the standard - 2015 september 30 - wednesday

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CoA: Armypurchasedexpiredmed kits

Abandoned. In this undated handout photo released by the Philippine National Police on Sept. 28, a policeman inspects a boat allegedly used by the kidnappers of three foreigners and a Filipina on Samal Island which was found abandoned in Jolo. AFP

‘GOVT COVERINGUP LUMAD SLAYS’

VOL. XXIX � NO. 230 � 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 � WEDNESDay : SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 � www.thestandard.com.ph � [email protected]

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Marcos hitsAquino’s ‘tax pa more’policy

By Christine F. Herrera

THE Army procured and distrib-uted to soldiers expired combat medical kits in 2014 from a sup-plier that cornered a P37.5-million medical supply contract with the military, the Commission on Au-dit reported.

In a 2014 annual audit report obtained recently by The Stan-dard, CoA found that the Army signed a contract with BDM Enter-prises Inc. on March 21, 2013 for the supply of 1,040 combat medi-cal aidman’s kits, 55 sets of medical platoon equipment and 682 mobile medical treatment and transport kits for P37.59 million.

By Florante S. Solmerin

THE Palace came un-der heavy fire Tuesday for covering up human rights violations in Min-danao after it refused to invite UN special rap-porteurs to the country to investigate a spate of killings of lumad leaders whom the military ac-cused of being commu-nist sympathizers.

“Why is the Aquino government refusing to issue invitations to rel-evant UN rapporteurs who want to look into the spate of lumad kill-ings in the Philippines? What is the government trying to hide?” asked Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary-general.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the government cannot accommo-date a request from the UN envoys to visit the country and investi-gate the killings and other human rights abuses against tribesmen in Mindanao.

He said the government was letting its relevant agencies inves-tigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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Support PWD law, Palace urgedGovt...From A1

Romualdez, who au-thored House Bill 1039, said it is about time President Be-nigno Aquino III proves that he cares for PWDs by sign-ing the measure.

“I appeal to the national government to consider my proposal so that we can extend additional genuine assistance to PWDs. This is very important to help their plight,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez issued the statement as the President handed out awards to out-standing persons with dis-abilities and advocates for their welfare during the 2015 Apolinario Mabini Awards in Malacañang Tuesday.

“We applaud the Presi-dent’s recognition to the PWDs. We recognize the fact that he is giving awards to PWDs,” Romualdez said, adding that anything that will promote the welfare of disabled persons is a wel-come development.

Romualdez’s bill seeks to exempt persons with dis-abilities from paying the value-added tax on certain goods and services. The bill was approved on third and final reading in December with an overwhelming 201 votes in the House.

Romualdez appealed to the senators to consider im-mediate action of his pro-posal to ensure the benefits of PWDs in the country.

If passed into law, Ro-mualdez said his measure will benefit the country’s PWDs “who are in dire need of support from the govern-ment because of their condi-tion in life.”

The measure was a sub-stitute bill that included a related one filed by Pasay City Rep. Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

Romualdez earlier wel-comed the support from his fellow lawmakers for the smooth passage of the mea-sure that had been deliberat-ed thoroughly by the House committee on ways and means chaired by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo.

HB 1039 seeks to amend Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability,” as amended by RA 9442, by providing that PWDs shall be exempted from VAT in addition to the 20-percent discount they are already enjoying for the classes of goods and services.

Under the bill, which was co-authored by Abakada party-list Rep. Jonathan de

la Cruz, the VAT exemption for PWDs would apply to medical and dental services; purchases of medicine in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; ad-mission fees charged by the-aters, cinema houses, con-cert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establish-ments, restaurants, and rec-reation centers.

Calixto said her bill is in response to the univer-sal challenge to protect the rights and the welfare of PWDs.

Romualdez said his pro-posal is an equalizing mea-sure because this will accord PWDs exactly the same privilege enjoyed by senior citizens, who are exempted from the VAT by virtue of Republic Act No. 9994.

At the Palace, Aquino la-mented the lack of knowl-edge that some youth exhib-ited when it came to Philip-pine history.

In a speech during the awarding ceremonies for the 2015 Apolinario Mabini Awards, Aquino referred to social media messages about how some students who watched the historical movie “Heneral Luna” did not realize that Apolinario Mabini was a paralytic and asked why he was seated all the time.

“I was really surprised when I heard about this,” Aquino said. “Even though only a few students said this, this is still a reflection of a lack of education about Philippine history,” Aquino said.

Aquino said he had not seen the film, which has been selected as the Philip-pines’ official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 2016 Oscar Awards.

Epy Quizon, the actor who played Mabini in the film, earlier shared his dis-appointment over questions as to why his character was always seated.

Mabini, called the Sub-lime Paralytic and The Brains of the Revolution, was afflicted with polio in 1895. He was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educa-tor, lawyer, and statesman who served as the first prime minister of the Philippines, serving first under the Revo-lutionary Government, and then under the First Philip-pine Republic. With Sandy Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz

LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday urged Malacañang to certify as urgent a measure that seeks to promote the rights and welfare of the country’s persons with disabilities or PWDs.

“BDM Enterprises deliv-ered to the Philippine Army on June 18, 2013 the 1,040 medical kits containing ex-pired and about-to-expire medicine and medical items,” the CoA said.

The CoA said the Army leadership was made aware of the expired supplies but still ordered their distribu-tion to the soldiers.

The warranty certificate dated Oct. 10, 2012 issued by BDM Enterprises Inc. pro-vides that BDM Enterprises Inc. warrants for two years all the items that it shall de-liver, and that the goods are “in good condition, brand new and free from defects.”

The Army could have rejected the expired goods but the acceptance record showed that it received the medical supplies one and a half months after the goods were delivered, CoA said.

When informed by CoA, the then acting command-ing officer of the Army pro-curement center said: “The availability of the concerned personalities in the signing/

approval of the contract is beyond [our] control.”

Despite the various viola-tions and the breach of con-tract, CoA said the Army settled for the replacement of the expired medical supplies.

The supplier admitted the medical supplies were ex-pired and assured the Army that these would be replaced, CoA said.

The CoA said even as early as September 2014, the medical supplies were al-ready found to have expired.

As of June 30, 2015, CoA reported that most of the medical supplies given to the Army soldiers were 100 per-cent expired.

The expired medical sup-plies were 1,040 units of ammonium carbonate at P166.50 per unit or a total of P173,160; 1,040 units of topical antibacterial/cortico-steroid ointment at P455 per unit or a total of P473,200; 104,000 units of chlorphen-eramine maleate (5mg tab-let) at P0.80 per unit or a total of P83,200.

Also 100 percent expired were 5,200 units of sodium hypochlorite (125 mg/ml) at P65 per unit or a total of P338,000; 6,200 IV infusion

sets, macroset at P13.50 per unit or a total of P83,700; and 1,040 units of dry scrub brush at P16 per unit or a to-tal of P16,640.

The 104,000 units of chlo-roquine phosphate (250 mg tab) at P4.08 per unit or a total of P424,320 were 67 percent expired as of June 20, 2015, CoA said.

“BDM Enterprises Incor-poration got a P37.5-million contract to supply the Phil-ippine Army with several medical and items and fa-cilities but failed to follow stipulations in the contract regarding warranty or ex-piration dates of the medi-cine,” CoA reported.

“It only assured a replace-ment of the medicine after the CoA called the attention of the Philippine Army.”

The other medical sup-plies and facilities that the BDM Enterprises Inc. was supposed to deliver included 35 battalion aid stations at P2.64 million; 20 sets of bri-gade treatment facilities for P5.88 million; and 62 sets of mobile medical treatment and transport kits for a total of P6.31 million.

“The warranty or expira-tion of medicines and medi-

cal supplies should not be less than two years based on the contract,” CoA said.

CoA said it inspected 43 of the 1,040 sets of combat medical kit still on stock and discovered that at least sev-en medicines and medical items in the kits were “either expired as early as Septem-ber 2014 or about to expire before the two-year warran-ty period on June 18, 2015.”

Despite being made aware that the medical supplies were already expired, CoA said, “the Operations Group (OG) 4 immediately issued the remaining 43 sets of medi-cal kits based on the directive from Operations Group (OG) 1 dated Feb. 16, 2015.”

“Applying the consistency of the expiry date on the items procured, we made an assumption that the same is true for the items contained in the 997 medical kits with total value of P1.59 million already issued to differ-ent units of the Philippine Army,” CoA said.

“We were informed that the issuance of the medi-cal kits are based on the is-suance directive from the ACS for Logistics, G4,” CoA added.

“What is the DFA doing that is so important that it cannot accommodate re-quests by international hu-man rights defenders who are alarmed by the extraju-dicial killings committed by the AFP and paramilitary groups?” Reyes shot back.

“By refusing to issue invi-tations to relevant UN bod-ies, the Aquino regime is continuing its official cover-up of the gross human rights violations under its watch. The AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP [Philippine National Police] investigations will amount to nothing,” he added.

Earlier, when Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay made public her or-ganization’s request for help from the UN special rappor-teurs, a military spokesman immediately denounced the group’s attempt to “interna-tionalize” the issue and “to vilify” the Armed Forces and the government.

The Commission on Hu-man Rights and the Justice Department have voiced alarm over the killings, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima formed a team to in-vestigate the incidents.

CHR Chairman Chito Gascon debunked the claim of the military that the lu-mad killings were a result of a tribal war.

Notwithstanding the Jus-tice Department investiga-tion, Karapatan and Bayan officials expressed fears of a

whitewash, and noted that De Lima would be unable to meet her commitment to bring those responsible to justice because she is expect-ed to resign shortly to run for senator in 2016.

Reyes also slammed the CHR officials sent to Min-danao who were keen on investigating the reported presence of the communist rebels in lumad communi-ties, and not the killings.

“The CHR probe also ap-pears to be a disappointment for the lumad victims,” Reyes said.

“The results of the DoJ-NBI probe remain uncertain at this point that De Lima is on her way out. In any case, the presence of inter-national investigators would strengthen the cause of hu-man rights… Alas, that is not the concern of this gov-ernment,” he added.

Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan slammed the Aquino administration for the government’s nonstop war on the indigenous communi-ties in Mindanao.

“More than 100 partici-pants of a lumad school cel-ebration are being held by the 68th Infantry Battalion and the Alamara. The armed groups are holding the lu-mad who were planning to celebrate the 11th founda-tion anniversary gathering for the Salugpungan Lumad School and Bwalawan Festi-val,” De Jesus said.

“We strongly condemn this recent case of harass-ment. This is proof that the AFP and paramilitaries con-tinue to operate with impu-

nity,” Ilagan said.De Jesus said Aquino, the

AFP, and the Department of Education headed by Secre-tary Armin Luistro should be held accountable if the slightest harm should befall the teachers, students and parents.

“President Aquino, you can no longer deny that your soldiers are harassing the lumad. Allow the school to hold their activities in peace, and pull out the military and its paramilitary goons to give justice to the deaths of the Salugpungan leaders,” De Jesus said.

Witnesses to the killing of three lumad leaders in Sitio Han-ayan, Lianga town are ready to tell all during Sen-ate hearings in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, on Oct. 1 and 2, said Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

Guingona, who will pre-side over the hearings, said the subcommittee on justice hoped to ferret out the truth behind the grisly killings.

The hearings are also ex-pected to cover earlier killings and the forced displacement of lumad tribes in Mindanao.

An estimated 3,000 dis-placed lumads from five mu-nicipalities have fled to Tan-dag City fearing the escalation of violence allegedly perpe-trated by the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary unit, which has been linked to Army units in the area. The communities they left behind have turned into ghost towns.

Emerito Samarca, a teacher at the Alternative Learning Center for Agri-culture and Livelihood De-velopment, was found in a

classroom with his throat slit on Sept. 1. Dionel Cam-pos, chairman of the Mala-hutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod ; and Bello Sinzo were publicly executed on the same day by heavily armed men.

Surigao del Sur Gov. John-ny Pimentel had asked the Senate to hold its hearings in his province so that more witnesses could participate.

Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV are expected to join Guin-gona during the hearings.

On Tuesday, Save Our Schools and Salinlahi pick-eted the Department of Edu-cation offices in Pasig City to denounce the agency’s alleged plan to shut down lumad schools in Mindanao.

Education officials from Davao del Norte had admit-ted in Senate hearings that there was such a plan and that it had been reached during a meeting with intel-ligence officials.

Reina Requioma, SOS spokeswoman, accused the Education Department of being part of the military’s anti-insurgency campaign, Oplan Bayanihan.

“The DepEd celebrates peace month this September while lumad children, teach-ers and communities contin-ue to live in constant fear from rights abuses of the military and state sponsored paramili-tary groups. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro should first and foremost understand that genuine peace means zero presence of armed forces in schools and communities of the lumad,” Requioma said.

CoA...From A1

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Oath of office. President Benigno Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly installed Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento in Malacañang on Tuesday. With them are former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. Malacañang PhOtO Bureau

Demand. Demonstrators troop to the Senate grounds to demand that Senator Francis Escudero release the committee report on the National Land Use Act. linO SantOS

Binay: I’m confused by survey results

Cayetano says he is running for VP

‘Hocus-PCOS,’ claimsgroup on Roxas’ gain

VICE President Jejomar Binay said Tuesday he was confused by the re-cent opinion polls that presented different results on the presidential candidates preferred by the people surveyed.

Binay said he was extremely puz-zled by the different survey results, citing the Radio Mindanao Network survey in which he topped the ratings while the Social Weather Stations placed him in third spot but was sta-tistically tied with Senator Grace Poe and Manuel Roxas II in the Pulse Asia survey.

Asked if he cared about the num-bers, Binay said he was not really both-ered by them but admitted that those were forcing him to work harder.

Meanwhile, Binay said President Benigno Aquino III could use some mercy and compassion to former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He said Arroyo, who is facing plun-der charges, had not been allowed to post bail and was being kept in deten-tion despite her medical condition.

Arroyo has undergone surgery on her spine for cervical spondylosis, a

condition where the bones of the neck deteriorate and cause a misalignment in the spine.

Binay said the Aquino administra-tion was very vindictive against its political opponents, but he promised there would be no vindictiveness in his administration in case he won the presidency.

He declined to comment if Sena-tor Ferdinand ‘‘Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr., would be his running mate in the 2016 elections but said he was among those being considered by his search committee. Vito Barcelo

SENATE Majority Lead-er Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday announced in Davao City his in-tention to run for Vice President in next year’s elections.

“I am running for vice president of The Repub-lic of The Philippines,” Cayetano said amid the rumors of a Duterte-Cayetano tandem.

“I am putting my faith in God and in our peo-ple, and I am praying for a President who will make us all proud and bring true change to Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.”

Davao City Mayor Ro-drigo Duterte remains undecided if he will be running for President, although he earlier an-nounced he would not be running.

Cayetano said he fi-nally came out with his decision after thinking about it and praying, and with his announcement the Nacionalista Party now has two candidates for vice president.

Senator Antonio Tril-lanes IV has repeatedly said he will be running for vice president even if he is forced to run as an independent candi-date.

“As a party mate, I to-tally respect his decision

and I wish him well,” Trillanes said in a text message in reaction to Cayetano’s announce-ment.

Another NP member, Senator Ferdinand Mar-cos Jr., is eying a higher position in next year’s elections although he has yet to decide wheth-er he will be running for President or vice presi-dent.

Since there are two of them running for the same position, and another might run for President, Senator Cyn-thia Villar, wife of NP founder Manny Villar, said they will end up supporting all of them equally in terms of fund-ing.

“Of course, Senator [Manny] Villar wishes to be neutral because it’s hard to choose among them. That’s why, we will help everyone,” she said.

“We cannot stop them. We cannot prevent them. They are all brave,” said Villar while alluding to Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos.

Cayetano said God had beautiful plans for the Filipino people because “we have a rich country and Filipinos excel and are known in the world.” Macon ramos-araneta

The group called the cheating plan “Hocus-PCOS.”

“They are creating the illusion that the massively unpopular and consistent-ly kulelat[tail-ender] Mar Roxas is gaining momen-tum and will easily beat the other presidential con-tenders come the May 2016 polls,” group chairman Vencer Crisostomo said.

He made his statement even as it appeared that the ruling Liberal Party was running out of a potential running mate for Roxas. LP stalwarts admitted Tuesday that the party leaders were having a hard time convincing Cama-rines Sur Rep. Leni Ro-bredo to accept the offer to

run as the administration’s vice president.

City Rep. Bolet Banal, an LP stalwart, confirmed there will be no fireworks in today’s scheduled LP convention at the LP head-quarters in Balay, Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Metro Ma-nila Development Au-thority chairman Francis Tolentino said he would be submitting his resig-nation letter to President Benigno Aquino III in preparation for his plan to run for senator in next year’s elections.

He made his announce-ment Tuesday in Manila during a meeting with several local government officials from Cavite who

THE group Anakbayan on Wednesday warned of an alleged plan to cheat in the 2016 elections stemming from the appar-ent gain of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II in the presidential prefer-ential polls.

urged him to run for a higher position.

“I accept the challenge and your endorsement and I hereby declare my candidacy for senator,” said Tolentino who re-cently came under fire and was asked to resign by various sectors over the worsening traffic problems in Metro Ma-nila.

Crisostomo on Tuesday asked how the polling body SWS framed its September polls in which it asked the respondents to name three people who they thought would succeed Aquino as President.

Roxas gained six points in the SWS survey and ad-vanced from his previous 15-percent ranking.

“This way, those who don’t support Roxas might be inclined to include him in those three names giv-en that Aquino anointed him,” Crisostomo said.

“On the other hand, ask-ing for only three names would increase Roxas’

share by reducing the number of contenders in the list.”

Crisostomo said despite the people’s growing anger over Aquino’s incompetent handling of the MRT-LRT breakdown, the balikbayan box fiasco and the Mama-sapano massacre among other explosive issues, Roxas still managed to leap in the preferential polls.

He warned that the cheaters were one step nearer in employing the “yellow magic” through the DAP-funded poll fraud and “hocus PCOS” auto-mated poll cheating.

In reaction, said the SWS could better explain his ap-parent rise in the preferen-tial polls and dismissed the claims they would be rig-ging the 2016 polls.

“SWS made that survey. I think it would be bet-ter if they could explain why would their ques-tions be like that,” Roxas said. John Paolo Bencito, Maricel V. cruz and Joel e. Zurbano

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MNLF look forkidnap victims

“The tendency of this government is to collect and collect. It can’t be ‘tax pa more’[even more taxes] all the time.” Marcos told more than a thousand students at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in San Fernando City in La Union.

“What is more important is

‘public service pa more’,” the senator said, noting that Filipinos already pay the highest personal and corporate income taxes in Asia.

Under the National Internal Revenue Code, annual income of more than P500,000 is taxed by the maximum rate of 32 percent. The

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A DAY after putative Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas rejected proposals to cut personal and corporate income taxes, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. slammed the Aquino administration for refusing to extend tax relief to the people despite its failure to deliver basic services.

group said this is high when compared with some other Asean countries.

In peso terms, Marcos noted that Indonesia taxes a 30 percent for yearly income of more than P1.6 million while Malaysia gets 25 percent of income more than P4.3 million. Singapore has the lowest rate of 20 percent for those earning over P10.6 million in a year.

While Vietnam and Thailand charge 35 percent, that rate applies only to those who earn from P2 million and P5.2 million.

The Philippines is also the highest in corporate tax rates with 30 percent compared to the 25 percent of Indonesia

and Malaysia, 22 percent of Vietnam, 20 percent of Thailand and 17 percent of Singapore.

“[But] the people in these countries are not complaining because the roads and highways are adequate, school buildings and classrooms are sufficient, there is peace and order, and all the other basic services are being enjoyed,” Marcos said.

The situation is different in the Philippines because while the people are paying high taxes, government services hardly reach taxpayers, Marcos said.

“I fully support the lowering of income tax. What’s the rationale behind collecting too much tax when the government doesn’t know when and where to spend

it?” he said, adding that the Commission on Audit itself reported that of the P2.72-trillion national budget for 2014, at least P763.84 billion was unspent.

Marcos’ cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, belied the Aquino administration’s claim that income tax cuts will result in P30-billion annual revenue losses because the government may in fact gain P44 billion more from two new revenue sources.

“The truth is, the government will gain the most because the projected P30-billion revenue losses can be augmented by other sources of income plus extending compassion to our ordinary workers,” he said.

No ruling on water supply yetBy Anna Leah E. GonzalesTHE National Water Resources Board or NWRB said on Tuesday it will maintain the current allocation for Metro Manila water concessionaires although the board has decided to conduct more consultations on a possible reduction of allocations.

“The Board did not made a decision on the allocation and decided to have more consultations with the stakeholders. The Board will meet again before end of this month,” said NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr.

“Considering the current level and the strong El Niño, the Board is considering the possible impacts of the allocation of affected users including water supply for Metro Manila if changes will be made,” David added.

NWRB earlier reduced the allocation of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. to 38 cubic meters per second this month from 41 cubic meters per second in July and August.

David said that the reduction aims to

properly manage Angat Dam’s water supply and ensure that there will be enough supply until next year.

As of 6 a.m. yesteday, Angat Dam’s water level was at 189.87 meters, higher by 0.36 meters from Monday’s 189.51 meters.

Due to the reduced water allocation, Maynilad implemented a seven-hour daily water interruption in its concession area. Manila Water also implemented a seven-hour reduced water pressure in the East zone.

Maynilad Water Supply Operations head engineer Ronaldo Padua earlier warned that further reducing the water allocation will result to longer water interruptions in the West zone.

“We are still appealing to NWRB thru Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, to maintain the 38 cms allocation from Angat dam for Metro Manila this October. Shoud NWRB decide to reduce the 38 cms allocation, the current water interruption schedule in the West zone may lengthen, and more customers may be affected,” Padua said.

Grave danger. Illustrating the state of public transportation in the country, passengers overload a public utility jeepney in Midsayap, North Cotabato. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

Marcos rejects ‘tax pa more’

By Francisco TuyayTHE Moro National Liberation Front is already trying to locate the three foreigners and a Filipina who were kidnapped in Samal Island last Sept. 21 although the government has made no official request for assistance.

MNLF Spokesman Absalom Cerveza said they have already asked several MNLF commanders in Sulu for information, but has so far yielded negative results.

“I asked our men in Sulu if there is an ongoing operation relative to the matter but I was told there is none,” Cerveza said, suggesting that reports claiming that the four victims had already been transferred to the custody of the Abu Sayyaf group may just be a “diversionary tactic.”

“It’s because there are so many hands dipping into the issue,” Cerveza said. “We all know its already political season, and we just don’t want to make a move without the government requesting

us to help.” “They should specifically

request the MNLF to assist the government locate the kidnap victims, not just merely saying that any group or individuals are welcome to resolve the crime,” Cerveza said.

He made the remark after Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters that the Palace welcomes the help being offered by the MNLF to rescue the three foreigners and Filipina who were kidnapped by still unidentified men in Samal Island last week.

“The help of any organization or individual to resolve any crime is welcomed by the government,” Coloma said in a text message to Palace reporters. “But we must know the whereabouts of the suspects.”

Cerveza said they are still verifying information that the victims and their captors are now in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf in the hinterlands between Parang and Indanan towns in Sulu.

Warm welcome. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos acknowledge the loud welcome of students of the Rizal Technological University after the senator arrived at the RTU campus on Bonifacio Avenue for a forum on the proposed Bangsamoro autonomy law. EY ACASIO

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SC urged: Stop ‘resurrected’ pork By Rey E. Requejo

The Supreme Court has been asked to stop the Aquino administration from spending P424 billion in lump sum funds embedded in the 2015 General Appropriations Act for being unconstitutional and a circumvention of its ruling against the so-called “pork barrel” funds and lump sum appropriations.

In a petition, the Philippine Constitution As-

sociation headed by Leyte Rep. Martin Romual-dez, along with former Senator Francisco Tatad, former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order enjoining the executive branch from fur-ther implementing Sections 65, 70 and 73 of the 2015 General Appropriations Act and special provisions for special purpose funds.

Philconsa chairman Manuel Lazaro and former Commission on Elections commissioner Manolo Gorospe joined in the filing of the petition, which also pleaded the SC to order the Commission on Audit to issue notices of disallowance to all disbursements and releases from the assailed GAA provisions.

The other petitioners include former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Catholic Archbishops Ramon Arguelles, Fernando Capalla and Romulo De La Cruz.

The petitioners also prodded the high court to issue a show cause order against Congress and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for “flagrant disobedience, resistance and disregard of the decisions of the Supreme Court in the [Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program cases].”

Section 65 of the GAA provides for lump sum appropriations while Section 70 defines savings as portions or balances of any unreleased appropriations in the GAA that were not obligated. Sec. 73, on the other hand, contains Rules in the realignment of allotment classes and reprioritization of items of appropriations.

The petitioner said the tribunal should declare all three provisions as unconstitutional.

“Realignment of allotment classes and repriori-tization of items of appropriations are species and varieties of transfer and augmentation prohibited under Section 25 (5), Article IV of the Constitu-tion,” they said, reiterating the same grounds cit-ed in the SC rulings on the PDAF and DAP cases.

Petitioners said an examination of the 2015 budget showed “scandalous and unconscionable freight” of lump sum appropriations amounting to P424,144,763,000 “cleverly embedded” in nine strategic departments and two agencies of the executive department, which the group said were “highly vulnerable to the whirligig of transactional, rent-seeking and patronage politics.”

‘Piatco not entitled to interest award’ ThE Aquino administration has asked the Supreme Court to modify its decision award-ing just compensation to the Philippine International Air Terminals Company Inc., saying Piatco is not entitled to receive the amount of $326.93 million as payment for the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Air-port-International Passenger Terminal III.

In a motion for recon-sideration, Solicitor General Florin hilbay pleaded the SC to delete the award of inter-ests to Piatco in the amount of $242,810,918.54.

Solicitor General also asked the Court to deduct the amount of $113,944,044, representing non-compliance with contract

specifications by Piatco, from the principal amount of com-pensation due.

The chief state lawyer also urged the high court to fix the just compensation for Piatco at $163,959,441 less the proffered value of $59,438,604 already paid to Piatco.

“This is not an expropriation of land, but of a depreciating improvement on land. Thus, in fixing just compensation, the honorable Court must take into account the fact that the government is taking property that is losing value over time,” hilbay said.

The Solicitor General stressed that to impose a 12-percent interest would be tantamount to allowing Piatco to profit by its own misdeeds.

“If Piatco had not violated the laws, the government would have had a guaranteed return of P17.75 billion and the public would not have been se-verely inconvenienced for more than 10 years with an unfin-ished airport,” the chief state lawyer said.

hilbay noted that while the government is willing to pay just compensation, the Court should not overlook that there are other claimants who are interested in a portion of just compensation.

Among these claimants were Fraport, an equity investor of Pi-atco for the NAIA IPT III project; and Takenaka and Asahiko-san, the subcontractors which actually built the NAIA IPT II facility. R. Requejo

Peña charged with cake overpricing ACTING Mayor Romulo Peña of Makati City is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged overpriced cakes for the elders.

In a 47-page complaint, former Makati Vice Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Brillante accused Peña of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over a contract he entered into with Goldilocks Inc., and the cancellation of the city’s old contract with Timstate/Bakerite Food and Beverage Corp.

Brillante also alleged that Peña violated the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Peña brushed aside the charges as

“absurd and baseless.” his spokesman said the case was a desperate attempt to smear Peña. “We have observed all measures as far as practicable to ensure transparency,” said Peña’s spokesman, Gilbert delos Reyes.

The complaint sheet stated that Peña awarded a contract of P8.666 million to Goldilocks Inc. to supply 31,187 cakes for the city’s senior citizens from August to December 2015 at P280 each cake, Brillante said.

While the Goldilocks cake is P26 lower than the Bakerite cake, the former is nine inches in diameter but only two inches in height, which is half the height of

Bakerite’s, he added. The city government paid P3.036

million more than it should pay for the same volume of cakes, he noted. Brillante urged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to place the acting mayor under preventive suspension.

Earlier in August last year, the cake issue cropped up during a Senate Blue Ribbon subcomittee hearing where Vice President Jejomar Binay was accused of overpricing the cakes supplied to senior citizens of Makati. Binay denied the charges, saying these were fabricated to raise malicious and baseless allegations to smear him and his family. Rio Araja and J. Zurbano

Philconsa officers along with former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno (second from right) hold copies of the group’s petition asking the Supreme Court to stop the administration from implementing the 2015 national appropriations that allegedly circumvented the SC decision declaring the ‘pork barrel’ as unconstitutional. From left: Philconsa executive vice president Manolo Gorospe, Philconsa chairman Manuel Lazaro and former Senator Francisco Tatad LINO SANTOS

Miss World aspirants. Candidates for the Miss World Philippines put their best foot forward on Tuesday Sept. 29 during the press presentation at the Solaire Hotel and Casino in Pasay City. Pageant night will be on Oct. 18. DANNY PATA

A6

‘Economy, not citizenship, at stake’

Thus said Malabon Rep. Jaye Lacson-Noel, who on Tuesday slammed the personalities and politicians behind the “artifi-cial citizenship issues” of Poe, lamenting that “if these people were really concerned about the country, then they would fo-cus on the real problems of our countrymen: high prices and jobs.”

The Malabon lawmaker referred to the citizenship issues of Poe as “artificial” as these were only brought up “now that she is the frontrunner in presidential polls,” and were never even mentioned

when she ran for senator.“My constituents in Malabon are

just like everyone else in our coun-try. They are worried about how to make ends meet with what little they make because they want more affordable goods and better-paying jobs,” explained the solon.

“But rather than discuss these issues, the other political camps are more focused on getting the presidential frontrunner disquali-fied rather than figuring out how to improve the lives of our citizens,” Noel said.

A June 2015 survey conduct-ed by Pulse Asia showed that

“Senator Grace Poe’s political opponents are con-cerned about winning, not leading. They forget this election is about the lives of 100 million citi-zens, not about the citizenship of one person.”

60,000 foreigners face ouster—Mison

Villar hails judge’s sacking over smuggle try

By Vito Barcelo MoRe than 60,000 for-eigners in the country may be considered illegal aliens and face possible deportation should they fail to take part in the Bureau of Immigration’s Alien Registration Pro-gram which will end on Sept. 30, 2015.

The ARP program, which started oct. 1 last year, processed only 460 foreign nationals who have overstayed or have incomplete papers.

The foreign nation-als were given a 90-day deferred administrative action to allow them to comply with require-ments set by the BI.

“This one-year assis-tance to foreign nation-als allowed us to assist those with improper im-migration documents to regularize their stay in the Philippines,” Immi-gration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said.

Most of the foreign nationals who availed of the program have been previously victimized by fixers and have families in the Philippines.

one applicant who have overstayed for 18 years was allowed to reg-ularize his stay without being blacklisted.

Mison warned that the BI will no longer extend the same level of leniency to erring foreign nation-als after the end of the ARP period.

“Thus, any foreign national who is found to have violated the im-migration laws shall im-mediately be deported,” Mison said.

47 percent of Filipinos are most concerned with the country’s in-flation while 46 percent are con-cerned with workers’ pay.

According to the survey, wages, jobs and high prices are the only issues considered urgent by ma-jorities across geographic areas and socio-economic classes.

Noel added that the case filed against Poe in the Senate electoral Tribunal was part of a concerted ef-fort to pull down the leading presi-dential candidate “and distract us from the real issues.”

The legislator commended Poe and her running mate Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” escudero for “presenting a concrete platform of governance that addresses the twin issues of jobs and high prices.”

“So far, the focus of their cam-paign is presenting their vision for

the country, and this shows they are truly in touch with the needs of our people.”

Meanwhile, the Commission on elections said that the agency has no power to prevent Poe from fil-ing her Certificate of Candidacy to run for president in the May 2016 polls despite facing a disquali-fication case before the Senate elec-toral Tribunal.

In a press conference, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said Poe is free to file her CoC from oct. 12 to 16 since it is the “min-isterial” duty of the poll body to accept applications of aspirants for public posts.

The poll chief said this does not mean that Poe will be automatically included in the list of candidates since a disqualification may still be filed against her. Sara Fabunan

Price hike. Construction materials are stockpiled at a depot in Pasig on Tuesday. According to Cement Manufacturers’ Association president Ernesto Ordoñez, building materials are expected to increase with the onset of ‘ber’ months when construction work starts to pick up. JanSen RomeRo

Wednesday: sept emb er 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

[email protected]

Harbor Link. Manila North Tollways Corp. president and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco (right) shares a light moment with Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchal-ian (middle) and MNTC vice president for construction management services Nemesio G. Castillo during a briefing on the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 project at the Valenzuela City Hall. The briefing was done after Gatchalian and other City officials toured Segment 10 construction site in San Francisco, Valenzuela City (inset photo). The project tour and briefing aims to update stakeholders on the construction and benefits of P10-billion Segment 10 project. Segment 10 is a 5.65-kilometer all-elevated roadway from MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela to Malabon and C3 road in Caloocan up to Road 10 in Navotas. Franco said that along with NLEX Harbor Link Segment 9 in Karuhatan (now operational), Segment 10 will improve commerce and enhance travel efficiency in Valenzuela City.

Former anti-smuggling czar and now Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Antonio “Bebot” Vil-lar Jr. hailed the Supreme Court decision suspending Pasig City regional Trial Court Branch 167 Judge rolando mislang for six months without pay for gross ig-norance of the law.

“We are not particular with the number of years of waiting as long as the justice we have had sought is delivered, and, that Judge mislang is proved wrong in releasing the seized smuggled diamonds worth mil-lions of pesos, depriving the government millions of pesos in duties and taxes,” Villar said.

The suspension order against

mislang is triggered by the ad-ministrative case filed by for-mer director Jeffrey Patawaran of the defunct Presidential An-ti-Smuggling Group.

Patawaran filed charges against mislang for ordering the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to release to China-born British national Tiu Sing Alpha Kwok the seized diamonds and pieces of jewelry.

Patawaran believed that mis-lang should not have dismissed the case against Kwok or or-dered the release of the seized jewelry.

The High Tribunal upheld Pa-tawaran saying that mislang’s order “are devoid of any com-

petence to pass upon the valid-ity or regularity of seizure and forfeiture proceedings conducted by the Bureau of Customs or to enjoin or otherwise interfere with these proceedings.”

It added that mislang should have known that the “forfeiture of seized goods in the BoC is a proceeding against the goods and not against the owner.”

Kwok was arrested by PASG in Pasig City in August 2009, but the case against her for violating Sections 3601 and 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philip-pines was dismissed by mis-lang on the ground of insuffi-ciency of evidence.

A7W E D N E S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

[email protected]

Gunmen kill barangay chief, wound husband

A police report received here by Sr. Supt. John E. Enguerra, police provincial director, identified the fatality as Riza S. Gablines, 46, barangay chief of Sicayab Bucanat

and her wounded husband as Mar-lon Gablines, 48.

The report said the couple, who own a market stall at the Dipolog City Central Barangay Market,

were onboard their blue Mitsubishi Strada on their way home to Dapi-tan when they noticed two persons following them.

When the Gablineses reached Purok Kawayan at Barangay Li-yang, Dapitan, the two men over-took them and blocked their way. One of the men then fired several times at the couple’s vehicle.

Police said the suspects, who sped towards an unknown direc-tion after shooting, may be hired gunmen.

Marlon, then wounded, drove to the nearby house of the Barangay Liyang chairman to seek help.

The Liyang official and his neighbors rushed the wounded couple to the Dipolog North Hos-pital at barangay Turno. Riza, who was hit on the head and neck, was declared dead on arrival. Her hus-band was given immediate treat-ment.

Police are currently eyeing on some possible motives of the inci-dent, including business rivalry.

Police search for missing fisherman in PangasinanAGNO, Pangasinan—A f lash alarm was issued by the Pangasinan Police Of-fice Tuesday for a fisherman from Agno town reported missing for almost four days now since going on a fishing expedition in the West Philippine Sea.

A police report stated that Rodel Rivera, 35, has not re-turned home since leaving shore on a fishing expedition at past midnight of Sept. 26 on board his own green fish-ing boat with markings of Agno, Pangasinan on its side.

Cherry Naranja, Rivera’s sister, said her brother has

not returned home since he went to fish in the West Phil-ippine Sea.

There was no gale warn-ing in Pangasinan that day as Typhoon “Jenny” did not affect any part of the country but the water could have been rough in the high seas.

Rivera was last seen wear-ing a green sweat shirt and short pants on that day he left the shore of Agno.

The Agno police has called on the public to call them at cellphone number 09153157519 for any up-dates on the missing fisher-man. PNA

San Fernando City now a lone district

Happy holidays! This woman, like many Filipinos, welcomes the Christmas season as soon as the ‘ber’ months kick in. AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

By A. Perez Rimando

CAMP HAMAC, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte —A female village chief of Dapitan City was killed while her hus-band was seriously wounded when their car was fired upon by unidentified men aboard a motorcycle Sunday evening.

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Repre-sentatives has approved on second reading a bill separating the City of San Fernando from the Third Legislative Dis-trict of the Province of Pampanga to constitute the Lone Legislative District of the City of San Fernando.

House Bill 6140, which substituted House Bill 2734 authored by Pam-panga Rep. Oscar Rodri-guez, ensures equitable representation for the inhabitants of the City of San Fernando in the leg-islature and the national government.

Rodriguez welcomed the passage of the bill, saying the increasing population and the po-tential for economic growth and development of the City of San Fer-nando more than justi-fies the call for its own representative in the halls of Congress.

“Today, the City of San Fernando is home to large shopping malls and supermarkets, such as SM City Pampanga, Robinsons Mall, Walter Mart, Puregold and SNR Membership shopping,” Rodriguez said.

He said it also serves as one of the agricultur-al processing center of Central Luzon, a major rice-producing region. It is likewise an important sugar-producing area, wherein the Pampanga Sugar Development Company, the major sugar processing plant in the region, is located.

There are other manu-facturing companies in the city such as Universal Ro-bina Corp., Zuellig Pharma Corp., Nestlé Philippines, Petropil, Mondragon In-dustries, Asia Brewery and Del Monte Corp.

Poster child. Khasmira Tuangkali, a grade-six student from Tenorio Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, won top awards during the ARMM on-the-spot mosaic poster-making contest. OMAR MANGORSI

OPINIONA8

[ EDI TORI A L ]

NOT WORTH CONTINUING

A9ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R

W E D N E S D AY: S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

TOLENTINO’S QUEST

IN THE WINNING

CIRCLE

Continued on A11

RUNNING on a platform of continuity, Liberal Party candidate Manuel Roxas II confirmed this week that he is ready to carry over all the worst possible aspects of his political patron’s administra-tion into his own if he is elected President in 2016.

Callousness, arrogance and ineptitude spring to mind.Asked to comment this week on bills in Congress to lower income taxes rates, Roxas made it

abundantly clear that like President Benigno Aquino III, he cares very little for hardworking wage earners from the low- and middle-income classes, who bare an inordinate share of the tax burden.

Filipino workers already pay the highest income taxes in the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the Tax Management Association of the Philippines, one of 18 large business groups that have petitioned President Aquino to reconsider his opposition to lowering the tax rates.

But in dismissing out of hand the two bills pending in Congress, Roxas failed to show any em-pathy for the pain felt by millions of middle-class wage earners who see one-third of their salaries go to the government—for very little in return by way of efficient public services or infrastructure.

After almost six years in power, this administration has failed miserably in providing the most basic of public services, such as keeping the trains running on time and the traffic moving on our streets beyond first gear. Yet, candidate Roxas does not see the relationship between taxes and pub-lic service, and reduces the issue to politics.

“It’s easy for us to grandstand, for us to say that we should not collect taxes, that taxes should be zeroed-in. But what are the programs that will be sacrificed?” he said.

The response showed not only Roxas’ arrogance and callousness, but also his readiness to bend the truth.

For the record, candidate Roxas needs to be reminded that no one is suggesting that taxes not be collected or “zeroed-in,” whatever that means. In fact, if he were not as closed-minded as the President, he would realize that lowering the tax rates could broaden the tax base by encouraging more people to pay their taxes.

“How many youths will not have their classrooms? How many of our countrymen will not ben-efit from PhilHealth? How many will be slashed from the 4Ps [the government’s dole program]?” Roxas continued.

The argument is nonsensical to all but the most gullible.The 4Ps program is a questionable dole program that sucks up tens of billions of pesos in tax-

payer money every year only to reward joblessness and encourage mendicancy. We should not be worried about slashing from the 4Ps, we should rejoice—because the money could be better spent on sustainable programs that actually help the poor by giving them jobs.

Also by the Finance Department’s own estimates, the government would lose only about P30 billion in tax revenues if either of the tax bills were passed. In contrast, this administration has been underspending to the tune of P500 billion from 2011 to 2014 or an average of P125 billion a year. Those classrooms and PhilHealth benefits that candidate Roxas refers to could easily be cov-ered by the money the Aquino administration did not spend.

Finally, candidate Roxas holds out the promise of “a responsible” review of all taxes and imposi-tions of the government.

Such a review, however, must begin with a clear acknowledgement that for far too long, our low- and middle-income wage earners have been bearing an unfair burden, and that is they deserve some relief. Candidate Roxas does not even deign to make such an acknowledgment.

Some things in this world are worth continuing; this administration’s insensitivity and inepti-tude clearly are not.

I don’t know why Tolentino will run,

unless he has calculated that he will win even

if he fails to get a single vote in Metro

Manila.

LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES

BACK CHANNEL

ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

PULSE Asia in its latest survey listed 14 candidates for the Senate landing in the Magic 12. Included in the winning column are reelectionists Vicente Sotto, Serge Osmeña, Ralph Recto, Ferdinand Marcos. Jr., Senate President Franklin Drilon, returning senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon and Francis Pangilinan (who resigned as presidential assistant on food security), resigned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, who’s being groomed as Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas’ VP running mate, did not make it to the Magic 12. What does that say about pulling votes for Mar if she can’t make it to the winners’ circle as senator, a national position? It may be why Leni prefers to run for reelection in her CamSur district, where she is sure of winning.

Senator Bongbong Marcos though has not made up his mind on whether to run for reelection or seek higher office. There are talks he’s being wooed by Vice President Jejomar Binay to be his running mate. Marcos, however, might yet decide to go after bigger prize—the presidency—before the filing of certificates of candidacy deadline on Oct. 12. Next week, therefore, is being watched by everybody. Bongbong Marcos’ decision on his political plans could change the political mix in 2016.

Personally, I would like to see Dick Gordon return to the Senate. I’m not really too keen about a Manny Pacquiao in the Senate. He should just stick to boxing or at the very least run for governor of his home province in Sarangani. But because of our voters’ penchant to elect popular candidates, it would not be too far-fetched when we might see the Aldub team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza also elected as senators of the realm.

“God, what a country, only in the Philippines!” to borrow phrases from two other columnists who are neighbors on this page. And if I may add two other lines such as “we deserve the government that we get” and “we have seen the enemy, and it is us.”

Issues left to next administration Whoever takes over as President after

the next elections will have to deal with issues and pending bills left by the Aquino administration. There are at least four major issues the next government will grapple with. Foremost of these issues is the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law whose passage looks dim in the Senate even if the House is being nudged by President Aquino who wants it approved before he exits on June 30, 2016.

IT’S A common perception, I know. How can the government keep saying that we are doing so well when so many people feel that just making it through the day under a regime of ever-escalating prices and f lat wages has never seemed so hard?

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas yesterday forecast of-ficial inf lation numbers for the month of August at between

0.2 percent to 1 percent, which is expected to slow the erosion of buying power for the first eight months, pegged at 1.7 percent, even more. Overall, expected inf lation for the en-tire year will easily be lower than the government’s target of 2 to 4 percent for all of 2015.

But at the same time, the latest Pulse Asia survey found that the two biggest concerns of the ordinary Filipino are—wait for it—inf lation and stag-nant wages. How can official inf lation, or the loss of money’s power to purchase goods, be so low when people are united in

complaining about their lack of money to pay for their most basic needs?

No wonder the Aquino ad-ministration will have nothing to do with tax breaks or even adjusting a 19-year-old tax scheme for, yes, inf lation. If all you hear are glowing figures, I guess you’d be convinced that the economy is in such great shape, too.

Until, of course, you leave government and stop living off the taxpayer’s dime. Then you’d certainly join the mil-lions struggling to make ends meet day to day, as well.

* * *Speaking of detachment from

reality, you have to hand it to the King of Carmageddon, Francis Tolentino. Like Yaya Dub, he’s all about “sa tamang panahon.”

Tolentino yesterday an-nounced that, against all odds, he is seeking a seat in the Senate next May. But he still doesn’t know enough to resign before declaring his inten-tions, as if he intends to milk his position as chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority for whatever it’s worth before going on his run for the upper chamber of Congress.

It was not so long ago, I think, when people running for office resigned before of-

ficially declaring themselves available for an elective position. But I guess Tolentino never heard of such a thing.

Just last week, to prove that he is a man of impeccable timing and vote-getting, Tolentino issued a warning to a motorist who caught a traffic enforcer on video in the act of mulcting that he could be held liable for violating anti-wiretapping laws. I guess he was counting on the votes of the small army of traffic enforcers in his agency’s employ, while forgetting that he had just alienated many more

voters who were aghast that the MMDA chairman would take the side of an extortionist caught on video in f lagrante delicto rather than side with the apparent victim of a crime.

Prior to this, Tolentino’s foolhardy (there is simply no other way to describe it) quest for a Senate seat got under way along traffic-clogged Osmena Highway in Manila, where volunteers distributed leaf lets to gridlocked motorists featuring his smiling mug with his unusual slogan of “Tulong Tino.” It’s a wonder the motorists and

commuters didn’t lynch the chairman’s leaf let-mongers on the spot.

Going back a bit further, Tolentino was already stripped of his main func-tion of unclogging vehicular traffic on Edsa and other major metropolitan roads when the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group was placed in charge of the job. And soon after, and to no one’s sur-prise, a couple of HPG cops were ac-cused of mauling an MMDA enforcer for letting some motorists they had apprehended off scot free.

Continued on A11

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

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Global 5000 which bought P9 billion of government shares of Meralco was not “an Ongpin company,” but rather an investment ve-hicle of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. with five di-rectors formed to acquire the Meralco shares held by Government Financial Institutions or GFIs. Global 5000 directors were Ongpin, businessman Iñigo Zobel, condiments king Joselito Campos Jr. and two other San Miguel representatives.

But, Santa Banana, more importantly, as Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin said in a statement from Europe where he is on a business trip, why was he singled out among 20 other indi-viduals by the Office of the Ombudsman?

Ongpin said the mar-ket price of Meralco then was P57 per share when the GFIs sold their state to Global 5000 in 2009. Global 5000, however, offered to acquire the shares at P90 apiece, or a 57.8-percent premium over the stock market price at that time.

“Moreover, the cost of acquisition of these shares by the GFIs was less than P20 per share. So they were happy to do this transac-tion which enabled them quintuple their invest-ments. It was obviously a great deal for the GFIs,” Ongpin said.

Ongpin continued: There is nothing irregular about a company using an acquisition vehicle; it is standard practice. As a

matter of fact, the owner-ship of PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) and MPIC (Metro Pacific Investments Corp.) in Meralco which is now the controlling share-holder group is held by a similar acquisition compa-ny called Beacon. Ongpin added that the GFIs did not doubt the financial ca-pabilities of Global 5000 because they knew it was a San Miguel acquisition vehicle.

“At no time did I benefi-cially own a single share of Meralco. I was only acting on behalf on San Miguel in being a director of Global 5000 as well as Iñigo Zobel, Joselito Campos Jr. and two other San Miguel nomi-nees,” Ongpin continued.

I was surprised when

the name of Bobby Ongpin made headlines last week because six or seven years ago, I knew that the GFIs made a lot of money out of that deal.

My own sources told me that some people close to Malacañang hate the guts of Ongpin, who was also accused of a “behest loan” from the Development Bank of the Philippines, but was soon exonerated.

I’m also told that President Aquino was in-formed about Ongpin’s association with Vice President Binay and Senator Chiz Escudero (recall that the Chiz and Heart Evangelista had a grand wedding at Balesin Island Club), a friendship that dates back to many years.

OPINIONW E D N E S D AY: S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

A10

THE latest Pulse Asia sur-vey on senatorial candi-dates shows that it will be a tight race for newbies as-piring for the Senate. There are only four or five slots available for them in next year’s national elections.

The survey shows that incumbent senators al-ready occupy the first to the seventh places with Senator Tito Sotto rank-ing no. 1 followed by for-mer Senator Ping Lacson, Senator Bongbong Marcos (unless he opts to run for the vice presidency with Vice President Jojo Binay).

In fourth to sixth plac-es were Senate President Franklin Drilon, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Senator Ralph Recto. Former Senator Migs Zubiri took seventh to ninth place, followed

by boxing champion Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Senator Serge Osmeña ranking seventh to 13th place.

Former Senator Dick Gordon and Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, son of former Senate President Manny Villar, ranked eight to 14th, respectively.

It’s all about name recall. This is particularly true about Pacquiao and for-mer senators like Zubiri and Gordon. And that’s the reason why even former Senator Jamby Madrigal and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima are taking the ninth and 14th places.

In fact, Comelec re-cords show that among the “masa” voters, they vote at the most only six and sev-en senatorial candidates, unless they are categorized under the so-called com-mand votes relying on sample ballots.

De Lima is the perfect example of name recall. She is included in the Pulse Asia survey because among the Aquino Cabinet members, she is the most

exposed to media. Pacquiao will certainly

make it, considering his media exposure here and abroad, and not because he deserves to be senator.

* * *Speaking of rankings,

while Senator Grace Poe is still ahead, with administration candidate Mar Roxas and Vice President Binay statistically tied with 20 and 19 percent, respectively.

Senator Poe’s citizenship is like a Sword of Damocles hanging over her head. A lot of things can happen with nine months to go until Election Day.

With a dark horse like Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also likely to run for President, the votes for Mar and Grace, identified with President Aquino and his administration, may go for Duterte. The Palace represents everything that the Aquino administra-tion is not. Strong-willed and hard on criminal-ity, Duterte can certainly change the equation!

Insofar as poll surveys are concerned, they rep-resent the people’s senti-ments at a given time. This can still change. Don’t forget that elections are always local, meaning that sentiments of local voters dominate. They will ask: What’s in it for me? Will this or that candidate im-prove my family’s life? And in case I need help, can I approach him or her?

Poll surveys are just that, surveys.

I’d rather go for the house-to-house surveys of the Iglesia ni Cristo where the INC deacons or minis-ters submit their findings in a “samba” three or four days before Election Day.

I know this for a fact when in 2004, the Iglesia went for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo against the very popu-lar movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. The late Ka Imon Cuevas, a stalwart of the INC told me that the Iglesia went for GMA because its survey nationwide indicat-ed Gloria would win.

We, in The Standard, had wanted to make it a headline two days before Election Day, but, Gloria pleaded with me not to. The rest is history.

* * *When a national broad-

sheet headlined: “Ongpin et al probed on Meralco sale,” I was surprised be-cause I had been told be-fore that it was a “great deal,” with government earning billions of pesos.

For one thing, the

THE GREAT DEAL

THE GREATEST POPEPOPE Francis’ 10-day (Sept. 19-27, 2015) trip in the Americas—four days in Cuba and six days in the United States—reinforced what a billion Catholics and perhaps a few hundred million more non-Cath-olics should be thinking about by now and embrace—he is the great-est pope of the modern times.

Francis, aka Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 78, is the first pope from Latin America, the first pope from the Americas, the first non-Europe-an pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first named after Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the poor, peasants and fishermen.

In a world with more than 1.23 billion Catholics, no pope in recent memory has wielded more power and influence over millions more people, many more world leaders, many more countries, and on many more issues than Pope Francis. And that includes the six previous popes before him, two of whom, John XXIII and John Paul II, Francis canonized as saints.

What accounts for Pope Francis’ greatness?

One reason is humility. Francis disdains the trappings of power, and the pomp and circumstance that world leaders often succumb to. The former club bouncer, jani-tor and chemist seems uncomfort-able in the presence of powerful and pompous men, especially the politicians. He is even more uneasy when showered with ceremonies and perks fit for kings, presidents, sheiks, sultans, high-profile diplo-mats and tycoons.

But his eyes light up, his mood brightens, and his smile breaks into almost a guffaw in the presence of children and women. He weeps for victims of abuse and injustice, the poor, dispossessed. Often, he ends his prayers with a plea—“please pray for me.”

Francis’ father was Italian. But he was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Dec. 17, 1936. He be-came a priest at 33, the archbishop of Buenos Aires at 62, a cardinal at 65, and pope at 76.

Francis’ humility and fidelity to Catholic doctrines endow him with tremendous moral authority.

Less than one year after his elec-tion, Pope Francis was named Time

magazine’s “Person of the Year” and received top media coverage around the world. Francis easily eclipsed media coverage given Chinese lead-er Xi Jingping who was visiting the US at almost the same time he was making his pilgrimage.

His Twitter accounts in nine languages has more than 14 mil-lion followers. He is more widely re-tweeted than any other world leader. “That should count as a mea-sure of greatness,” argues Rev. Larry Snyder, vice president for mission at the University of St.Thomas in Minnesota and a former president of Catholic Charities USA.

Father Snyder says: “I suspect that when people think of Pope Francis, the first things that come to mind are images burned into memory be-cause of their messages’ sheer pow-er: Pope Francis washing and kissing the foot of a young Muslim woman in a detention center; Francis fully embracing a man with extreme de-formities; Francis playfully placing a mischievous young boy on the papal chair, as a doting grandfather might.”

“With images such as these, Pope Francis teaches us and challenges us. At the center of his teaching and concern are the poor. Has anyone tried to count the times that Francis has specifically referenced the poor? Has he ever spoken about social or economic realities without his point of reference—how the poor are far-ing? Without a doubt, he holds each and every one of them in his heart.”

Snyder says Pope Francis’ “most powerful teaching is by his ac-tions. He shows us what we are to do by giving us an example. He goes where no pope has gone before and bids us to follow him. It is here that we see his vision of a church and a world fully engaged in the messi-ness of life bringing the message of God’s mercy to where it is needed most: the brokenness of human life,” explains Father Snyder. “A recurring theme is the responsibility of the economy to respond to the cries of

the underprivileged who struggle to survive and of families to provide a future of hope and opportunity for their children.”

Father Snyder says “the overarch-ing theme in Francis’ teaching is inclusion. Those deemed worthless or thrown away are held up as be-ing of inestimable value. They are the poor. But they also are those who are mentally challenged, those who are physically disabled, those who are in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. Like the prophets of long ago, Pope Francis measures our society by how we treat the least among us.”

Snyder believes Francis “is chang-ing the papacy and changing our world for the better. At the very least, he is the new patron saint of the poor and forgotten. And, to me, that is a sure measure of greatness.”

Having addressed the US Congress and the United Nations and drawn huge crowds, the Pope was asked by a journalist: “Do you feel more powerful?”

“I don’t know if I had success, no,” the Pope replied, in a talk with news-men on board the return plane to Rome last week. “But I am afraid of myself. Why am I afraid of myself? I feel always weak in the sense of not having power and also, power is a fleeting thing, here today, gone to-morrow. It’s important if you can do good with power. And Jesus defined power, the true power is to serve, to do service, to do the most humble services. I must still make progress on this path of service because I feel that I don’t do everything I should do. That’s the sense I have of power.”

Is it good for the Church if the Pope is a star?

The Pope must not be a star, he cautioned, blaming media for mak-ing him a rock star. The right title, he said, is “servant of the servants of God.”

“It’s a little different from the stars. Stars are beautiful to look at. I like to look at them in the summer when the sky is clear. But the Pope must be, must be the servant of the servants of God. How many stars have we seen that go out and fall. It is a fleeting thing. On the other hand, being servant of the servants of God is something that doesn’t pass.”

The transaction

earned a lot of money for the government.

TO THE POINT

EMIL P. JURADO

VIRTUAL REALITY

TONYLOPEZ

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A11W E D N E S D AY: S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

CRUNCH TIME

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CHONG ARDIVILLA#FAILOCRACY

WITH 16 days before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy, leaders who would be presidents, vice presidents, or other elective offices are now in a frenzy. Alliances are being forged and combinations discussed with intensity.

As we go to press, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano just an-nounced in Davao City that he is running for vice president in the forthcoming elections. Why he chose Davao as venue for his an-nouncement gave rise to specu-lations that he is teaming up with its city mayor, Rodrigo Duterte.

Wednesday last week, he was in the Palace and spoke to President Aquino, where, per a radio interview of the young senator, he spoke about his in-tention to go for Numero Dos. Before that, both the Senate President and the Speaker pub-licly endorsed him as an ideal VP teammate of the ruling party’s Mar Roxas. But it seems both the presidential candidate and El PNoy was rather cold to the idea.

Not that Alan himself was applying for the post. But in an effort to keep the administration coalition intact for the coming

contest, Alan’s name was bruited about as a fit for Mar, now that Senator Grace has publicly scorned their entreaties for her to team up with their standard bearer. But similarly, parallel efforts were being publicly exerted to convince the one-term congresswoman from Camarines Sur, Leni Robredo, to be Mar’s partner.

Why the LP and their spokes-persons discuss in public their options and the “courtship” that goes with their selection, is be-yond me. To paraphrase VP Binay, it looks like there really is a dearth of sensitivity within the ruling party’s leadership. In or-der to project strength, they pa-rade their options, as if sila ang hinahabol ng lahat.

So Alan declared his run, beat-ing the LP to the draw. The ruling party first announced they would announce their VP and senato-rial candidates today, the last day of September. But yesterday afternoon, they announced that today their National Executive Council, or whatever appellation they have for it, would only meet today, and announcements will be made by Oct. 5.

Is Leni not yet “in the bag”? Are her children steadfast in their objection to her being

drafted to the “big time” for which she publicly in very humble demeanor said she is not prepared? Will a PNoy “pakiusap” change Leni’s mind and soften her children’s hearts?

Meanwhile, Digong Duterte is still “soul-searching” whether or not to run for the top post. As Cayetano himself described it, “there is a genuine people’s clamor for Duterte.” And the tale of the surveys seems to confirm that, for despite repeated disavowals of ambition and intent, Duterte’s numbers have been steady instead of an expected decline.

Meanwhile too, last year’s frontrunner, VP Jojo, is having problems looking for a vice presidential candidate. Senator Bongbong Marcos, whom he is publicly courting, is also uncertain. And Senator Greg Honasan has publicly declined the offer as well, although insiders in the UNA say it’s only a matter of time. Similarly, beyond a few relatively undistinguished names, there seem to be little takers for a senatorial slot in the UNA ticket.

The only certain ticket is Grace y su Queso, but the whole candidacy may be suddenly upset by an adverse decision in

the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Meanwhile, the traditional

flags of convenience, NPC and NUP, have been sizing up the presidential candidates in several meetings. In the case of the latter, which is the temporary “shelter” of former Lakas politicians associated with the former president, who to hitch their wagons onto went through a day of “consultations” with VP Jojo and Mar, as well as Bongbong of the Nacionalista party. One NUP official was quite open about their conditions for support: “It’s not their platforms; it’s what they have to offer our party leaders and members.”

In short, what’s in it for us.Crunch time. And there are

just two weeks left.This space maintains what

we have been stating since May: it’s going to be a four-way fight for the presidency, excluding of course the “also-rans.” But there could be five or six vice presidential candidates. Now what happens when the unexpected happens, such as when the SET or beyond that, the Comelec decides negatively about the citizenship and residency requirements of the so-called front-runner, would be the discombobulating factor.

SO I SEE

LITOBANAYO

In the...From A9

The Senate and the House set a Dec. 16 deadline for the BBL’s passage but it still looks iffy with legislators already campaigning for reelection or seeking higher office.

Relative to the BBL is justice sought for the 44 PNP Special Action Force commandos massacred in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by combined elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The MILF has warned government troops not to enter rebel-held areas to serve the arrest warrants on the rebels the justice department named as respondents in the incident. This is a difficult task with the perpetrators still at large; the MILF takes care of its own. Surrendering them to the government would prejudice the very existence of its organization.

The SAF commandos are

casualties of war. If anyone should be made to account for their deaths, it should be commander-in-chief Aquino and his suspended PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisma whom the President assigned to direct the ill-fated police operation.

Another measure already dead in the water is the Freedom of Information Bill. It needs needs revisiting after Aquino promised its passage but reneged on it after media gave him no quarters in the five years of his bumbling, pork-barrel laden watch.

The Anti-Dynasty Bill which has been pending for decades in Congress also needs attention if the political playing field is to be leveled. But what traditional politician would enact a bill that would emasculate him and prevent his family from perpetuating their rule?

Charter change is another vital measure that has to be revisited to keep up with the

times. Aside from revising the law on foreign investment, a federal system and parliamentary form of government like in our Asian neighbors might be worth considering.

The next president must hit the ground running and start shaking things up before the usual gang of sycophants start whispering on what he should do and what public contracts to bid out. Priority of the public biddings should be on the rehabilitation and modernization of the mass transport system .Our commuters and motorists have already suffered enough and lost so many man-hours to the traffic gridlock. There is more than enough tax money to fund a mass transport project as long as the funds don’t find their way into politicians’ pockets.

China’s distorted viewWe don’t know what Chinese

herbal medication Chinese leaders are taking, but their world view

is dark and distorted. Take for example Beijing’s statement that Japan’s constitutional amendment to send its military forces abroad where needed is dangerous and a threat to world peace.

While Japan was the aggressor that started the Pacific War, it has since then been a responsible member of the world community, contributing funds to aid the development of poor countries. Japan only started thinking of changing its non-militarist charter when it was alarmed by Chinese aggression in the East China Sea related to territorial dispute on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Island and its military buildup to advance its claim in the South China Sea.

So, who’s really a threat to world peace? Beijing also described the Philippines as destabilizing the Southeast Asian region when Manila filed a case in the Hague international arbitration court, challenging Beijing’s claim to

nearly the entire South China Sea. Vietnam is also alarmed that China’s land reclamation in disputed waters of the South China Sea and turning them into military installations complete with air strips is a threat to freedom of the navigation. This is also the paramount concern of the United States.

China’s response to all these negative news is to announce more development aid to poor countries during President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Washington.The Chinese Embassy in Washington must have goofed when it didn’t factor in the papal visit which overshadowed Xi’s. Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress and also delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The Pope also celebrated Mass in New York and Philadelphia where he was the keynote speaker at the World Families Day.

Tolentino’s...From A9

I don’t know where Tolentino finds the guts to run for office, unless he has calcu-lated that he will win even if he fails to get one single vote in Metro Manila. Because that is exactly the number of votes that the MMDA chairman should receive, as the chief implementor of President Noynoy Aquino’s traffic pol-icy that gridlock is actually good because it is an indicator of a robust economy.

Of course, I may be wrong and Tolentino may, by the middle of next year, be taking his talents to the Senate. But I swear I never heard of some-one less deserving of election to anything who so bravely sought the public’s approval of his incompetence.

If you are considering vot-ing for Tolentino and are not related to him by blood, un-derstand that you are not re-ally giving an honest appraisal of him. What you’ll be doing, however, will speak volumes about your own lack of judg-ment.

I’d as soon vote for Yaya Dub than for Tolentino. That girl, at least, makes a lot of people happy.

A12WEDNESDAY: SEPT EMB ER 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS

Lady boxer not pursuing tax refund

Shakey’s V-League deciding tiff a tossupTHE third and deciding game in the Shakey’s V-League collegiate finals on Sunday at the San Juan Arena is definitely a toss-up between Ateneo and National University.

Even the coaches of the rival teams, Roger Gor-ayeb of NU and Parley Tupaz of Ateneo, have chosen to keep their cards close to their chest.

The game is set at 12:45 p.m.“All the players will go all out. This is the final

game of the conference. If Ateneo wants to win the title, we at NU want to win the title, too,” said Go-rayeb.

“The players will do their best. They will decide the outcome and not the coaches,” he added during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Ateneo won the series opener in three sets. But NU bounced back to force Sunday’s exciting win-ner-take-all match, also in straight sets.

“As you can see the teams are evenly matched. So, we expect a very good matchup on Sunday. Both teams will do their best,” said Sports Vision presi-dent Ricky Palou.

Gorayeb used to coach Ateneo, and he recalled the 2013 Shakey’s V-League finals when the Lady Eagles lost the title to the Lady Bulldogs.

Now, he’s on the other side of the fence, and Gor-ayeb is heading to Sunday’s title match with mixed emotions.

“If Ateneo wins, I will also be happy because I feel I’m part of it, too. Mga bata ko din yan. But I want NU to win the title with me,” said Gorayeb.

Ateneo boasts the presence Alyssa Valdez, easily the hottest volleyball player in the country today, while NU has the towering Santiago sisters, Jaja, who’s 6’4” and Dindin, who’s 6’2.”

Tupaz can only promise an exciting matchup.

DHL extends global rugby commitment with Sevens partnership

Acrobatic celebration. Everton’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku does a flip and somersault as he celebrates scoring Ever-ton’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Everton at The Haw-thorns in West Bromwich, central England. AFP

By Randy Caluag

FILIPINA boxing champion Jujeath Nagaowa is not pursuing the refund of her tax payment imposed by the Bureau of Cus-toms on the title belt she won in Macau.

Nagaowa’s manager Bri-co Santig said getting the refund was not the priority of Nagaowa when the case about her title belt was posted on social media.

“It was just a casual post on Facebook by her friend and it got a lot of attention probably because of the issues surrounding BOC

recently. (The) refund was not her top agenda,” said Santig, who manages the Highland Boxing Promo-tion based in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Bureau of Customs commissioner Bert Lina earlier assured that the BOC will refund the tax Nagaowa paid for the belt.

The Benguet-native Nagaowa won the vacant WIBA lightflyweight ti-tle following a 10-round unanimous decision win over her Chinese foe Luo Yu Jie at the Forum de Ma-cau on June 6 in Macau, China.

The championship belt, however, did not arrive in time for the fight night but the WIBA and the Macau promoter promised to send the belt to the Philippines.

Santig received a no-tice from the Bureau of Customs on the parcel a few weeks later and went through the process of

claiming the champion-ship belt, including paying the amount of P5,819 rep-resenting customs duties and value added tax.

Santig said they will co-operate with the BOC and other government agencies so that the matter “can be corrected and won’t hap-pen again to other Filipino champions in the future.”

Midland Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Benguet, reported that Alay Buhay Partylist Rep. Wes Gatchalian has a filed a resolution in Congress seeking a review the BOC policy on imposing taxes

on awards and trophies by Filipino athletes, who won in international competi-tions.

Gatchalian cited the Tariff and Customs Codes of the Philippines that says badges, cups, trophies and other ar-ticles won by Filipino athletes are exempted from customs tax and duties.

Earlier, Santig and Nagaowa received an invi-tation from Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Games and Amusement, for a meeting at Congress in Quezon City to discuss the incident.

DHL, official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, recently announced a further commitment to the global game by extending its partnership with the men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sev-ens Series.

The announcement comes after a successful first week of enthrall-ing competition at the sport’s show-piece Tournament, for which DHL is handling all freight and logistics for the 20 participating teams and fulfilling a range of other require-ments, including international ticket distribution and anti-doping sample delivery to laboratories.

In its role as Global Partner and Official Logistics Partner of Sevens World Series, DHL will build on its previous sponsorships of individual tournament legs in the UAE, USA and Hong Kong to deliver event freight and logistics across all 10 rounds of the upcoming annual Series, kicking off in Dubai in De-

cember 2015 and culminating in London in May 2016.

DHL’s support will also include logistics provision for some of the teams taking part in the 2015-16 Season, as well as helping World Rugby’s development of the game among new audiences and in new territories through various grass-roots initiatives.

“Our partnership with the HSBC Sevens World Series reaffirms our commitment to a sport which shares many of DHL’s core values, such as teamwork, passion and a will to win,” Ken Allen, CEO, DHL Express said. “We’re delighted to extend our support for the inter-national game on an annual basis, taking our delivery of rugby to new and existing fans across the globe beyond the four-year cycle of the Rugby World Cup, and helping nur-ture interest in, and a love for, the sport among fresh enthusiasts and potential stars of the future.”

Ken Allen, CEO, DHL Express signs a new partnership deal with World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper for the world’s leading logistics provider to become Global Partner and Official Logistics Partner to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Obiena setsnew PH

pole vaultrecord

By Peter Atencio

POLE vaulter Ernest John Obiena stayed on track for a possible qualifying spot for the Rio Olympics after clearing 5.45 meters —a new national record—over the weekend in the

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Associa-tion weekly relays at the Philsports field in Pasig.

Obiena’s latest feat erased the 5.4 meters, which he himself set in the 2015 Thailand Open Athletics meet at the Thammasat University in Bangkok early this month

Only last May, Obiena, who will turn 20 years old in December, leaped to 5.3 meters in another meet held in Busan, South Korea.

His new mark will also go down as the new Southeast Asian record, according to results re-leased by the PATAFA.

Purranot Purahong of Thailand held the SEA record of 5.30 meters, which he achieved during the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, with Obiena settling for the sil-ver with 5.25 meters.

Still, to make the cut to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Obiena needs to reach the 5.7-meter Olym-pic qualifying standard.

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WEDNESDAY : SEPT EMB ER 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

LOS ANGELES—Los An-geles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant said Monday he has not made any decision over his looming retirement as he prepares to embark on his 20th season with the franchise.

Bryant’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months as the 37-year-old enters the second year of a two-year contract deal signed in 2013 that will see him earn $25 million this season.

Former Lakers coach Phil Jack-son said Friday he believed Bryant could elect to extend his career with another team after this sea-son, doubting he would choose to retire.

But Bryant kept reporters guess-ing on Monday as he wearily brushed off questions about his plans, saying he didn’t know when the time would come.

“I don’t know what will be the decisive factor,” Bryant said.

“How do we know when it’s time? Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, it was different for all of them. Will I wake up one morning and say ‘That’s it’? Is it a gradual thing?”

“I don’t spend much time to think about it -- there is so much to think about, this season, this group.”

Bryant admitted that having to field questions about his retire-ment date “can be a pain in the ass.”

“But when I sit back and think about it, it’s cool, because it means that I had a very good career, peo-ple respect my career.”

The Lakers’ fortunes have nose-dived in recent years, with the team failing to make the playoffs last year.

Bryant’s fortunes have also fluc-tuated, with shoulder, Achilles and knee injuries all limiting his abil-ity to help inspire the team as the elder statesman.

He acknowledged that prospects for the upcoming season were un-certain, but said he was excited by the mix of experience and youth on the roster. AFP

Finals defeats still sting LeBronLOS ANGELES—Lebron James admitted Monday he is finding it harder and harder to accept the bitter sting of defeat in the NBA Finals as he prepares for another tilt at glory this year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers super-star suffered his fourth loss in six NBA finals appearances in June after being pipped by the Golden State Warriors.

And the 29-year-old acknowl-edged the latest failure at the final hurdle hurt more than ever.

“Every year you lose in the Fi-nals, it gets worse and worse to get over,” James told reporters at a me-dia day for the Cavaliers.

“Last year during the postsea-son (I asked) would I rather not even make the playoffs than lose

in the Finals? It’s a very valid question to myself. You get all the way there and you lose, it’s like, ‘I could have those two months back, be laying out, helping my body get better.”

James is adamant however that he wouldn’t have swapped his Finals appearances for any-thing.

“For me, I will take all the pain that comes with competing for the championship at the end of the day,” he said.

James believes the Cavaliers will be able to build on the team spirit that took them to the brink of the title last season.

“What happened last year is last year. I think we can build off last year, the chemistry we had, but we

can’t build off the success as far as wins and losses. It’s a whole new year,” he said.

“We’ve got to have the same focus, we’ve got to have the same mind frame, we’ve got to have the same one goal, and that’s to get bet-ter every single day, improve each and every month, and that will give us the best possible chance to play into June.”

James believes the return to fit-ness of power forward Kevin Love will allow him to take more time off in 2015-16.

“I think Kevin Love will allow me to sit a lot this year just because of his abilities and what he’s able to do,” James said.

“I don’t need to be as hard-head-ed. I will be smart about it.” AFP

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers meets the press during interviews at the Los Angeles Lakers media day in El Segundo, California. AFP

Rivera, Moreno, Ortiz rule national slalomMILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing team once again bagged the Produc-tion and overall best time, beating his rival Dr. Peewee Mendiola in the Race Motorsports 2015 National Slalom Series recently at the Robin-sons Nova Market.

With the win, Rivera increased his lead over his second-running young-er brother and teammate Estefano Rivera in the overall standings.

Dr. Mendiola of Team Big Chill came in third, while Jevoy Moreno of Auto Fastion placed fourth.

Abet Reyes, also from Big Chill, finished fifth with 51.56.

Meanwhile, Jevoy Moreno bagged the front wheel best time, with Mike San Miguel coming in second.

Dion Ortiz of AF Racing Team won the Novice Best time with 62.14.

The series is sponsored by Shell Helix Motor Oils, Federal Tyres, Outlast Battery, Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, Robinsons Nova Market, and media part-ners Stoplight TV, Inside Motoring,

DZRJ-Am, Pinoy Speed sa mga Pa-hayagan, Spin.Ph (Sports Interactive Network) and C! Magazine.

All events are sanctioned and af-filiated by the Automobile Club of the Philippines.

The 10th leg will be on Oct. 4 at Robinsons Novaliches..

The remaining legs for the year are Nov. 8 and Dec. 6, both at Rob-insons Novaliches.

The Slalom Invitational is set on Nov. 15 at Robinsons Calasiao Pan-gasinan.

The 2015 Championship Awards Night will be held on Dec. 20 at Kowloon House West Avenue.

For details, call or text Bing Bang Dulce at 09178119337 or 09228165344, or email at [email protected].

All event pictures can be viewed at the FB page of racemotorsportsclub.

Some of the Official Results:Novice Stock: 1st Miguel Reyes

75.96; 2nd Paul Castro 80.06Novice Modified A: 1st Dion Or-

Dion Ortiz of Auto Fastion Racing Team wins the novice best time of the day.

Cottotraining

like a demon

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Coun-cil middleweight cham-pion Miguel Angel Cotto is training like a demon at the Wild Card Gym of Hall-of-Fame trainer Fred-die Roach in preparation for his title defense against popular, young Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Nov. 21 at the Manda-lay Bay Hotel and Casino Events Center.

“Cotto is training de-monically hard for a helluva challenge from Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez,” the WBC reported.

The WBC internet site said Cotto insisted that his aim is “Total Victory,” stressing that Roach “will make the plan leading to success. I have but one thing on my mind, and that’s about bringing se-curity to my family, with their future at stake, so I’m going to give my absolute and utmost best . On Nov. 21, we will have victory!”

The Puerto Rican cham-pion is working with strength and conditioning coach Gavin McMillan, while Freddie Roach is in charge of planning plus strategy and training in the gym.

The fight against Alvarez will be the second defense of the title Cotto after de-feating Argentina’s Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

tiz 62.14Novice Modified B: 1st Paolo

Santos 63.76; 2nd Dion Ortiz 64.70

Novice Modified C: 1st Paolo

Santos 62.92Pro Stock A: 1st Este-

fano Rivera 57.54; 2nd Milo Ri-vera 58.06; 3rd Dr. Peewee Men-diola 59.72

No retirement decision yet for Kobe

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Ilocos SurLocal Government Unit

Santiago, Ilocos Sur

INIVITATION TO BID

The Municipality of Santiago, Ilocos Sur through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible to bid for the hereunder contract:1. Name of Project : Concreting/Rehab./Widening & Const’n. of Drainage Canal Location : Brgy. Butol, Gabao, San Roque, Guinabang, Sabangan, Santiago, Ilocos Sur Brief Description : Construction/Rehabilitation Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : 9,700,000.00 Source of Fund : RA 7171 District Share Contract Duration : 70 CD Cost of Bid Documents : 10,000.00

The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of the BAC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid.

To bid for the contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria) prior registration with Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.

Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur will only process contractor’s applications for registration, with complete requirements, and issue the Contractor’s Certificate of Registration (CRC).The schedule of BAC Activities is as follows:

BAC Activities Schedule1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to bid/Request for Expression of Interest 29-Sep-15

2. Issuance of Bid Documents Sept. 29 to Oct. 19, 2015

3. Pre-Bid Conference October 7, 2015@10:00 AM

4. Receipt and Opening of Bids October 19, 2015@10:00 AM

5. Post Qualification 22-OCt-15

6. Award 23-OCt-15

7. Contract Signing 26-OCt-15

8. Notice Proceed 27-OCt-15

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD’s) at Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur, upon payment of a non-refundable fee as stated. The Pre-Bid Conference shall open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Mailed intends shall not be entertained.

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

The Local Government Unit of Santiago, Ilocos Sur reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process any time before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. Approved by:

(SGD) NESTOR C. PERALTA, JR. BAC Chairman(TS-SEPT. 30, 2015)

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Ilocos SurLocal Government Unit

Santiago, Ilocos Sur

INIVITATION TO BID

The Municipality of Santiago, Ilocos Sur through its Blds and Award Committee (BAC), Invltes contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if foung eligible to bid for the hereunder contract:1. Name of Project : Concreting/Rehab./Widening & Const’n. of Drainage Canal Location : Brgy. Mambug, Nalasin, Pob. Sur, & San Jose, Santiago, Ilocos Sur Brief Description : Construction Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : 9,052,633.64 Source of Fund : RA 7171 District Share Contract Duration : 50 CD Cost of Bid Documents : 10,000.00

The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of the BAC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid.

To bid for the contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria) prior registration with Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.

Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur will only process contractor’s applications for registration, with complete requirements, and issue the Contractor’s Certificate of Registration (CRC).The schedule of BAC Activities is as follows:

BAC Activities Schedule1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to bid/Request for Expression of Interest 30-Sep-15

2. Issuance of Bid Documents Sept. 30 to Oct. 20, 2015

3. Pre-Bid Conference October 8, 2015@10:00 AM

4. Receipt and Opening of Bids October 20, 2015@10:00 AM

5. Post Qualification 23-OCt-15

6. Award 26-OCt-15

7. Contract Signing 27-OCt-15

8. Notice Proceed 28-OCt-15

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at Local Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur, upon payment of a non-refundable fee as stated. The Pre-Bid Conference shall open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Mailed intends shall not be entertained.

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD`s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

The Local Government Unit of Santiago, Ilocos Sur reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process any time before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. Approved by:

(SGD) NESTOR C. PERALTA, JR. BAC Chairman(TS-SEPT. 30, 2015)

A14Wednesday: sept emb er 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK


[email protected]

SSC Stags catch big fish in Altas

Jordan Spieth of the United States poses on the 18th green with his mom Chris, father Shawn, sister Ellie and girlfriend Annie Verret after winning both the TOUR Championship By Coca-Cola and the FedExCup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Pacquiaoto play for Agilas

LOS ANGELES—Jordan Spi-eth capped his trophy-laden season with more silverware on Monday, winning the PGA of America Player of the Year award as well as the prestigious Vardon Trophy.

Spieth, 22, became the sec-ond youngest player to win the awards in the same year after Ti-ger Woods achieved the feat as a 21-year-old in 1997.

The accolades came after Spieth held his nerve to win Sunday’s Tour Championship, completing a remarkable sea-son which also included wins in the Masters and US Open.

The season-ending awards announced Monday are given for excellence by a PGA Tour professional.

On Sunday Spieth took his earnings for 2015 to just over

$22 million after carding a one-under-par 69 to claim the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, clinching the $10 million bonus on of-fer to the winner of the FedEx Cup.

The win also restored Spieth’s world number one rankings ahead of Australia’s Jason Day.

The Vardon Trophy is given to the PGA Tour professional

who posts the lowest scoring average each year.

Spieth averaged 68.911 through 91 complete rounds this season, just pipping PGA cham-pion Day (69.161), who com-pleted 75 rounds, by 0.25 strokes.

Spieth tallied 180 Player of the Year points, ahead of Day with 106 , Bubba Watson with 52, Zach Johnson (46) and Rickie Fowler (44).

Spieth crowned PGA Player of the Year

By Peter Atencio

Games tomorrow (San Juan Arena)

10 a.m. — LPU vs LSGH (jrs)12 nn — San Beda vs Arellan(jrs)

2 p.m. LPU vs CSB (srs)4 p.m. San Beda vs Arellano (srs)

ALREADY out of contention for a Final Four spot, the San Sebastian Col-lege Stags played loosely and caught one big fish in the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 91-87, in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Jon Ortuoste led the Stags’ production with 27 points, while Bradwin Guinto added 25, including 14 big ones in the final period as the Stags handed the Altas their sixth setback against 11 wins.

Things turned into the Stags’ favor in the last 4:25 when Jeick Fabian drove in and Guinto drilled in two charities, allowing SSC to break free from a 71-all tie to get on top for good, 75-71. From there, the Stags played steadily to eventually hammer out the win.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, just maintain the right attitude. A positive attitude. As much as possible, I want them to go through their last games on a winning note,” said Stags’ coach Rodney Santos.

The Stags won their eighth game out of 16 matches.The Altas played minus suspended players Nikko

Cabiltes and Nestor Bantayan and struggled against the Stags’ big men.

Gabriel Dangangon had 22 points for the Altas, who stayed at third at 11-6.

In the second game, Tey Teodoro scored a game-high 32 points for the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, who turned back the Lyceum Pirates, 64-55, to join the Altas to a share of third spot at 11-6.

Teodoro had 12 in the third as the Heavy Bombers took a 51-43 spread at the end of the third.

“We still have one game. Now, we have an opportunity. Our fate is in our hands, “ said JRU coach Vergel Meneses.

The Bombers play the Stags on Friday to boost their chances for a possible shot at a twice-to-beat advantage.

THE Powervit Agilas, the newest Philippine team to the Asean Basketball League, will have boxing superstar Manny Pac-quiao in its roster.

Pacquiao is also the playing-coach of Mahin-dra (formerly Kia) in the Philippine Basketball As-sociation but has given his assurance of playing for the Agilas.

Team officials of the Powervit squad graced yes-terday’s Philippine Sports-writers Association Forum, saying they’re in the process of finagling the lineup for the new ABL season start-ing Oct. 28.

Willie Miller, the for-mer MVP in the PBA, is close to signing his con-tract for the Agilas who will be coached by ex-pro Zaldy Realubit.

The team is also in the process of signing up their imports for the ABL.

“For Manny Pacquiao to play for us, he will have to be in the reserve list in the PBA. He said he will play some games for us,” said Powervit team man-ager Bien Orillo.

Joining the forum supported by Accel, San Miguel Corporation, Pagcor and Shakey’s are Powervit president Dick Balajadia and official Roy Leyva.

[email protected]

WEDNESDAY: SEPT EMB ER 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

2 EZ2 0-02 EZ2 0-0

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00

6/42 00-00-00-00-00-006 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-03 DIGITS 0-0-03 DIGITS 0-0-0

6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0

2 2

6/496/42 6/42 6 336

LOTTO RESULTSP0.0 M+

P0.0 M+

Khan: A win over Pacmanwill earn me a Floyd bout By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Council welterweight Silver champion Amir Khan believes that fighting and beating eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao could earn him his dream bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) hasn’t fought since outpointing Chris Algieri in May, but is chasing a clash with Pacquiao, who trained with him at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under Freddie Roach and continued training in the Filipino’s training camp in Baguio City.

On the other hand, Pacquiao (57-6-2-KO38) dropped Algieri six times to win a lopsided unani-mous decision.

Sky Sports in Britain reported that Khan is hoping to lure May-weather, who announced his re-tirement after an easy win over

Andre Berto last Sept. 12 to come out of retirement and give him the fight he has long wanted pro-vided he beats Pacquiao.

The 28-year-old Khan told Sky Sports: “I think Floyd Mayweath-er will have one more fight. He’s on 49-0 and he knows that. He’s got one more fight left in him. At the moment, he’s matching Rocky Marciano’s record, but he can beat him and get to 50. I’m there ready and waiting for him.”

Khan added: “I think he thinks I’m too dangerous for him. I don’t think he’ll ever want to fight me. I bring too much to the table and

would cause him a lot of prob-lems. It’s all a waiting game. I’ll speak to Al Haymon and see what he says. I’ll see what he thinks is the best option but I need to fight the biggest names in boxing and the best fighters in the world.”

Khan, who won a silver med-al in the last Athens Olympic Games, said: “I want to fight Manny Pacquiao next because if I beat him, maybe that will make Floyd Mayweather come out of retirement to fight me. The public demand would be huge.”

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said he’s negotiating with Khan’s uncle and his lawyer, Robert Davis.

“The negotiations are ongo-ing,” Arum told Telegraph Sport. “We were planning for Manny Pacquiao to fight at the end of February or, at the latest, the first two weeks in April.”

Khan is currently the only po-tential opponent for Pacquiao, who Arum is considering be-cause “I don’t negotiate with two people at the same time. I think that’s unethical.”

“I believe that everybody is negotiating in good faith. While those negotiations are going on, I’m not going to dis-cuss any other opponent for Manny Pacquiao. There is a possibility that it could happen in Dubai, but I think it’s more likely it will happen in Las Ve-gas,” Arum said.

Meantime, Pacquiao’s torn rotator cuff in his right shoul-der which was aggravated in the Mayweather showdown, had healed, according to doctors.

The next step would be to send the MRI to Dr. Neal ElAt-trache, who did the surgery on Pacquiao’s right shoulder for evaluation and get his go-signal to fight again.

Klub Don Juande Manila weekend

at MetroturfTHE Klub Don Juan de Manila, a horseowners’ group estab-

lished in 2002, will be staging its 14th KDJM Racing Festival this weekend (Oct. 3 and 4) at Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.

KDJM President Lamberto C. Almeda Jr. said that in addition to the four iconic cham-pionship events, “we are offering rich trophy races for the entire weekend as an incentive to participants and to provide entertainment to racing fans.”

Entered in the 2,000-meter Don Juan Derby are Miss Brulay, Dikoridik Koridak, Princess Ella, Breaking Bad, and Court of Honor. The race has a guaranteed prize of P1.5 million and is sponsored by KDJM and Metroturf.

The P500,000 Klub Don Juan Golden Girls sponsored by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (1,800 meters) will showcase the talents of Silver Sword, Strong Champion, Eugenie, Security Model, Magatto, and Cat’s Diamond.

In the Klub Don Juan Juvenile Colts (1,400 me-ters) are Light and Shade, Stark, Underwood, Secu-rity Chief, and Mount Iglit.

The Klub Don Juan Juvenile Fillies (1,400 meters) starts Katniss, Port Angels, Sky Glory, Angelia’s Magic, Contessa, Most Trusted, and He He He.

Both juvenile races are sponsored by Phil-ippine Racing Commission and offer guaran-teed prizes of P500,000 each.

Three trophy races on Sunday are sponsored with P300,000 each by Magic Millions Austra-lia, Pancit Malabon Express, and John and Yoko Resto-Uptown Center.

Providing a P30,000 added prize to the winning owner for their trophy races are Or-ganique, Inc., Manila Horse Power, Chair-man Joey Uy Jamisola, Maile Atienza, Equine International Air Freight, and All Creatures Great and Small veterinary supply.

There will be four P30,000-added-prize trophy races on Saturday backed by FR SEvilla Industrial and Development Corp., SC Stock-farm, Mercury Freight, and Fundador. KDJM will provide P20,000-added for six more tro-phy races.

* * * * *Spectrum scored a four-length victory in

the second leg of the Philracom Juvenile Stakes series last Sep. 27 at Santa Ana Park, repeating his feat in the first leg almost a month earlier.

The colt owned by lawyer Narciso Morales and trained by Arturo Sordan Jr. easily sub-dued Wilbert Tan’s filly Subterranean River, who was fresh off a five-length victory in the Sep. 12 PCSO 2YO Maiden race.

Third place was taken by Killer Hook, and fourth by This Time.

Spectrum (Golden Pharoah x Celes-tial Chase) under jockey Daniel Camañero clocked 1:13.4 (25-22.6-25.8) over 1,200 meters and earned P600,000.

* * * * *Atty. Morales’ stable had a productive week-

end, also winning the PCSO 2YO Maiden Race held Sep. 26 at Santa Ana Park via the victory of filly Hotdog.

Sent off as the outstanding favorite after a stellar performance in the trial race held Sep. 11, Hotdog ran wire-to-wire under jockey Jef-fril Zarate to hold off a rallying Sky Dancer and win by almost a length.

Rocking Hill placed third and Gintong Ya-man fourth in the 1,200-meter race.

Hotdog (Golden Pharaoh x Maybe Soon) posted 1:13.4 (24’-22’-26’).

Also held that day was a 1,200-meter PCSO Special Handicap race won by Felix Vergara’s Purple Heart (Sir Cherokee x Miss Vodka), John Alvin Guce on top.

The placers were Mr. Tatler, Chelzeechel-zechelz, and Nash.

*** Facebook: Gogirl Racing, Twitter: @go-girlracing, Instagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net

BEST Center to hold3 x 3 cage tournament

Raine Capadocia (right), Marketing Promotion and Executive at Nestle Philippines, briefs sportswriters on the coming BEST Center 3x3 tournament during an appearance at the PSA Forum. She is joined by Robbie De Vera (left), Milo Sports Executive, and Coach Nic Jorge (inset), President and Founder of the BEST Center Sports Organization. LINO SANTOS

Filipino ring icon had his shoulder checked by doctors at the Cardinal Medical Center in San Juan and also underwent an MRI on his torn rota-tor cuff.

BEST is good for five years.“Of course, there are plans

to expand. When Milo gets

into something it’s always for the long term,” added the Milo sports executive.

THE Basketball Efficiency Sci-entific Training, together with Milo Ready to Drink, will stage its first BEST Center 3x3 tourna-ment on Nov. 15 at the Ateneo de Manila covered courts.

A total of 128 teams made up of 512 players will see action in the one-day event. There will be two categories for players aged 15-under and 12-under.

It’s the first time the BEST Center, a grassroots basketball program founded by Nic Jorge in 1978, is staging a 3x3 event at this level.

“We’ve been thinking about this for a long time as part of basketball’s development pro-gram but it’s only now that we found the right sponsor,” said Jorge.

Speaking at the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate, the former Philippine team head coach said

the event is also in line with the programs of the Samahang Bas-ketbol ng Pilipinas.

Also gracing the forum spon-sored by Shakeys, Accel, San Miguel Corporation and Pagcor are BEST Center tournament manager Edwin Barber, Milo sports executive Robbie de Vera and Nestle Philippines market-ing promotions and events ex-ecutive Raine Capadocia.

Teams from Metro Manila, Baguio, Pangasinan, Pampanga and Lucena among others will see action on Nov. 15. Jorge said the event is not limited to school teams.

“Even the barangays can field their teams,” he said.

“Our partnership with BEST Center is part of Milo’s endeav-or supporting grassroots pro-gram,” said De Vera, adding that their newest partnership with

[email protected]

Wednesday: sept emb er 3 0 , 2 0 1 5


A16rIera U. maLL arI

E D I T O R

reUeL vIdaLA S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

turn to A14

turn to A13

Spieth iS pgA plAyer of the yeAr

sports

The Philippines manhandled India, 99-65, to claim the top seed in Group E heading into the quar-terfinals behind a fifth straight win in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cham-pionship yesterday at the CSWC Dayun in Changsa, China.

Terrence Romeo once again provided the spark the nationals needed, coming off the bench to score a team-high 20 points, to go with three rebounds and four

assists to lead the Philippines’ balanced attack.

The nationals’ primary players did a lot of damage as well, with Andray Blatche finishing with 15 markers, Ranidel De Ocampo adding 13, and Jayson Castro and Calvin Abueva each scoring 12.

With the win, Smart Gilas ended the classification rounds compiling a 4-1 record to top Group E play.

By Jeric lopez

PLAYING with a lot of confidence and fluidity, Gilas Pili-pinas just couldn’t do anything wrong at this point.

Gilas mauls IndiansThe Philippines will face No.

4 seed Lebanon in the Group F knockout quarterfinals tomorrow.

But more importantly, finish-ing at the top of its group allowed Gilas to avoid Group F No. 1 Chi-na, a powerhouse squad, in both the quarters and semifinals.

Mark Pingris finally had his breakout game of the tourna-ment, scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds.

It was actually a total domi-nation by the Philippines as it pounded on the helpless Indians for the most part.

Using its stingy defense and in-sync offensive attack, Gilas had a relatively easy time against India.

Although the game wasn’t bro-ken wide open right away in the first half, Smart Gilas was still on control before it finally broke free in the third.

The Philippines outscored In-dia, 23-14, in the third to take a commanding 65-50 advantage heading to the fourth.

The pounding continued in the last 12 minutes, where the cushion of Gilas just got bigger until the final bell.

Archerswary ofTigersBy peter Atencio

games today (Mall of Asia Arena)

2 p.m. -- Ateneo vs UP4 p.m. -- UST vs La Salle

THE La Salle Green Archers will be extra wary when they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growl-ing Tigers at the resumption of the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Archers and the Tigers clash in the main game at 4 p.m., right after the duel between Katipunan teams Ateneo and University of the Philip-pines at 2 p.m.

The Tigers are coming off a con-vincing 68-58 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Saturday behind Kevin Ferrer’s career-high 27 points.

“UST is a strong team. They play very hard,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler.

The Archers themselves were coming off a win, a 71-64 disman-tling of the University of the East Warriors last Sunday.

The Growling Tigers trail the Far Eastern University Tamaraws at sec-ond with a 4-1 card, while the Archers are right behind at 3-2 in a tie with the Blue Eagles.

Gilas Pilipinas’ Calvin Abueva attacks the basket, splitting the defense of two Indian defenders in a FIBA game won by the Filipinos, 99-65. FIBA.com

koBenot retiringJuSt yet

BUSINESSRODERICK T. DELA CRUZASSISTANT EDITOR [email protected]

[email protected]

RAY S. EÑANOEDITOR

‘Signature’ Ayala building to rise

Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasTuesday, September 29, 2015

Foreign exchange rateCurrency Unit US Dollar PesoUnited States Dollar 1.000000 46.8180

Japan Yen 0.008338 0.3904

UK Pound 1.517600 71.0510

Hong Kong Dollar 0.129031 6.0410

Switzerland Franc 1.027010 48.0826

Canada Dollar 0.746938 34.9701

Singapore Dollar 0.700182 32.7811

Australia Dollar 0.700280 32.7857

Bahrain Dinar 2.661202 124.5922

Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266660 12.4845

Brunei Dollar 0.697739 32.6667

Indonesia Rupiah 0.000068 0.0032

Thailand Baht 0.027563 1.2904

UAE Dirham 0.272294 12.7483

Euro Euro 1.124100 52.6281

Korea Won 0.000837 0.0392

China Yuan 0.157011 7.3509

India Rupee 0.015111 0.7075

Malaysia Ringgit 0.225989 10.5804

New Zealand Dollar 0.634115 29.6880

Taiwan Dollar 0.030093 1.4089 Source: PDS Bridge

6,859.2943.70

Closing September 29, 2015PSe comPoSite index

43.50

44.60

45.40

46.20

47.00

HIGH P46.865 LOW P46.960 AVERAGE P46.926

Closing SEPTEMBER 29, 2015PeSo-dollar rate

VOLUME 677.300M

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 Pilipinas

oilPriceS today

P435.00-P640.00LPG/11-kg tank

P36.00-P43.95Unleaded Gasoline

P25.05-P28.40Diesel

P34.55-P39.15Kerosene

P20.75-P21.75Auto LPG

todayP25.05-P28.40

P34.55-P39.15

P20.75-P21.75

PP36.00-P43.95

8000

7700

7400

7100

6800

6500

P46.930CLOSE

September infl ation likely to drop further to 0.2%—BSP

WEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

ICTSI expansion. Board of Investments Governor Lucita Reyes (left) and executive director Efren Leaño (right) present the certifi cate of registration to Antonio Coronel, purchasing director of International Container Terminal Services Inc.. ICTSI receives approval and incentives for a P5-billion expansion project involving the construction of Berth 7 in North Harbor, Manila.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA Land Inc. said it will spend P6 billion to acquire and develop the former Jaka Tower along Ayala Avenue into a 49-story premium o� ce tower to be called Alveo Financial Tower.

Alveo Land head of project de-velopment group Jennylle Tupaz said in a press brie� ng Tuesday the company started pre-selling the o� ce units in Alveo Finan-cial Tower at an average price of P240,000 per square meter to generate a total of P11 billion in sales.

� e company has sold over 60 percent of the total units so far, generating P5.6 billion in sales take-up.

Tupaz said 80 percent of the of-� ce unit buyers were local inves-tors, while 20 percent were taken up by foreign investors.

“Including the acquisition cost, we will spend a total of P6 billion for the project,” Tupaz.

Alveo Financial Tower is envi-sioned to be a signature o� ce build-ing in the heart of Ayala Avenue.

“With its much-coveted loca-tion on Ayala Avenue, Alveo Fi-nancial Tower has become a rare

investment opportunity for high-powered businesses and organi-zations wanting to be part of the country’s premier � nancial cen-ter,” said Tupaz,

At P240,000 per sq. m., Alveo Financial Tower will be the most expensive o� ce development along the Makati Central Business District. One o� ce unit with an average size of 116 square meters will cost P27.8 million. � e tower is slated for turnover in 2020.

Alveo Financial Tower sits on a prime 2,400-square-meter plot of land along Ayala Avenue. It will o� er a total of 363 o� ce units and a variety of amenities and facili-ties that enhance corporate activ-ity.

Ayala Land purchased the Jaka Tower in 2014.

Jaka Tower was originally de-signed to be a 49-story o� ce sky-scraper by the architectural � rm of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassa-baum. It was supposed to be the � rst high-rise project of the then � edging Jaka Property Group of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

Construction started in 1996 and was scheduled for completion by 1999. However, the project was halted when construction reached the 21st � oor amid the 1997 Asian � nancial crisis that a� ected many other property developers.

Tupaz said Alveo Finan-cial Tower would form a major component of City Gate, Ayala Land’s P20-billion masterplanned mixed-use development strategi-cally located at the rejuvenated northern tip of Ayala Avenue.

By Julito G. Rada

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in� ation in September likely slowed further to as low as 0.2 percent from 0.6 percent in August, driven mainly by lower power rates and rice prices.

“September in� ation could re-main low and settle within 0.2 to 1.0 percent range as downward adjustments in power rates and the modest decline in rice prices could o� set the e� ect of a weaker peso during the month,” Tet-

angco said in a text message to reporters Tuesday.

� e peso posted its lowest level this month at 46.93 on Sept. 8, as uncertainties on the timing of the US Federal Reserve’s increase in interest rates buoyed the green-back against most currencies.

It was also the local currency’s weakest level in more than � ve years, or since 47.06 on Nov. 24, 2009.

Tetangco said the impact of a stronger and protracted El Niño on food prices and utility rates could provide a source of upside

in� ation in the coming months.“� e BSP will continue to

monitor evolving price trends to ensure price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Manila Electric Co. early this month announced a reduction in the cost of electricity. Power rates in September dropped by P0.57 per kilowatt-hour, marking the fourth consecutive month of price reduction. � e September rate also became the lowest in � ve years.

� e power distributor attrib-

uted the reduction in the overall rates to the generation charge, which fell P0.42 per kWh from the previous month.

In� ation in August further de-celerated to 0.6 percent from 0.8 percent in July. Annual decreases in utilities and transport fares, traceable to lower oil prices, led to the 0.6 percent turnout.

� e August in� ation was sig-ni� cantly slower than the 4.9 per-cent for the same month last year. � e August number brought the in� ation rate in the � rst eight months to an average of 1.7 per-

cent, well below the target range of 2 to 4 percent this year.

� e policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Sept. 24 kept the key policy rates steady for the eight time since October last year due to a manageable in� ation envi-ronment.

It also kept the benchmark in-terest rates of 4 percent for over-night borrowing and 6 percent for overnight lending, as well as the interest rates on term RRPs, RPs, special deposit accounts and reserve requirement ratios.

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BUSINESSTUESDAY: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, SepteMber 29, 2015

FINANCIAL7.88 2.5 AG Finance 2.62 2.46 2.46 2.46 -6.11 8,000 75.3 66 Asia United Bank 69.1 69.3 67 69.3 0.29 11,930 532,394.00124.4 88.05 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 102.00 102.00 98.00 102.00 0.00 3,883,790 -2,833,650107 88.1 Bank of PI 80.05 82.50 80.00 82.00 2.44 1,052,870 -3,398,146.0056.5 45.45 China Bank 41.8 41.8 41.75 41.8 0.00 54,500 2.49 1.97 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.50 2.47 2.27 2.47 -1.20 3,000 -2,280.004.2 1.68 Bright Kindle Resources 1.37 1.29 1.20 1.24 -9.49 582,000 -12,340.0017 12.02 COL Financial 15.2 15.5 15.2 15.5 1.97 38,200 -316,040.0030.45 19.6 Eastwest Bank 19.84 19.9 19.22 19.24 -3.02 33,100 -192,376.0010.4 6.12 Filipino Fund Inc. 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 0.00 1,600 2.6 1.02 I-Remit Inc. 1.69 1.79 1.41 1.51 -10.65 546,000 1.01 0.225 MEDCO Holdings 0.700 0.840 0.700 0.730 4.29 49,322,000 438,870.00100 78 Metrobank 80.25 81.5 79.6 81.5 1.56 1,215,010 -47,550,275.5030.5 17.8 PB Bank 16.60 16.60 16.60 16.60 0.00 16,800 -195,880.0075 58 Phil Bank of Comm 24.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 0.00 5,000 91.5 62 Phil. National Bank 50.00 50.40 49.50 49.50 -1.00 666,900 17,516,302.00137 88.35 Phil. Savings Bank 104 106 103 103 -0.96 470 57 41 RCBC À’ 31.15 31.2 30.8 31.05 -0.32 124,900 -2,615,165180 118.2 Security Bank 139 140.9 136 137.1 -1.37 286,120 -17,156,793.001700 1200 Sun Life Financial 1415.00 1405.00 1405.00 1405.00 -0.71 30 124 59 Union Bank 51.10 51.50 51.00 51.00 -0.20 7,010 -76,500.00

INDUSTRIAL47 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 42.2 43.1 42 42.7 1.18 1,411,100 -20,015,810.005 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.49 1.49 1.49 1.49 0.00 33,000 1.46 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.97 0.92 0.92 0.92 -5.15 53,000 2.36 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.57 1.57 1.54 1.56 -0.64 628,000 -71,760.0015.3 7.92 Asiabest Group 10.7 11.2 10.5 10.7 0.00 24,900 20.6 15.32 Century Food 16.62 16.66 16.6 16.6 -0.12 40,900 -23,284.0036 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 26 26 25.5 25.8 -0.77 545,600 65.8 29.15 Concepcion 41.6 41.2 40 41 -1.44 32,100 -1,205,9402.97 1.5 Crown Asia 2.85 2.85 2.7 2.74 -3.86 1,683,000 64,080.004.14 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 2.13 2.26 1.86 1.91 -10.33 12,658,000 -12,480.0021.5 10.72 Del Monte 10 10.1 9.93 9.94 -0.60 90,400 -627,287.0021.6 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 10.200 10.160 9.97 9.980 -2.16 12,510,600 6,768,174.0011.96 9.04 Emperador 7.75 7.67 7.46 7.48 -3.48 539,300 -637,941.009.13 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.65 5.83 5.50 5.67 0.35 26,170,900 -42,005,668.0011.8 8.86 EEI 7.70 7.75 7.66 7.70 0.00 856,800 3,360,219.002.89 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.94 1.91 1.61 1.91 -1.55 14,000 17 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 12.98 12.42 12.4 12.42 -4.31 11,000 31.8 20.2 First Gen Corp. 22.05 23.3 21.95 22.95 4.08 2,046,300 -33,883,270.00109 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 66 66 65.5 65.5 -0.76 218,180 -2,674,732.509.4 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.65 5.7 5.6 5.68 0.53 79,600 240,230.000.98 0.395 Ionics Inc 3.780 4.100 3.610 3.820 1.06 46,688,000 -1,207,220.00241 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 188.00 192.00 186.80 191.20 1.70 594,870 12,168,060.0079 34.1 Liberty Flour 31.00 28.05 28.05 28.05 -9.52 600 4 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 5.3 5.3 4.82 5.09 -3.96 101,600 33.9 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 22.2 22.2 21.75 21.95 -1.13 1,516,600 -28,617,800.0090 17.3 Maxs Group 21.75 21.7 21.4 21.5 -1.15 48,400 13.26 5.88 Megawide 5.51 5.6 5.5 5.6 1.63 607,900 -44,500.00293 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co À’ 290.00 298.80 289.40 298.00 2.76 357,520 14,616,560.005.25 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.09 4.12 4.05 4.06 -0.73 2,685,000 405,050.0012.98 8.45 Petron Corporation 7.05 7.05 6.89 6.90 -2.13 1,177,800 978,783.0015 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.34 11.40 11.40 11.40 0.53 26,300 7.03 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.34 3.30 3.30 3.30 -1.20 35,000 -16,500.003.4 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.96 1.98 1.94 1.95 -0.51 386,000 4.5 1 Pryce Corp. À’ 2.08 2.1 2 2.09 0.48 129,000 6.3 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.02 4.05 4.02 4.04 0.50 444,000 847,330.007.34 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.48 5.47 4.65 5.47 -0.18 200 238 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 136 136 135 135 -0.74 85,750 10,397,400.003.28 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.25 2.25 2.15 2.22 -1.33 550,000 8,880.000.315 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.143 0.148 0.142 0.146 2.10 2,460,000 -73,000.002.18 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 0.91 0.98 0.91 0.95 4.40 7,000 2.65 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 1.87 1.92 1.83 1.92 2.67 7,089,000 -210,890.00234 152 Universal Robina 186.3 190.9 184.1 190 1.99 2,629,000 8,757,027.005.28 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.62 4.62 4.6 4.6 -0.43 752,000 1,039,560.001.3 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.7 0.71 0.67 0.68 -2.86 1,398,000 68,000.002.17 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.06 1.06 1.01 1.01 -4.72 202,000

HOLDING FIRMS0.59 0.44 Abacus Cons. À’ 0.430 0.430 0.400 0.420 -2.33 360,000 59.2 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 57.5500 57.9000 56.6000 57.6000 0.09 1,995,180 -145,128.5030.05 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 16.96 16.92 16.18 16.46 -2.95 10,187,600 -89,387,052.007.39 6.62 Anscor À’ 6.40 6.39 6.39 6.39 -0.16 2,100 -13,419.003.4 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.232 0.232 0.220 0.220 -5.17 320,000 823.5 634.5 Ayala Corp À’ 744 745 732.5 745 0.13 185,770 -21,497,080.0010.2 7.390 Cosco Capital 6.89 6.94 6.85 6.88 -0.15 886,800 1,757,252.0084 12.8 DMCI Holdings 11.80 12.26 11.74 12.26 3.90 3,900,500 -986,294.004.92 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.06 4.10 3.92 4.08 0.49 153,000 0.66 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.217 0.285 0.220 0.250 15.21 11,380,000 13,750.001455 837 GT Capital 1260 1265 1227 1249 -0.87 142,375 17,077,975.007.5 5.3 House of Inv. 5.95 6.10 5.93 6.10 2.52 200 593.0076 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 69.75 71.00 67.70 70.80 1.51 2,026,120 34,754,372.005.29 3 Keppel Holdings À’ 6.7 6.77 6.6 6.6 -1.49 2,500 9.25 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.8 5.86 5.65 5.86 1.03 588,000 -1,084,334.000.85 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.7 0.72 0.68 0.7 0.00 286,000 -34,720.0017.3 12 LT Group 10.86 11 10.4 10.42 -4.05 6,302,300 -41,668,166.000.71 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings À’ 0.54 0.56 0.51 0.56 3.70 2,110,000 5.53 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.9 5 4.8 4.98 1.63 21,485,000 -40,879,630.006.55 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 8.2 8.15 8 8.09 -1.34 1,081,700 4,045,000.000.0670 0.030 Pacifica À’ 0.0350 0.0350 0.0340 0.0350 0.00 68,700,000 1,339,600.002.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.370 1.300 1.300 1.300 -5.11 32,000 1.61 0.550 Prime Orion 1.720 1.780 1.720 1.740 1.16 640,000 84.9 59.3 San Miguel Corp À’ 46.35 48.20 44.50 47.20 1.83 132,100 -1,743,980.003.5 1.5 Seafront À’ 2.88 2.89 2.88 2.88 0.00 72,000 974 751 SM Investments Inc. 860.00 875.00 850.00 875.00 1.74 225,370 13,292,020.001.66 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.19 1.18 1.18 -0.84 272,000 -3,540.00156 80 Top Frontier 70.000 75.000 70.000 70.000 0.00 38,080 -1,083,552.000.710 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3500 0.3750 0.3350 0.3350 -4.29 16,550,000 0.435 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2190 0.2350 0.2030 0.2270 3.65 5,200,000 0.510 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.260 0.240 0.229 0.230 -11.54 150,000

P R O P E R T Y10.5 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.550 6.600 6.500 6.510 -0.61 1,051,900 512,252.0026.95 12 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 7.57 8.30 8.30 8.30 9.64 1,400 11,620.001.99 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.61 0.61 0.60 0.61 0.00 172,000 -1,220.001.75 1.2 Araneta Prop À’ 1.100 1.100 1.030 1.030 -6.36 50,000 41.4 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 33.15 33.700 32.400 33.600 1.36 10,633,500 -10,387,070.005.6 3.36 Belle Corp. À’ 3.02 3.03 3 3.02 0.00 1,299,000 352,220.005.59 4.96 Cebu Holdings 4.95 5 4.96 5 1.01 23,000 1.44 0.79 Century Property 0.56 0.58 0.55 0.57 1.79 3,779,000 -1,222,390.001.97 1.1 City & Land Dev. 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.00 11,000 1.48 0.97 Cityland Dev. À’ 1.03 0.95 0.95 0.95 -7.77 14,000 0.201 0.083 Crown Equities Inc. 0.100 0.104 0.100 0.101 1.00 1,690,000

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

Trading SummarySHARES VALUE

FINANCIAL 58,799,948 771,422,111.02INDUSTRIAL 140,819,631 1,529,850,844.58HOLDING FIRMS 156,863,318 1,315,159,219.42PROPERTY 210,950,878 1,970,940,423.035SERVICES 108,635,258 1,160,908,332.655MINING & OIL 872,720,259 105,085,491.57GRAND TOTAL 1,557,997,241 6,988,921,181.78

FINANCIAL 1,535.39 (UP) 11.13INDUSTRIAL 10,676.86 (UP) 108.67HOLDING FIRMS 6,406.91 (UP) 40.24PROPERTY 2,819.76 (UP) 24.17SERVICES 1,661.07 (DOWN) 24.14MINING & OIL 10,900.07 (DOWN) 51.14PSEI 8,859.29 (UP) 43.70All Shares Index 3,964.86 (UP) 12.41

Gainers: 72 Losers: 109; Unchanged: 32; Total: 213

STOCKS Close(P)

Change(%)

United Paragon 0.0070 -16.67

Transpacific Broadcast 1.52 -11.63

Zeus Holdings 0.230 -11.54

I-Remit Inc. 1.51 -10.65

Da Vinci Capital 1.91 -10.33

Acesite Hotel 1.06 -10.17

Discovery World 1.61 -10.06

Liberty Flour 28.05 -9.52

Bright Kindle Resources 1.24 -9.49

Philodrill Corp. À' 0.0110 -8.33

Top LoSerSSTOCKS Close

(P)Change

(%)

Keppel Properties 4.79 33.06

Forum Pacific 0.250 15.21

Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 8.30 9.64

Yehey 2.910 7.78

Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.710 7.58

Dizon 7.48 6.86

Liberty Telecom 3.00 6.38

Waterfront Phils. 0.365 5.80

IPeople Inc. À' 11.98 5.09

TA Petroleum 2.46 4.68

Top gainerS

0.69 0.415 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.425 0.425 0.415 0.420 -1.18 1,370,000 49,800.0010.96 2.4 Double Dragon 21 21 19.5 21 0.00 2,129,700 -9,988,529.000.97 0.83 Empire East Land 0.760 0.760 0.760 0.760 0.00 3,000 0.305 0.188 Ever Gotesco 0.165 0.164 0.164 0.164 -0.61 370,000 2.22 1.15 Global-Estate 1.01 1.03 1.01 1.01 0.00 326,000 -77,770.002.1 1.42 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.75 1.74 1.68 1.68 -4.00 115,363,000 -72,849,270.001.8 1.27 Interport À’ 1.35 1.30 1.26 1.30 -3.70 112,000 8.4 3.1 Keppel Properties 3.60 4.79 4.79 4.79 33.06 13,000 5.94 4.13 Megaworld 4.34 4.38 4.25 4.35 0.23 22,179,000 5,687,010.000.180 0.090 MRC Allied Ind. 0.092 0.091 0.091 0.091 -1.09 520,000 -28,210.0027 23 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 19.28 19.50 19.50 19.50 1.14 400 8.54 2.69 Primex Corp. 7.97 8 7.69 7.96 -0.13 305,000 384,500.0031.8 22.15 Robinson’s Land `B’ 27.85 28.85 27.75 28.50 2.33 3,094,000 27,014,905.002.29 1.6 Rockwell 1.55 1.56 1.52 1.52 -1.94 58,000 -21,690.004.9 3.1 Shang Properties Inc. 3.16 3.11 3.11 3.11 -1.58 23,000 21.35 15.08 SM Prime Holdings 19.96 20.35 19.62 20.10 0.70 21,955,400 161,065,383.001.06 0.69 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.71 -1.39 1 39,760.001.62 0.83 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.660 0.720 0.700 0.710 7.58 59,000 8.59 5.73 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.080 5.070 4.900 5.070 -0.20 2,275,100 -2,403,271.00

S E R V I C E S10.5 1.97 2GO Group’ 8.14 8.14 7.9 8 -1.72 105,800 -1,600.0066 35.2 ABS-CBN 60 60.4 59.8 60 0.00 36,880 -2,398.001.44 1 Acesite Hotel 1.18 1.13 1.06 1.06 -10.17 2,000 1.09 0.63 APC Group, Inc. 0.540 0.550 0.520 0.520 -3.70 378,000 -4,680.0014.88 10.5 Asian Terminals Inc. 11.3 11.3 11.24 11.24 -0.53 1,200 -9,004.0015.82 8.6 Bloomberry 5.51 5.70 5.36 5.60 1.63 6,286,600 -1,181,446.000.1430 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 0.0550 0.0580 0.0560 0.0570 3.64 22,510,000 16,800.005.06 2.95 Calata Corp. 3.6 3.74 3.51 3.6 0.00 253,000 -7,200.0099.1 56.1 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 87.2 87.2 84.85 85.9 -1.49 555,310 -7,149,676.002.6 1.6 Discovery World 1.79 1.79 1.6 1.61 -10.06 72,000 7.67 4.8 DFNN Inc. 4.85 4.75 4.75 4.75 -2.06 14,000 19,000.001700 830 FEUI 921 950 950 950 3.15 1,000 950,000.002720 1600 Globe Telecom 2370 2370 2322 2350 -0.84 84,150 -113,097,120.008.41 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 6.35 6.39 6.30 6.39 0.63 18,300 1.97 1.23 Harbor Star 1.22 1.28 1.22 1.22 0.00 16,000 119.5 102.6 I.C.T.S.I. 76.7 76.35 75.15 76 -0.91 1,386,920 -71,995,363.5012.5 8.72 IPeople Inc. À’ 11.4 11.98 11.98 11.98 5.09 42,700 0.017 0.011 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.010 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.00 18,600,000 0.8200 0.041 Island Info 0.186 0.191 0.181 0.188 1.08 2,210,000 8,550.002.2800 1.200 ISM Communications 1.4200 1.4200 1.3900 1.4200 0.00 540,000 5.93 2.34 Jackstones 2.05 2.2 2.07 2.07 0.98 203,000 -6,210.0012.28 6.5 Leisure & Resorts 8.35 8.30 8.15 8.20 -1.80 178,100 442,450.003.32 1.91 Liberty Telecom 2.82 3.00 2.81 3.00 6.38 1,394,000 -73,250.002.53 1.01 Lorenzo Shipping 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.16 0.00 3,000 3.2 1.95 Macroasia Corp. 2.24 2.25 2.15 2.16 -3.57 32,000 95.5 3.1 Manila Broadcasting 38.00 37.00 37.00 37.00 -2.63 500 2.46 1.8 Manila Jockey 2.05 2 2 2 -2.44 5,000 15.2 6 Melco Crown 4.2 4.2 3.86 3.99 -5.00 3,846,000 -8,698,070.000.62 0.335 MG Holdings 0.310 0.300 0.300 0.300 -3.23 1,720,000 171,000.001.040 0.37 NOW Corp. 0.480 0.550 0.460 0.500 4.17 2,420,000 244,450.006.41 3 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.52 4.51 4.50 4.50 -0.44 8,000 -36,020.004 2.28 Paxys Inc. 2.92 2.72 2.72 2.72 -6.85 3,000 8,160.00185 79 Phil. Seven Corp. 95.80 95.80 95.80 95.80 0.00 110 22.9 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 18.68 18.84 18.20 18.82 0.75 286,400 -117,642.003486 2748 PLDT Common 2228.00 2210.00 2170.00 2170.00 -2.60 194,080 -243,723,710.000.760 0.435 PremiereHorizon 0.570 0.570 0.550 0.560 -1.75 1,183,000 2.28 1.2 Premium Leisure 1.020 1.020 0.980 1.010 -0.98 11,973,000 -397,110.0046.05 31.45 Puregold 31.50 31.70 31.10 31.50 0.00 602,700 -942,070.0090.1 60.55 Robinsons RTL 72.95 72.95 71.00 72.95 0.00 812,540 735,480.00 SBS Phil. Corp. 6.94 7.09 6.63 6.75 -2.74 6,677,800 128,689.0011.6 7.59 SSI Group 6.21 6.48 6.15 6.48 4.35 603,800 -2,749,943.000.85 0.63 STI Holdings 0.49 0.49 0.48 0.49 0.00 6,680,000 -2,418,400.002.95 1.71 Transpacific Broadcast 1.72 1.52 1.44 1.52 -11.63 258,000 10 5 Travellers 3.4 3.39 3.19 3.19 -6.18 2,854,000 -4,390.000.490 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 0.345 0.365 0.345 0.365 5.80 130,000 1.9 1.14 Yehey 2.700 3.550 2.600 2.910 7.78 8,009,000 -7,860.00

MINING & OIL0.0098 0.0043 Abra Mining 0.0057 0.0056 0.0053 0.0055 -3.51 818,000,000 198,600.005.45 1.72 Apex À’ 2.30 2.25 2.18 2.18 -5.22 30,000 17.24 6.47 Atlas Cons. À’ 4.84 4.65 4.60 4.64 -4.13 37,000 -18,420.000.330 0.236 Basic Energy Corp. 0.187 0.186 0.186 0.186 -0.53 10,000 12.8 5.11 Benguet Corp `B’ 6.0000 5.81 5.79 5.8000 -3.33 800 -2,901.001.19 0.85 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 0.75 0.73 0.7 0.7 -6.67 587,000 1.62 0.77 Coal Asia 0.62 0.64 0.62 0.63 1.61 442,000 9.5 5.99 Dizon 7.00 7.65 7.00 7.48 6.86 339,700 -52,500.004.2 1.17 Ferronickel 1.01 1.01 0.97 0.97 -3.96 6,974,000 -952,420.000.48 0.305 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.300 0.305 0.290 0.300 0.00 730,000 66,700.000.420 0.2130 Lepanto À’ 0.180 0.181 0.180 0.181 0.56 4,610,000 0.440 0.2160 Lepanto `B’ 0.187 0.195 0.195 0.195 4.28 180,000 0.022 0.013 Manila Mining À’ 0.0100 0.010 0.0100 0.0100 0.00 400,000 49.2 18.96 Nickelasia 7.06 7.06 6.85 6.86 -2.83 2,506,900 -6,745,483.004.27 2.11 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.9 2.95 2.82 2.92 0.69 565,000 1.030 0.365 Omico 0.5900 0.5900 0.5800 0.5800 -1.69 55,000 3.06 1.54 Oriental Peninsula Res. 1.3200 1.3200 1.2800 1.2900 -2.27 123,000 7.67 5.4 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 3.78 3.76 3.76 3.76 -0.53 2,000 12.88 7.26 Philex À’ 4.95 4.900 4.800 4.81 -2.83 404,000 -973,340.0010.42 2.27 PhilexPetroleum 1.35 1.370 1.330 1.37 1.48 141,000 0.040 0.015 Philodrill Corp. À’ 0.0120 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 -8.33 7,700,000 420 115.9 Semirara Corp. 134.80 137.30 133.80 136.60 1.34 489,410 2,831,786.009 3.67 TA Petroleum 2.35 2.68 2.4 2.46 4.68 386,000 12,150.000.016 0.0100 United Paragon 0.0084 0.0073 0.0070 0.0070 -16.67 28,000,000 71,000.00

PREFERRED70 33 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 60.35 60.3 60 60 -0.58 409,500 -9,972,520.00553 490 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 528 531 522 531 0.57 3,530 525 500 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 537 537 537 537 0.00 200 120 101.5 First Gen G 118.1 118.1 118.1 118.1 0.00 990 515 480 GLOBE PREF P 527 528 528 528 0.19 29,500 8.21 5.88 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.5 6.2 6.2 6.2 -4.62 100 1047 1011 PF Pref 2 1035 1040 1030 1030 -0.48 3,300 -31,200.0084.8 75 SMC Preferred C 81.2 82 81.5 81.5 0.37 154,500 SMC Preferred D 78.55 78.5 78.5 78.5 -0.06 84,200 SMC Preferred E 78.5 78.5 78.45 78.45 -0.06 148,840 SMC Preferred F 78.5 78.7 78.55 78.7 0.25 1,058,550

WARRANTS & BONDS6.98 0.8900 LR Warrant 2.900 2.860 2.720 2.780 -4.14 216,000

S M E15 3.5 Makati Fin. Corp. 3.36 3.31 3.31 3.31 -1.49 1,000 88 13.5 IRipple E-Business Intl 62 61.9 55 57 -8.06 8,480 12.88 5.95 Xurpas 14.22 14.9 13.5 14.46 1.69 9,178,700 48,141,824.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS130.7 105.6 First Metro ETF 112.5 112.9 110.6 112.9 0.36 19,680 112,500.00


BUSINESSWEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

B3

RCBC to issue $400-m notes

Stocks bounce back;URC, Ayala Land up

Smart innovation.Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Smart communications Inc. chairmanManuel Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart Communications Chairman (third from left) formally presents the PayMaya Visa with Beep prepaid card to Visa chief executive Charlie Scharf (second from right) during a visit to the Visa headquarters in San Francisco USA. Joining Pangilinan and Scharf are (from left) Lito Villanueva, Voyager Innovations vice president and head of Fintech, Digital Inclusion and Alliances; and Lawrence Ferrer, Smart eMoney vice president and head. PayMaya Visa Card is the country’s first three-in-one payments solution that combines the convenience of a beep card for LRT and MRT fare.

By Julito G. Rada

RIZAL Commer-cial Banking Corp., a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies and one of the biggest lenders in the country, will is-sue up to $400 million worth of senior notes before the year ends to finance its medium and long-term asset growth.

The bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday its board of directors approved the planned issuance on Sept. 28.

“The board of directors ap-proved the issuance of up to $400 million of senior notes out of the bank’s medium term note pro-gram and a bond exchange of its $275 million senior notes due 2017...,” the bank said.

RCBC president and chief ex-ecutive Lorenzo Tan said the bank would use the proceeds of the is-suance of notes to fund other gen-eral corporate activities.

“We might raise this before the end of the year, subject to mar-ket conditions,” Tan said in a text message.

RCBC posted a consolidated net income of P2.53 billion in the first half of 20256, up 25 percent from P2.02 billion a year ago on the back of the strength of its core businesses.

The profit translated to an an-nualized return on equity and return on asset of 9.3 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.

Net interest income reached P7.45 billion and represented 63 percent of gross income, which increased 12.4 percent to P11.8 billion. The bank achieved an an-nualized net interest margin of 4.2 percent, which remains one of the highest in the sector.

Tan said the bank was on track and advancing on all fronts, espe-cially on core lending to deposits to fee-based income.

Core lending business was also sustained with loan book exclud-ing interbank loans expanding by 18 percent to P275.7 billion. All market segments sustained their growth with average loan volumes of corporate, consumer and SME increasing by 20 percent, 18 per-cent and 30 percent, respectively.

Loans for small and medium enterprises comprised 12 percent of the bank’s total loan portfolio as planned. Meanwhile, micro-finance lending through Rizal Mi-crobank sustained its climb with outstanding loan portfolio in-creasing 46 percent. The interest income from the lending business contributed 83 percent of the total interest income of the bank.

Total deposits stood at P321.9 billion with low-cost CASA (cur-rent and savings account) deposit level growing by P16.6 billion to P204.3 billion and leading to a CASA ratio of 63 percent.

THE stock market recovered Tuesday on bargain hunting after a steep fall Monday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rallied 43.70 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,859.29 on a value turnover of nearly P7 billion. Los-ers, however, beat gainers, 109 to 72, with 32 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, gained 2 percent to P190, while Ayala Land Inc. rose 1.4 percent to P33.60.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, climbed 1.7 per-cent to P191.20, while Manila Electric Co., the biggest power re-tailer, advanced 2.8 percent to P298.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the largest telecom-munications firm, fell 2.6 percent to P2,170, while Filinvest Land Inc. of tycoon Andrew Gotianun Sr. tumbled 4 percent to P1.68.

Resources firms led by mining giant Glencore, meanwhile, headed a deep sell-off in Asian markets Tuesday following painful losses across Europe and New York as fears about China’s slowing growth resurfaced.

The yen rallied while higher-risk emerging market currencies took another hit ahead of key US jobs data Friday that could sway the Federal Reserve’s decision on when to raise interest rates.

India’s rupee suffered added selling pressure after the country’s central bank cut interest rates again.

Trading floors around the planet have witnessed extreme vola-tility since mid-August, when China devalued its yuan currency, fanning fears about the state of the world’s number two economy and crucial driver of global growth.

“The slowdown in China is spreading to other Asian economies, Brazil and Australia, and weakness in emerging countries could echo throughout the overall world economy,” Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities, told Bloomberg News.

“We still don’t know when market fears will end about China’s slowdown, and because of this investors are turning to cash and safe assets.”

China’s growth has been slowing for several months and the economy is this year expected to see its worst performance in a quarter of a century.

Last week, already fragile confidence was rattled by news that a gauge of factory activity in the country recorded its lowest level for six-and-a-half years in September.

On Monday Beijing said key industrial companies saw profits fall 8.8 percent in August—hit by last month’s shock devaluation, weak demand and plunging stocks.

With China’s demand for resources waning and prices sitting at multi-year lows, commodities-linked firms took a hit.

The hardest hit was Glencore, which lost 29.3 percent in Hong Kong. The losses followed a near 30 percent plunge in its London-listed arm after online brokerage Investec warned about the impact of soft commodity prices on the group’s future. With AFP

B4

Illicit cigarette sales cost govt P22.5b in revenues

Villarlaunchesbig Iloiloproject

San Miguel expectsrevenues to hit $50b

VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc. of former senator Manuel Villar Jr. is expanding a residential project in Iloilo province to transform it into a new city satellite known as Vista City Iloilo—the flagship development in the whole of Vi-sayas.

The project, also dubbed “com-municity,” will have malls, hotels, office buildings for the business process outsourcing industry and hospitals.

Vista Land, the largest home-builder in the country, is integrat-ing into communicities every-thing the Filipino and his family needs.

Communicities are innova-tive masterplanned city develop-ments designed to be completely self-contained, with vast proper-ties that offer facilities, amenities, community structures and com-mercial establishments closer to a city than a mere residential vil-lage.

The project value of Vista City Iloilo is estimated at P40 billion.

Vista City Iloilo, which will cover about 500 hectares, is stra-tegically spread over Oton, Pavia and San Miguel on Panay Island. It is close to the University of the Philippines Visayas, Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, and West Visayas University, as well as the Western Visayas Medical Center and The Medical City Iloilo.

Iloilo, which is hosting this year’s conferences of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, recently attracted major players in the real estate industry, which are undertaking residential and commercial projects to take ad-vantage of the growing domestic economy.

Bordered by the province of Antique in the west and Capiz in the north, Iloilo City has become the regional capital and the eco-nomic hub of Western Visayas.

Vista Land, which has the wid-est geographical reach in the real estate industry, has established its presence in Iloilo since Sep-tember 2000 when it opened Sa-vannah Glades. The project’s two main residential components are Savannah and Lumina.

An artist’s perspective of upcoming developments in Vista City Iloilo


CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. ex-pects revenues to increase to $40 billion to $50 billion over the next five years from the current $20 billion through acquisitions and organic growth.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in an interview at the side-lines of the company’s 125th an-niversary the company remained on the lookout for acquisitions, especially in the infrastructure and energy businesses.

“We will continue to manage ex-isting business and to pursue more acquisitions related to energy busi-ness and hope to build more infra-structure projects for our country

and to provide a good telecom net-work,” Ang said.

Ang said the company was keen on investment opportunities in the oil and gas field projects both here and abroad. “Negotiations are on going,” he said.

On the telecom business, Ang said the company would soon launch its venture focused on mobile broadband, as well as voice, text services.

“The moment we switch on our

telecom venture, it will be a bet-ter network for Filipinos. It will come out soon,” he said.

San Miguel is in talks with Australian telecommunications company Telstra Corp. for possi-ble investment in a wireless joint venture in the Philippines. No agreement has been reached yet.

Ang declined to give the de-tails of the negotiations.

“Telstra is big company. It will not a problem for them to invest,” Ang said.

Ang there was another room for a third player in the telecoms business in the country, which is dominated by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co and Globe Telecoms Inc.

“Our cellphones are not work-ing,” Ang said.

San Miguel reported an eight percent decline in net income to

P16.9 billion in the first six months of 2015 from P18.4 billion yer-on-year, on lower sales from power generation and fuels businesses and foreign exchange losses.

Excluding foreign exchange losses, San Miguel said net in-come in the first six months of the year would have increased 15 percent to P18 billion versus P15.7 billion.

San Miguel is one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines by revenues and total assets, with sales of about 6.2 percent of the Philippine gross domestic product in 2014.

The conglomerate is broadly exposed to the Philippine econ-omy through its diverse range of businesses spanning the bever-age, food, packaging, fuel and oil, energy, infrastructure, telecom-munication, property and bank-ing industries.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

HONG KONG—One in every five cigarettes is illegally consumed in 2014 and the illicit trade has cost the Philippine government around P22.5 billion in foregone revenues, the United Kingdom-based think tank Oxford Economics said here Tuesday.

Oxford Economics, which con-ducted the study commissioned by Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp., said the consumption of il-licit cigarettes in the Philippines increased 4.1 percentage points to 19.4 percent, equivalent to 19.9 bil-lion cigarettes.

Domestic illicit trade, according to Oxford, pertained to cigarettes

manufactured by the trademark holder, but are illegally sold and consumed in the same market, without the payment of excise tax-es and value-added tax.

Of the total 102.3 billion total cig-arettes consumed in 2014 (legal and illicit), 19.9 billion sticks were illicit.

The study, the third in its series, showed total consumption of ciga-rettes declined 3 percent in 2014, the lowest level since the first Asia Illicit Tobacco Indicator report was issued in 2012.

Legal domestic consumption is esti-mated at 82.3 billion cigarettes or 80.4 percent of total consumption, while 0.1 percent is non-domestic legal.

The UK-based think tank, however, said it was hoping for a

marked improvement in 2015 with the full year implementation of the tax stamp system of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“In line with the amendment of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, it is anticipated that the affixture of tax stamps intro-duced on 1st December 2014 will ‘further improve tax administra-tion’ and ‘deter misdeclaration of removals”, the report said.

It said it was confident the vol-ume of domestic illicit consumption would decline in the future years fol-lowing the Philippine’s government’s action to address the problem with the imposition of the new tax stamp program last December.

“As the evidenced by this report,

significant price increases over the last few years have led to the ero-sion, of the legal market for ciga-rette, with the illicit trade filling the gap,” it said,

The Internal Revenue Stamps Integrated System was launched on August 1, 2014 and implemented in March and April 2015 for do-mestic and for export cigarettes, respectively.

Former budget secretary Benja-min Diokno, an adviser to the Inter-national Tax and Investment Center which reviewed the report, said the rise in the incidence of domestic il-licit consumption for two consecu-tive years had built a compelling case for the imposition and strict enforce-ment of the BIR’s new IRSIS.


BUSINESS B5

BPI signsremittancedeal withWestern

W E D N E S D AY : S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

Aboitiz expanding in Indonesia

HPG supporter. Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group Director Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao (left) receives boxes of Vitamin C from FERN Inc. president and chief executive, Tommanny Tan to help boost the immunity of traffic enforcers. Tan cited the success of the PNP-HPG in easing the burden of motorists and daily commuters plying the country’s busiest and most congested thoroughfare.

Cirtek Holdings readies P2.88-b share sale in October

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ABOITIZ Power Corp., a unit of Aboitiz Eq-uity Ventures Inc., is expanding its overseas projects in Indonesia to include a 127-mega-watt hydro power station with two joint ven-ture partners.

Aboitiz Power disclosed Tues-day it signed an agreement with SN Power AS and PT Energi In-franusantara to participate in the feasibility studies for the ex-ploration and development of a potential 127-MW hydropower generation project along the Lar-iang River in Central Sulawesi,

Indonesia. PT Auriga Energi, the project

company that received the basic license to develop the project, is currently conducting pre-feasi-bility studies.

“It’s a good opportunity. Indo-nesia has large demand for ener-gy. Because the country is so big

they have many possible sites for hydro,” Aboitiz Power president and chief operating officer Anto-nio Moraza said.

Aboitiz Power also recently an-nounced it formed a joint venture to build a 110-MW greenfield geothermal power plant in East Java province in Indonesia.

Aboitiz Power said wholly-owned Singapore-based subsid-iary Aboitiz Power International Pte. Ltd. signed an agreement with PT Medco Power Indonesia to participate in the exploration and development of a potential 110-MW plant.

“It is our first international pow-er venture,” Moraza said earlier, adding the company would take a

49-percent stake in the project.Aboitiz Power chairman Erra-

mon Aboitiz told reporters ear-lier the company was looking at opportunities for geothermal and hydro power projects abroad.

“We are looking abroad. We looked at PNG [Papua New Guinea]. We are also looking at different opportunities in Indo-nesia,” Aboitiz said.

“We’re looking at different sources. We are looking at geo-thermal, hydro,” he said.

Aboitiz Power is also expand-ing its geothermal portfolio in the Philippines.

Its subsidiary AP Renewables Corp. is conducting pre-devel-opment works on the Negron-

Cuadrado geothermal prospect in Zambales and Pampanga.

Unit AP Renewables owns the 289-MW Tiwi geothermal plant in Albay and the 458.53 Makban geothermal facility in Laguna and Batangas, after acquiring the plants from the government in an auction for $446.8 million.

Philippine Geothermal Pro-duction Co., the joint venture of Chevron Geothermal Inc. of the US and SM Investments Corp., operates the steam fields that power the Tiwi-Makban power facilities.

Aboitiz Power plans to raise its power generation capacity to 4,000 MW by 2019 from over 2,000 MW to date.


CIRTEK Holdings Philippines Corp., a Laguna-based semi-conductor manufacturing com-pany, has set the timetable for a planned P2.88-billion share sale to October.

Cirtek said in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange it would fix the final price on Oct. 21 and schedule the offering period of the sale share on Oct. 23 to 30. The listing date is set on Nov. 5.

The semiconductor firm ear-lier obtained regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange to proceed with the share sale.

Cirtek plans to sell 80 million in primary shares and allow an oversubscription of up to 40 mil-lion secondary common shares initially at P24 apiece

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the share sale for strategic acquisitions, capi-tal expenditures, payment of fi-nancial obligations and working capital requirements.

Cirtek said its acquisition strategy would focus on leading technologies to generate higher margins and help accelerate the company’s growth.

It will also use a portion of the net proceeds to fund the expan-sion of its manufacturing plant in Laguna Technopark.

The company said it would con-struct a three-story building, an extension of the assembly and test operations of unit Cirtek Electron-ics Corp., and purchase additional manufacturing equipment.

Meanwhile, Cirtek reported it would change its stock trad-ing symbol from “CHIPS” to “TECH.”

“The change in our stock ticker to TECH appropriately symbol-izes Cirtek’s transformation from a semiconductor assembly and testing company into a leading technology manufacturing busi-ness,” Cirtek chief finance officer Anthony Buyawe said.

“Our new symbol clearly com-municates to the investing public

our ability to leverage our exper-tise in cutting-edge technology, particularly in the fast-growing wireless broadband transmission space, as well as our inclination to venture into other areas like communications, e-commerce, and software development. As a complete technology and in-novation enterprise, we are able to offer our clients a wider range of products and services and ex-pand our market reach,” he said.

Since its IPO in 2011, Cirtek has been operating as a provider of semi-conductor outsourced assembly and testing services to customers, who in turn provide the semiconductor packages to end applications.

By Julito G. Rada

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in the country, signed an agreement with global remittance leader Western Union Co. for an easier direct-to-bank money transfer services that will benefit relatives of migrant Filipino workers in the Philippines.

BPI said in a statement Tuesday the agreement would promote a more simplified way for workers to send money straight to their loved ones’ bank accounts back home.

“Western Union, the first to introduce money transfers, and BPI, one of the first banks in Southeast Asia, collaborate to add yet another milestone to the remittance industry,” BPI presi-dent and chief executive Cezar Consing said.

“The international direct-to-bank service allows BPI account holders to access their remit-tances through nearly 820 BPI branches in the country and its offices and remittance centers across the globe,” he said.

Consing said combining BPI’s domestic reach with Western Union’s global footprint allows BPI account holders to receive funds from over 40 countries around the world within minutes.

“This is but one of the many ways that we are addressing the most critical financial needs of many of our most important cli-ents,” Consing said.

Western Union president and chief executive Hikmet Ersek said the collaboration with BPI to offer international direct-to-bank money transfer services further supported Western’s position as a global leader in the remittance business.

To send money directly to a BPI bank account via Western Union, consumers simply need the recipient’s full name and the recipient’s BPI bank account number. The service is also avail-able online in selected markets.


BUSINESSWEDNESDAY: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

B6

ABS-CBN blames GMA’s own signal loss

VW chief faces criminal probe

Group dares presidential candidates to bare economic plans

Bauan signs DBP loan. Development Bank of the Philippines grants a P187.4-million term loan to the municipality of Bauan, Batangas to finance the construction of a new, three-story building with a fire station, and the acquisition of an additional fire truck. Signing the agreement are (from left) DBP assistant manager Brian Nino Juniller, Lipa branch head Jose Maria Peteza, regional marketing center-Southern Tagalog head Abelardo Monarquia and senior manager Cristina Coronel, Bauan Mayor Ryanh Dolor, DBP relationship officer Marilyn Macasaet, Bauan Vice Mayor Julian Casapao and Bauan councilors Herminio Dolor and Ronald Cruzat and municipal treasurer Renato Giman.

GOVT Watch, a government watchdog led by industrialist Raul Concepcion, on Wednes-day urged the country’s next set of leaders to present an eco-nomic platform.

“Our next set of leaders must be able to present to us a clear platform of governance that will show us how they intend to build on the economic gains we have made in recent years,” said Concepcion.

Govt Watch said in a state-ment the economy had been growing at a steady pace with

increased household consump-tion, lower inflation and unem-ployment rates, and an improve-ment credit rating from the likes of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings.

“Their economic platform must be able to institute poli-cies that will better support inclusive growth as macroeco-nomic gains may not necessar-ily be left by the pot who make up a greater number of the population,” it said.

Govt Watch said inclusive growth was essential to reduc-

ing poverty as greater oppor-tunities were created for the poor and marginalized to im-prove their standards of living.

Govt Watch also said future leaders must be emphatic or attuned to the feelings, wants and needs of the people.

“Demonstrating empathy will allow them to create policies that are truly responsive, thereby fos-tering a relationship of trust and loyalty between the leader and constituent,” it said.

Govt Watch appealed to the electorate to be meticulous

and discerning in theselection of the new leasers.“There is too much at stake

for us to base our votes solely on popularity and personality. As we live in an age ofr social media and hyper-connectivity where information is easily ac-cessible, it has become easier for us to do our due diligence as responsive voters,” it said.

Govt Watcha said the next set of leaders must be of the ut-most integrity and must have a proven track record of perfor-mance.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ABS-CBN Corp. said Tues-day the disruption during the airing of Eat Bulaga’s “Kalye-serye” segment was due to the own signal loss of rival GMA Network Inc.

ABS-CBN said “it has noth-ing to do with the signal loss,” citing that the ABS-CBN TV-Plus box receives whatever digital TV transmissions it can pick up and that ABS-CBN has no control over how other channels transmit their digital TV signals.

“In short, the complainants suffered from a mistaken no-tion of what a receiver is and what it cannot do, and effec-tively side-tracked the more

telling issue and that is, the program interruption was due to GMA’s own signal loss,” said ABS-CBN in a letter to the National Telecommunications Commission.

“Signal loss due to GMA was confirmed because not only were signals of other broadcasters during the time in question detected and re-ceived by the TVPlus box, upon careful monitoring, ABS-CBN actually recorded an episode of signal loss from GMA leading to the signal loss experienced by the TV-Plus box,” it added.

The company said the ABS-CBN TVPlus box itself could not be a culprit in the signal loss since it was nothing more

but a receiver, configured to detect, receive and broadcast all available digital signals at any given time regardless of the provider, such as ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 and so long as the provider is reliably transmitting such digital sig-nals.”

ABS-CBN urged the NTC to require GMA 7 to explain the intermittent transmission of its own digital TV signal in Metro Manila to help educate the public about digital TV.

ABS-CBN lamented the un-informed comments of the public on social media regard-ing the issue, which “became even more pervasive and vir-ulent” as people made com-ments on Facebook, shared

them in their networks and wrote posts on a Web site.

“It appears, therefore, that requiring only ABS-CBN to respond to each consumer complaint about GMA’s loss of digital signals is insufficient to properly educate the public about the reason for the loss of such digital signals,” said ABS-CBN.

ABS-CBN’s statement was in response to five complaints filed against ABS-CBN for al-legedly disrupting the recep-tion of GMA 7’s digital TV signal by

ABS-CBN TVPlus boxes, which ABS-CBN sells to those who want digital-quality imag-es and crisper sound through digital TV.

By Simon Morgan

FRANCKFURT, Ger-many—German pros-ecutors on Monday announced a criminal probe against Volk-swagen’s former boss Martin Winterkorn as VW group carmakers Audi and Skoda said more than three mil-lion of their vehicles were fitted with soft-ware designed to dupe emission tests.

The German government piled on the pressure by urging the embattled auto giant to out-line by October 7 how it planned to resolve the crisis that broke after Volkswagen revealed that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide are equipped with so-called defeat devices.

In the latest fallout from the scandal, a Dutch distributor sus-pended sales of Volkswagen cars while Swiss authorities said there were nearly 130,000 cars with the devices in the Alpine nation.

Volkswagen’s top-of-the-range automaker Audi said that 2.1 million of its diesel cars worldwide are affected, as are another 1.2 million vehicles of VW’s Czech subsidiary Skoda.

A spokesman for Volkswa-gen’s light commercial vehicles business said 1.8 million of its light utility vehicles were also similarly equipped, German newspaper Hannoverschen Allgemeinen Zeitung reported.

The VW drama will be high on the agenda when the Europe-an Union’s 28 trade or industry ministers gather in Luxembourg this week.

In Germany, public prosecutors in the northern city of Brunswick said they had launched a criminal probe against 68-year-old Win-terkorn, who resigned as VW’s CEO last week claiming he was “not aware” of having done any-thing wrong.

The carmaker’s supervisory board also appeared to absolve him initially, insisting that Win-terkorn—who as Germany’s highest-paid executive could under normal rules stand to pocket a payout of around 60 million euros ($67 million)—had been oblivious of the fraud.

But prosecutors said they were looking to establish the exact chain of responsibility in the scam, which is snowballing into one of the biggest ever in the European automobile indus-try and threatening to tarnish Germany’s pristine engineering reputation.

“Following a number of legal suits, the public prosecutors in Brunswick have opened an inves-tigation against Martin Winter-korn,” they said in a statement.

AFP

B7CESAR BARRIOQUINTOE D I T O R

[email protected]


WORLD

Russiaback tocenterstage

New Zealand to createlarge marine sanctuary

Obama, coalition make pledge against IS forces

Russia has been in-vited to the counter-terrorism summit held a day before Moscow hosts a special UN Security Council meet-ing on the same issue, two events bound to highlight sharp di� er-ences in approach.

� e meeting comes a day a� er Obama clashed with President Vladimir Putin over the crisis in Syria during dueling UN speeches, but said the United States was willing to work with Russia and Iran to end the four-

UNITED NATIONS—Russian President Vladimir Putin has sto-len the spotlight at the United Nations with a swaggering push on the Syria crisis as he tried to shake o� Western isola-tion over Ukraine.

In his � rst speech to the UN General Assembly in a decade, Putin on Monday called for a broad UN-backed coalition to � ght Islamic State jihadists before sitting down to talks he called “constructive, business-like and sur-prisingly open” with his US rival Barack Obama.

� e 90-minute meet-ing between the two lead-ers was their � rst o� cial face-o� a� er almost two years of the United States freezing out Moscow. It came with Obama’s admission that he was willing to deal with the Kremlin strongman in a bid to resolve the blood-shed in Syria.

Russia thrust itself back into play by dis-patching troops and � ghter jets to Syria, sparking fears in the West that Moscow might join in the � ghting along-side its old ally President Bashar al-Assad.

� e Kremlin has bat-ted away demands by the West and regional play-ers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia for Assad to go immediately and insists members of the US-led coalition need to join forces with him to defeat what they say is the greater evil of IS.

A� er the meeting Putin appeared pleased that Obama had agreed to Russia having a role in the debate and said that in his opinion “there is a basis to work on shared problems.”

A senior White House o� cial said, however, that while both leaders agreed on the need for a political transition in Syria they “fundamen-tally disagreed” on the role of Assad.

“I think the Russians certainly understand the importance of there being a political resolu-tion in Syria and there being a process that pursues political resolu-tion,” the o� cial said.

In a sign of the stakes, UN chief Ban Ki- moon said that if Washington and Moscow could make headway over the four-and-a-half-year-old con-� ict then progress might be possible. AFP

UNITED NATIONS—President Barack Obama sits down with more than 100 leaders at the United Nations on Tuesday to push ahead with the US-led campaign against the Islamic State group despite Russia’s rival plan.

year con� ict.A� er sending troops

and � ghter planes to Syria, Putin called for a “broad coalition” to defeat the jihadists and warned it would be an “enormous mistake” to sideline President Bashar al-Assad’s mili-tary from the � ght.

� e counter-terror-ism summit takes place a year a� er Obama stole the limelight at the last UN gathering when he vowed to crush IS and called on countries to join the United States in

the campaign.Since then, the jihad-

ists have captured ter-ritory in Syria and Iraq and gained a foothold in Libya, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East, with alliances as far a� eld as Nigeria’s Boko Haram.

Iraqi leader Haider al-Abadi and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari are among the key speakers at the event, held on the side-lines of the General Assembly.

Norway’s Prime

Minister Erna Solberg, whose country was bad-ly shaken by the 2011 massacre of 77 people by right-wing extremist Anders Brieivik, will also address the gathering.

One country that has not been invited is Iran even though it is play-ing a major role in the � ght against IS in Syria and Iraq, providing mil-itary advisers, weapons and trainers.

In his address to the General Assembly, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called

for a “united front” against the extremists and like Russia, argued that the Syrian regime must take part.

“� e gravest and most important threat to the world today is for terrorist organiza-tions to become terror-ist states,” said Rouhani.

� e 104 leaders will discus combating for-eign � ghters and coun-tering violent extrem-ism as reports show the � ow of jihadists to Iraq and Syria has continued unabated. AFP

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALFREDO ANG was EXTRAJUDICIALLY SETTLED by his heirs KHA TY CHAN, WILLIAM ANG, GEORGE ANG, RICHARD ANG & JOHN ANG as per Doc. No. 102 Page No.22; Book No. XXI, Series of 2015 before Notary Public Atty Geronimo B. Halili. The Extrajudicial Settlement previously executed between the parties last July 27, 2015 and published on August 1, 8, & 15, 2015 has been duly rescinded and revoked.

(TS-SEPT. 23,30, OCT. 7, 2015)

Municipality of Dinalupihan, BataanRequest foR expRession of inteRest foR

ConsuLtinG seRViCes foR tHe upDAtinG of tHe fifteen-YeAR (2015-2030) CoMpReHensiVe LAnD use pLAn AnD CoMpReHensiVe

DeVeLopMent pLAn of tHe MuniCipALitY of DinALupiHAn, BAtAAn

1. The Municipality of Dinalupihan, Bataan, through its Municipal Fund approved by the Sangguniang Bayan for the Year 2015 intends to apply the sum of Two Million Nine Hundred Thousand Pesos (P2,900,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Consultant for the Updating of the Fifteen Year (2015-2030) Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Development Plan (CLUP/CDP) of the Municipality of Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2. The Municipality of Dinalupihan, Bataan, now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the shortlisting and selection of Consultants that may be allowed to bid for the preparation of Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Development Plan of the Municipality. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before September 30, 2015 at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), 2nd Flr, Municipal Hall, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on Quality Based Evaluation/ Selection (QBE/QBS).

3. The Bidding Documents shall be available at the BAC Office, 2nd Flr. Dinalupihan Municipal Hall, during working hours (8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.) Monday to Friday from September 19-30, 2015.

4. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Eligibility documents/Expression of Interest and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of five (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

ITEM WEIGHT Applicable Experience 50% Qualification of Personnel 30% Current Work Load 20%

5. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using the Quality Based Evaluation/ Selection (QBE/QBS). 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.

6. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Based Evaluation/ Selection (QBE/QBS).

7. The contract shall be completed within six (6) months after receipt of Notice to Proceed.

8. The Municipality of Dinalupihan, Bataan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract 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:

Engineer Diosdado R. Santos Jr. Municipal Planning and Development Office Municipality of Dinalupihan, Bataan Telephone Number 09989890685 Email address [email protected]

(SGD) AMELITA E. PEÑAFLORBAC Chairperson (TS-SEPT. 25,30, 2015)

Republic of the PhilippinesDepartment of AgriculturePhilippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippineswww.philmech.gov.ph

Republic of the PhilippinesDepartment of AgriculturePhilippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippineswww.philmech.gov.ph

(TS-SEPT. 24 & 30, 2015)

INVITATION TO BID

Supply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment(PHilMech Goods 15-09-11)

1. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) through its Regular Fund intends to apply the sum of PhP 5,021,600.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) as indicated herein to payments under the contract for the Supply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid opening.

2. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization now invites Bids from eligible bidders for the following items:

ITEMS ABCSupply, Delivery and Testing of Various Coffee Equipment7 units Coffee Pulper (Rubber bib) 54,600.0094 units Coffee Pulper (steel bib) 2,350,000.001 unit Rubber Huller for Coffee 120,000.009 units Steel Huller for Coffee 1,980,000.0011 units Coffee Moisture Meter 517,000.00

Total 5,021,600.000

Delivery of the GOODS is required within Forty Five (45) calendar days from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within three (3) years a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible Bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents.

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations Part A (IRR-A) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of PhP 5,000.00. The method of payment will be in cash. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his authorized representative.

6. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will hold a Pre-Bid Conference open to all interested parties on October 2, 2015, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilMech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

7. Bids and eligibility requirements must be delivered to the address below on or before October 16, 2015. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid security in the form and amount stated in the Bid Data Sheet or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Late Bids shall not be accepted.

8. Bid opening shall be on October 16, 2015, 10:00am at Executive Lounge, PHilmech Main Office, CLSU Compound Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

9. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization 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.

PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT AND MECHANIZATION(Formerly BUREAU OF POSTHARVEST RESEARCH AND EXTENSION)

Main Office:CLSU Cmpd., Science City of Muñoz, Nueva EcijaTel. No. (044) 4560287 / 4560213 FAX No. (044) 4560110

Liaison Office: 3F ATI Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon CityTel. No. 9274019 / 9274029 FAX No. 9268159

(SGD) RAUL R. PAZ BAC Chairman


B8 cESAR BARRioquiNToE D I T O R

[email protected]

Afghanistanin offensiveto retakeKunduz city

China envoy summoned over remarks

In attendance. Actress Liz Gillies attends the ‘Concert For Our Oceans’ hosted by Seth MacFarlane, for the benefit of the Oceana at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, on Sept. 28, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Rally. Supporters of the German right-wing movement PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident) crowd in front of the Semper Opera House as they attend a PEGIDA rally on Sept. 28, 2015, in Dresden, eastern Germany. AFP

worldNew Zealand to createlarge marine sanctuary

WELLINGTON—New Zealand has unveiled plans to create a South Pacific marine sanctuary the size of France, saying it would protect one of the world’s most pristine ocean environments.

Prime Minister John Key said the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary would cover an area of 620,000 square kilometers about 1,000 kilometers off New Zealand’s northeast coast.

Announcing the plans at the United Nations in New York on Monday, Key said the Kermadec area was home to thousands of important species, includ-ing whales, dolphins, seabirds and endangered turtles.

“(It) is one of the most geographically and geo-logically diverse areas in the world,” he said in a statement.

“It contains the world’s longest underwater vol-canic arc and the second deepest ocean trench at 10 kilometers deep.”

The sanctuary will prevent fishing and mineral exploitation in an area where scientists regularly discover new marine species.

Conservation groups applauded the move, say-ing it added to a network of protected areas in the Pacific that now covered more than 3.5 million square kilometers.

“We congratulate the government for taking de-cisive action to protect this incredibly special area from mining and fishing,” World Wildlife Fund New Zealand chief executive Chris Howe said.

“This decision puts New Zealand back at the forefront of marine protection on the global stage.”

Scientists also applauded the decision to ban all forms of resource extraction from the marine zone, which is remote and largely unsurveyed or scientifi-cally sampled.

“The Kermadec region is an exceptional place and is very much in need of protection before large-scale exploitation really commences,” said Jonathan Gardner from Victoria University’s school of bio-logical sciences in Wellington.

“As a contribution to large scale marine conser-vation the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary is globally important.”

The variation in the area, which spans from tropical to sub-tropical waters, means it boasts a high diversity of habitat types including active undersea volcanoes, ridges and the Kermadec Trench itself, said Malcolm Clark from New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. AFP

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan—Afghan troops backed by US air sup-port launched a counter-offensive Tuesday to retake Kunduz, a day after Taliban insurgents overran the strategic northern city in their biggest victory since being ousted from power in 2001.

The Taliban stormed Kunduz on Monday, capturing government buildings, freeing hundreds of prisoners and raising their trade-mark white flag throughout the city.

The stunning fall of the pro-vincial capital, which has sent panicked residents fleeing, dealt a major blow to Afghanistan’s NATO-trained security forces and spotlighted the insurgency’s po-tential to expand beyond its rural strongholds.

Afghan security forces, who had retreated to the outlying airport af-ter the fall, began a counter-strike on Tuesday backed by reinforce-ments.

“The operation to recapture Kunduz city began at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) today,” the defense ministry said in a statement.

US forces also conducted an air strike in Kunduz province on Tuesday, a NATO statement said, without specifying the target.

The strike was carried out to “eliminate a threat to Afghan and co-alition forces”, the statement added.

Deputy Interior Minister Ayoub Salangi said earlier that security forc-es were ready to retake the city and vowed to investigate how the Taliban managed to seize a major urban cen-tre for the first time in 14 years.

Marauding insurgents stormed the local jail, freeing hundreds of prisoners including some Taliban commanders, officials said.

Kunduz was swarming with Taliban fighters racing stolen po-lice vehicles, who officials said overran the governor’s compound and the police headquarters.

But the defense ministry on Tuesday claimed that the police headquarters and city prison had been retaken.

But several other government facilities, including a 200-bed local hospital, were still under Taliban control. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia said Tuesday it had summoned China’s ambassador to explain his contro-versial remarks on racism follow-ing a recent pro-government rally which saw protesters denounce the country’s Chinese minority.

Beijing’s envoy Huang Huikang on Friday visited Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown where ethnic Malay hardliners chanted slogans against the community earlier this month, raising fears of conflict in the multi-ethnic nation.

“The Chinese government op-poses terrorism and any form of discrimination against races and any form of extremism,” Huang

was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper during the visit.

His comments, which are at odds with China’s policy not to in-terfere in other nations’ internal af-fairs, prompted Malaysia’s foreign ministry to call in the ambassador “to provide an explanation”.

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who is in New York, said Kuala Lumpur wished “to ver-ify whether his statement was mis-interpreted or otherwise”. Huang met Acting Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin on Monday.

According to The Star, Huang on Friday also said Beijing would not be afraid to speak out against inci-

dents that could derail Malaysia-China relations.

Ser Choon Ing, secretary general of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, a coalition of Chinese community groups, welcomed the ambassador’s visit and his remarks.

“I don’t think it can be consid-ered interference. What the am-bassador did was probably a good thing for the Chinese and also for Indians who feel discriminated against,” he said.

China’s foreign ministry spokes-man Hong Lei on Monday de-fended the ambassador’s actions as “normal”. AFP

A few years ago, a friend of mine put up a restaurant. He painted all the lavatories a vibrant shade of orange to liven up the space. The color stood out but after some time, he knew it was a mistake. The walls were done in matte. For the first few months, it was fine because it made the walls look great but sadly, he had to repaint over it because it was difficult to maintain.

Most of us think that picking the right color is the only decision we need to make for paint… but it doesn’t stop there. Walls often get dolled up in semi-gloss or flat finishes but there are other options we rarely experiment with like satin or eggshell. What are they exactly? When should we use high-gloss? What rooms are best for eggshell? Can we use a satin finish for the nursery? Is picking the right finish that important? Going back to the previous story, yes! If my friend started with the proper finish, he wouldn’t have had to spend more money and time rectifying the situation.

Here are some pros and cons as well as additional tips about each finish so we can make the smart decision for our spaces.

TYPES OF FINISHES:MATTE FINISHPROS: The finish hides imperfections like bumps and cracks on walls and ceilings. It has a non-reflective appearance and provides a smooth and elegant finish.CONS: This is considered high maintenance because it is difficult to clean and absorbs dirt. Removing fingerprints and drawings from the surface will be a challenge so avoid this if you know children will often use the space. RECOMMENDED: Low-traffic areas: ceilings, hallways. NOT REC OMMENDED: Children’s bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens. TIP: Reserve some extra paint in case the walls need touchups in the future.

EGGSHELL FINISHPROS: This is good for decorative finishes because of its low sheen. It offers more depth and warmth. This is easier to wash and maintain than the matte finish because it resists stains and scuffs more.

CONS: While it needs less maintenance than the matte finish, it is still difficult to clean.RECOMMENDED: Low to moderate traffic areas: living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, foyers, family rooms, interior paneling.NOT RECOMMENDED:Kitchens, bathrooms.

SATIN FINISHPROS: The satin finish is easier to take care of than eggshell. It is a finish to consider because of its ability to produce a smooth and velvet look. It also withstands moisture and resists mildew, dirt and stains. CONS: The walls are hard to scrub.RECOMMENDED: Moderate to high traffic areas: family rooms, playrooms, laundry rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, woodwork, walls, doors, hallways,

bathrooms, guest bathrooms, children’s bedrooms, trims, shutters, kitchens, windows, ceilings.

SEMI-GLOSS FINISHPROS: The end result brings about a sleek shine. Walls can also be easily scrubbed. The finish is considered low-maintenance and may be utilized indoors and outdoors. It has a high resistance to moisture. CONS: It can be a little distracting. Imperfections stand out. RECOMMENDED: High traffic and high-moisture areas: doors, trim, cabinets, windows, kitchen, bathrooms, moldings, hallways.NOT RECOMMENDED: Poorly prepared walls or surfaces.TIP: Instead of one thick coat, apply several thin coats for a smooth result.

HIGH-GLOSS FINISHPROS: This is stain resistant. The walls can be scrubbed and remain shiny and polished. Among the group of finishes, this is the most reflective. It creates a dramatic look when applied on cabinets, trims and furniture. The finish is low maintenance. They help brighten up a room.CONS: It magnifies imperfections. RECOMMENDED: Highest traffic areas and high-use surfaces:

kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, doors, molding, woodwork, trim.TIP: Proper sanding and preparation is crucial before painting. Spraying rather than brushing on the paint will create a sleeker look.

Hope this helps while you are sourcing for the ideal paint finish for a specific area. If the sheen you prefer falls between two categories, feel free to combine them to create a customized look.

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LIFE

TATUM ANCHETAE D I T O R

BING PARELA S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNASW R I T E R

H OME & L I V ING

l i f e @ t h e s t a n d a r d . c o m . p h @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d

CALEIDOSCOPE WORLD

BY CAL TAVERA

HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT PAINT FINISH

Semi-gloss paint is recommended for doors and trims

In picking the right finish for the walls, consider the purpose of the space and the level of activity that will occur in that area

For high-gloss paint, proper sanding and preparation is crucial before painting

To hide imperfections, matte finish is best. Take note that it should be used in low traffic areas

The satin or eggshell finish is good for exteriors because of its low-reflective finish, making it great for hiding surface imperfections

Back in the early ’70s, there was this cartoon show on TV that we watched all the time. Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (I can still hear the show’s jingle in my head) showcased a family where the repeated response of the mom, whenever the kids would get into scrapes, was – what else? – “Wait till your father gets home.”

Back then, that’s how things were, weren’t they? In my family, we’d mostly see our dad at the end of the day when he’d get back from work. We’d be lounging in our parents’ room with all our toys and doodads scattered on the floor. We’d hear the car horn of my dad, which was the stimulus for my mom to say, “Keep your stuff; Daddy’s home,” and that in turn was our signal to scramble and shove all our toys quickly under their bed, away from the unsuspecting eyes of our father, who’d walk into our home made spick and span in five minutes flat.

In that era, most kids were raised by their mothers while their fathers went out to work and brought home the bacon. Moms filled their kids’ hearts and tummies with warm hugs and food, and dads dealt out the allowance and disciplinary measures.

But even then times were already quietly a-changing, slowly moving dads’ out-of-the-house roles to a place closer within the walls of the home. Compared to other fathers of that generation, my dad probably had a head start, a sort of crash course introduction to the present involved-dad parenting style. You see, when my father was only 39 years old, my mom succumbed to her first heart attack. My dad had no choice. In an instant, he had to father six kids aged eight to 16 by his lonesome self in a way that he himself was never fathered. (None of us turned out too bad at all, so I think he did a pretty good job.)

Today, it’s easy to see that dads are much more involved in their kids’ day-to-day lives. And that’s a really good thing, because hundreds of studies have since been conducted; their findings attest that affectionate, supportive, and involved fathers contribute greatly to their children’s cognitive, language and social development, as well as academic achievement, resilience, sense of well-being, positive self-esteem, and future success (Dr. Gail Gross, The Important Role of Dad, June 2014). According to parenting and education expert Dr. Gail Gross, Ph.D, Ed.D, M.Ed., the involvement of fathers in their children’s lives and his interaction with them are central to what their children turn out to be in later life: girls will likely look for his qualities in their future spouses and boys will likely model themselves after him.

Wow. Let’s take a minute to absorb that.

That’s a pretty powerful, all-encompassing, far-reaching effect for a man to have on his children’s lives, isn’t it? Doesn’t it make you stop and think about just how much of your self has been affected by your father? Doesn’t it make you consider how much of your children’s father will be reflected in them as grown-ups – or, in case marriage and kids aren’t part of the equation yet, what kind of man you’d want to choose to be father to your children?

I may not have any parenting degree tucked under my belt nor can I lay claim to any parenting studies personally conducted. But I can tell you how 23 years of first-hand experience in tandem-parenting with my hubby have filled me with the conviction that fathers do play an essential, all-important part in molding the next generation. And as I sit here, filled with immense gratitude for

the double-gift of an awesome husband and dad for my boys, I think: Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out how my sons perceive this guy who’s such a big part of who they are?

So, on a whim, I asked my 11-year-old boy beside me to describe his father. I ended up with delightful insights straight from the mouth of my babe. Allow me to share them with you, with the hope that we also end up sharing with each other this great desire to celebrate the men in our lives who have made such a profound impact on us and ours.

1. DAD AS HERO – “He’s very fair. He won’t let unjust things just slide past. But he does it very kindly.” Having a dad to play arbiter and referee to little arguments and big debates is like having your very

own in-house Supreme Court Justice, only better. My kids have learned how to play fair and how to ensure that no one gets short-changed or left out. Even more importantly, they have learned the importance of tempering justice with mercy; that in the end, the most important thing is to make sure that the carrying out of rewards and consequences arises from a great deal of love and forgiveness.

2. DAD AS BUDDY EXTRAORDINAIRE – “He’s so much fun to be with. He plays lots of games with us!”Whether it’s football on the grassy field or foosball on a Lego gameboard, whether it’s a rousing competition on PS4 or a driving contest via Wii, whether it’s rough play by tickle-wrestling or a quiet game of chess, the hubby is the

favorite playmate in our home. As I watch him play with them, I realize how he takes advantage of the most natural circumstances to teach by example so many important values. The importance of fair play and gracious sportsmanship, of perseverance and practice, of playing with equal amounts of passion, brainwork and laughter. It is greatly comforting to know that these are lessons our sons will carry into various aspects of their life as adults.

3. DAD AS TEACHER – “He’s a great teacher. He knows so much about the world. He even knows so much about the lessons we’re taking up.”I am so thankful that he’s there to teach them all about the birds and the bees, and for that matter, the flowers and the trees, and the world

and everything in it. Parents are a child’s first teacher in every life skill we can think of. Who else could do a better job? Dads have an uncanny ability to see the big picture; moms are gifted with attention to details. Combine both, and kids end up with a perfect blend of bird’s eye view and microscopic inspection. How can that kind of training not help kids arrive at a much clearer, objective picture of whatever they encounter later in life?

4. DAD AS FINANCE WHIZ – “He uses money wisely. He doesn’t just throw it around on useless things.”Our kids know that resources are important, that they must be used wisely, that money doesn’t grow on trees but is a product of hard work and devotion. When they grow up and get themselves jobs, I am confident their father’s example will

help them remember that money is never the end, that it is simply a means to procure what one needs to live and serve others, and that it must be used not just for their own good but also for the good of others.

5. DAD AS MAGICIAN – “He knows so many neat tricks. He can do magic tricks and even tricks to help us memorize and learn things better.”From sleight of hand to mnemonic devices, Pop’s got them all covered. Tricks for managing the difficulties with a more positive attitude, tricks that tell them “Don’t worry, you can do it; here’s something that will help you learn it better,” tricks that ensure that they never lose their sense of wonder and amazement with life. And that’s awesome, because everyone needs

a little magic in their life now and then, right?

6. DAD AS HANDYMAN – “He knows how to fix everything that’s broken.”Pop’s the run-to guy when anything needs fixing. He knows how to put together anything that’s fallen apart and make it work once more. And if ever it breaks again, he knows just how to mend it back. That ability to fix everything, from broken pipes to broken toys to broken hearts, reassures the kids that they have someone they can always depend on to be there, even when the rest of the world might turn its back on them. And from that arises a strong sense of faith, hope and peace.

7. DAD AS BIG PROTECTOR – “He always has my back. I know I’m always safe with him.”When the kids know that they have their very own bodyguard and strongman who’s ready to do battle with all the real and imaginary monsters around them, they know they’re completely safe. And the comfort of that confidence is precious beyond words. Kids who grow up with this kind of quiet security are precisely those that will have the courage to venture into yet-unchartered roads as they strive to make the world a better place for all. And a safe one, too.

8. DAD AS LOVE – “He loves us so much. Even if he doesn’t say it all the time in words, I know.”The deep certainty with which my 11-year-old ended his description of his father rendered me speechless and filled with gratitude. My kids’ dad (like many men, I think) does not very often say those three words that women like to hear. But funnily, he doesn’t need to. Because in the simplest of everyday moments, we witness his constant acts of kind service, quiet sacrifices made for the sake of the family, and consistent proof of looking out for each one of us. When kids are afforded glimpses of this, day in and day out, they instinctively know they’ve got something more precious than three spoken words. Actions speak loudest, after all, and that voice takes root in the four chambers of the heart, ready to be passed on to others by each one who has been bestowed with that precious love.

There could be different words, different descriptions, different qualifications that might come up were I to ask another child of mine, or a child of yours, or a child of anyone else, to describe their father. But I believe, word differences aside, the essence and meat of the message would be the same: I’ve got the greatest dad who gives me so much in body, heart, and soul, and that has made all the difference. I am who I am today because of him.

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LIFE l i f e @ t h e s t a n d a r d . c o m . p h @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d

LIV.E SIMPLYBY LIV E.

THE DADDY DIFFERENCE

P E T P U L S E

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When you’re planning to travel with your pet, you need to remember that they

have special needs. Bringing them along on your trip is not as simple as loading them in a cage and leaving them on the backseat of your car.

Bow & Wow, the country’s first and only all-natural pet store for dogs and cats that aims to empower pet parents through education, offers the following helpful tips to make the journey with your four-legged friends smooth and worry free.

• Have a suitable travel kennel. This is a must have to ensure safety. It should be light, easy to carry, and should provide proper ventilation or holes to allow your pet to see what is going on outside, and give it a sense of security despite unfamiliar settings. Other

handy items like a harness and a cat carrier if you have a kitty can also be useful in transporting pets safely.

• Throw in a familiar item. Make sure your pet has something to keep it preoccupied, such as a favorite toy or a non-toxic familiar object to keep it busy while in transit.

• Have travel treats at hand. Pet chews will come in handy to help keep your pet preoccupied and satiated. Remember, a pet that is fully fed may most likely feel nauseated during a long car trip, so a lasting chew treat is essential.

• Allot potty time. See to it that your furry friend has had its potty time and has engaged in some play/exercise. This will make your pet more

comfortable and less restless during travel time.

• Create positive energy. Act enthusiastic when placing your pet inside a travel kennel. That way, the act will look like a treat and not a punishment.

For other informative reads, visit http://www.bowandwow.com.ph/blog. Check out the quality travel paraphernalia and accessory finds for your furry four-legged friends at Bow & Wow, with stores located at Level 5 of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City; at the lower ground floor of Greenbelt 5, Makati City; at the 2nd floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia in New Manila, Quezon City; at the ground floor of Excelsior in Eastwood City, Libis, Q.C.; and at Level 3 at the New Wing of Ayala Center, Cebu. For more information, visit the Bow & Wow website at www.bowandwow.com.ph.

“I grew up with dogs around me as my Dad has always been a dog lover,” says Jenny Wieneke, an advertising executive. She remembers how,

as a kid, the dogs would go with them practically everywhere and would even sleep on her bed. Along with her husband Jorge, an entrepreneurial advocate, and their four boys, the Wienekes have three Jack Russels named Kurt (Russel), 12; Scrappy (“because she was a scruffy looking puppy”), 11; and (Russel) Crowe, three. They have a fourth, Drogo – a two-year-old American Bully who is “massive, black and scary just like Drogon the Dragon in Game of Thrones but is actually a sweetheart like Khal Drogo.”

“Kurt, our very first dog was a gift from my husband’s client from Iloilo. When we first saw him, scared, dirty and so small in his travel box from the airport, we fell in love with him right away. He was so frail and thin, with a big head, but we soon got him into the pink of health. A few months later, we felt that Kurt needed a companion so we searched for Jack Russell breeders as Jacks, at the time, were not too commonly available,” Jenny narrates. So they went to a breeder in Quezon City and got Scrappy. “She was the most hyper from the litter,” Jenny recalls.

The Wienekes have had several litters from Kurt and Scrappy, and asked about how they take care of their pets, Jenny answers, “The dogs have a yaya who walks them three times a day, feeds them and bathes them. None of our dogs poop or pee in the house, except when it is raining and Kurt pees at the foot of the toilet bowl. I think he thinks he’s human, if only he can reach the toilet bowl he would,” she laughs.

She recounts the funny quirks displayed by her dogs, like Drogo who does a mean high five. “If you say high five and put your

hand low as if asking him to shake your hand, he will shake your hand. But if you stand up and say ‘high five’ and raise your hand, he will stand up on his hind legs and give you a high five. After that though, you’d have to reward him with pandesal, his favorite treat. Kurt on the other hand fetches the ball and gives it back but you’d have to wrestle with him to get it back; he likes the tug-of-war that comes with it,” Jenny recounts.

Jenny admits that having the dogs have taught her a lesson or two. “My pets have taught me that there is indeed unconditional love on this earth. They bring me joy whenever I come home from a hard day’s work and find them jumping up and down (Drogo knocks down the side tables, out of excitement when he sees me) and running around just to get my attention. Their loyalty knows no bounds, especially Scrappy

who protects my kids like they’re her own. Scrappy and Drogo are quick to bark at intruders and guests whom they don’t know.”

Dogs seem to be endowed with a sixth sense because whenever someone was sick, they would also lie down as if guarding the one who is ill. “Our dogs are part of our family. Without them, we are not the Wienekes. They are our babies whom we love,” Jenny concludes.

Bon-A-Pet-Treat

Jenny Wieneke with Drogo (black American Bully), Scrappy (white and brown female Jack Russell), Crowe (white and brown male Jack Russel), and Kurt (male Jack Russel in Little Green Archer shirt)

TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN TRAVELING WITH A PET

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Are you a city dweller who has sacrificed personal space for the convenience of living in a prime location? You’re not

alone. Almost half of all condos in Metro Manila have floor areas of 50 square meters or less. Seventy-five percent of units in the pre-selling stage in metropolitan areas are studio and one-bedroom units.

WHERE CREATIVITY REIGNS SUPREMEMaking the most out of a limited space requires assessing the different areas of your condo and listing all of your needs for living comfortably in each area. You have to figure out how to fit the pieces you already own into the space that you have.

WELL-CURATED AND PROPORTIONALIf your place is really short on space, you may choose multi-purpose, functional pieces that also provide extra storage.

Try to avoid adding walls or tall dividers, which may make a room feel cramped. Don’t be limited to using the four walls around your space. Use step-ups to add coziness and privacy, and use the space below for storage. Use wall- or ceiling-mounted pieces instead of standing

furniture to make the floor feel more spacious. Removing unnecessary items also gives a space more fluidity.

Using area rugs or changing flooring can also define living areas without physically separating adjacent spaces.

EMBELLISH WITH CHARACTER AND COLORPainting the walls can change your perception of a room’s size. Warmer and darker colors create a cozier feeling, while cooler and lighter colors make a room look more spacious.

You may also introduce color through accessories. Try to mix and match textures to add visual interest.

A small space doesn’t have to cramp your style. It can be an opportunity for you to pare down your possessions and keep only what helps you thrive. With a well thought out interior design plan, a micro condo can be more than just a concrete box.

For more ideas for making the most out of a small space, check out the Philippine School of Interior Design exhibit “Studio 24” from Oct. 3 to 31, 2015, at Ronac Lifestyle Center, Magallanes, Makati City. For more information, please visit: www.psidstudio24.com

Climate change has made the world very vulnerable to disasters. In Metro Manila, residents have been warned

about the possibility of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake which puts everyone at risk especially those living in the vicinity of the West Valley Fault.

As they say, there is no substitute for preparation, and ever the helpful place, ACE Hardware offers portable, compact and versatile emergency essentials from which to create your own survival kit.

Earthquakes can cause power lines to break down, which can lead to outages. Stay alert and be ready with emergency lights and portable generators that can light up your place. There are also multifunction LED flashlights with radios to keep you abreast with the latest news and emergency updates. The amazing power jump can be used as a battery charger for all mobile devices, a jump starter for your car, and an LED flashlight that is useful in the dark.

Earthquakes may also cause fire so it’s best to store a fire extinguisher in your home. Durable hard hats, emergency flashers, ropes, multi-tools, disaster kits and safety vests can also be lifesavers during an emergency situation. Just in case you may have to relocate, there are also folding mattresses for safe and comfortable sleep in the outdoors.

Be prepared in the aftermath of an earthquake by making your own survival kit with ACE Hardware’s

waterproof bags that float safely if dropped in water. There are also watertight protector cases that provide durable lifetime protection for valuables.These survival items are available at selected branches of ACE Hardware, ACE Express and ACE Builders stores nationwide. Visit www.acehardware.ph or like their Facebook page at Ace Hardware Philippines or follow on Twitter and Instagram at @acehardware_ph.

Photo from the official Instagram of Elle Decor“Décor that is well thought of can give your space personal style and the illusion of extra space.”

Photo from Free Response website“Clean and minimal doesn’t have to be stark and boring – a sleek and open space if well styled can be inviting and breezy.”

Photo from Smitten Studio Online website“Something simple like an accent wall or beautiful wall prints can liven up a room without taking away any more space.”

A STYLE GUIDE FOR OUT OF THE BOX LIVING

The Pelican Watertight Protector Case with automatic regulation provides lifetime protection for sensitive and vital equipment from water, dust sand and impact

This Outdoor Gear Life Kit packed in a waterproof plastic box includes a triangular bandage, paracord, glow stick, a 5-in-1 multifunction whistle and a stainless steel multifunction tool card

This durable Outdoor Gear Waterproof Bag with an adjustable shoulder strap can also double as a floating device.

During power outages, appliances can be kept running with the Navigator Gasoline Generator that uses unleaded gasoline and has a voltmeter and an oil alarm system to protect the motor

BE PREPARED FOR THE BIG ONE Ace Hardware provides earthquake survival kit

SHOWBITZi s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

C5ISAH V. REDE D I T O R

WEDNES DAY : S EPT EMBER 3 0 : 2015

When Enrique Gil start-ed his showbiz career, he was hesitant at first to dance because he

was scared. “In my whole life, I nev-er knew I could do it because I was afraid but I later realized that when you break down your walls, it could bring out the best in you,” he shares. “It could also boost your self confi-dence.” He recalls that after a perfor-mance, when the audience loved his dance routine, it made him feel con-fident to do it even more often. “Be-lieving in yourself helps in breaking down your walls.”

Now on its third year, #Teen-WeekPH is part of Unilever’s Sus-tainable Living Plan, which aims to power up future-ready teens by giving them the confidence to shape their future. Launched in 2013, #TeenWeekPH was created to empower teens to be the best they can be through workshops that focused on good personal hy-giene and personal development, both of which lead to confidence.

In the last two years, #Teen-WeekPH successfully improved the personal care and hygiene hab-its of teens. In fact, 60 percent who joined the program started taking better care of themselves by using

personal care products. And those who were already using products started using the products more regularly, as part of their hygiene routine. Beyond improving the hygiene habits of teens, #Teen-weekPH is proven to give a positive impact on the outlook of teens. Results from the survey conduct-ed after #TeenweekPH show that the teens have become more con-fident and have clearer ambitions through the program.

Students’ intent on pursuing higher education increased by 18 percent after their participa-tion in #TeenweekPH. Students also said that they now think they have clearer dreams and ambitions because #TeenweekPH made them believe in themselves. Lastly, after #TeenweekPH, 28% more teens now believe that they are ready for the future.

Because of its contribution to the welfare of Filipino teens, the program has been recognized by national and international award winning bodies such as the Anvil Awards, Tambuli Awards and the Asian Marketing Effectiveness and Strategy Awards (AMES) in Singapore.

For more information visit www.TeenWeekPH.com.

EnriquE Gil on TEEn WEEk 2015

regression, which means an act of going back, stars Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson at the

backdrop of Minnesota, 1990. The film follows detective Bruce Kenner (Hawke) investigating the case of young Angela (Wat-son), who accuses her father, John Gray (David Dencik), of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without rec-ollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr. Raines (David Thewlis) is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.

Director Alejandro Amenábar returns to the big screen with Regression, which represents a return to suspense, the genre of his feature film de-but in 1996 (Thesis). Inspired by a wave of events that occurred in the United States during the 80s, the film is both “a reflection on evil and an exploration of the shortcuts of the mind,” says pro-

ducer Fernando Bovaira. The initial accusations that served as documentation for the writing of the screenplay arose within the context of growing political and religious power inside the Unit-ed States, and later spread to the rest of the world with unequal intensity, even reaching the point where it was classified as a global conspiracy, and not only by the most sensationalistic sources.

Bruce Kenner is the detective leading the investigation of a family accused of practicing sa-tanic rituals in a small town of Minnesota. Recently divorced, he finds shelter in his work, where he can channel his ob-sessive personality into getting to the bottom of every case. His thoroughness and dedication routinely put him at odds with his colleagues and this time will plunge him into the dark-est depths of human nature. “Bruce is a police officer that is investigating the alleged crime of a young woman who has

been seriously abused by some people who have confessed to being part of a very strange sa-tanic cult. And so it kind of takes Bruce down the rabbit hole, so to speak,” says Hawke of his role.

A challenge shared by the director and star, as Alejandro Amenábar highlights, “When we started shooting, Ethan said that it was the story of a man who was asleep. And my answer was: ‘No, it’s the story of some-one who’s permanently awake, nothing gets past him.’ And I think he managed to build a character who is the smartest de-tective in town but who is kind of sleepwalking the whole time. What surprised me most about Ethan’s work is how he manages to find that range of extremely contained energy in someone who is extremely tough, who in the end is truly afraid.”

A family’s rotten secret will be unmasked on Oct. 14 when Regression opens in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Ethan hawkE unCovErs hidEous family CrimE

Enrique Gil talks about himself in # TEENWEEK PH

Ethan Hawke stars in Regression

Hawke investigates the case of Emma Watson in the film

Watson with David Thewlis and Ethan Hawke

SHOWBITZC6i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m


ACROSS 1 Grass cutter 6 Bill, briefly 10 RN assistants 14 Fuming 15 Koh-i — diamond 16 Ambler or Clapton 17 Like a tablet 18 Felipe or Matty 19 Isinglass 20 Fortune 21 One 13 (2 wds.) 24 What Muses do

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 WEDNESDAY,

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

26 Piano fixers 27 Prior to 28 Signs up 30 “A Boy — Sue” 33 Jabs playfully 34 Howl 37 Disney CEO Bob — 38 Soft drinks 39 Plains state 40 Ewe’s plaint 41 Corroded 42 Aleut carving 43 Dijon dads

44 — de cologne 45 Debated 48 Banquet finale 52 Violets, e.g. 55 Chocolate-colored dog 56 Mimicked 57 Footnote word 58 Title role for Madonna 60 Not bogus 61 Baja boy 62 Afterward 63 Urn homophone 64 Pulls down 65 Travels on snow

DOWN 1 — Vanilli 2 Hunter constellation 3 Wishes for 4 Riviera summer 5 Cardinal 6 Moccasin, maybe 7 Painted tinware 8 Where heather grows 9 Well-behaved convicts 10 Duds 11 Hold dear 12 More accommodating

13 Surveys 22 — you serious? 23 Grayish horses 25 Look intently 28 Nasty shocks 29 Not super 30 Robin’s beak 31 Turkish potentate 32 Give — — break 33 Pretend to be 34 Plant sci. 35 Dazzle 36 Candied item 38 Thickening, as cream 39 Debtors’ notes 41 Coral formation 42 Loafer doodads 43 Evidence of rain 44 Always, to Whitman 45 Fully conscious 46 Less green 47 Gather after harvest 48 Audition tapes 49 “In” crowd 50 Evaluated 51 Ski lifts (hyph.) 53 Garfield’s pal 54 Shoved off 59 — Kilmer of films

Multi-awarded mu-sician Jesse Lucasheadlined the perfor-mance art show Ginu-

gunita Kita at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) as part of the 7th bien-nial Maningning Miclat poetry awarding ceremonies on Sept. 3.

After top-billing the CCP Tri-ple Threats concert Full Range, the noted composer and pianist turned the works of the late trilingual poet Maningning Miclat into nostalgic musical renditions with the help of master cellist Renato Lucas, sopra-no and Maningning’s younger sis-

ter Banaue Miclat-Janssen, tenor Al Gatmaitan, and actor-dancer Delphine Buencamino. The Ginu-gunita Kita CD, which contains nine tracks, was also launched during the concert.

Roeder Camañag directed the show with interactive visual art provided by Nasser Lubay. The tribute concert was initially staged at the Aldaba Recital Hall in UP Diliman.

Jesse, who is behind the prized music of several films, TV shows, musicals, operas, ballet and other dance performances, explained his inspiration for the project came easy after reading Voice

from the Underworld, Maningn-ing’s collection of poems (Anvil Publishing House).

“I immediately connected with the words and verses. The words used form their own cadence. Each word seemed carefully se-lected to form a given rhythm that supports its theme. The poems of Maningning Miclat are almost me-lodious that I can hear the music through the poetic images. They spoke and at the same time sang to me poignant thoughts about life, pain, and love. These are the foun-dation of Ginugunita Kita’s music,” the composer shared.

– SEyMOUR B. SanChEZ

JESSE LUCaS LEaDS tRiBUtE COnCERt

the life of Pope Francis, Roman Catholic church’s 266th Pope who was elected in March 2013 is the focus of Papa Francisco:

The Pope Francis Story also known as Francis: Pray For Me.

Based on the book Pope Francis: Life and Revolution by acclaimed journalist Elisabetta Piqué, a close friend of the Pope and a correspondent in Italy and the Vatican for La Nación, Argentina’s main newspaper, Pique offers an inti-mate, in depth portrait of Pope Francis, drawing on interviews with over 75 in-dividuals including lay people, priests, bishops, cardinals and the Pope s family and friends, as well as her relationship with the Pope as a close family friend.

The book’s film adaptation, Papa Fran-cisco: The Pope Francis Story tells of Pope Francis’ early life and his path to the papa-cy, including his decision at the age of 20 to train as a priest against the wishes of his mother, his appointment as the youngest Provincial of the Society of Jesus at a time when the order was in crisis, his studies, his teaching career, his exile in Cordoba, his appointments as auxiliary bishop of Rome, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and as a Cardinal, before becoming Pope at the age of 76. The film continues to share the

Pope’s battles against prostitution, drug trafficking and slave labor – defender of the poor and the oppressed. He stood against the powerful against all odds.

Since Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in 2013, countless books have been written to help the world understand this deeply complex yet simple servant of God. What sets Pope Francis: Life and Rev-olution apart from all other biographies of Pope Francis is the careful research and original investigation behind it, along with the fact that it is written ePub by an inter-nationally respected journalist—Elisabet-ta Piqué—who has remained close to the Pope since first meeting him back in 2001.

Taking on the titular role is Award-winning Argentine actor Dario Grandinetti, who starred in Pedro Alm-odovar’s Talk to Her, as the former Bue-nos Aires archbishop Jorge Bergoglio.

The actor and the film’s producer and director met with the Pope prior the film’s production, “We hope this film will transmit the admiration all of us feel for the coherence of a life based on austerity and charity, and that will inspire people,” said director Docampo Feijoo, who also wrote the script for the film.Papa Francisco: The Pope Francis Story

in cinemas today from Pioneer Films.

In tImes of peaCe and war

Jesse Lucas pays tribute to Maningning Miclat

Dario Grandinetti plays Father Jorge Bergoglio who was

elected to the papacy in 2013 and became

Pope Francis

SHOWBITZ C7i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m


Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nom-inee Jessica Chastain, who’s also considered

as one of the most sought after actresses of her generation” stars in Ridley Scott’s space adventure The Martian with Matt Damon, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Peña, Sebasyian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Kirsten Wiig, Jeff Daniels, and Sean Bean.

Based on the highly successful book by Andy Weir, “The Mar-tian” tells of the gripping story of botanist Mark Watney, played by Damon in the film.

Watney is one of the six-man crew of the Ares 3, an explorato-ry fact finding mission to Mars that goes radically wrong when the astronauts are caught in the middle of a ferociously violent sandstorm. As the crew scramble to get back on board their ship, Watney is speared by an anten-na - leaving him injured and de-stroying his space suit’s bio mon-itors in the process.

Believing he is dead, Com-mander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) reluctantly aborts the mission to embark on the long journey back to earth.

Watney, a biologist and a bril-liantly innovative mechanical en-gineer, has survived but, at first, has no way to contact mission control back on Earth and let them know that he has survived. NASA eventually realises that he is still alive when satellite images show evidence of his endeavors and plan a rescue attempt – a race against time to reach him before his limited resources run out. Having made the decision to leave Watney behind, believing him to be dead, Lewis feels an enormous measure of regret and guilt that will later affect her actions and the integrity of her command.

Ridley Scott fleshed out some of the action sequences in the movie and made Commander Melissa Lewis’ arc even more active, cre-ating another of the strong female roles that have marked many of

his previous films. As leader of the third Mars mission, known as Ares III, Commander Lewis heads a crew of six, including Watney, and is in charge of the surface mission and the spacecraft that carried them there, the Hermes. The journey from Earth’s orbit to Mars required nine months, giv-ing Lewis ample time to establish authority with her team, and for the astronauts to bond.

Jessica Chastain, who por-trays Lewis says, “She is such a well-written character, another in the legacy of Ridley’s remark-able women characters. Lewis came from the Navy, and has to lead a team of specialists who are very smart and have very specific tasks to perform. She is friendly and personable with her crew, but wants to leave no doubt as to who is in charge.”

“Matt and I have now done two movies together (Interstel-lar was the other), and have only worked with each other on set for about a week,” says Chastain.

Chastain says she was fortunate in being able to spend some time with astronaut-chemist Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a Mission Spe-cialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour flight STS-118 in August 2007, and who was part of the Expedition 24 crew on the International Space Station in 2010. Dyson briefed Chastain on both the technical and human elements of being an astronaut. Chastain says Dyson and other female astronauts are true role models. “They inspire women everywhere to pursue ca-reers in science and mathematics,” the actress notes.

“I think it’s a great part for Jes-

sica and perhaps unlikely because she’s not thought of as being a physical actress. But I saw a film she did called The Debt in which she played a spy and I was sur-prised and I was convinced she could do anything at that point. And there are strong performanc-es throughout the film – I men-tioned Jeff [Daniels] and there’s Sean [Bean], Chiwetel [Ejiofor], Kristen [Wiig], the guys on the Ares 3. I’m really pleased with them all,” says Scott of his unique-ly talented The Martian cast.

“The Martian” opens today from 20th Century Fox to be dis-tributed by Warner Bros.

JessiCa Chastain in Command

Gloc-9 hit the ground running on his 18th year on Sept. 1. The day of his anniversary, he

released a self-produced single entitled “Payag”.

The timing could not be more perfect for this song.

This year, September signals the real start of election season in the country when, after the ghost month of August, candi-dates begin to earnestly do the rounds, gather support, test pub-lic pulse. It is the perspective of this public that Gloc-9 takes on in “Payag”, where the persona in the song – necessarily Gloc-9, but also not him – asks why he allows the current state of affairs to continue, why anyone allows him or herself to get carried away by the sugar-coated words and manufactured appearances of politicians?

“Payag” is a song that we expect from Gloc-9 when his icon has been created by a history of song-writing that is not only grounded in social realism but more impor-tantly critical of the status quo.

This year though, Gloc-9’s an-

niversary is filled with changes. Not only is “Payag” self-produced, he is also looking at producing an EP entitled Sukli with five songs within the year.

In October, Gloc-9 will venture into something new yet again. Ang Kwento Ng Makata: Gloc-9 Live! is his first concert series at the Music Museum, Saturdays – Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Produced by PPL Entertain-ment Inc., each night will have him and his band Glocnine per-forming with different guest art-ist. on Oct. 10, Aiza Seguerra, Bamboo, Jay Durias, Jennylyn Mercado, Kylie Padilla and Marc Abaya perform with him.

On Oct. 17, it will be Chito Miranda, Ebe Dancel, Janno Gibbs, Jonalyn Viray and Rico Blanco’s turn.

Ebe Dancel returns on Oct. 24 with, Jolina Magdangal, Ogie Al-casid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasidand Yeng Constantino.

And on Oct. 31, Dancel and Durias reappear with Julie Ann San Jose and Kz Tandingan.

Regular guests are Maya, Migz Haleco, Reese and Rochelle

Pangilinan.For tickets, call ticket world.

891.9999 and Music Museum, 721.0635/721.6726.

HHHHH

AdvAnce ticket sellinGfor ‘felix MAnAlo’VIVA Films and its partner cine-mas make another unprecedent-ed move for a local film as it of-fers advance ticket selling for the monumental epic bioflick, Felix Manalo” starting last Monday.

Directed by multi-award-winning director Joel Laman-gan with versatile actor Dennis Trillo in the lead role of Iglesia ni Cristo founder and first exec-utive minister Ka Felix Manalo, the much talked-about movie now joins the illustrious ranks of such foreign blockbuster behe-moths as The Avengers, Twilightand the Hunger Games series.

The advance ticket selling will be made available at over 300 theaters nationwide so that mov-iegoers raring to watch the high-ly-anticipated movie may avoid the long queue and mad rush on opening day, Oct. 7.

Premiere night is set on Oct.

4 at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 guests in attendance.

The number includes over a hundred stars in special roles in the film.

The gigantic event, which will be viewed on a five-story high (120 meters by 40 meters) screen, will vie for two Guinness Book of World Records for the largest audience attendance in a film pre-miere and film screening.

HHHHH

first filipino forensic pAtholoGist on ‘leAdinG WoMen’This week on Leading Women, host Angel Jacob looks into the life of Dr. Raquel Fortun, the first Filipino forensic pathologist.

It takes a special kind of person to find fulfillment in a career that involves dissecting dead bodies, and Dr. Fortun is exactly that, an unapologetic, witty, and passion-ate scientist. Her role as a forensic pathologist has landed her on the headlines over the last 20 years.

The outspoken doctor teaches at the UP College of Medicine,

but she often gets called in as an expert in high-profile deaths and national tragedies. The first large-scale disaster she handled was the Ozone Disco fire in 1996, which involved more than 160 deaths.

Despite Dr. Fortun’s success in her breakthrough role, she has her share of detractors. Because the discipline of forensic science in the Philippines still lags behind other countries, many doubt her skills and authority. However, the challenge of improv-ing the system of forensic science in this country also keeps her fired up.

Dr. Fortun is waiting for things to change, and she’s certainly do-ing all she can to initiate it. She longs for the day when, should another disaster or natural ca-tastrophe occur, the dead will be taken into consideration. She looks forward to the time when scientific method will be stan-dard practice for people dealing with crime scenes, and when fo-rensic science in general will be taken seriously.

Know more about Dr. For-tun’s fascinating story on Leading Women on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. on CNN Philippines.

18 yeArs of Gloc-9 from c8

Rochelle Pangilinan

Gloc-9’s regular guests: Migz Haleco

Maya

Reese

Gloc-9

Jessica Chastain as Commander Lewis in The Martian

C8 ISAH V. REDE D I T O R

SHOWBITZ


ABS-CBN is sure to get more fans hooked with new shows in the remaining part of 2015.

Held at the Marriot Grand Ballroom in Pasay, the ABS-CBN trade event dubbed as “Shine, Kapamilya” started with a grand opening act of It’s Show-time hosts giving the guests a sneak peek of their “anim-ver-sary” show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday.

One of the new shows re-vealed that Kapamilya viewers should not miss is the first series of the real-life sweethearts Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsuna-ga entitled Be My Lady. Soon to bring “kilig” to every Kapami-lya’s morning, Be My Lady will tell the unique love story of a foreigner and a Filipina.

Aside from the light series, ABS-CBN will also offer a dif-ferent kind of drama as it soon airs Tubig at Langis. The series, which star Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe Marudo, will bravely tackle marital problems.

ABS-CBN also introduced two series that will share stories of dif-ferent family setups—And I Love You So top billed by three prom-ising teen stars – Julia Barretto,

Miles Ocampo, and Iñigo Pas-cual and You’re My Home starring Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Jessy Mendiola, and JC De Vera.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also paid tribute to the late Fernando Poe Jr., the original star of the classic Ang Probinsyano through its teleserye remake of the said film. The series that is aired on the Primetime Bida block stars Coco Martin and Maja Salvador.

Apart from the new and ex-citing teleseryes, the tradeshow also unveiled the newest game show every Kapamilya should watch out for—Celebrity Play-time. Hosted by Billy Crawford, the game show features various stars playing a mix of unique and known party games.

Present also at the event were the stars of high-rating pro-grams that are currently air-ing— Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracio of Pangako Sa ‘Yo, James Reid and Nadine Lustreof On the Wings of Love, and Dawn, Zeus, teen big four Bai-ley, Franco, Jimboy and Ylona of Pinoy Big Brother 737.

HHHHH

Kapamilya stars clash in competitive games ABS-CBN takes fun to a whole new level with its newest talk-comedy-game show Celebri-ty Playtime, which pits celebrities against each other in exciting and amusing games every Saturday.

Hosted by Billy Crawford, the program features celebrity play-ers competing in house party games and winning prizes – all in the spirit of having fun.

Billy said the program urg-es viewers to bond with their friends and family.

“These days, most of us rely on smartphones and social me-dia for interaction. We want to encourage viewers to spend time, connect, and have fun with each other the best way – face-to-face,” said Billy.

Every week, two teams of ce-lebrity players will play three house party games about popular culture. After the third game, the team that earns the most number of points wins and advances to the bonus round where they can earn an additional cash prize.

The fun does not just stop there, as these two teams will play in a road-to-three series.

The first team to win three weeks will be declared the defend-ing champion and will be playing against another “celebri-team.”

Featured in the program’s first laughter-filled games were Melai Cantiveros, Nyoy Volante, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Karla Estra-da of Your Face Sounds Familiar’s first season and Long Mejia, Den-nis Padilla, Eric Nicolas, and Epi Quizon, some of the Lucky Stars of Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal.

new shows on KapamilyaISAH V. RED

➜ continued on c7

1 The cast of And I Love You So 2 It’s Showtime hosts 3 James Reid and Nadine Lustre 4 Real-life sweethearts Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga 5 Tubig at Langis stars Cristine Reyes and

Zanjoe Marudo 6 Jessy Mendiola and JC De Vera 7 Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion 8 Dawn Chang and Zeus Collins of Pinoy Big Brother 737 9 Vice Ganda does his classic comedy act 10 Anne Curtis belts out the song

Chandelier 11 Celebrity Playtime host Billy Crawford 12 Billy with celebrity players

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3 4 5 6

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i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m