoy, Cai Yong Bang, Chan Teng Young, Chua Pio and Misamis

Oriental Cong. Rufus Rodriguez.Later, Renato Unso was retained as

secretary general, while Atty. Aldrin Cabiles took the post as legal counsel. Edward Kho was tasked with the PR and marketing affairs.

Juico also discussed the proposal to change the name of the associa-tion from Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Associa-tion. He said they plan to drop the word amateur, since the PATAFA will not just deal with collegiate ath-letes, but with professional and semi-pro athletes as well.

Paz-Cojuangco

Game Today (Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium)9 a.m. • UP vs AdU (softball finals)

A15T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTSsports@thestandard.com.ph

Blackwater Elite endconference with a winBy Jeric Lopez

EVEN with another early exit, Blackwater is starting to evidently see some progress, at the very least.

The Elite ended their campaign with a bang, pulling off an upset win by rout-ing quarterfinal-bound Meralco, 84-72, in the final elimination round playdate of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Marcus Douthit was stellar in the game as he produced another double-double of a game-high 27 points and 14 rebounds to spearhead Blackwater, while fellow big men JP Erram and Reil Cervantes, who played his first game for

All set for inaugural men’s volley tourney—Spiker’s TurfA BATTLE royale for top honors looms in the inaugural men’s volleyball tournament, named Spikers’ Turf, set to open simultaneously with the 12th season of the Shakey’s V League at the Arena in San Juan City.

Organized by the Sports Vision, the same outfit that put up the popular women’s compe-tition—Shakey’s V league—the Spikers’ Turf is regarded as the biggest and only men’s tourna-ment in the country today.

The league opens with an eight-team field led by Team IEM, which topped the four-team, mini tournament inserted in the third conference of the Shakey’s V-League last year.

IEM will again parade its champion core led by Jason Canlas, Karl Ian dela Calzada and Carlo Almario, making itself “the team to reck-on with”, according to Sports Vision president Ricky Palou.

“But other teams like Cagayan and Ultera will surely give IEM a run for its money,” said Palou during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Asso-ciation at the Shakey’s in Malate.

Sharing the same sentiment were coaches Ness Pamilar of Cagayan Valley and Ultera’s Roger Gor-ayeb, who joined Palou and Sports Vision chair-man Moying Martelino in forum, sponsored by Accel, San Miguel, Shakey’s and Pagcor.

Cagayan Valley will be anchored by Marck Espejo, the Most Valuable Player of the recent UAAP men’s volley competition, with back-ups Rex Intal, Rudy Gatdula and Eden Canlas.

Leading the Ultera squad is Howard Mojica, who powered Emilio Aguinaldo College to its first-ever NCAA crown, and St. Benilde power-hitter John Vic de Guzman.

The other teams are Cignal, which will be backstopped by Reyson Fuentes, member of the UAAP champion National University; Fourbees, Airforce, Army and Champion In-finity, which will parade actor-sportsman Ri-chard Gomez. Randy Caluag

2015 Vanderbilt Knockout Teams Final

LAVAZZA (Giorgio Duboin, Zia Mahmooad, Norberto Bocchi, Agus-tin Madala) vs. Diamond (John Dia-mond, Brian Platnick, Eric Grecco, Geoff Hampson, Marc Jacobus, Ed-die Wold).

At the start of segment 3 the Dia-mond Team was leading 65IMPs against Lavazza by 34IMPs.

Then Lavazza in board 9 bid the slam by Zia and Duboin. From then on as Lavazza took the lead in segment 4, Lavazza bid two other slams and to nev-er relinquish the lead.

Board 9 North Jacobus ♠932 ♥653 ♦AQ654 ♣J6West EastDuboin Zia ♠A74 ♠KQ86♥K9 ♥AJ1087♦92 ♦KJ♣K107542 ♣AQ South Wold ♠J105 ♥Q42 ♦10873 ♣983

West North East SouthDuboin Zia PASS 2NT PASS4♥ PASS 4♠ PASS5♥ PASS 6♣ PASS

Results of Alejandro Duplicate Game last March 17, 2015:

Harumi Ieda-Salma NugentSylvia Alejandro-Ayesha FuschsIsabel Maloles-Joli Kansil

Results at Manila Peninsula last March 18, 2015:

Joli Kansil-Paul PotassySusan Kwee-Salma LallJopet Maliwat-Margaret Kwok

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ya-hoo.com/sylgen717@gmail.com

Lavazza wins the

Vanderbilt!

SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO

Lavazza

SYLVIA LOPEZ

HeavyweightsPetron, Fotonclash in BiñanTWO heavyweights Petron and Foton will fight for the early lead when the 2015 Philippine Superli-ga women’s volleyball tournament All-Filipino Conference goes to Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, La-guna today.

The Blaze Spikers will go for their second consecutive triumph when they meet the Tornadoes at 4:15 p.m.

Veteran open spiker Rachel Anne Daquis will rejoin the Petron Blaze Spikers, with Abby Marano, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Frances Molina and rookie Alexa Micek.

This will make the Blaze Spik-ers a rock-solid unit expected to give the young Tornadoes a tough challenge.

In their opening game against Philips Gold, Petron unleashed a well-balanced assault to essay a masterful 25-16, 25-18, 25-23 conquest despite the absence of Daquis.

Rookies Angeli Araneta, Pamela Lastimosa, Nicole Tiamzon and Patty Orendain, will banner Foton, which finished with a game-high 18 points in the Tornadoes’ 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 win over Cignal over the weekend. Peter Atencio

his new team, provided assistance by chipping in 21 and 13 points, respectively.

This was actually a non-bearing game for both squads. Meralco is already guaranteed to either be in fourth or fifth place and is al-ready locked up to face sister team NLEX, in a best-of-three affair in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, the Elite were already eliminated since last week.

For Blackwater, however, it certainly is a huge victory as it continued its develop-ment as an expansion team.

‘’Regardless of being eliminated already, we came into this game to gain experience and give our 100 percent as part of the building process we’re undergoing,’’ said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac. ‘’We wanted to end this sec-ond conference on a high note.’’

The loss sent the Bolts to the fifth seed at

6-5, while the Elite gathered a 3-8 card for its run, three more victories compared to its winless run in its initial tournament in the Philippine Cup, finishing in last place.

The cast of the quarterfinals is almost complete at this point with seven of the eight seats in the bus already occupied.

Top seed Rain or Shine, Talk ‘N Text, Purefoods Star, Meralco, NLEX, Barangay Ginebra and Barako Bull are all safely in the next phase already.

GlobalPort, which finished at 4-7, and Alaska (4-6) are the two teams battling it out for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth. The Aces are currently playing the Gin Kings and a win auto-matically gives them the last slot. On the other hand, a loss will cost them a lot as the Batang Pier will instead take the last spot due to a supe-rior quotient as they will end up tied.

Arum: Fight income unbelievableTOP Rank promoter Bob Arum said the income from the Fight of the Century between eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and unde-feated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2 is “terrific, unbelievable.”

He said the sale of everything, which includes television rights around the world, continues to bring in the big bucks even as the wait of almost five years to get the fight done is paying huge dividends.

Solar Sports which report-edly paid a massive $10 million

for the Philippine rights, will hold a news conference on Thursday at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino after the much-awaited press confer-ence of “Pinoy Pride 30,” the blockbuster fight card of ALA Promotions and its partner ABS-CBN at the same venue.

Solar Sports’ top executives are expected to announce de-tails of the telecast as well as the networks that will air the fight in response to a request by Pac-quiao himself that he wished to bring the networks together for the telecast of his showdown with Mayweather.

Solar Sports, which has tele-cast Pacquiao’s fights beginning with his November 2003 battle with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alama-dome in San Antonio, Texas, is certain to telecast the fight.

However, there have been re-ports that TV 5 and ABS-CBN have also been involved in hectic negotiations to carry the fight, with The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN which has regularly telecast the Pacquiao fights in the middle east in particular, ex-pected to win the rights to air the fight on its widely watched TFC network. Ronnie Nathanielsz

Net winners. Gaby Zoleta (left) and Magnus Gnilo display their twin trophies after ruling their respec-tive divisions in the Lucena leg of the Palawan Pawnshop regional age group tennis in Lucena.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

A16RIERA U. MALL ARI

E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

REUEL VIDALA S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

SPORTS

Floyd more dangerous now

According to publicist Fred Sternberg, Pacquiao went eight “vigorous rounds and looked tre-mendous.”

He said Roach had to hold him back, because Pacquiao wanted to do more even after a full schedule of punching the heavy bag, working on the speed ball and the punch-mitts.

Meantime, longtime pound-for-pound king and four-division

world champion Roy Jones Jr. has dismissed claims by Roach that age has taken its toll on May-weather and that his legs are gone.

According to featured columnist Matt Jones in a piece on Bleacher Report, Jones warned Pacquiao that Mayweather “is capable of do-ing things now that he wasn’t do-ing a decade ago and that Pacman should be careful of underestimat-ing the American’s power.”

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao ripped into two sparring partners, going four rounds with each at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach yesterday.

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for Aya

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to use it because he was so much better than everyone skillfully, and he had so much athleticism that he hasn’t had to depend on his punching power,” Jones said.

Mayweather appears hell-bent on focusing on his punching power.

“Pacquiao may think he’ll be able to outwork him and not worry about (Mayweather’s) power be-cause he hasn’t had to use it. Now that he’s gotten older, he will use his power, and that’s going to be a big-ger problem for Pacquiao.”

Meanwhile, the United States Anti Doping Agency has acquired Pacqui-ao’s urine sample for the fourth time, the same number as Mayweather’s, and is expected to yield out another negative doping result.

TURN TO A14

Triple team. Marcus Douthit of Blackwater (light) loses the ball to the triple-team put up by Meralco’s Josh Davis, Danny Ildefonso and Mike Cortez in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Elite, 84-72. Story on A15 NUKI SABIO

From Jones’ point of view, the fact that Floyd “can’t do things at 38 that he did at 28 makes him

more dangerous.”“Mayweather has always been a

great puncher, but he’s never had

Floyd Mayweather: Deep in training

Bucks win thriller

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZASSISTANT EDITOR B1

THURSDAY: MARCH 26, 2015

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

RAY S. EÑANOEDITOR

BUSINESS

Imports plunge 14%

New rail ticket system starts May

Megaworld posts P22-b profitB3 Govt to require use

of Euro 4 fuel in JulyB4

Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasWednesday, March 25, 2015

Foreign exchange rateCurrency Unit US Dollar PesoUnited States Dollar 1.000000 44.6900

Japan Yen 0.008354 0.3733

UK Pound 1.484700 66.3512

Hong Kong Dollar 0.128942 5.7624

Switzerland Franc 1.043623 46.6395

Canada Dollar 0.800000 35.7520

Singapore Dollar 0.732064 32.7159

Australia Dollar 0.787712 35.2028

Bahrain Dinar 2.652450 118.5380

Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266645 11.9164

Brunei Dollar 0.729395 32.5967

Indonesia Rupiah 0.000078 0.0035

Thailand Baht 0.030788 1.3759

UAE Dirham 0.272264 12.1675

Euro Euro 1.092200 48.8104

Korea Won 0.000906 0.0405

China Yuan 0.161153 7.2019

India Rupee 0.016024 0.7161

Malaysia Ringgit 0.274198 12.2539

New Zealand Dollar 0.762718 34.0859

Taiwan Dollar 0.032009 1.4305 Source: PDS Bridge

7500

6840

6180

5520

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4200

3860

7,836.347.40

8000

7500

7000

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5500

Closing March 25, 2015PSe comPoSite index

45

44

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HIGH P44.735 LOW P44.805 AVERAGE P44.772

Closing MARCH 25, 2015PeSo-dollar rate

P44.755CLOSE

VOLUME 551.700M

Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

oilPriceS today

P508.00-P728.00LPG/11-kg tank

P37.27-P42.82Unleaded Gasoline

P27.40-P31.70Diesel

P35.40-P39.15Kerosene

P23.70-P24.40Auto LPG

todayP27.40-P31.70

P35.40-P39.15

P23.70-P24.40

PP37.27-P42.82

By Jennifer Ambanta

IMPORTS plunged 14.2 percent in January from a year ago, pulled down by lower cost of petroleum products, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

PLDT awards. Telecom and multimedia service provider Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. through corporate enterprise arm PLDT Alpha Enterprise received five awards for communication campaigns during the awarding ceremonies at the 2014 Philippine Quill organized by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines. Shown receiving the awards are (from left) Smart Enterprise assistant vice president Chet Alviz, PLDT head of corporate customer engagement Mikey Smyth, PLDT category head for enterprise voice Fay Ocampo and Smart Enterprise product manager Gio Abaquin.

The PSA said merchandise imports fell to $5.1 billion in January from $6 billion in the same month last year, as payments for mineral fuels and lubricants, capital and consumer goods contracted in the period.

“Lower oil prices primarily caused the imports bill to decline

significantly in January 2015. Over the medium term, payments for imported crude oil may remain lower, tempering the total value of Philippine merchandise imports in 2015,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Data showed petroleum

imports fell 43.4 percent in January to $723.63 million from $1.28 billion in January 2014.

Balisacan said to offset the reduction in government customs revenue from lower oil prices, the government should consider increasing the excise taxes on petroleum products.

“This should be designed in a way that the benefits of declining oil prices are shared between the government and the private sector, while moderating the impact on the environment,” he said.

“Also, there should be

continuing efforts in making the country more conducive to investments to complement the benefits of lower oil prices, as this would be a good opportunity for major industry players to lower costs, boost profits, and ramp up expansion in investments,” he said.

The 14.2-percent imports contraction in January was a reversal from the 0.4-percent year-on-year growth in December 2014 and 24.7-percent expansion in January last year.

Balisacan said the 4.3-percent increase in the purchase of raw materials and intermediate goods, which accounted for 48.4 percent of the country’s total imports, was not able to pull up the reduced payments for mineral fuels and lubricants, capital goods and consumer goods in January 2015.

“With oil inventories remaining at high levels and with moderate global growth projections continuing to limit energy demand, it may take time for crude oil prices to fully recover to the more than $100 per barrel annual average price in 2011-2013,” he said.

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE group of Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expect to implement the common ticketing system for Metro Manila’s three overhead train services as early as May.

“We are going live in the next two months. We will start at LRT 2 by May, then move to MRT3 in

June and finally, in LRT Line 1 by July,” said Peter Maher, president and chief executive of AF Payments Inc., the joint venture of Ayala and MPIC.

Maher said the company would start with LRT Line 2, which was “the least busy” compared to other lines.

He said all three railway lines would fully transition into the new system by the third quarter

of 2015. “We are on track to formally

turn over the project to the government by September,” Maher said.

He said the work had been in full swing to replace ticketing infrastructure at LRT Line 2 since January and at MRT very recently, where new gates were being installed starting at the Santolan station.

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESSTHURSDAY: MARCH 26, 2015

B2

M S T52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Wednesday, March 25, 2015

FINANCIAL2.7 1.55 AG Finance 6.03 6.1 5.76 6 -0.50 17,900 75.3 63.5 Asia United Bank 70.4 70.45 69.7 70.45 0.07 24,720 1,466,606.5099.4 67.5 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 120.00 123.00 120.00 121.50 1.25 3,980,380 162,867,820.00105.2 82.5 Bank of PI 101.50 102.00 101.00 101.70 0.20 2,329,870 -9,280,346.0063 50 China Bank 46.75 46.85 46.7 46.85 0.21 25,600 2.3 1.9 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.26 2.29 2.28 2.28 0.88 30,000 4.2 1.1 Bright Kindle Resources 2.32 2.33 2.31 2.33 0.43 48,000 19.6 14.5 COL Financial 16.6 16.8 16.5 16.78 1.08 7,100 45,374.0031.6 23.2 Eastwest Bank 24.15 24.4 24.15 24.15 0.00 916,700 -18,463,590.0022.5 6.84 Filipino Fund Inc. 8.48 8.50 8.47 8.50 0.24 26,100 890 625 Manulife Fin. Corp. 740.00 746.00 740.00 746.00 0.81 40 1.01 0.175 MEDCO Holdings 0.440 0.455 0.440 0.450 2.27 1,240,000 92.9 69.35 Metrobank 96.35 97.05 96 97 0.67 5,435,580 169,667,126.501.65 1.2 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.00 6,000 5,700.0030.5 20.45 PB Bank 18.50 18.50 18.34 18.50 0.00 12,700 75 58 Phil Bank of Comm 31.00 31.00 31.00 31.00 0.00 13,000 99 76 Phil. National Bank 77.95 78.45 77.95 78.05 0.13 203,490 -12,827,443.50392 276 PSE Inc. 339.6 340 336 336 -1.06 1,670 59 41.5 RCBC `A’ 45.85 45.8 45.7 45.8 -0.11 236,100 7,587,365.00146.8 105.1 Security Bank 168.3 174.5 167.2 172.4 2.44 637,080 253,445.00130 116 Union Bank 69.00 69.20 69.00 69.10 0.14 15,680 -69,035.50

INDUSTRIAL42.6 31.75 Aboitiz Power Corp. 45.3 45.75 45.1 45.4 0.22 2,276,900 68,008,635.006.1 2.51 Agrinurture Inc. 1.65 1.65 1.61 1.61 -2.42 4,000 1.66 0.88 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.1 1.1 1.08 1.1 0.00 200,000 2.3 1.25 Alsons Cons. 2.13 2.13 2.08 2.13 0.00 5,543,000 17.98 9.58 Asiabest Group 8.23 10.68 8.5 10.68 29.77 274,700 165,937.00113 40.2 Bogo Medelin 58 55.9 53 55.9 -3.62 1,190 148 15 C. Azuc De Tarlac 85.00 90.00 90.00 90.00 5.88 10 17.2 14.6 Century Food 19.5 20.05 19.5 20 2.56 1,697,600 29,837,056.0015.8 9.82 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 24.7 27.3 24.55 27.3 10.53 1,234,100 56.8 21.5 Concepcion 62.1 62.9 61.5 62.85 1.21 74,580 1,990,871.004.57 0.82 Da Vinci Capital 1.8 1.86 1.78 1.86 3.33 295,000 39.5 17.3 Del Monte 11.8 11.86 11.62 11.7 -0.85 132,300 -1,007,604.0014 5.98 DNL Industries Inc. 20.050 20.600 19.92 20.150 0.50 5,168,200 -7,358,336.0012.98 9.05 Emperador 11.36 11.46 11.22 11.46 0.88 2,220,600 1,686,194.008.15 4.25 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 8.30 8.30 8.19 8.27 -0.36 33,314,900 -144,201,188.0012.34 8.68 EEI 9.82 10.02 9.80 10.00 1.83 116,700 -3,388,307.002.5 1.01 Euro-Med Lab 1.3 1.44 1.32 1.32 1.54 65,000 17 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 24 24.5 22.4 22.9 -4.58 432,700 69,000.0027.1 12.2 First Gen Corp. 29.05 29.2 28.75 28.95 -0.34 3,059,300 -18,011,010.0090.5 48.9 First Holdings ‘A’ 101.5 101.4 101 101 -0.49 505,250 -28,688,761.0027 16 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.10 14.70 14.06 14.06 -0.28 14,300 -95,880.000.014 0.0097 Greenergy 0.4700 0.4700 0.4600 0.4600 -2.13 50,000 9,200.0015.74 12.8 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.70 14.60 14.52 14.52 -1.22 10,500 9.4 2.05 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.74 6.8 6.7 6.74 0.00 361,900 0.98 0.32 Ionics Inc 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.00 212,000 199.8 150.8 Jollibee Foods Corp. 216.00 217.20 215.40 217.00 0.46 518,770 -15,676,872.0010.98 8.55 Lafarge Rep 9.6 9.63 9.55 9.63 0.31 519,900 -2,080,510.005.2 2.8 LMG Chemicals 2.92 3.45 2.83 3.18 8.90 3,165,000 83,280.0045.45 16 Macay Holdings 49.00 52.00 48.95 52.00 6.12 700 30 20.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.35 26.95 26.55 26.8 1.71 2,597,400 39,135,675.0090 12 Maxs Group 28.5 29 28.65 28.7 0.70 673,600 -16,172,330.0014.7 10.1 Megawide 7.840 7.860 7.840 7.850 0.13 84,300 -39,986.00317 246 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 269.00 271.80 268.00 268.20 -0.30 222,910 -4,930,314.006.49 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.06 4.18 4.18 4.18 2.96 7,000 5.37 4 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.14 4.17 4.13 4.14 0.00 5,983,000 17,027,460.0014.48 11.56 Petron Corporation 9.95 10.10 9.94 9.96 0.10 1,015,200 -2,782,287.007.5 5 Phil H2O 5.25 5.2 3.7 5.2 -0.95 14,500 -4,250.0014.5 9.94 Phinma Corporation 11.30 11.60 11.10 11.60 2.65 96,700 7.03 4.33 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.99 3.98 3.93 3.93 -1.50 411,000 592,980.00 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.88 2.92 2.88 2.92 1.39 1,648,000 57,800.00 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.95 4.5 3.38 3.6 -8.86 12,593,000 -47,600.006.68 4.88 RFM Corporation 5.66 5.65 5.30 5.40 -4.59 291,000 -792,370.008.1 2.28 Roxas Holdings 6.47 6.48 6.25 6.48 0.15 4,000 275 210 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 205 205 204.8 205 0.00 2,930 118,794.002.25 1.7 Splash Corporation 1.7 1.7 1.68 1.68 -1.18 593,000 117,210.000.191 0.102 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.175 0.179 0.171 0.170 -2.86 6,030,000 2.5 1.6 TKC Steel Corp. 1.44 1.37 1.37 1.37 -4.86 9,000 2.68 1.37 Trans-Asia Oil 2.22 2.23 2.20 2.21 -0.45 1,269,000 188.6 111.3 Universal Robina 216 218.8 214.6 216 0.00 1,489,260 139,430,044.005.5 1.58 Victorias Milling 4.5 4.65 4.65 4.65 3.33 71,000 85,500.001.3 0.550 Vitarich Corp. 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.71 0.00 131,000 2.17 1.33 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.51 1.54 1.50 1.50 -0.66 324,000

HOLDING FIRMS0.7 0.46 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.475 0.475 0.475 0.475 0.00 20,000 61.6 45.75 Aboitiz Equity 56.95 56.95 55.05 56.90 -0.09 957,910 -5,354,560.5031.85 21.95 Alliance Global Inc. 26.80 27.40 26.30 27.30 1.87 12,195,300 -29,942,575.002.16 1.6 Anglo Holdings A 1.42 1.47 1.34 1.44 1.41 458,000 7.39 6.3 Anscor `A’ 7.06 7.06 7.06 7.06 0.00 100 3.29 1.8 ATN Holdings A 2.86 3.08 2.70 2.85 -0.35 4,927,000 2.05 1.04 ATN Holdings B 2.8 3.01 2.8 2.8 0.00 174,000 -59,300.00747 508 Ayala Corp `A’ 769 774 765 770 0.13 380,420 138,000,150.0011.34 7.470 Cosco Capital 9.04 9.11 9.01 9.05 0.11 10,368,200 -54,486,999.0084 47.25 DMCI Holdings 15.44 15.44 15.30 15.40 -0.26 5,536,100 10,446,116.005.34 4 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.60 4.63 4.63 4.63 0.65 1,000 0.23 0.144 Forum Pacific 0.330 0.330 0.310 0.315 -4.55 3,650,000 18,600.001060 706 GT Capital 1296 1330 1300 1320 1.85 231,995 13,127,125.007.1 5.3 House of Inv. 6.28 6.39 6.30 6.39 1.75 21,800 42,277.0059.8 36.7 JG Summit Holdings 70.00 70.10 69.00 69.35 -0.93 2,503,040 1,595,426.506.55 3.95 Lopez Holdings Corp. 8.8 8.83 8.65 8.8 0.00 4,511,400 -28,017,640.000.9 0.58 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.78 0.78 0.76 0.76 -2.56 754,000 19.9 12.96 LT Group 15.72 16.52 15.72 16.44 4.58 8,100,100 48,585,568.005.4 4.06 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.96 4.93 4.89 4.9 -1.21 40,825,000 833,950.005.35 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 5 5 4.98 5 0.00 149,000 0.0550 0.027 Pacifica `A’ 0.0410 0.0410 0.0400 0.0410 0.00 4,000,000 102,500.002.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.600 1.500 1.500 1.500 -6.25 11,000 15,000.000.84 0.355 Prime Orion 0.680 0.730 0.710 0.710 4.41 400,000 2.9 2.36 Republic Glass ‘A’ 2.43 2.41 2.4 2.4 -1.23 17,000 88 54.5 San Miguel Corp `A’ 68.30 68.90 68.00 68.15 -0.22 447,640 -12,636,010.503.5 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.85 2.85 2.80 2.85 0.00 52,000 866 680 SM Investments Inc. 899.00 900.00 882.50 888.00 -1.22 682,620 50,431,875.002.2 1.04 Solid Group Inc. 1.29 1.29 1.23 1.23 -4.65 8,000 1.39 0.85 South China Res. Inc. 0.97 0.96 0.95 0.95 -2.06 100,000 156 58.05 Top Frontier 100.00 102.10 99.00 102.00 2.00 29,590 22,488.000.285 0.158 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.4650 0.4750 0.4500 0.4550 -2.15 4,800,000 0.245 0.150 Wellex Industries 0.2400 0.2400 0.2400 0.2400 0.00 160,000

P R O P E R T Y9.03 5.51 8990 HLDG 9.070 9.240 9.090 9.170 1.10 5,532,400 -3,663,746.001.99 0.99 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.93 0.97 0.92 0.96 3.23 199,000 2.07 1 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.300 1.380 1.310 1.370 5.38 44,000 0.375 0.185 Arthaland Corp. 0.245 0.250 0.250 0.250 2.04 50,000 35.3 23.7 Ayala Land `B’ 37.15 37.25 36.65 36.95 -0.54 14,214,600 -138,759,325.006.15 4.41 Belle Corp. `A’ 4.26 4.26 4.23 4.25 -0.23 2,430,000 4,215,590.006.1 5 Cebu Holdings 5.2 5.26 5.17 5.25 0.96 2,994,900 -10,062,410.005.6 2.8 Cebu Prop. `A’ 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 0.00 29,800

52 Weeks Previous % Net ForeignHigh Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying

Trading SummarySHARES VALUE

FINANCIAL 21,263,403 1,998,180,550.70INDUSTRIAL 107,373,585 1,756,896,760.29HOLDING FIRMS 107,153,382 2,526,183,780.244PROPERTY 150,664,343 1,203,249,642.937SERVICES 215,070,297 2,341,190,205.98MINING & OIL 1,374,169,211 327,387,978.991GRAND TOTAL 1,979,562,131 10,187,721,787.144

FINANCIAL 1,861.85 (up) 14.34INDUSTRIAL 12,610.94 (up) 10.09HOLDING FIRMS 6,978.02 (down) 2.78PROPERTY 3,131.51 (down) 8.68SERVICES 2,102.25 (up) 1.79MINING & OIL 15,755.95 (down) 98.14PSEI 7,836.34 (up) 7.40All Shares Index 4,532.56 (up) 5.74

Gainers: 95; Losers: 79; Unchanged: 50; Total: 224

STOCKS Close(P)

Change(%)

Paxys Inc. 3.3 -9.59

Pryce Corp. `A' 3.6 -8.86

Island Info 0.250 -7.41

Prime Media Hldg 1.500 -6.25

TKC Steel Corp. 1.37 -4.86

Solid Group Inc. 1.23 -4.65

RFM Corporation 5.40 -4.59

Federal Res. Inv. Group 22.9 -4.58

Forum Pacific 0.315 -4.55

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.050 -4.55

Top LoSerSSTOCKS Close

(P)Change

(%)

Asiabest Group 10.68 29.77

Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 27.3 10.53

Lorenzo Shipping 1.44 9.09

LMG Chemicals 3.18 8.90

Transpacific Broadcast 2 8.11

Acesite Hotel 1.15 7.48

Abra Mining 0.0060 7.14

Macay Holdings 52.00 6.12

Ever Gotesco 0.212 6.00

C. Azuc De Tarlac 90.00 5.88

Top gainerS

2 1.22 Century Property 0.96 0.96 0.94 0.95 -1.04 387,000 -75,860.000.201 0.068 Crown Equities Inc. 0.151 0.156 0.147 0.155 2.65 36,590,000 0.98 0.47 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.460 0.460 0.460 0.460 0.00 1,110,000 1.09 0.87 Empire East Land 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.00 323,000 0.370 0.175 Ever Gotesco 0.200 0.213 0.212 0.212 6.00 150,000 2,010.002.25 1.22 Global-Estate 1.49 1.50 1.48 1.49 0.00 621,000 -537,980.001.77 1.18 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.80 1.82 1.80 1.80 0.00 24,063,000 13,827,610.001.6 1.19 Interport `A’ 1.52 1.50 1.50 1.50 -1.32 93,000 5.3 3.12 Megaworld 5.5 5.54 5.48 5.53 0.55 30,696,600 86,671,953.000.180 0.070 MRC Allied Ind. 0.128 0.127 0.122 0.124 -3.13 1,180,000 0.470 0.325 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.3550 0.3550 0.3400 0.3550 0.00 610,000 0.74 0.4 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.4700 0.4900 0.4500 0.4800 2.13 400,000 4.45 2.5 Primex Corp. 7.38 7.55 7.35 7.49 1.49 178,500 224,700.0024.8 18.72 Robinson’s Land `B’ 30.40 30.40 29.95 30.00 -1.32 3,859,600 6,738,430.002.06 1.45 Rockwell 1.78 1.78 1.77 1.78 0.00 110,000 3.6 2.9 Shang Properties Inc. 3.20 3.20 3.15 3.20 0.00 61,000 19.62 14.1 SM Prime Holdings 20.20 20.35 19.94 20.20 0.00 7,341,300 9,436,479.001.02 0.58 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.84 0.86 0.83 0.85 1.19 2,156,000 6.66 3.05 Starmalls 7.25 7.26 7.25 7.26 0.14 4,100 1.96 0.87 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.100 1.110 1.050 1.050 -4.55 530,000 97,200.006.5 4.37 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.700 7.680 7.620 7.660 -0.52 10,610,900 -14,124,938.00

S E R V I C E S3.25 1.55 2GO Group’ 6.95 7.3 6.68 6.73 -3.17 799,300 177,181.0043.7 27 ABS-CBN 62.5 63.15 62.5 63 0.80 7,140 1.43 0.92 Acesite Hotel 1.07 1.15 1 1.15 7.48 1,892,000 1.09 0.59 APC Group, Inc. 0.690 0.710 0.680 0.690 0.00 262,000 12.46 10 Asian Terminals Inc. 14.3 14.4 14 14.4 0.70 11,800 165,680.0014 8.28 Bloomberry 10.36 10.50 10.18 10.38 0.19 5,227,200 -20,245,200.000.1640 0.0960 Boulevard Holdings 0.1100 0.1110 0.1100 0.1110 0.91 24,880,000 4.05 2.97 Calata Corp. 3.94 3.88 3.76 3.88 -1.52 193,000 71 44.8 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 87 87.5 84.95 85.25 -2.01 747,230 -17,931,940.5012.3 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ. 10.5 10.6 10.6 10.6 0.95 800 9 4 DFNN Inc. 7.20 7.28 7.12 7.18 -0.28 451,600 1700 1080 FEUI 1000 1000 1000 1000 0.00 480 2008 1580 Globe Telecom 1984 2020 1984 2010 1.31 126,215 100,473,775.009.04 7.12 GMA Network Inc. 6.58 6.55 6.50 6.53 -0.76 126,400 2.02 1.2 Harbor Star 1.57 1.62 1.55 1.55 -1.27 364,000 118.9 94.4 I.C.T.S.I. 111.5 111.1 110.1 110.6 -0.81 788,750 -968,209.0018.4 5 Imperial Res. `A’ 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50 0.00 6,000 0.017 0.012 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.00 6,400,000 -43,400.000.0653 0.026 Island Info 0.270 0.270 0.250 0.250 -7.41 50,120,000 -3,000.002.2800 1.560 ISM Communications 1.3000 1.2900 1.2800 1.2900 -0.77 392,000 6.99 1.95 Jackstones 2.68 2.72 2.52 2.72 1.49 11,000 9.67 5.82 Leisure & Resorts 8.69 8.69 8.43 8.50 -2.19 1,865,800 -10,754,611.002.85 1.15 Liberty Telecom 2.02 2.10 1.98 2.00 -0.99 45,000 2.2 1.1 Lorenzo Shipping 1.32 1.45 1.34 1.44 9.09 10,000 4.32 1.9 Macroasia Corp. 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 0.00 51,000 -41,400.001.97 0.485 Manila Bulletin 0.660 0.690 0.660 0.670 1.52 292,000 2.45 1.42 Manila Jockey 1.99 1.97 1.86 1.97 -1.01 39,000 -9,850.0014.46 10.14 Melco Crown 8.96 9.2 8.94 9 0.45 13,031,200 -246,092.000.62 0.35 MG Holdings 0.355 0.360 0.350 0.360 1.41 30,000 22.8 14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 18.04 18.06 18.06 18.06 0.11 2,400 6.6 5.2 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.69 4.67 4.44 4.66 -0.64 50,000 2.85 1.85 Paxys Inc. 3.65 3.95 3.22 3.3 -9.59 349,000 107 81 Phil. Seven Corp. 107.60 107.00 106.50 107.00 -0.56 18,820 410,112.0011.3 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 13.70 13.58 13.30 13.58 -0.88 193,100 410,112.003486 2572 PLDT Common 2828.00 2860.00 2830.00 2838.00 0.35 178,250 -23,681,390.000.710 0.250 PremiereHorizon 0.590 0.600 0.590 0.590 0.00 2,044,000 2.01 0.26 Premium Leisure 1.520 1.520 1.460 1.470 -3.29 30,299,000 -9,255,110.0048.5 32.2 Puregold 40.05 40.85 39.85 40.50 1.12 4,134,700 -40,119,660.0074 48 Robinsons RTL 84.95 85.60 84.60 84.80 -0.18 3,607,850 5,135,132.00 SSI Group 10.50 10.68 10.26 10.32 -1.71 4,069,000 794,810.000.87 0.59 STI Holdings 0.72 0.73 0.70 0.73 1.39 4,069,000 794,810.002.95 1.68 Transpacific Broadcast 1.85 2 2 2 8.11 18,000 11.46 7.78 Travellers 7.02 7.1 6.97 6.98 -0.57 3,328,900 -13,801,247.001.6 1.04 Yehey 1.500 1.450 1.390 1.450 -3.33 88,000 -1,450.00

MINING & OIL0.0086 0.0028 Abra Mining 0.0056 0.0060 0.0057 0.0060 7.14 1,070,000,000 100,900.005.45 1.72 Apex `A’ 2.84 3.00 2.84 3.00 5.63 141,000 -150,000.0017.24 11.48 Atlas Cons. `A’ 9.01 9.10 8.89 8.90 -1.22 1,897,300 705,781.0025 9.43 Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 10.80 10.80 10.80 10.80 0.00 1,300 0.325 0.225 Basic Energy Corp. 0.260 0.260 0.260 0.260 0.00 50,000 12.8 6.2 Benguet Corp `A’ 7.1200 6.9700 6.97 6.9700 -2.11 3,000 12.7 6 Benguet Corp `B’ 6.9800 7.0000 7 7.0000 0.29 16,500 1.2 0.5 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.13 1.15 1.11 1.11 -1.77 1,478,000 1.73 0.76 Coal Asia 0.89 0.98 0.92 0.94 5.62 10,177,000 10.98 4.93 Dizon 8.30 8.79 8.31 8.75 5.42 474,800 173,717.00 Ferronickel 2.31 2.33 2.3 2.31 0.00 3,565,000 -1,830,600.000.46 0.385 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.415 0.440 0.395 0.435 4.82 17,160,000 0.455 0.3000 Lepanto `A’ 0.237 0.239 0.230 0.232 -2.11 34,320,000 0.730 0.2950 Lepanto `B’ 0.244 0.244 0.238 0.238 -2.46 13,990,000 0.024 0.012 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 0.00 49,000,000 0.026 0.014 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.00 50,800,000 8.2 1.960 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 5.19 5.19 5 5 -3.66 544,500 15,000.0048.85 14.22 Nickelasia 28.25 28.35 27.45 27.45 -2.83 2,527,800 -25,801,180.003.35 1.47 Nihao Mineral Resources 3.9 4 3.74 4 2.56 5,817,000 214,000.001.030 0.220 Omico 0.7400 0.7500 0.7500 0.7500 1.35 166,000 3.06 1.24 Oriental Peninsula Res. 2.130 2.140 2.090 2.100 -1.41 1,542,000 0.021 0.016 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.00 1,300,000 7.67 4.02 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 5.85 5.85 5.80 5.85 0.00 26,200 12.88 7.8 Philex `A’ 7.63 7.62 7.6 7.6 -0.39 620,800 -3,192,176.0010.42 6.5 PhilexPetroleum 2.5 2.65 2.5 2.59 3.60 1,246,000 0.042 0.031 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.016 0.016 0.015 0.016 0.00 15,500,000 420 123 Semirara Corp. 158.10 160.00 158.10 159.50 0.89 357,830 30,701,672.000.016 0.0087 United Paragon 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.00 11,300,000

PREFERRED44.1 26.3 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 63.2 65.5 63 65.3 3.32 178,280 1,169,772.00 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 510 510.5 510 510 0.00 11,030 118 101 First Gen F 110.5 110.5 110.5 110.5 0.00 10,000 116 102 First Gen G 114.2 115 114.5 115 0.70 13,150 511 480 GLOBE PREF P 508 506 506 506 -0.39 8,700 9.04 6.76 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.23 6.39 6.35 6.38 2.41 22,700 9.67 5.82 Leisure and Resort 1.07 1.07 1.06 1.06 -0.93 63,000 MWIDE PREF 108.8 110 109 110 1.10 70,000 PCOR-Preferred B 1080 1085 1080 1080 0.00 10,305 -5,400,000.00 PF Pref 2 1041 1042 1042 1042 0.10 8,230 77.3 74.2 SMC Preferred A 76.05 76.1 76 76.1 0.07 369,410 76,050.0078.95 74.5 SMC Preferred B 80.2 80.5 80.5 80.5 0.37 40 81.85 75 SMC Preferred C 84 84.4 84 84 0.00 103,590

WARRANTS & BONDS2.42 0.0010 LR Warrant 3.910 3.930 3.810 3.860 -1.28 166,000

S M E10.96 2.4 Double Dragon 7.79 8.11 7.77 8.05 3.34 2,622,100 318,936.0035 7.74 IRipple E-Business Intl 79.65 76.95 66.8 76.95 -3.39 1,430 Xurpas 10.58 10.78 10.52 10.56 -0.19 1,241,500 4,557,780.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS119.6 94 First Metro ETF 127 127.4 126.9 127.4 0.31 2,880

MADRID—Spain’s Telefonica said Tuesday it would sell British telecom giant O2 to Hong Kong group Hutchison Whampoa for £10.25 billion in a deal that could create Britain’s biggest mobile phone firm.

“A definitive agreement has been reached after the finalization of the process of due diligence on O2 UK,” the Spanish firm said in a statement, adding the deal was worth the equivalent of 14 billion euros ($15.2 billion).

Subject to regulatory approval, Hutchison Whampoa will make an initial payment of £9.250 billion and a further £1.0 billion later once O2 reaches an agreed cash flow level, it said.

It hopes to wrap up the deal by June 30, 2016—a deadline that may be pushed back to September 30, 2016 in certain circumstances.

It is the latest purchase in a spending spree by Hutchison’s owner, Hong Kong investment tycoon Li Ka-shing, one of Asia’s richest men.

Li, 86, who is worth $30.6 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, announced a sweeping re-arrangement of his business empire in January.

Hutchison already owns Britain’s Three mobile phone network--if he merged O2 with that company, he would reduce to three the number of players in Britain’s fast-consolidating wireless telecoms sector.

A statement from Hutchison said the agreement to buy O2 “will create the number one mobile operator in the UK.”

Hutchison’s group managing director Canning Fok described the deal as a “major milestone”.

“The combination of Three UK and O2 UK will create a business with unmatched scale and strength that will allow us to better compete against other operators in the marketplace,” Fok said.

But some analysts have warned that a merger could lead to price hikes, owing to less competition.

Hutchison could “drive a lot of synergies” with the takeover, James Britton, a London-based analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg News.

“Whether that really equips them to be fully competitive in a converged UK market remains to be seen.”

It was the latest in a series of shake-ups in Britain’s telecom sector.

British telecoms and TV firm BT had said in November that it was in preliminary talks to buy back O2--its former domestic mobile phone division--from Telefonica.

Instead BT ended up buying another British mobile phone operator, EE, for £12.5 billion.

British telecom giant Vodafone took over Spanish cable firm Ono on July 24 for 7.2 billion euros.

Telefonica, with operations across Europe and Latin America, is meanwhile looking to turn around its fortunes.

It reported a 35-percent plunge in net profits to 3.0 billion euros in 2014. Its debt stood at 45 billion euros at the end of 2014.

It said last month it plans to step up its value-added activities such as fiber optic cable, pay TV and smartphones, and to focus on its main markets in Spain, Germany and Brazil.

The Spanish group wants to pull out of the British market where it has been present since 2005, when it bought O2 for 26 billion euros.

Telefonica has already sold its operations in the Czech Republic and Ireland. AFP

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESSTHURSDAY: MARCH 26, 2015

B3

Stocksrise inlistlesstrading

Deal could create Britain’s biggest

mobile phone firm

Megaworld posts P22-b profit

Spain’s Telefonica sells O2 to Hutchison for $15b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

MEGAWORLD Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces in the Philippines, booked a net income of P21.6 billion in 2014, up 139 percent from a year ago, boosted by a one-time gain from the consolidation of the group’s property units.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday the profit included P12.1 billion in non-recurring gain from the consolidation of Global Estate Resources Inc., Empire East Land Holdings Inc. and Suntrust

a year ago while rental income grew 17 percent to P7 billion.

“Our income growth last year was driven by both real estate sales and rental income. We have a more diversified real estate sales mix that is propelled by our integrated urban township developments in Metro Manila, Cebu and Iloilo as well as tourism-related projects in Tagaytay and Boracay,” said Megaworld chairman and chief executive Andrew Tan.

“In the meantime, our rental income is growing in line with our expectations. Continued growth in our office and mall leasable space will provide the catalyst for exceeding P10 billion

in rental income in 2016. Last year also saw the consolidation of Global-Estate Resorts, Inc., Empire East Land Holdings, Inc., and Suntrust Properties, Inc. under Megaworld. This enabled us to strengthen our land bank nationwide,” he added.

Tan expects the company to maintain a double-digit net income growth every year starting in 2015 on the back of a stronger and bigger township portfolio.

Megaworld plans to launch five new township projects in 2015. Two are located in Bacolod, namely the 34-hectare property that used to be Bacolod-Murcia Milling Co,. and the 50-hectare property along the

new Circumferential Road on the boundary of Talisay City and Bacolod City.

Megaworld in 2014 launched five townships, namely the Woodside City in Pasig City (12.3 hectares); Southwoods City in the boundaries of Cavite and Laguna (561 hectares); Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City (11 hectares); Alabang West in Las Piñas City (62 hectares); and Suntrust Ecotown in Tanza, Cavite (350 hectares).

The company is launching at least 20 new malls and commercial centers in its existing and new townships over the next five to eight years to boost rental income.

Manila Water awards. Manila Water received seven awards in the 13th Philippine Quill Awards for its various programs and initiatives in the communication skills and management divisions at the Grand Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. Shown at the awarding ceremony are Manila Water corporate strategy and development group director Virgilio Rivera Jr. (seventh from left), along with director for operations services Estelita Orodio (seventh from right), financial planning and investor relations director Rosenni Basilio (fourth from right) and department heads Jeric Sevilla of corporate communications (fourth from left), William Alcantara of energy management (rightmost) and other managers.

Properties Inc. into the parent firm.Without the non-recurring

gain, Megaworld’s income rose 14 percent to P9.4 billion last year.

Consolidated revenues, excluding non-recurring gain, climbed 15 percent to P41 billion with real estate sales increasing 16 percent to P24.6 billion from

STOCKS rose slightly Wednes-day in listless trading, with gains capped by a healthy batch of US data that revived the prospect of an early interest rate hike.

The Philippine Stock Ex-change Index added 7.40 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,836.34 on a value turnover of P10.1 billion. Gainers beat losers, 95 to 79, with 50 issues unchanged.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty climbed 2.2 percent to P1,325, while LT Group Inc. of tobacco and air-line tycoon Lucio Tan advanced 4.2 percent to P16.38.

BDO Unibank Inc., the big-gest lender in terms of assets, gained 0.8 percent to P121, while Alliance Global Group Inc., which is into liquor pro-duction, property, hotel and casino and fastfood rose 1.7 per-cent to P27.25.

SM Investments Corp. de-clined 1.7 percent to P884, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribu-tion and hospitals, lost 1 percent to P4.91.

Shanghai stocks, meanwhile, retreated for the first time in 11 sessions on profit-taking Wednesday but other Asian eq-uity markets were mixed.

The euro edged up margin-ally as investors were cheered by warmer relations between Greece and Germany as euro-zone leaders try to hammer out a reformed bailout deal for Ath-ens.

Shanghai, which surged to a near seven-year high over the past 10 sessions, fell 0.83 per-cent, or 30.68 points, to 3,660.73.

Hong Kong gained 0.53 percent, or 128.63 points, to 24,528.23. The index was boosted by a rally in Hutchison Whampoa after it said it had agreed to buy British telecom giant O2 for more than US$15 billion. With AFP

JG Summit chief finance offi-cer Bach Johann Sebastian said in an interview the 2015 capi-tal spending was lower than the P50 billion earmarked in 2014, as the conglomerate had already completed the construction of the naphtha cracker facility in Batangas province.

“Its going to be around P35 bil-lion this year, mainly for airline, property and Universal Robina Corp.,” Sebastian said.

The naphtha cracker facility recently started operations and is expected to start contributing around $800 million to $1 billion in annual revenues to JG Summit next year.

URC, the food manufacturing unit of JG Summit, earlier said it planned to spend P9 billion this year primarily to expand its do-mestic and international busi-nesses.

The group’s property firm, Robinsons Land Corp. ear-marked P17 billion for 2015 capi-tal expenditures, as it plans to build new malls as well as office and residential projects.

JG Summit raised P8.8 billion through overnight placement of shares in January. It raised the amount from the sale of 145.65 million common shares via top-up offering at a price of P61 apiece.

Proceeds from the fund raising activity will be used to finance various projects, as the com-pany plans to actively bid for the bundled airports the government may bid out under the public-private partnership scheme this year.

JG Summit has substantial business interests in food, agro-industrial and commodities, real estate and hotel, air transporta-tion, banking and petrochemi-cals.

Its airline unit, Cebu Pacific Air, reported an P853-million profit in 2014, up from P511.95 million in 2013.

The conglomerate also holds an 8-percent interest in Philip-pine Long Distance Telephone Co. and 27.1-percent stake in power retailer Manila Electric Co.

BUSINESSB4

JG Summit plans to use the amount to expand

airline, real estate, food manufacturing and banking businesses.

JG Summit spending P35b in ’15

Cebu Pacific’s 2014 profit rose to P853m

PLDT, Bloomberg team up to launch television channel

By Jenniffer B. Austria

JG SUMMIT Holdings Inc., the holding com-pany of tycoon John Gokongwei, said Wednes-day it plans to spend P35 billion this year to fund the expansion of its airline, real estate, food manufacturing and banking businesses.

By Darwin G. Amojelar The operator of Cebu Pacific

said Wednesday net income in 2014 jumped 67 percent from a year ago, on higher passenger revenue as well as cheaper jet fuel prices.

Cebu Air Inc. said net income last year reached P853.5 million, up from P511.95 million regis-tered in 2013.

Revenues grew 26.8 percent to P52 billion in 2014 from P41

billion in 2013, as the passenger business earned P40.19 billion last year, higher by 26.9 percent than P31.66 billion in the previ-ous year.

The airline company said the increase was led by the 17.5-per-cent growth in passenger vol-ume to 16.9 million from 14.4 million in 2013, driven by the increased number of flights.

The number of flights in-creased 6.9 percent year-on-year, as the group added more

aircraft to its fleet, following the acquisition of wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, with a configura-tion of more than 400 all-econ-omy class seats. The airline had 52 aircraft as of end-2014.

Cargo revenue grew 20.6 percent to P3.15 billion in 2014 from P2.61 billion in 2013.

Cebu Pacific incurred operat-ing expenses of P47.843 billion last year, or 23.9 percent higher than P38.6 billion in 2013, as the airline expanded its long-haul

operations and seat capacity.Flying operations expenses

grew 20.4 percent to P26.152 bil-lion last year from P21.721 bil-lion charged in 2013.

Aviation fuel expenses rose 18.9 percent to P23.210 billion, due to higher volume of fuel consumed as a result of the in-creased number of flights and increased block hours from the launch of long-haul flights to Dubai, Kuwait, Sydney, Riyadh and Dammam.

THE pay television unit of the PLDT Group is set to air the country’s first 24-hour business news channel in June this year.

Cignal TV Inc. and Bloom-berg Television on Wednesday announced a partnership to cre-ate Bloomberg Television Phil-ippines, which is scheduled to launch in June this year.

“This partnership with Bloom-

berg Television heralds a new era in Philippine television, in which business information is set to be in the front and center of a rising Philippine economy,” PLDT chair-man Manuel Pangilinan said.

“This also comes at the time when we are expecting to become the country’s biggest pay-TV ser-vice provider with more than one million subscribers by the end of

this year,” he said. Cignal TV chief operating offi-

cer Oscar Reyes Jr. said the part-nership with Bloomberg would help the company increase its subscribers.

“We are targeting over one million users by end of the year,” he said.

The country’s direct-to-home pay TV provider had 844,000

subscribers as of end-2014, or 13 percent more than 630,000 in 2013.

The end-2014 subscriber count surpassed Skycable’s 800,000.

“We are very excited to be part-nering with Bloomberg and be-lieve their global experience will be invaluable in taking business television programming to the next level,” said Noel Lorenzana,

president and chief executive of MediaQuest, the media arm of PLDT.

“Our financial markets are rap-idly growing in size and sophis-tication and we saw room for a premier business channel that can inform, educate and showcase the best of business and finance in the Philippines,” Lorenzana said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Britain’s biggest. A file picture taken on February 5, 2010 shows people walking past a Spanish Tele-fonica store in Madrid. Spain’s Telefonica said on March 24, 2015 it will sell British telecom giant O2 to Hong Kong group Hutchison Whampoa for £10 billion in a deal that could create Britain’s biggest mobile phone firm. AFP (Related story on B3).

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

BUSINESS B5

RAY S. EÑANO

Customs IT project facing more woes

Govt to require useof Euro 4 fuel in July

Aklan wind farm starts power dispatch

Enhanced relations. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (left) and Canadian Minister of International Trade Ed Fast recent met in Manila to discuss the potential for enhanced bilateral trade and investment relations between the Philippines and Canada. Minister Fast was in the country for a mission following the visit by Prime Minister Harper to the Philippines in November 2012 and the meeting between the two leaders on the margins of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in November 2014.

THE auction for the com-puterization of the Bureau of Customs’ sys-tem is mired in more contro-versies.

Customs watchers are raising questions over the capability of the lone remaining bidder in the P650-million computerization project, Omni Prime Marketing and foreign partner Intrasoft of Greece.

Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commision show that the Philippine partner, who will enjoy 60 percent of the contract revenue, has maintained only three employees during the past few years. How, thus, can a P650-million government contract be ex-ecuted by a company with only three employees and no creditble track record to speak of?

The computerization calls for the design, implementation, op-eration and maintenance of an Integrated Customs Processing Sys-tem and the bureau’s National Single Window. The project aims to achieve a fully electronic, paperless, man contact-free processing of Customs transactions and a single decision-making point for Cus-toms release and clearance of cargo.

More damning are reports that the board chairman of Omni Prime Marketing belongs to a powerful business family, who is re-portedly among the chief fund raisers of President Benigno Aquino III during the last presidential elections.

“Omni Prime is the power behind a group within BoC and its Bids & Awards Committee that are pulling strings behind the Customs computerization bidding to ensure that the lone bidder is awarded the contract,” a source claimed.

The forthcoming contract awarding has already produced a buzz in the agency and the IT industry itself, after the bid and awards committee disqualified four legitimate and experienced IT consor-tia that count some of the country’s premier conglomerates. Omni Prime was the only company that was shortlisted by the BAC.

But how powerful is the family of the Omni Prime chairman? Aside from allegedly being a generous campaign contributor to Mr. Aquino, one of its members is closely related to one of the most trusted Cabinet officials in Malacañang.

The initials of this family member, in fact, are the same as those of a presidential team official who holds office at the President’s Tower in Timog Avenue, where the headquarters of the corporate empire of the powerful family is located.

Strong connectionsThe Cabinet member is a prime mover of the so-called “Samar

House” and is at loggerheads with the “Balay House” camp of Inte-rior Secretary Mar Roxas since day one of Aquino’s tenure.

Should the government decide to award the contract to the lone bidder, the smuggling activities of the chairman will, to paraphrase the aim of the consolidated project, turn into “fully electronic, pa-perless, man contact-free processing with a single decision-making point for its Customs release and clearance of cargo.”

A victory by this lone bidder will mock the objective of the com-puterization project and make it more difficult for Customs to get rid of its tag as one of the country’s most corrupt agencies.

Customs earlier short-listed five groups in computerization and modernization project, which seeks to curb smuggling and nefari-ous activities within the bureau. The five submitted eligibility docu-ments to qualify for the project, including the requirement for at least 60 percent Filipino ownership, if the entities form themselves into a joint venture.

Aside from Omni Prime, the other bidders were local part-ners eKonek Pilipinas and Alliance Mansols and foreign partners French-based Bureau Veritas, Korea Trade and Cupia; local part-ner Tera Systems and foreign partners Indra Sistemas S.A. of Spain, Fritz & Macziol and FPT Group; ePLDT and Webb Fontaine; and Innove Communications of Globe Telecom Inc. and foreign partner Crimson Logic.

After a “stringent bidding process” in November, the awards com-mittee, acting on orders of the Budget Department and Finance De-partment, disqualified four bidders and named Omni Prime and its foreign partner Intrasoft as the lone bidder.

The Customs body disqualified the four on grounds mostly per-taining to the tax declaration documents that foreign partners must submit, even if they do not have any operations or presence in the Philippines.

The source said the awards committee seemed content with the sole bidder, and requested nothing more than a technical submis-sion from Omni Prime.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

THE Environment Department issued a di-rective requiring the use of cleaner fuel and imposing stricter emissions standards for all vehicles starting July 2015.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said under DENR Adminis-trative Order No. 2015-14, the new emission standards should comply with Euro 4 standards, instead of the current Euro 2 standards.

Under the Euro 4 standards, the sulfur content of diesel and gasoline is 50 parts per million instead of 500 ppm for Euro 2 fuel. Benzene in gasoline is 1 per-cent by volume compared with 5 percent for Euro 2 fuel.

For aromatics, Euro 4 fuel contains only 35 percent by vol-ume, compared with Euro 2 fuel, which prescribes no limit.

Paje said the planned shift to

Euro 4 standards was made pos-sible through the support of oil companies, car manufacturers and transport groups, who were doing their share to curb air pol-lution and reduce its impacts.

“Low sulfur fuels will lead to reduced emissions of particulate matter. This particulate matter, along with other pollutants, can penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can worsen existing respiratory and heart diseases,” Paje said.

DENR AO 2015-14 also pro-vides more stringent emission standards for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter to be com-

plied with by new passenger, and light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Paje said the order set an aver-age CO emissions limit of 2 grams per kilometer for gasoline-fed passenger and light-duty vehicles instead of 2.2 g/km and 0.9 g/km for those using diesel instead of 1.0 g/km.

All new vehicles to be used or introduced into the Philippine market by January 2016 shall be equipped with Euro 4 engine and compliant with Euro 4 emission standards.

The DENR Environmental Management Bureau shall issue certificates of conformity only to Euro 4/IV vehicles starting Janu-ary 2016.

COC is issued to new vehicles that complied with the emissions standards prescribed by the En-vironment Department. It is a re-quirement for initial registration of vehicles with the Land Trans-portation Office.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PETROWIND Energy Inc. has started dispatching power from the first phase of its 50-mega-watt wind farm in Nabas, Aklan to the Visayas grid early this week.

PetroWind said in a statement the move followed the issuance of a provisional certificate of ap-proval from National Grid Cor-poration of the Philippines to connect the wind project to gen-erate power for purposes of test-ing and commissioning.

The Energy Regulatory Com-

mission earlier allowed PetroW-ind to conduct testing and com-missioning for two months for the first eight wind turbines.

ERC allowed PetroWind to commission the tests for two months from Jan. 17 to March 17, 2015.

The approval brought the 50-MW Nabas wind power project closer to commercial operations.

PetroWind is currently de-veloping the 36-MW phase one of the Nabas wind power proj-ect. The dispatch to the grid on March 24 was made from the first batch of wind generators consist-

ing of the eight generators with a gross capacity of 16 MW.

PetroWind president Milagros Reyes said the first dispatch of power to the Visayas grid was a big milestone for the company and Aklan province.

“This is the first export of power from the province of Aklan that is sourced from renewable energy. Thus far, the Nabas wind power proj-ect is the single investment in renewable energy in Aklan province that has been able to successfully dispatch power to the grid,” Reyes said.

Asian pension funds shun bonds business@thestandard.com.ph

extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESSTHURSDAY: MARCH 26, 2015

B6

RUDY ROMERO

BUSINESS CLASS

LBP-DBP merger an unsound move

BCDA readies Clark rail bidding terms

THE most seductive arguments that can be advanced in support of mergers of corporate organizations are those that relate to functions and staffing. Mergers of companies are absolutely necessary, it is argued, where duplication of functions exist and where savings on staff can be effected.

These arguments become even more alluring when the institutions involved are government-owned. Government planners and budget makers salivate at the thought of being able to bring down costs and effect operational savings.

It is with these cost reductions and savings increases in mind that the Governance Commission for Government-owned or Controlled Corporations has drafted, for presidential approval, an executive order mandating the merger of Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, with LBP as the surviving institution. The merger, if approved by President Aquino, will produce a financial institution with approximately P1.32 trillion in assets, which is higher than the assets of the two largest commercial banks in this country (Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Bank of the Philippine Islands).

The proposed merger would result in payroll savings from the termination of a total of 390 employees (LBP 220 and DBP 170) and the closure of branches in places served by both institutions. These measures will put an end, the draft order said, to “overlapping functions.”

I have no doubt that the GCG commissions were motivated by the best of intentions in preparing the draft executive order. They doubtless believe that a LBP-DBP merger is the best route toward an institution that will be more efficient and more “competitive in the rapidly changing financial sector here and in the region.”

However, I say, with all due respect, that the proposed merger would not be in the best interest of the government or of the nation at large. It is one of those ideas that sound good but in reality are not. I offer several reasons for the setting aside of the draft order and the continued separate operation of LBP and DBP.

In one breath, GCG speaks of LBP and DBP being two of the most profitable financial institutions in this country. Then in the next breath it speaks of wanting to create a “more financially viable” financial institution. The truth is that both LBP and DBP are profitable and functionally viable institutions.

Second, LBP and DBP are two different types of financial institutions. One is a commercial bank. Without sounding insulting, I dare say that the GCG commissioners do not have a full understanding of the nature and functions of a development bank.

As its name suggests, the business of a development bank is development. Development banking is not the same thing as commercial banking. When the government changed the name of the Rehabilitation Finance Corp. to Development Bank of the Philippines in 1958, it knew what it was doing. It wanted the renamed RFC to be a development-oriented financial institution, not another commercial bank to operate alongside the Philippine National Bank.

A government needs a development-oriented financial institution. There are numerous financial functions that a commercial bank cannot or should not perform. Indeed, I am prepared to say that if DBP were removed from the scenes, there would, sooner or later, be a clamor for the establishment of a financial institution akin in function and structure to DBP.

A commercial bank is by nature a conservative financial institution. This is due to the fact that a commercial bank deals with depositors’ funds and must therefore operate like a fiduciary. In contrast, a development bank finances its operation with government equity funds and therefore has leeway to undertake activities that blaze new developmental trails and involve a greater degree of risk.

In the 1970s, the monetary authorities introduced the concept of universal banking, which allowed commercial banks to engage in a broader range of financial-type operations. But the new universal banks did not bring their varied new operations into one structure. They allowed their investment banking, insurance, stock brokerage, warehousing and other universal-banking operations to maintain separate identities and stay under separate roofs. For instance, Metrobank has allowed First Metro Investment Corp. to remain a separate identity. And the numerous components of YGC have not been merged into Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

There are 390 LBP and DBP employees who are superfluous? Find a legal way to terminate their employment. The two banks operate in the same locality? Then put an end to the duplication of services by relocating some LBP and some DBP to the underbanked cities and towns of this country. These operational benefits can be obtained without a merger of the two institutions.

A final point. Is GCG confident that the government will be in a position to quickly bring the equity capital of a merged LBP-DBP up to a level proportionate to a P1.35 trillion asset base? Considering how long it took the government to put additional capital into the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, I wouldn’t be at all confident.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Smart Selfie. Talk ‘N Text endorser Robin Padilla takes a selfie with Smart co-founder and chief wire-less advisor Orlando Vea, PLDT and Smart chairman Manuel Pangilinan, Facebook director for global opera-tor partnerships Markku Makelainen, Facebook head of international growth and partnerships Lior Tal, PLDT president and chief executive Napoleon Nazareno and Smart executive vice president and wireless consumer business head Charles Lim during the launch of Facebook’s Internet.Org app in the Philippines with Smart as partner, through budget brand Talk ‘N Text.

THE biggest state pension funds in Thailand and the Philippines are shifting money from bonds to stocks, which could push up the cost of government stimulus programs.

By Othel V. CamposSTATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority said Wednesday it is preparing the terms of reference for the bidding of the 82-kilometer Clark Rail Transit System that will run from Malolos City in Bulacan to Tarlac City.

BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said the joint venture project would link with the North-South Commuter Railway project of the Transportation Department.

“Offhand, BCDA will provide the land needed including substantial areas for commercial

development at every station. The private JV partner will plan, design, finance, build, operate and maintain the Clark Rail,” Casanova said.

He said Clark Rail was envisioned be an electric-powered transit system in an 82-kilometer double-back track between Malolos and Tarlac City, with 13 stations. The JV partner will conduct the final alignment study.

“We are considering to put Clark Rail on a new alignment that would allow us to provide the area needed for the commercial development at every station. The Clark Rail will serve as the backbone for the movement of

goods, services and people to and from Manila, Clark Green City, Clark International Airport, Clark Special Economic Zone and Tarlac City,” Casanova said.

BCDA will provide 100 hectares of Clark Green City land for use as transport hub and to house the Clark Rail depot. The bidding is expected to be conducted before the end of the year.

The National Economic and Development Authority board approved in February two projects under the North-South Railway masterplan - phase 1 of the North-South Commuter Railway Project and the North-South Railway Project – South Line.

The Social Security Office and Government Service Insurance System said they were increasing holdings of shares, while the head of Indonesia’s BPJS Ketenagakerjaan said he saw the nation’s stock index rising 14 percent by year-end. Rupiah, baht and peso notes have lost money since the end of January, after handing investors respective returns of 13 percent, 9.9 percent and 6.6 percent last year, Bloomberg indexes show.

“There has been frustration among domestic institutional investors about the falling returns on bonds,” Win Phromphaet, who manages 1.2 trillion baht ($37 billion) as Social Security Office’s head of investment

in Bangkok, said in a March 19 interview. “Large investors including SSO must quickly expand our investments in other riskier assets.”

Appetite for sovereign debt is cooling just as Southeast Asian governments speed up construction plans in response to slowing growth in China and stuttering recoveries in Europe and Japan.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has added 100 trillion rupiah ($7.7 billion) of spending on projects including ports and power plants in his 2015 budget, Thailand’s military rulers are accelerating outlays on rail and roads and Philippine President Benigno Aquino is relying on

news infrastructure to increase growth to 8 percent in his last two years in office.

Pension fund assets in Asia-Pacific are forecast to increase 9.5 percent annually to reach $6.5 trillion by 2020 from $3.2 trillion in 2012, according to a February 2014 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Aging populations in Japan and Singapore are forcing those countries’ pension funds to chase higher returns. Japanese public funds bought an unprecedented 2.39 trillion yen ($20 billion) of foreign stocks and bonds in the fourth quarter, while selling 5.56 trillion yen of domestic sovereign debt, Bank of Japan data show. GIC Pte, the city-state’s sovereign wealth fund, has been increasingly taking stakes in foreign real estate including New York’s Time Warner Center.

Bloomberg

B7editorial@thestandard.com.ph

CESAR BARRIOQUINTOE D I T O R

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD

US mulls air strikes on Tikrit

Rescuers search for crash bodies

Activists warned over HK protests

‘China behind Internet security violation’

Ready for blastoff. The Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft is transported to a launch pad at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 25. Russia’s Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station crew of US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Kornienko is scheduled to blast off to the ISS from Baikonur early on March 28, Kazakh time. AFP

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Bataan

City of BalangaBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

INVITATION TO BIDNO. GOODS-030-2015

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund30 intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess ofthe ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1. Supply & Delivery of Medical, Laboratory, Dental & X-ray Supplies for the use of Jose C. Payumo Jr. Memorial Hospital, Orani District Hospital and Bagac Community and Medicare Hospital

=P= 2,300,450.60

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement. Delivery of goods is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, within Ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section ll. Instructions to Bidders

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

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

Approved Budget for the Contract Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents

(in Philippine Peso)500,000 and below 500.00More than 500.000 up to 1 Million 1,000.00More than 1 Million up to 5 Million 5.000.00More than 5 Million up to 10 Million 10.000.00More than 10 Million up to 50 Million 25.000.00More than 50 Million up to 500 Million 50,000.00More than 500 Million 75.000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 1, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered on or before April 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. At Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedulel. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid March 25-31, 20152. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents March 25- April 13, 20154. Request for Clarification April 6, 20155. Opening of Bids April 13, 2015

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

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (Sgd). ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman

(TS-MAR. 26, 2015)

Republic of the PhilippinesDEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. StreetManila 1004

(TS-Mar. 26, 2015)

InvItatIon to BId for SUPPLY, dELIvErY, InStaLLatIon and ConfIGUratIon of It EQUIPMEnt

1. The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2015, intends to apply the sum of Five Million Nine Hundred Ninety Four Thou-sand Pesos (PhP 5,994,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Configuration of IT Equipment (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Configuration of IT Equipment. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications.

4. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Docu-ments at 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. St. Roxas Boulevard, Manila starting March 26, 2015 during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on March 26, 2015 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee provided as follows:

Lot No. Particulars ABC Non-refundable fee1 Laptop PhP 3,000,000.00 PhP 5,000.002 Computer, workstation, set PhP 2,994,000.00 PhP 5,000.00

The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Docu-ments not later than the submission of their bids.

6. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

ACTIVITIES SCHEDULEPosting of Invitation to Bid March 26, 2015Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Starting March 26, 2015Pre-Bid Conference April 6, 2015, 10:00 amRequest for Clarification April 10, 2015 Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin April 13, 2015Deadline for Submission of Bids April 20, 2015, 9:45 amOpening of Bids April 20, 2015, 10:00 am

7. Bids must be delivered at the 7th Floor, EDPC Building cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Manila on or before April 20, 2015, 9:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bid (ITB) Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

“LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.”

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

9. For further information, please refer to:

Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph

(SGD.) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

SEYNE, France-French rescuers resumed the search Wednesday for the remains of the 150 people, including 16 school children, killed when a Germanwings Airbus slammed into the side of a nearly in-accessible mountain in the Alps.

Helicopters took off from a near-by improvised base, heading for the rugged area where flight 4U9525 crashed Tuesday, spreading debris and body parts of the mostly Ger-man and Spanish victims over a wide area.

Officials are hunting for clues to why the plane, operated by German flag carrier Lufthansa’s budget sub-sidiary, entered a fatal eight-minute descent on its route between Barce-lona and Duesseldorf.

No distress signal was sent and the crew failed to respond to desper-ate attempts at contact from ground control.

The cockpit voice recorder recov-

ered from the wreckage has been found damaged and has been taken to Paris for analysis, a source close to the inquiry said Wednesday.

“The black box that was found is the CVR,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The cock-pit voice recorder [CVR] “was dam-aged. It has been transferred to Paris this morning.”

A second so-called black box, in this case recording flight data, has yet to be found.

Video images from a govern-ment helicopter Tuesday showed a desolate snow-flecked moonscape, with steep ravines covered in scree. Debris was strewn across the moun-tainside, pieces of twisted metal smashed into tiny bits.

Debris was believed to be scat-tered over four acres of remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain, hampering rescue efforts.

The plane was “totally destroyed”, a local member of parliament who flew over the site said, describing the scene as “horrendous”.

“The biggest body parts we iden-tified are not bigger than a brief-case,” one investigator said.

More than 300 policemen and 380 firefighters have been mobilized for the grisly task of searching the site.

Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Marc Menichini said a squad of 30 moun-

tain rescue police would resume at-tempts to reach the crash site by hel-icopter at dawn Wednesday, while a further 65 police were seeking ac-cess on foot. Five investigators had spent the night camped at the site.

It would take “at least a week” to search the remote site, he said.

“Ground access is horrible...It’s a very high mountainous area, very steep and it’s terrible to get there except from the air during winter,” local resident Francoise Pie said.

Family members of the dead were to arrive Wednesday at the rescuers’ logis-tics base in a village near the crash site.

French President Francois Hol-lande, his German counterpart Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy were also expected to arrive in the area around 2:00 pm (1300 GMT).

The dead included six crew and 144 passengers, a majority of them German and Spanish. They includ-ed 16 German teenagers returning home from a school trip. 

Their high school in the small German town of Haltern was to hold a memorial event Wednesday to honor the victims.

“This is certainly the darkest day in the history of our city,” said a tearful Bodo Klimpel, the town’s mayor. “It is the worst thing you can imagine.”AFP

HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s leader warned ac-tivists Wednesday that the public would “not be sym-pathetic” to more pro-democracy protests as the city prepares for the next phase of controversial po-litical reforms.

Parts of the Asian financial center were brought to a standstill by mass street blockades at the end of last year, sparked by restrictions from Beijing on how Hong Kong’s next leader will be chosen.

China announced in August that candidates running to become chief executive in 2017—hoped to be the first ever public vote for the city’s leader—would be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.

“I can say that the public, if Occupy happens again, will not be sympathetic,” chief executive Leung Chun-ying said, referring to the pro-democracy pro-test movement known as “Occupy Central”.

Leung, who was speak-ing at an investment con-ference in Hong Kong, added that the Chinese government had “confi-dence” in  Hong Kong’s handling of the protests, which lasted for more than two months before rally sites were cleared in December. AFP

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

worldB8 CeSAR bARRioqUinTo

E D I T O R

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US mulls air strikes on Tikrit

Heading heading heading heading heading

‘China behind Internet security violation’

Hard workno fairy tale in Turkey’ssoap operas

Last respects. Members of the public line up to pay their respects to Singapore’s late former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew near Parliament House, where he will lie in state for public viewing ahead of his funeral in Singapore on March 25. Lee, Singapore’s first prime minister and one of the towering figures of post-colonial Asian politics, died at the age of 91 on March 23. AFP

In competition. Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia compete in the Ice dance short dance event in the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on March 25. AFP

BAGH DA D —Wa s h -ington is considering launching air strikes, possibly within days, to back up Iraqi and Shi-ite forces battling to re-capture Tikrit from the Islamic State jihadist group, US officials said.

The statement came Tuesday after an official said the US was already providing reconnaissance support for Iraqi forces there, the first confirma-tion of American involvement in the operation.

Such assistance could help Iraqi forces move forward with their largest operation against IS jihadists to date, which enjoyed initial success but has since stalled into a siege, with the city surrounded but not retaken.

A US-led coalition has targeted IS with air strikes and provided train-ing and equipment to Iraqi forces, but had not previously announced direct assistance for the Tikrit operation, in which Iran has played a major role.

Possible air strikes near Tikrit are “being discussed at a high level” and could be days or weeks away, a US of-ficial told AFP. 

The delicate diplomatic and mili-tary aspects of such an option are still being worked out, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In a shift, the coalition as of March 21 began providing intelligence from surveillance flights for the Tikrit as-sault, a senior coalition military offi-cial said earlier in Baghdad.

US officials in Washington con-firmed the account of “an eye in the sky” for the Iraqi troops and Iranian-backed Shiite militia.

President Barack Obama’s admin-istration has insisted it does not co-ordinate military operations directly with Iran. 

But the surveillance flights and discussions on possible US air raids in Tikrit illustrate how Washington is moving towards greater indirect collaboration with Tehran, despite the intense distrust between the two arch-foes.

IS led a sweeping offensive last June that overran large areas north and west of Baghdad, including Tikrit, the capital of Salaheddin province and executed dictator Saddam Hussein’s home town. AFP

ISTANBUL—Featuring heartthrob heroes, emancipated heroines and picturesque scenery, Turkish tel-evision drama series have taken the world by storm, gaining faithful au-diences in dozens of countries across Europe, the Middle East and even the Americas.

But life on the sets of the dramas—with episodes that can last up to three hours in series of up to 50 parts—is not all glitz and glamor. 

It is fraught with grueling work, with crews routinely clocking 15 to 18-hour days at the expense of their families, their health, and even their lives. 

“The worst day I ever worked on a show was 27 hours, “ young Turkish actress Elif Nur Kerkuk told AFP. “It was like going back to slavery.” 

Kerkuk recalled how last year after 24 hours of shooting in central Tur-key, the whole crew was piled on a bus and taken to Istanbul for another day of filming, with neither time to sleep nor prepare. 

“I asked myself, is this it?... Is this going to be my life?” she asked. “But I stay in because I love it.”

A number of fatal accidents have prompted unions and actors to or-ganize an industry-wide movement to put pressure on production com-panies and government to improve standards. 

Selin Erden, a 26-year-old video assistant for the hit teen drama “Arka Siradakiler” (Those at the Back Row), died tragically when the set’s sleep-deprived truck driver hit her during a cigarette break.

In September last year, Engin Kucuktopuz, a set worker for “Kacak Gelinler” (Runaway Brides), died of a heart attack after working 45 hours in three days.

“Everything that your mother ever told you not to do when you were growing up, in our industry you crumple it up and throw it out the window,” said Tilbe Saran, actress and secretary general of Turkish Ac-tors’ Union. AFP

BEIJING—China’s cyberspace ad-ministration is “complicit” in attacks on major Internet companies includ-ing Google, an anti-censorship group said Wednesday, calling on firms worldwide to step up their defenses.

GreatFire.org, which operates web-sites seeking to circumvent China’s vast censorship apparatus, pointed to statements by Google, Microsoft and Mozilla as showing the Chinese government was involved in so-called “man-in-the-middle” operations.

Such attacks involve an unauthor-ized intermediary inserting themselves between computer users and their on-line destinations, usually undetected, putting them in a position to harvest data traffic, including passwords.

GreatFire.org said the firms’ state-ments amounted to “concrete evi-dence” the Cyberspace Administra-tion of China or CAC authority and the China Internet Network Informa-tion Center or CNNIC administrator were “behind these malicious actions and are endangering safety and secu-rity on the Internet for everyone”.

China’s ruling Communist Party maintains tight controls over the In-ternet, blocking websites it deems po-litically sensitive in a system dubbed the “Great Firewall of China” and obliging social media companies to censor user-generated content.

At the same time, Washington and Beijing regularly trade accusations of hacking, with FBI Director James

Comey declaring last October that Chi-na was at the “top of the list” of countries launching cyberattacks on US firms.

Beijing has also drawn criticism for a recent draft law that would require foreign companies to hand over their encryption keys and other sensitive data in order to do business in China.

China regularly cites cybersecurity as a growing concern of its own, with Beijing frequently describing itself as a victim of hacking.

A Google security engineer on Monday posted on the company’s on-line security blog that CNNIC and a firm called MCS Holdings had been found to have issued “unauthorized digital certificates for several Google domains”. AFP

LIFEg l w e e ke n d @ g m a i l . c o m

C1BAMBINA OLIVARES WISEE D I T O R

T H U R S D AY : M A R C H 2 6 : 2 0 1 5

LIFELIFE

There is a Korean ad for life insurance � rm AIA that plays like a docu-� lm: they invite several young overseas workers in Australia to have a Korean meal. Each of them eats with curiosity and pleasant

surprise—the food tastes an awful lot like their mothers’ cooking. And the set up is, of course, that the mothers had actually been � own in to cook these meals for their chil-dren. But even before the mothers get to reveal themselves, you can see it on their faces: nostalgia and wistfulness, emotions triggered by the taste of the food. If you had to name the icons of panlasang Pinoy, likely one or more of four bottles comes to mind: Mang Tomas, Datu Puti, Silver Swan, and UFC (banana!) ketchup. In the couple of years I spent time abroad, I’ve found that it is really di� cult to explain each taste to someone unfamiliar with it. Saying ‘it’s a strong, sour vinegar’ or ‘it’s a sauce made with liver’ is just insu� cient; vague statements like these really fail to capture just how distinct each taste is, and how strongly we feel about them. In time I realised that every place and every culture has a distinct sense of taste, sometimes inaccessible to anyone else outside of it because of taste’s relationship with memory.

Stills and Spills: Memory Stains by Jay Yao for CelestinaBY K.A. MONTINOLA

For Filipinos the relationship is particularly poignant. We send a great number of people abroad to work for long periods under a great variety of circumstances. We also have an incredibly meal-centric culture. We love to eat, and not in solitude. We love to share meals, to spend time together eating tasty food. Food is something we have an a� nity for, because we associate it with time well spent to-gether. It’s no wonder even the smell can trigger an emo-tional response. ‘Memory Stains’ is an attempt to visually capture that es-sence. � e premise is simply that taste is identity, which in turn answers to memory. Jay Yao makes use of photog-raphy, acrylic, and the condiments themselves to produce four evocative images, digitally blown and printed. Atmo-spheric and compelling, the images present an abstracted reality: they appear to be stills of the moments where the condiments best react to being painted and best interact with the rest of the media. Moreover, memory has shi� ed sense and catalogued visually, providing a di� erent avenue to reminiscence.

A SENSE OF MEMORY

Continued on C2

C U L T U R E

C2 BAMBINA OLIVARES WISEEDITOR

THURSDAY : MARCH 26 : 2015

glweekend@gmai l .com

LIFE

From C1

A SENSE OF MEMORY

TWEETING HISTORYFilipinas Heritage Library presentsLMG 100: 1915-2015Leon Ma. Guerrero CentennialAn Exhibition of History in 100 TweetsMarch 25 - April 12, 20152nd Floor, Ayala Museum

Ambassador Leon Ma. Guerrero (1915 - 1982) translated Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo ‘for the modern reader’ in the early 1960s, and wrote the award-winning biogra-phy of Rizal, The First Filipino, around the same time. His flu-ency in English and Spanish was underlined by being awarded the Premio Zobel for his collection of essays, El Si y El No. This exhibit imagines how he may have tried to reach today’s generation, and distills some of his writing into the 140-character platform we have become so familiar with. In doing so, much of the context is lost. But we aim to provide visitors with the chance to discover, share, and discuss the topics raised, and to go further into his writings to find out more. @wefilipinos #lmg100tweets

ADMISSION IS FREE. For inquiries: CALL: 759 82 88 local 36 EMAIL: asklibrarian@filipinaslibrary.org.ph

DRUMROLL, PLEASEThe Manila Symphony Orchestra Brings Music Everywhere

Here, ‘memory’ is not specific instances of experience but a sum of collective emotional recall. The exhibit space at Celestina is installed with a bounty of bottles of each of the brands. The four brands, like the four elements that are es-sential to the matter and substance of Filipino home cook-ing, are practically the fundamentals of our popular taste. So the exhibit speaks to something universal within the collective Filipino memory, and yet looking at it your per-sonal memories add to the mix of sentiment. I remember making the trek to the nearest Filipino restaurant I could find while at school in Rhode Island, and this happened to be in the next state over—Massachusetts. I made the commute to eat there at least once a semester. It was al-ways worth the trip, not just for a Pinoy meal, but because there was a Filipino store right next to it. I always bought as much as I could carry from there, to later try as well as I could to cook something resembling home. I was (still am) a poor cook, but it amazed me even then how Mang Tomas helped to make the taste a much closer approximation. ‘Memory Stains’ is a group effort, with close collaboration by design brands B+C and Celestina, and Nutri-Asia happy to contribute their products to the project. More than that, it’s a pop-up art collaboration that takes a small statement and states it well. The exhibit space is installed with a bounty of bottles, framing another by-product of the collaboration: the images are transposed onto a bayong, the original Fili-pino ‘shopping bag’ and quintessential market companion. The art-to-bag transition is nothing new, and yet these are not your modern art museum totes; they’re products of a seamless crossing of fashion and contemporary art, care-fully considered from the first whiff.

‘Memory Stains’ is available for viewing at Celestina, G/F Green-belt 5 Makati. Part of the proceeds will benefit teachers at social enterprise Teach For The Philippines

MSO SUMMER WORKSHOPS

In partnership with Ayala Malls, the MSO

will be conducting three-hour training sessions

for children with the orchestra’s finest masters absolutely free, throughout

the months of April and May. Kids and teens

get the chance to learn to play the violin under the

tutelage of the orchestra’s greatest musicians, hoping

to impart a lasting love for classical music to a

younger generation.

APRIL 12UP TOWN CENTER

APRIL 19FAIRVIEW TERRACES MALL

APRIL 26MARKET! MARKET!

MAY 3ALABANG TOWN CENTER

MAY 17 SOLENAD

With President Maan Hontiveros at the helm, and Jeff Solares as Executive Director,

the Manila Symphony Orchestra - one of the oldest, and most storied orchestras in Asia - is determined, more than ever, to bring music to every corner of the country, in places unlikely and unexpected, like shopping malls, as well as tra-ditional venues, such as concert halls and grand theaters. “The arts are marginalized in this country,” lamented Solares at a kick-off ceremony introducing the MSO’s planned activities for the summer. Thus, the MSO has teamed up with several partners, most notably Ayala Malls, to bring the once-reserved world of classical music closer to the everyday mall-goer, with intimate peeks at musical practices, seasoned summer work-shops, as well as vibrant galas. Last March 21st, in celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach’s 300th birthday, the MSO simultaneous-ly paid musical tribute to the Ger-man composer’s enduring hymns, bringing his richly layered canons

and fugues to life in hour-long performances in various sites in the Metro: at the Greenbelt’s The Gallery, Alabang Town Center’s Corte de las Palmas, Trinoma’s Park Level, and the Atrium at Glorietta 5. Another new and enthusiastic partner is Solaire Resort & Casino. Entertainment Director Audie Gemora and the MSO are offer-ing a free concert with the sun and stars on Saturday, March 28. The public is invited to attend what promises to be “a scintillating Sat-urday night,” as “Showcase” is pre-sented at The Theater at Solaire. It begins with an overture by the MSO, featuring Professor Arturo Molina and a four-string concerto by the beneficiaries of the Basilio Manalo Scholarship. Special guests for the evening are Bituin Escalante and Christian Yu; ardent supporter of the MSO and classical music devotee In-grid Sala Santamaria will play a classic concerto.Admission is free. For more information, email info@manilasymphony.com

The Manila Symphony Orchestra

Ayala Malls’ Joseph Reyes, Rowena Tomeldan, Ms. Maan Hontiveros, President, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Jeff Solares, Executive Director, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Ayala Malls Junie Jalandoni, Pivi Diaz, Myrna Fernandez and Maricris Bernardino

C3BAMBINA OLIVARES WISEEDITORLIFE

THURSDAY : MARCH 26 : 2015

glweekend@gmai l .com

C U L T U R E

Sev’s Cafe, a small restaurant at the base-ment of the Legaspi Towers on Roxas Blvd., was brimming with twentysome-things last Saturday evening. Everyone was intently watching performances on the stage. The performers, after all, were their friends and others, friends of friends. Still others were cult personali-ties they knew about through social me-dia and maybe have seen perform once or twice before. It was poetry and open mic night at the cafe; and every kind of poet and musician was welcome to share their talent with the packed house. The monthly event is or-ganized by the very young spoken-word group, Words Anonymous, which cel-ebrates its first anniversary next month. Sev’s, owned by Howie Severino, is one of the few places that embrace the

SPOKEN WORD IN MANILABY ED BIADO

decidedly under-the-radar art known as spoken word, as evidenced by its willing-ness to lend its space to these young poets at least once a month. In fact, it was at that quaint cafe where the members of Words Anonymous found one another, which led them to form the group. For five hours, the audience listened—intently, as this writer observed—to acoustic covers of both well-known and obscure songs sang with the passion of angsty post-teenagers, and original poems for the heartbroken, the ones who are moving on and everyone in between. While romance or lack thereof was most explored subject of the evening (as it usually is at these kinds of events because we all know how much we love our #hugot), there were a few performances that tackled other issues like self-worth, disease and societal ills.

Musical open mic nights are common-place here in the city. What’s uncommon is the inclusion of poetry, and specifically, poetry’s performance-based form, spoken word. The craft has been slowly gaining traction among Filipino millennials over the years and it’s getting even more popular. “The thing about spoken word poetry is that it makes poetry accessible for every-one,” my friend Juan Miguel Severo, a mem-ber of Words Anonymous, tells me. “Per-formers don’t need a degree in literature or creative writing to be called up on stage, or

PETA’S SUMMER THEATER

ARTS PROGRAM

SABEL THE STAR

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE NEW MUSICAL

BASED ON BENCAB'S ICONIC SUBJECT

have a valid story to tell. It acknowledges everyone’s right to tell their story.”

And for many, using spoken word to tell their personal story is a form of catharsis and validation. Severo, whose pieces are mostly in the vernacular, adds, “It’s the medium of the underdogs. And you know how Filipinos have always loved underdogs.”

(There’s a lot more to The Gist’s con-versation with Severo about all things spoken word. Watch this space next week for more.)

Severo Sev’s Cafe

The Philippine Educational The-ater Association (PETA) lead-ing educational theater com-pany in the Philippines since

1967, opens fifteen intensive theater arts classes for its annual summer workshop starting April 7-May 20. PETA’s seven theater courses which range from basic to advanced, taps into the limitless creative potential of each par-ticipant, allowing students to fully express themselves and shine under the limelight of a legitimate stage.

Taught by some of the country’s most outstanding thespians and theater prac-titioners, PETA attracts a lot of appli-cants every year because of its unique, comprehensive and student-centered programs.

INTEGRATED THEATER ARTSFollowing the Basic Integrated The-ater Arts Workshop (BITAW) process, PETA’s highly experienced artist-teach-ers combine group dynamics, creative dance and movement, creative sound and music, visual arts and creative writ-ing in all of its theater workshops.

Throughout PETA’s 47 years of experi-ence in educational theater and cultural work, BITAW has been the company’s main foundation in all of its trainings including those conducted in the prov-inces of the Philippines, regional cover-age in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

CHILDREN’S THEATER AND TEEN THEATER COURSESPETA’s intensive theater courses are open for children as young as six. PETA be-lieves that performing for a live audience builds confidence, inspires creativity, and encourages teamwork no matter one’s age, and for youngsters it can plant a seed that will grow into a lifelong passion.

Its Children’s Theater courses, for ages 6-8 and 9-12, enable children to explore

and experience music, movement and dance, visual arts, storytelling, drama improvisation, poetry and short story writing. Coupled with lots of fun and games, PETA’s creative processes aim to develop and enrich the child’s creativity, imagination and self-confidence. PETA’s Teen Theater course, for ages 13-16, hopes to challenge the experi-mental and adventurous nature of the youth. The course mixes creative drama, creative sounds and music, creative writ-ing, creative body movements and dance, visual arts as well as improvisational the-ater and new media wherein teens get to express their talents and articulate youth power as they mount their own original piece on relevant youth concerns as part of their recital.

ACTING FOR ADULTSYoung aspiring actors, from 17 years old and up, can also plunge into a unique artistic experience by acquiring funda-mental knowledge, skills and attitudes in improvisational theater production, theater history, theater appreciation, aesthetics and criticism in the Theater Arts course. The course is focused on building a background for theater newbies; teach-ing them to learn and appreciate the art of theater production and history. For those who have basic theater experience, PETA offers a foundation course on acting. PETA’s Basic Acting course allows participants to have a se-ries of dialogues with seasoned theater artists coupled with motivated acting exercises that can turn anyone into a budding stage actor. The course pro-vides its students the chance to apply the elements of the arts and composition in executing a good performance through their body, voice, and imagination in acting while also tackling techniques on improvisation and text analysis. 

ADVANCED ACTING WITH NONON PADILLAThe Advanced Acting course offers a tougher challenge as it is about the mas-tery of different acting techniques. This course is designed for students with strong backgrounds in performance that wish to pursue a career as professional actors. In this course, participants will study a variety of acting materials rang-ing from contemporary to classic texts.

The Advanced Acting course will be taught by no less than Nonon Padilla, a celebrated theater director known for his many contributions in the theater and art industry.

MUSICAL THEATER COURSEThe Creative Musical Theater course pro-vides students the chance to study the principles of composition and organiza-tion in performing for musical theater that is geared towards developing the en-rollees’ musical theater skills. The course has sessions on voice, composition, per-formance and various music explorations.

WORKSHOP VENUESThe PETA Summer Program will be held at the PETA Theater Center in New Ma-nila, Quezon City and in the Meridian International College (MINT) in Taguig City. The MINT College, just like PETA, is a cultural and creative hub situated at the heart of a thriving city. Its environ-ment encourages its students to think outside the box and produce ingenious ideas for art and music.

HOW TO ENROLL Interested enrollees may drop by the PETA Theater Center at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City between Tues-days to Saturdays or contact PETA at (02) 725 6244 or 0905-3696003. PETA also accepts online inquiries at petatheater@gmail.com or www.petatheater.com.

Inspired by the beloved subject of Na-tional Artist Benedicto Cabrera, SA-BEL, LOVE AND PASSION essays the story of a dynamic young woman who loved, above all, to dance. From the depths of her depression to the glory of her personal triumph, it was dance that helped hold her life together and ultimately regain her soul. SABEL, LOVE AND PASSION is a highlight of BenCab: 50 Creative Years,

a year-long celebration of BenCab’s ar-tistic milestone. This historic new musical theater production features music and musical direction by Louie Ocampo, direction, book and lyrics by Freddie Santos, and stars Iza Calzado and the Philippine Ballet Theater, with the special partici-pation of Audie Gemora. The World Premiere Gala is scheduled for Thurs-day, April 30th at The Theater at Solaire.

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CINDERELLA PG Relive the fairy tale about Ella/Cinderella (Lily James) who finds herself at the mercy of her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera) after her father (Ben Chaplin) passed away. But her fortune will change when she meets her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) who will help her win the heart of Prince Charming (Richard Madden)

CLOWN R-13 Real Estate agent and loving father Kent McCoy (Andy Powers) discovers an old clown costume in one of the houses he’s overseeing and uses on his son’s, Jack (Christian Distefano), birthday party only to later find out that anyone who wears it becomes a killer.

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL YOU PG A spoiled and rebellious young girl, Jackie (Kathryn Bernardo) is forced to tag along with her mom on a medical mission in Tarlac where she meets Kiko (Daniel Padilla) who shows her the other side of life.

DESECRATED R-13 Rich heiress Allie McClean (Haylie Duff) spends the weekend at her isolated ranch house in the middle of no man’s land with her friends where they meet the caretaker whose dark past has taken him down a killing spree.

DRAGON NEST: WARRIORS’ DAWN G An animated adventure fantasy romance film--a first of the trilogy--based on the Dragon Nest video game, it tells the story of Lambert, who will become the unlikely human hero, as he joins the Dragon Slayers’ League to fight the evil force Black Dragon which seeks to destroy all humans and elves in the enchanted land Altera.

FROM VEGAS TO MACAU R-13 A Hong Kong-Chinese crime comedy film that tells the story of legendary gambler Ken (Chow Yun-fat) who is brought out of retirement to take down the ruthless leader (Gao Hu) of a large criminal syndicate by challenging him to a gambling match.

HOME G A banished member of the alien race Boov, Oh (Jim Parsons) lands on Earth, which his race has invaded, to find a home where he meets the resourceful and adventurous teenage girl named Tip Tucci (Rihanna) who is looking for her missing mother Lucy (Jennifer Lopez). The two team up both on a quest of their own, one is on the run while the other is looking for someone.

INDIGENOUS R-13 Five friends from America meet in Panama for a vacation. As they venture deep in the jungle to find a beautiful waterfalls, they instead encounter a chupacabra that has developed a taste for humans.

NOW SHOWINGA GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON AT THE CINEMA THIS WEEK

INSURGENT PG In this second installment in The Divergent trilogy, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) race against time to find answers while being hunted down by Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), the leader of the Erudite faction. Tris faces one challenge after another as she unlocks the truth about the past and ultimately, the future of her society.

ROBOT OVERLORDS PG Robots from a distant galaxy has conquered the Earth ruling over humans who now have to wear electronic implants to confine them in their houses. Four friends temporarily disable their tracking implants to venture outside and fight the android invaders.

RUN ALL NIGHT R-16 In one night, aging hitman and mobster Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeson) is forced to take on his long-time best friend and former boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) to protect his estranged son Mike (Joel Kinnaman) and his family.

SONG ONE PG A drama film that tells the story of Franny Ellis (Anne Hathaway) who goes on a mission to find his estranged brother Henry’s (Ben Rosenfield) favorite musician in hopes to repair their relationship and revive him from coma after a car accident. She then finds James Forrester (Johnny Flynn), the musician she’s looking for and falls in love with him.

THE GUNMAN R-16 Special Forces soldier and military contractor Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) wants out of the game to settle down with his longtime love, but before he is allowed to be released, the organization he works for forced him to go on the run across Europe.

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL PG A group of British retirees (Maggie Smith, Richard Gere, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup) finds love in a hotel in India, a companion to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, while Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) juggles his business interests and upcoming wedding to Sunaina (Tina Desai).

THE ZERO THEOREM (R-13) R-13 A science fiction film that tells the story of Qohen Leth (Christoph Waltz), a reclusive computer genius, as he works on a mysterious formula, the Zero Theorem, to determine if life holds any meaning.

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ABS-CBN President and CEO Charo Santos-Concio remind-ed over 1,000 communication students on the importance of

having good values. She emphasized this in her keynote address at the Pinoy Media Congress (PMC) Year 9, held re-cently at St. Paul University Manila. After discussing how technology has changed the way media content is cre-ated and consumed, Santos-Concio ad-vised the next generation of mass com-municators to be responsible and to use media not to destroy but to inspire. “Your talent may win you your dream. But only your good values that will make you feel proud of yourself,” she said.  Santos-Concio was one of the speak-ers who shared wisdom and inspiration at the event organized by ABS-CBN and the Philippine Association of Communi-cation Educators Foundation (PACEF) to help prepare communication students for their future roles in the media. Students indeed gained understand-ing of the industry they are about to en-ter as they learned how digital television works, found out how the radio, film, and publishing outfits can use technolo-gy to push their platforms, and also how to create and distribute content based on the audiences behavior, and many more. Resource speakers included ABS-CBN executives Fernando Villar, Ma-ria Concepcion Alcedo, March Ven-tosa, Marah Faner-Capuyan, Roxy Liquigan, Ging Reyes, Donald Lim, Leo Katigbak, Enrico Santos, Vivian Tin, and Laurenti Dyogi. Asian Insti-

tute of Journalism and Communica-tion president Prof. Ramon Tuazon, ABS-CBN News correspondent Atom Araullo, and Movie and Television Re-view & Classification Board chairman Atty. Eugenio Villareal. Among the congress’ panelists were ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. president Er-nie Lopez, ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. (AFPI) creative director Vanessa Valdez, AFPI consultant Angie Yu-Pineda, and ABS-CBN business units heads Linggit Tan-Marasigan, Deo Endrinal, Julie Ann Benitez, Ginny Ocampo, Lui Andrada, Joyce Liquicia, and Reily Santiago. After learning about the current and future trends and practices in the in-dustry, the students also had a dialogue with the ABS-CBN bosses led by head of Free TV Cory Vidanes. Apart from answering the delegates’ questions, they also gave them advice on how to make it in the industry. Vidanes said balancing media work and one’s personal life requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Reyes said

critical-thinking and passion is a must. Tin said it is a combination of having great skills and a good disposition and spirit. Dyogi, meanwhile, urged them to learn to tell good stories, which they can practice in their own families. The delegates, some of them coming from as far as Baguio, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro, took to social media to express their satisfaction with the event, which also featured surprise perfor-mances from Kapamilya stars.  On Twitter, Ysabel Bonifacio tweet-ed “It was the best congress I have at-tended for this school year, while Majji Porcalla posted I feel so honored to be a part of the event. I learned a lot!” Via Instagram, Jonah Garcia said “It was nice to hear it all from the profes-sionals of the Communication Indus-try,” while Angelica Gallardo posted “We got the chance to hear the insights and experiences of the prominent peo-ple in the industry and we also got the chance to see artists perform.”  With another successful staging of the PMC, ABS-CBN Integrated Corpo-rate Communications Division officer in charge Kane Errol Choa said the best is yet to come for Pinoy Media Congress. “We are very happy to say that there’s a rise in the number of delegates every year. Were also honored that other insti-tutions have come up with events simi-lar to the PMC. With the partnership, ABS-CBN will continue to engage and educate students in the years to come to ensure a better and brighter media in the future for all of us.

CHARO UNDERSCORES

Kapamilya inspires media congress delegates

GOOD VALUES

Your talent may win you your dream. But

only your good values that will make you feel

proud of yourself–Charo Santos-Concio

ABS-CBN President and CEO Charo Santos speaks before students of her alma mater about Philippine mass media

Over 1,000 communication students gathered at St Paul University Manila for the Pinoy Media Congress

Kapamilya stars Alex, Nash, Alexa, Liosa, Joshua, Rayver and JM entertained Pinoy Media Congress delegates with special production numbers

Among the speakers at the event organised by PACE include ABS-CBN executives Fernando Villar, Maria Concepcion Alcedo, March Ventosa, Marah Faner-Capuyan, and Roxy Liquigan

Other ABS-CBN executives – Ging Reyes, Donald Lim, Leo Katigbak, Enrico Santos, Vivian Tin and Laurenti Dyogi are also among the speakers

PMC delegates hold dialogue with Head of Free TV Cory Vidanes

AIJC president Ramon Tuazon, ABS-CBN News correspondent Atom Araullo, and MTRCB chairman Atty. Eugenio Villareal

ACROSS 1 In — — (stuck) 5 Really likes 9 Fruit or bird 13 Mutual of — 14 Woolly animals 15 Not bumpy 16 Praline nut 17 “A Visit From the Goon Squad” author 18 Lemonade color 19 Chiding sound

20 Pyromaniac’s work 22 Iditarod vehicles 23 Magicians’ tools 25 Speculate 26 Diva’s performances 28 Musical group 30 Actress Jessica — 31 Flannel item 32 Aberdeen kid 35 Eye in space (2 wds.) 39 — Nimitz

40 Best possible 41 Polite cough 42 Gripping device 43 Border town 45 Take a powder 47 From Havana 48 Type of poem 49 Libra neighbor 51 Sea dog 54 Greek war god 55 Bleach out 56 Posh hotel lobbies 58 Ruminate 59 Between ports 60 Hobo’s ride 61 Bldg. units 62 Office furnishing 63 Gainsay

DOWN 1 Iowa State city 2 Belonging to Friday (2 wds.) 3 “Caught ya!” 4 Tomorrow, amigo 5 Go formal 6 Shakespeare villain 7 Fed. agent (hyph.) 8 FICA number 9 Early astronomer 10 Dorm climbers 11 Makes one’s way 12 Calligraphy fluids 13 Make a choice

21 Hwys. 22 Looks good on 24 Desert dweller 25 Singer Leslie — 26 Kauai neighbor 27 Fringe benefit 28 Economical 29 Mound 31 Mushroom part 32 Wagner opera 33 Mimicked 34 DJ’s mixtape 36 Fragrant shrub 37 Red-waxed cheese 38 Irene of “Fame” 42 Major emergencies 43 Drag along 44 On the train 45 Waffle topping 46 Wave feature 47 Spooky noise 48 Dalai — 49 Bouquet holder 50 “Et tu” time 52 Slick 53 Undergrad degs. 55 Passing craze 57 — kwon do

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A N S W E R F O R P R E V I O U S P U Z Z L E

CROSSWORD PUZZLE THURSDAY,

MARCH 26, 2015

1 DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez 2 DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon and PTAA president Ma. Michelle Victoria 3 Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III 4 L-R: PAL’s Ria Domingo and Jaime Bautista with MasterCard’s Ailea Zialcita 5 L-R: TPB’s Nedalin Miranda, Margie Moran-Floirendo, Arnold Gonzales, Geraldine Gentozala and Ochie Cruz 6 Sandara Park 7 Miss Philippines-Earth Angelee Delos Reyes

Run-by-any-means fun run for the environment

1 2 3

4

5 6 7

Multiple Intelligence Interna-tional School, an advocate for sustainable schools and the multiple intelligence

framework implemented in the United States and other countries, recently hosted a run-by-any-means fun run at the University of the Philippines Dili-man Academic Oval. Part of the “Green MOVEment #4GreenPH” campaign, the run-by-any-means activity attracted almost 2000 participants including whole fam-ilies with grandparents in wheelchairs, environment advocates, and running enthusiasts. All for fun and the envi-ronment, the participants ran, walked, or were pushed thru their wheelchairs towards the finished line. Kids also pa-raded their ingenious costumes made of recycled or upcycled materials. “We wanted to encourage everyone to make a stand to ensure a green future for today’s kids. The activity also serves as an awareness campaign on the environment’s vulnerability for which we should be responsible,” says Joy Abaquin, founding directress at MIIS. Multiple Intelligence International School has been at the forefront of advocating environmental sustainability and protection, teaching their students

to have a heart for the environment while training them to be global leaders. For instance, the student curriculum includes subjects about environment preservation and conservation, com-bining theory with practice. Stepping up its game, the school is set to build the first LEED-certified campus along Katipunan Road in Quezon City. The 3,000-sqm establishment highlights in-novative wastewater technology and water management facility to reduce water consumption and waste, noise and air pollution barriers for better in-door atmosphere, the use of low emit-ting furnishing and furniture materials, composite wood, and agrifibers; and thermal comfort lighting systems and technologies to improve indoor envi-ronment quality. The structure’s most significant fea-ture is that it has been overdesigned to withstand a magnitude 8  earthquake. More important, the classrooms, bas-ketball court, and football field are de-signed  to be safe and large enough to accommodate people from surround-ing areas should disaster strike. “The school will serve as a laboratory for environmental technology and in-novations that can positively impact and serve as a model for other schools and

buildings in the country,” Abaquin says. She adds, “The safety and protection of our children, the concern for their future, and thus the environment, should be everyone’s responsibility.” Abaquin says the run-by-any-means activity is just one of their tiny steps to achieving their goal of a sustainable environment. The fun run or fun walk gave cer-tificates, cash prizes and medals to kids with the best “green” costume as well as the fastest, youngest, oldest runners and the family with the most number of par-ticipants. Other activities included a perfor-mance by MIIS students using indig-enous instruments. In cooperation with Smart Communications, the school recognized the 2015 Multiple Intelli-gence awardees. These are personalities who have changed the lives of Filipinos through their particular intelligence in the area of sustainable development. The Green MOVEment benefits the Cambantoc Reforestation Project, a six-year-old MIIS endeavor that helps in the replanting and maintenance of trees in the Laguna watershed, promote en-vironmental literacy in public schools, and fund the school community’s Green School Movement projects.

TOURISM HEROES AT TRAVEL TOUR EXPO 2015

RUN-BY-ANY-MEANS FUN RUN

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Supporters of the fun run include Dr. Bilyo, singer Noel Cabangon, and architect Paulo Alcazaren

It was a day unlike any other, when the country’s stakeholders in the tourism in-dustry joined forces at the Travel Tour Expo 2015 recently held at the SMX Con-vention Center, Pasay City. All were united with the same mantra, “Visit the Philippines Year (VPY) 2015,” the year-long invitation from the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) for everyone to discover and experience the country’s must-visit destinations and events. Organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTTA), this year’s Travel Tour Expo is by far the biggest in its 22-year history, with nearly 300 exhibitors from hotels, airlines, resorts, domestic tour operators and travel agencies. As a symbol of their unity, Department of Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism De-velopment Benito Bengzon and TPB Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon Ene-

rio III led the ribbon cutting with the Travel Tour Expo 2015 Organizing Committee, PTAA Board of Trustees and other guests. In his speech, Bengzon praised PTAA’s efforts in opening new gateways in the country to promote domestic tourism. The spirit of fun was alive throughout the expo’s opening, ignited by the cultural performance of San Pablo Dance Troupe. The guests were the first ones to enjoy vis-iting the booths at the country’s biggest convergence of stakeholders in the tourism industry. During the expo, TPB presented VPY 2015 with an eye-catching booth, featur-ing tasty treats and images that showcased the country’s colorful festivals and must-see events. Several exhibitors also signed up to support the campaign through the Visit the Philippines Year 2015 microsite: www.visitph2015.com

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Actress Iza Calzado shares her secrets to her winning smile

The former Prime Minister when he was younger

Singapore’s Lee Kway Yew passed on and Discovery is airing a documentary special on his life

Food Network will premiere its latest origi-nal series, Food Wars Asia, which promises to end disputes on which restaurants make the best local dishes across Asia once and

for all at 8 p.m. on April 7. � e 6 episode, 30-minute series is hosted by Food Hero winner, Michele Lean, and follows her as she visits popu-lar food establishments in Sin-gapore or Malaysia where she learns how they make their signature dishes. She then pits the two local restaurants against each other in a blind taste test, in which fans of the food establishment, the general public and celebrity guest judges will decide who is the “Best of the Best”. Fans may also visit the Food Network Facebook page (www.facebook.com/foodnetworkasia) to view exclusive online videos featuring Michele as she visit local food stalls in Singapore and Malaysia and re-views their signature dishes. CheeK, Head of Creative, Content and Market-ing, Scripps Networks Interactive, Asia Paci� c said, “Food Wars Asia is in line with our commitment to bring localized and relevant content to our viewers. Food Wars is one of our most popular programs on Food Network, and we are glad to be able to o� er

a local version that resonates with our audience in Asia. I am also thrilled to see Michele transform from the � rst Food Hero winner for Food Network, to become a key face of the channel. I look forward

to discovering and nurturing more Asian talents with Food Hero in 2015.” Lean said, “Hosting Food Wars Asia was such an incredible experience for me. � e program is � lled with sus-pense, drama and excitement, and features real people who have a real passion for their food. I learned so much from all of the stalls and restaurants

that I visited, and I can’t wait to share my journey with Food Network viewers. Winning Food Hero has brought me one step closer to living my dream as a television host, and I can’t wait to see what other ad-ventures await me!” Michele Lean is the 2014 winner of Food Hero, an Asia-wide talent search for fresh new on-air talent, as hosted by two popular food and lifestyle channels – Asian Food Channel and Food Network. Look out for the return of Food Hero in May 2015 – those keen on becoming the next face of Food Network or the Asian Food Channel may submit their video en-tries via www.foodhero.asia from 11 May onwards.

If you got a healthy, perfect set of teeth, there is no way you can’t � ash a smile to everyone around you, all the time. But in order to have a healthy smile, one must have good oral hygiene practices. Unfortunately, majority of Filipinos are not aware of

the importance of good oral habits in one’s overall health. In fact, reports revealed that nine out of 10 Filipinos suf-fer from dental caries and, worse, the Philippines has the second worst rate of decayed, missing and � lled teeth in all of Asia. Because of this, Oral-B, in collaboration with UP Dental Alumni Association (UPDAA) launched Smile Pilipinas to upli� oral health in the country. Joining the Smile Pilipinas campaign is � tness enthu-siast, top actress and now brand ambassador of Oral-B, Iza Calzado, who shared her personal dental care tips behind her winning smile. “Taking good care of our teeth should always be a priority because it greatly a� ects our overall health. For me, on top of the list is to brush my teeth regularly with a trusted oral care brand that I have been using for many years,” the actress says. Oral health shapes the quality of one’s life. Accord-ing to World Health Organization (WHO), oral health a� ects people physically and psychologically and in� u-ences how they grow, enjoy life, look, speak, chew, taste food and socialize, as well as their feelings of social well-being. If oral health is taken for granted, oral dis-eases may occur. To prevent this from happening, practice good oral health care habits regularly. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eat food low in fat like raw vegetables and fresh fruits

that can help prevent tooth decay. Keep a healthy, bal-anced diet for better oral health. Brush and � oss regularly. Plaque is one of the big-gest causes of various oral care diseases that is why daily brushing is important. Brushing, preferably three times a day, makes your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. It re-moves plaque bacteria in your teeth and gums that may cause cavity and gum disease. Brush your teeth with a trusted, superior brand that’s tough on plaque but gen-tle on enamel and gums like the Oral-B CrossAction toothbrush. It has perfectly angled CrissCross bristles that remove 90% of plaque and helps clean hard-to-reach places with its Power Tip bristles. To remove plaque and food debris stuck in areas that can’t be reached by your brush—in between teeth and un-der the gum line—daily � ossing is highly recommended. Visit your dentist every six months. Have your teeth professionally cleaned and checked to prevent possible oral health problems from occurring. Maximize your dental visits by keeping your dentist informed about dental symptoms like pain or sensitivity in the teeth and gums, di� culty in chewing or swallowing, or pos-sible cavity formation in your teeth. “Despite my busy schedule, I make it a point to have regular dental visits every six months or more of-ten than that, so I can maintain my healthy teeth and gums,” Iza Calzado added. Good oral hygiene is key to a healthy, winning smile. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy

IZA CALZADO JOINS CAMPAIGN FOR WINNING SMILE

FOOD NETWORK TO PIT LOCAL ASIAN RESTAURANTS AGAINST EACH OTHER

LEE KUAN YEW’S LIFE ON DISCOVERY

On March 23, Singapore marked the end of an era with the passing of former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Discovery Channel pays tribute to the man who is regarded as the founding father of modern Singapore in Father Of A Na-tion: Lee Kuan Yew, a one-hour special that celebrates his life and chronicles some of his greatest achievements. In a matter of decades, Singapore has emerged from a ru-ral backwater  island  and evolved into a bustling economic powerhouse. Despite its lack of natural resources, the country now stands proud as one of Asia’s Tigers  and this leap from third world to � rst can be attributed to one man - Lee Kuan Yew.  Lee Kuan Yew was the � rst prime minister of Singapore, governing for three decades. He is also one of history’s lon-gest-serving ministers,  holding successive ministerial posi-tions spanning more than 50 years. Known for his foresight and leadership, the eloquent and outspoken politician is hailed as one of Asia’s most in� uential � gures and has been praised by other world leaders such as former British Prime Minister Margaret � atcher, German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Barack Obama. Father Of A Nation: Lee Kuan Yew documents  the story of how one man survived World War 2, took on the British Em-pire, struggled for independence and fought for the people and country that he loved. Watch the program on the following dates and times: March 27 at 11p.m.; March 28 at 10 p.m.; and March 29 at 9 p.m.on Discovery.

Lean with CheeK, Scripps creative, content, and marketing head

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Kyochon, the Korean restaurant

that introduced Filipinos to Chicken

like they’ve never had before, now brings fans an

experience they’ve never had before 

Kyochon lives by its three promises: “First, we won’t make fast food. Second, we only use natural ingredi-ents and third, we only make healthy chicken with honesty,” says Chanky Tiangco, Marketing manager of KyoChon Philip-pines. “But now its time to ful� ll a fourth promise we made last year—and that is to let fans of KyoChon meet one of Kyo-Chon’s biggest fan—Lee Min Ho!”  In the last several months, KyoChon held a promo that gave fans a chance to meet the Korean Superstar in person. � ousands of fans joined the contest post-ing their pictures on Facebook hoping for the chance to be part of Lee Min Ho’s Fun Meet, which was held during the grand opening of its KyoChon’s newest branch at the Greenhills � eater Mall on Feb. 24. Lee  Minho’s  break-through success came in 2009 with the Korean version of Boys Over Flowers as Gu Jun-pyo. � e role won him several awards, including the Best New Actor award in the category of televi-sion at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards and made him a household name in the Phil-ippines. He further cemented his status as the leading-man with the success City Hunter and � e Heirs, which earned him another nomination for Most Popular Ac-tor at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards. He visited the Philippines twice, � rst to promote a local  clothing  brand and for an Asian Tour to promote his � rst album.  Minho  nabbed his � rst movie lead role as an impoverished orphan-turned-mobster in Gangnam Blues, a noir action � lm depicting the tumultuous history of real estate development behind Seoul‘s now most famous district. Minho’s visit to Manila, preceded the screening of the � lm a week later.

EMBRACING KOREAN CULTUREIf there’s one culture Filipinos had em-braced with open arms, it would be the Korean culture. From television dramas to pop music and KPop idols, Filipinos are totally crazy about anything Korean. It comes as no surprise that when Kyo-Chon, Korea’s leading chicken restaurant chain, � nally opened its doors, Filipinos were more than excited to line up and taste Korea’s acclaimed best fried chicken.  Kyochon started the entire Korean fried chicken craze in the region when it began serving its signature chicken dish-es in 1991. It has since gone worldwide with almost a thousand branches in the US, Japan, � ailand, Indonesia, Malay-sia, China and the Philippines.

LIGHT AND HEARTY RECIPEUnlike ordinary fried chicken, Korean-style fried chicken is fried twice mak-ing the skin crunchier and less greasy. Kyochon’s thin batter and double frying method also remove excess oil, o� ers a clean and light taste.  � e secret of crispy but moist chicken is Kyochon’s 20-year know-how, and Kyochon’s oil is exclusively for deep-

frying. For the best taste, Kyochon sticks to the standard recipe on man-ual at clean kitchens.   “Double-frying and piece-by-piece sauce coat-ing are time-consuming,

but these are necessary processes for our hearty nutritious chicken,” says Tiangco. “� is distinguishes us from other fast-food restaurants. Because we value qual-ity ingredients and customers’ health, we only serve honest, healthy chicken and use all natural ingredients,” she added.  According to  her, you wont � nd any frozen chicken in their kitchen, and it will be cooked only a� er you order.  In addition, KyoChon only uses domesti-cally grown, natural ingredients and their chicken contains the lowest amount of sodium among the industry, by natu-rally aged meat without curing. 

WHICH KYOCHON CHICKEN ARE YOU?Kyochon’s menu came to perfection through the combination of good ingre-dients grown by the wind, sunlight and soil, state-of-the-art facilities and their specialists’ endless research and passion.  Kyochon is proud of the best, unrivaled taste, made from all natural ingredients.  � e Kyochon Chicken comes in four (4) variant series – Original (Kyochon series), Honey (Honey series), Spicy (Red series), and the Soonsal series. � e Original series is light and slightly salty with the crunchy and crispy chick-en coated in Kyochon’s exclusive soy gar-lic glaze.   Sweet and sticky, but never runny, the Honey Series is marinated for 24 hours in a special seasoning, the then fried to perfection and coated with natural hon-ey sauce.   Some like it hot, and for them there’s the KyoChon Red Series. Glazed with the original hot sauce made from Korea’s hottest red chili peppers, this one is rec-ommended only for the brave ones. Looking for something that is truly unique? Try the KyoChon Soonsal series--boneless chicken breast strips coated in special rice batter it comes with a choice of 3 dipping sauces. You can order it in soy Soonsal, Soonsal Rice Bowl, and for a truly healthy meal there’s Soonsal Salad.  Besides its trademark chicken, Kyo-Chon also serves Green Salad with Grilled Chicken (with the Choice of Blueberry or Orange Dressing) side dishes like Wedge Potato, Pickled Rad-ish and rice cake soup and an assortment of drinks like the Kyochon Special Cold Tea, Plum Sparkling Tea, Yuza Sparkling Tea, as well as barley, corn, and green tea that goes well with any meal.  KyoChon has branches located at the  Greenhills � eatre Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center;  Upper Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building B, SM Mega-mall, EDSA corner Julia Vargas Ave., Man-daluyong City; Sm City Fairview Ground Floor, Main Building,  SM City Fairview, Quezon City, Ground Level,; and soon at the Eastwood Citywalk, Eastwood City.

SIMPLYRED

SIMPLYRED

ISAH V. RED

KPOP IDOL MEETS KPOP CHICKEN

Continued on C7 Minho with KyoChon executives from Korea

A standee of Korean superstar Lee Minho

welcomes guests to the Greenhills

branch of KyoChon

Lee Minho delights hordes

of KPop fans that filled the parking

area fronting Greenhills

Theater