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The digital edition of The Standard: a nationally circulated newspaper published daily in the Philippines since February 1987.
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VOL. XXIX NO. 273 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 THURSDAY : NOVEMBER 12, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph [email protected]
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Poe warnsAquino: Noquick fixesto PH’s ills
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House OKswage hikefor stateworkers
Malacañang ignores Senate position on treaty
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‘PNOY WAS INVITED’
By Sandy Araneta
THE Palace ignored a Senate reso-lution Wednesday that said the country’s Enhanced Defense Co-operation Agreement or Edca was a treaty and therefore needed the approval of the Senate, and said it would await a Supreme Court deci-sion on the issue.
“We are abiding by the legal pro-cess; hence we are awaiting SC de-cision. [� e] Senate is well within its rights to deliberate on and enact resolutions,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a text message to the press.
Most senators on Tuesday agreed with Senantor Miriam Defensor-Santiago that the Edca,
which allows American troops ac-cess to Philippine military bases, is a treaty that requires the concur-rence of the Senate.
Voting 15-1-3, the senators ap-proved Santiago’s resolution as the Supreme Court postponed its vote on the constitutionality of the agreement, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday, to Nov. 16.
Tacloban mayor: No response to invite; Palace insists he wasn’t
Apec meetings venue. President Benigno Aquino III, accompanied by his Cabinet, inspects the PICC in Manila, the venue of the Asia-Pacifi c Economic Cooperation meetings this month. Malacañang Photo Bureau
By Christine F. Herrera
CONTRARY to Palace claims, President Be-nigno Aquino III was o� cially invited to the ceremonies in Tacloban City marking the second anniversary of Typhoon “Yolanda,” which killed more than 7,000 people and devastated Eastern Visayas in November 2013.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Ro-mualdez on Wednesday con� rmed that the President was invited as early as Oct. 27 or 12 days before the second an-niversary of the Yolanda tragedy.
“� e Palace did not RSVP,” Ro-mualdez told � e Standard.
� e President drew � ak for skip-ping the Tacloban rites to attend a wedding in Pasay City of business tycoon Andrew Tan’s son Kester on Nov. 8, but a spokesman said he did
not go because he was not invited.But in a letter to the President ob-
tained by � e Standard, Romualdez invited the President to one of the most important events, the unveiling of the Astrodome Memorial marker on Nov. 8 at the Tacloban City Con-vention Center.
It was at the Astrodome where thou-sands had sought refuge and were saved from the killer storm surge.
“Knowing your continuing concern
for all of us victims who fortunately survived this tragedy, I shall greatly ap-preciate your being with us once again on this commemorative occasion,” Ro-mualdez said in the letter.
“On November 8, 2015, the City of Tacloban commemorates the second anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolan-da in memory of our fellow Tacloba-nons who lost their lives during this horrendous disaster,” Romualdez’s letter said. Next page
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Malacañang...From A1
‘PNoy...From A1
“May we look forward to your presence—most especially during the unveiling of the Astrodome Memo-rial marker on Nov. 08, 2015 at Ta-cloban City Convention Center,” the mayor said.
Romualdez attached a schedule of activities on Nov. 7 and 8 to his letter.
In a radio and TV interview, Communications Secretary Her-minio Coloma Jr. defended Aqui-no, saying he was not invited.
“First of all, I checked with the Appointments Office. No invita-tion was received by the Office of the President,” Coloma said.
“The President and the govern-ment continue to implement com-prehensive rehabilitation program for building more resilient com-munities. Actual implementation of rehabilitation programs is the gov-ernment’s primary focus,” he added.
Coloma said Aquino did not intend to skip the commemora-tion rites to avoid meeting Mayor Romualdez, who has been critical of the slow pace of the adminis-tration’s relief and rehabilitation efforts.
On Nov. 8, three hours before the President was supposed to unveil the marker, Romualdez and his cousins senatorial can-didate Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and vice presidential candidate Sena-tor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led an hour-long commemorative walk from city hall to the Astrodome Memorial Ground.
They were joined by the mayor’s
wife Cristina, United National-ist Alliance standard bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA senatorial candidates Alma More-no, Jacel Kiram and Rey Langit, independent senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino and vice presi-dential candidate Gregorio Hona-san, Binay’s running mate.
Despite Romualdez’s letter, the Palace insisted Wednesday that it received no invitation, but said it would continue to help victims of the tragedy.
“As of today (Nov. 11), Office of the President records do not include an invitation to Nov. 8 commemorative program, but we do not regard this as a significant factor as it has no bearing on the government’s commitment to re-build the lives of affected families,” Coloma said in a text message to The Standard.
“It is best that we move forward and work harder to ease the burdens of our people in the calamity areas,” Coloma also told The Standard.
Coloma also said the government continues to work on implement-ing post-Yolanda rehabilitation programs beyond the commemo-ration of the second anniversary of the severe calamity that has afflicted thousands of Filipinos.
“We continue to work together with organizations and individu-als that believe in the objective of building back disaster-resilient communities,” he said.
On Wednesday, congressman Romualdez urged the government to provide potable water to Yolan-da survivors, who continue to be deprived of the basic necessity two years after the killer storm.
House OKs wage hikefor state employees
Arms show. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, an advocate of responsible gun ownership, checks out an as-sault rifle during an arms show at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. MANNY PALMERO
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, defended House Bill 6268 or the Salary Standardization Law of 2015, say-ing the measure will provide great relief to the government workers once it is passed into law.
The bill was tackled in the plenary despite the absence of quorum.
The measure was principally authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and co-authored by Reps. Isidro Ungab, Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gon-zales II, Romblon Rep. Jesus Eleandro Ma-drona, chairman of the House committee on accounts and Minority Leader and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
HB 6268 was immediately calendared for committee and plenary actions after it was submitted by Malacañang last Monday.
The House committee on appropriations, chaired by Ungab, approved the measure Wednesday and had it referred to the plenary for approval on the same day.
Only Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio voted against the measure. He said the Budget Department was misleading the government workers, es-
pecially the teachers, when it claimed salaries of public school teachers will double if the bill becomes a law by January 2016.
Andaya, in his sponsorship speech, said the proposed pay hike will be implemented in four tranches over four years starting Janu-ary 2016 and, upon full implementation, will bring the compensation of all government workers to at least 70 percent of market rate or up to a 45-percent increase.
“The proposed compensation plan is com-posed of across-the-board salary increase plus a mid-year bonus equivalent to one-month basic salary and the new Performance-based Bonus as an added bonus contingent on per-formance,” Andaya said.
As stated in the proposed measure, Andaya said, the 14th month pay or mid-year bonus, in addition to the present year-end bonus or 13th month pay, will account for an 8-percent increase in annual salaries.
Andaya said the PBB will be equivalent to one to two months basic salary or an 8 to 16 percent increase depending on the employee’s position.
The House was expected to approve the measure on third and final reading on the same night it approved the measure on sec-
By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday night the Palace-backed measure to increase the salaries and benefits of 1.3 million state workers.
ond reading.The leader of the independent minor-
ity bloc in the House, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, welcomed the bill’s ap-proval.
“I congratulate our colleagues from the House committee on appropriations for im-mediately approving the SSL 2015 because this is a long-overdue legislation to extend economic assistance to our state workers,” Romualdez said.
“But we should further examine the measure by pushing for a higher increase than the proposal offers for low-level and middle-level employees like teachers and nurses because they need better pay the most,” he added.
“I suggest to reduce the performance-based bonus so that we can generate funds to support the basic salary instead,” he added.
Senate President Franklin Drilon filed a counterpart bill on Wednesday that provides a weighted average increase of 45 percent in the total compensation of all government personnel over a four-year period.
“The economy is in the right course and we will take advantage of the favorable condition to raise the pay scheme in the government and align it with the compensation received by employees from the private sector,” Drilon said.
“It is about time that we adjust the salaries of the hardworking men and women who have helped the government to fulfill its man-dates to the people,” he added.
Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Santiago and Senators Juan Edgardo Angara; Nancy Binay; JV Ejercito; Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Serge Osmeña III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, and Cynthia Villar.
The 15th vote came from Senator Pia Cayetano, who was not at the session hall during the vote, but later manifested that she was voting in the affirmative.
Only Senator Antonio Trillanes IV vot-ed against the resolution.
Senate President Frank Drilon and Sen-ator Juan Ponce Enrile abstained.
Santiago argued that “other than con-currence of the Senate, no authority ex-pressly transforms a treaty into law,” and cited the Constitution’s treaty provision, which states: “No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective un-less concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate.’’
The Supreme Court was set to vote on a petition challenging the Edca on Tuesday, but since two justices—Associate Justices Jose Mendoza and Arturo Brion—were on sick leave, the court reset the voting to Nov. 16.
The two main petitions against Edca were filed in May last year by a group led by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada and congressmen, led by Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Col-menares and Carlos Zarate.
Two other similar petitions were filed by Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Confedera-tion for Unity, Recognition and Advance-ment of Government Employees and the family of slain transgender woman Jenni-fer Laude in June and November last year, respectively. With Rey E. Requejo and Florante S. Solmerin
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News
No quick fixes,Poe warns Noy
Bayan blasts Roxas’ policy of ‘winning at all costs’
Binay’s birthday wish:Improve lives of poor
Keepsake. Cardinal Luis Antonio Luis Tagle receives a native handkerchief from a member of the lumad tribe in Manila. Danny Pata
73 and counting. Vice President Jejomar Binay blows out the candles on his cake to celebrate his 73rd birthday with the residents of Tramo in Pasay City on Wednesday. With him is Senator Gringo Honasan. Lino SantoS
By Macon Ramos-araneta
INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday warned the Aquino administration against quick fixes, last-minute remedies or “band-aid solutions” to brag about its accomplishments before its term ends on June 30 next year.
VICE President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday his birthday wish is to improve the lives of all the Filipinos and wipe out poverty in the country.
He celebrated his 73rd birthday on Wednesday with the residents of a poor community in Pasay and vowed to work to address the problem of widespread poverty.
“If I would make a birthday wish, I want to improve the lives of every Filipino,” Binay said. “This is one article, my primary article of faith under my administration: to uplift the lives of Filipino people.”
Binay recounted when his mother died because of poverty.He then vowed, when he got appointed mayor of Makati, that
his administration would see to it that no one in Makati would die because of poverty.
He said his mother was a teacher in Pasay City and he grew up in Libertad, but then he transferred to Makati and lived there.
He said he wished Filipinos would be able to rise above poverty and create a better life for themselves. Vito Barcelo
THE left-leaning Bagong Alyan-sang Makabayan on Wednesday warned against administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II’s “win at all costs” strategy, say-ing it showed “telltale signs” of his “dictatorial tendencies” should he get elected as President.
“If how Mar Roxas campaigns is a preview of how he will gov-ern, then I’m afraid we must be prepared for a de facto MAR-tial
law,” Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary-general, said in a state-ment sent to The Standard.
“The systematic elimination of your rivals; the use of government resources to secure victory; and the use of threats to coerce poli-ticians to support you if Roxas is willing to do this to win, then he will not hesitate to do the same to attain his objectives when he is in power,” Reyes said.
He said Roxas’ had earlier promised to run a clean cam-paign based on the principles of the so-called straight path. He warned of LP members being-pressured to support the candidacy of Roxas or else they would be dropped.
“If in [the Ninoy Aquino Inter-national Airport] there is laglag-bala, in LP there are laglag-par-tymates,” Reyes said. John Paolo Bencito
“Rushing things can ruin things, and I’m afraid this is what’s hap-pening now,” said Poe, the front-runner in all presidential surveys.
She made her statement even as Senator Francis Escudero blasted Liberal Party presidential candi-date Manuel Roxas II for his “anti-business” and “anti-poor” proposal when he suggested canceling all bus franchises to solve the traffic woes in Metro Manila.
He said Roxas’ “knee-jerk” solu-tion would have a negative effect on the riding public who depends on buses in the absence of an effi-cient rail transport system.
“That proposal is detrimental
to the welfare of the riding public,” Escudero said.
“He should also take into con-sideration the welfare of the people who are dependent on the bus in-dustry for their livelihood.”
Poe made her warning amid the administration’s frenzied efforts to complete or repair infrastruc-ture projects and fulfill unfinished commitments.
She cited the “seemingly endless road repairs these past weeks that have inconvenienced the public so much that we have started to be swallowed up into a way of life for-ever marred by traffic.”
“A legacy should have a lasting
positive effect rather than further embroiling society in problems once this administration leaves of-fice,” Poe said.
She also cited the spate of infra-structure projects that were started too late but were now being rushed like the Skyway extension and the flyover from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport complex to Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in the reclamation area in Pasay City.
Poe also cited the victims of Su-per Typhoon “Yolanda.”
“It has been two years since the calamity and yet there is still so much to be accomplished, so many still to be helped,” she said.
For the requirements of per-manent shelters alone, the gov-ernment hardly made a dent in alleviating the plight of more than 200,000 families who were dis-placed by the typhoon.
“From the government’s own ad-mission, it was only able to provide permanent housing for 298 families in the last two years,” Poe said.
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Junk ‘tanimbala’ charge,missionaryasks court
Don’t hide truth, govt told By Sara Susanne D. FabunanTHE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will closely moni-tor homeless families during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next week and hoped that the Aquino administration will not try to hide the truth from visiting dignitaries.
“Let us see what they will do. Hopefully, they will not try to hide them, but instead look for solutions to the street families,” said Manila Auxilliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairperson of the CBCP permanent committee on public affairs, in an interview over Radio Veritas.
Pabillo confirmed that the De-partment of Social Welfare and Development has been distribut-ing P4,000 to each homeless family in Manila so they can rent a tem-
porary home in time for the arrival of 21 heads of state from Nov. 15 to 20.
Pabillo also lamented that the government’s programs for the poor were never effective because they did not address the root causes of the problem, like employment, edu-cation and proper relocation.
He also said that most of the pro-grams of the DSWD actually do not improve the lives of the poor and the street dwellers although the gov-ernment has allocated almost P10 billion for the hosting of the Apec Leaders Summit.
He said during the visit of Pope Francis in the country, the DSWD has spent more than P4.8 million to hide at least 100 street families.
Pabillo recommended the gov-ernment make clear its program for the poor.
Sabotage of transmission towers escalates
Women power. Former Palestinian hijacker Leila Khaled (2nd from left) joins a protest during the International Women’s Alliance General Assembly forum in Manila Wednesday. AFP PHOTO
By Alena Mae S. FloresTHE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Tuesday sabo-tage of transmission facilities in Mindanao has been escalating with 10 towers bombed to date, putting at risk the power supply situation in the region.
National Grid said eight days after three towers in Patani, Ma-rawi City were bombed, another tower in the same area was tar-geted last Nov. 6.
Tower No. 13 along Agus 2 - Kibawe 138-kilovolt line 2 in Guimba, Marawi City was bombed by still unidentified perpetrators, making it the 10th tower bombed this year.
“This is the 10th tower bombed by lawless elements in 2015 alone, with five towers bombed within the month of October. We are very concerned that this situation seems to be escalating, with each incident happening progressively closer
to each other,” the company said.The company said that while
the explosion did not topple the tower, the damaged it sustained caused it to lean, putting the transmission facility in a more critical condition.
Last Oct. 29, three towers along the same transmission line were also bombed.
Of the three, two structures, Towers No. 19 and No. 20, were toppled. The third tower, No. 21 sustained damage, but
did not topple.National Grid said that at 1:50
p.m. Nov. 9, it was able to fully restore the Agus 2-Kibawe 138kV line 2 after implementing tempo-rary measures to transmit elec-tricity produced by Agus 1 and 2 hydropower plants to the rest of the Mindanao grid.
The PNP and AFP are leading the investigation and exerting all efforts at catching the perpetra-tors of the bombings.
“With the help of the local au-
thorities, several other bombs were found on our facilities, but these did not detonate and were safely disposed of,” said NGCP.
National Grid appealed to the public to help monitor the safety of the towers so that transmission services remain uninterrupted.
“If anyone sees anything sus-picious at or around our towers and facilities, please inform us immediately. You may text us your tips and other information at (0917)879-1077,” it said.
By Joel E. Zurbano
AMERICAN missionary Lane Michael White on Wednesday asked the Pasay City regional trial court to dismiss the illegal possession of ammunition case filed against him, claiming he was only a victim of the bullet-planting [locally called, tanim-bala] syndicate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last month.
In a hearing presided by Judge Pedro Gutierrez of the Pasay City RTC Branch 119, White’s lawyer Ernesto Arellano said airport security personnel Maria Elma Cena and Marvin Garcia scanned the baggage of White on the x-ray ma-chine several times until they found a .22 cal. ammunition from its pocket.
“Garcia brought the baggage to the x-ray machine and found a bullet after he [rummaged through the luggage using his] bare hands,” he said.
Arellano said it was impossible for his client to pass through Florida’s Jacksonville Airport if he had a bullet inside his baggage.
The lawyer said they filed a nine-page motion before the court armed with a
video footage taken by White’s relative showing Garcia was seen putting his hand inside the baggage instead of using an inspection stick.
The court ordered Cena and Garcia 10 days to comment on the motion filed by White.
Arellano said they are considering filing an administrative case against SPO2 Ro-lando Clarin of the PNP Aviation Security Group who allegedly asked P30,000 from White in exchange for his release.
Reports showed that White, who was traveling to Coron, Palawan, was taken to the Office of the Transport Secu-rity, where he said someone asked for P30,000 to “make the case go away,” but he refused.
Philippine bet. Miss Earth Philippines Angel Ong acknowledges the applause of supporters at the send-off ceremony at a Pasay City hotel on Wednesday. This year’s Miss Earth beauty pageant will be held in Vienna, Austria on Dec. 5. DANNY PATA
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AFP using paramilitary groups, says probe team By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Fabunan
The Armed Forces of the Philippines must be held accountable for the creation, arming and continued use of paramilitary groups in military operations in Mindanao, according to an international fact-finding mission.
“There is adequate basis to compel the AFP to account for the deployment of its troops and conduct of its op-erations in Surigao del Sur to ascertain its role in incidents leading to the September 1 massacre of Emerito Samar-ca, Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo and the present crisis of forcible evacuation in the lumad communities,” the International Fact-Find-
ing Mission said. Meanwhile, Manila Arch-
bishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the military and the communist rebels to leave the indigenous peoples alone and make their community a “peaceful zone.”
In a statement he issued af-ter visiting the lumad mem-bers at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Tagle urged the Aqui-no administration to provide
water, medicine, compassion and understanding to the displaced lumad who have taken shelter in evacuation centers in Mindanao.
A copy of the full report of the International Fact Finding Mission, an independent probe commissioned through “ecu-menical efforts” by church-led groups, was obtained by The Standard through Bishop Rhee Timbang of the Aglipay Diocese of Tandag. The report was released Tuesday.
The IFFM report scored the military’s continuing incur-sions to areas formerly oc-cupied by lumad who fled to evacuation centers, adding that human rights violations continue to plague indigenous peoples despite earlier calls by residents to leave their com-munities amid attacks of para-military groups in the area.
“According to police and military statements, PNP and the Alpha Coy of the 75th IB have been in Han-ayan and sur-rounding communities since September 2, 2015 to secure and protect the property of the evacuees who left their com-munities. Despite their presence however, the destruction, burn-ing, divestment and defacement of property still occurred, proof of their failure to do their task in safeguarding the communities,” the report read.
“Despite these, there is con-tinuing presence of the regular troops deployed in the com-munities that are currently for-cibly evacuated. This situation persist despite the repeated calls to pull out troops from areas that have been affected by forcible evacuation because of heavy troops deployment in communities.”
Junk ‘tanimbala’ charge,missionaryasks court
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Supreme Court has directed the Com-mission on Elections to answer the petition filed by a party-list lawmaker seeking to compel the poll body to reopen the registra-tion of voters for the 2016 elections.
SC spokesman Theodore Te disclosed that the high court gave the Comelec 10 days to answer the petition filed by Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and his group.
“The Court directed respondent Com-mission on Elections to comment on the petition for certiorari and mandamus with application for preliminary mandatory in-junction and/or temporary restraining or-der within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice of resolution,” the high court said, in a resolution adopted during its regular en banc session on Tuesday.
In its petition, the Kabataan Party-list sought the nullification of Comelec Reso-lution No. 99853 dated Feb. 19, 2014 and Resolution No. 9981 dated Aug. 18, 2015, both of which fix the deadline of appli-cation of registration of voters on Oct. 31, 2015, which is more than two months earlier than what Republic Act 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides.
The petitioner noted that the Voter’s Registration Act clearly states that the per-sonal filing of application of registration of voters shall be prohibited only during 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.
Because of this, the petitioner asserted that the deadline of application of registra-tion of voters should still be on Jan. 8, 2016 and not on Oct. 31, 2015, which is 69 days earlier than is prescribed by the statute.
The petitioner was joined by Anakbayan Vencer Crisostomo and National Union of Student of the Philippines president Sarah Jane Elago, national president of the Na-tional Union of Students of the Philippines in the petition.
Petitioners cited aggravating circum-stances to justify the extension of the reg-istration period, which already lasted for a year-and a-half.
For instance, they cited the latest admis-sion of the poll body that some three mil-lion voters stand to be delisted, as they still have no biometrics data a few days before the deadline.
“An aggravating factor in this issue is the respondent’s implementation of the ‘No Bio, No Boto’ policy, which automati-cally delists registered voters who fail to have their biometrics data captured, pur-suant to Republic Act No. 10367 or the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act,” the petitioners said.
High court heeds polllist-up plea
US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg (left) and Armed Forces chief Hernando Iriberri offer a wreath in honor of war veterans at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday Nov. 11 on the occasion of Veterans Day. DANNY PATA
Commish draws avalancheof climate change proposals
Bimmers for Apec. Asian Carmakers Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, has turned over a fleet of BMW 7 Series vehicles to the Apec 2015 National Organizing Council. BMW vehicles will be used by ministers and heads of states participating in the upcoming Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Nov. 18 and 19. ACC Chairman Emeritus Gov. Jose Ch. Alvarez (left) makes the ceremonial turnover of BMW 7 vehicles to Apec-NOC Chairman Ambassador Marciano Paynor at the Philippine International Convention Center.
By Sandy AranetaTHE Climate Change Commission has received 13 proposals from local govern-ment units on ways to mitigate the effects of climate change but expressed fear its P1-billion allocation for the purpose un-der the People’s Survival Fund may not be adequate to meet the requirements.
“We issued the call for proposals last Octo-ber 28, and even before the call for proposals, we already have received about 13 proposals from the local government; and looking at their proposal, in terms of the amount that they are requesting, it will go beyond the P1-billion allocation,” said CCC acting deputy executive director Joceline Goco during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“So while in the process, we really have to increase the amount of P1 billion, but
we have to prove first and to see what are the different proposals that will be sub-mitted, and we’re looking at that this pro-posal should be a real proposal on climate change adaptation and not just a proposal to, for example, develop an infrastructure by the local government,” Goco said.
The PSF is a fund created through Re-public Act 10174 signed by President Be-nigno Aquino III in 2012. At least P1 bil-lion should be allotted as the PSF annually.
Last month, the DoF asked LGUs to sub-mit their proposals on climate change miti-gation projects which will have to undergo the process of evaluation.
Meanwhile, religious organizations and civil society groups on Wednesday called on the government for a strong and fair global climate agreement ahead of the inter-national climate talks to start on Nov. 30.
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INC case trial: Menorca witnesses testify at CA
Junjun’s victory atSC may be short-lived By Rey E. Requejo
WITNESSES in the alleged abduction and detention of expelled minister Lowell Menorca II on Wednes-day took the stand before the Court of Appeals, but cross examination made by lawyers of Iglesia Ni Cristo elicited inconsistencies in their testimonies.
Bill pushes tax perksfor socialized housing
During the cross examination by lawyers of INC leaders named re-spondents in the habeas corpus and amparo cases, inconsistencies in the testimonies of Menorca’s wife Jinky, brother Anthony and nanny Abegail Yanson were produced.
Jinky even admitted that she did not witness her husband being taken by armed men last July in Bulan, Sorsogon, contrary to the claim of her twin sister Jungko Otsuka in the petition.
Menorca’s wife said it was Yanson who just told her about the incident.
“So, you did not see how Ka Lowell was picked up?” INC lawyer Salvador Peña asked, to which Jinky answered, “I did not see it with my eyes.”
Jinky also admitted that her sis-
ter did not visit her, while they were held inside the INC compound in Quezon City, but Jungko denied this in her affidavit and admitted she vis-ited the former several times.
The INC lawyer also compelled Jinky to admit that she and the rest of her family were able to leave their apartment/quarters for church, the gym, badminton court, the canteen and the other facilities inside the INC Central compound in Quezon City, go to the hospital, and even bring their balikbayan visitors to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan during the duration of their alleged detention.
The petition earlier alleged that the family was harassed and made to live deplorable conditions while
Dashcams on patrol. To raise the level of operational efficiency of the south toll road operators, Skyway O&M Corp., Manila Toll Expressway Systems, Inc. and Star Tollway, have equipped 20 each of their patrol vehicles with dash-board cameras mounted on the vehicle’s windshield to continu-ously monitor and record traffic situations on the toll road. Time, date, speed and flow of traffic are recorded real-time. As a recording eyewitness, the dashcam helps in emergency situations and in the apprehension of violators. Photo shows a patroller and the dashcam at work. The video-cam recordings are compiled for use by and refer-ence of the toll road operator to enhance service, effectively enforce traffic rules and discipline and plan future improvements. The dash-cam also features a lane departure warning system and speed alarm to alert patrollers as they perform their duties in keeping the toll facilities safe and secured for the motorists all-the-clock.
DISMISSED Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. may have succeeded in stopping the first suspension order imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman, but his legal victory is short-lived as he can no longer invoke the condona-tion doctrine in questioning the dismissal order issued by the anti-graft body against him last month over the Makati City Hall building 2 project.
Supreme Court spokesman The-odore Te made the statement on Wednesday even as the Court re-leased its promulgated decision abandoning the jurisprudence on condonation that extinguishes the administrative liabilities of reelected officials for acts committed in their previous terms.
Te admitted reports that the application of the abandonment would be prospective in effect, as specifically mandated in the dispos-itive portion of the ruling written by Associate Justice Estela Perlas– Bernabe.
“The incident that was raised to the court is very specific. That inci-dent [injunction order of the Court of Appeals on the suspension order] is very specific. As far as that inci-dent is concerned, it is not covered by the abandonment,” Te said in a media briefing.
But the SC official stressed that abandonment of the doctrine, as stated in the ruling, would apply in future cases, including possible actions of Binay in questioning his dismissal from government service.
When asked if Binay could in-voke the doctrine against his dis-missal, which arose from the same charges related to the Makati park-ing building, Te expressed the belief that the sacked Makati City mayor no longer could.
In its decision, the SC ruled that the condonation doctrine, which became part of Philip-pine jurisprudence in 1959 upon ruling also of the high court, should be abandoned for lack of basis in the 1987 Philippine Constitution and law.
“As can be seen from this dis-course, it was a doctrine adopted from one class of US rulings way back in 1959 and thus, out of touch from—and now rendered obsolete by—the current legal regime,” the decision stated. Rey E. Requejo
under INC custody, but Yanson re-vealed upon cross examination that the family “was treated well.”
Anthony, for his part, testified that his knowledge of the alleged abduc-tion of his brother only came from the Menorca couple, prompting the INC lawyer to call it “hearsay.”
Another INC lawyer, Patricia Ann Prodigalidad, asked the CA’s Seventh Division to impose sanctions on the Menorca camp for failure to furnish respondents with copies of the ju-dicial affidavits of their witnesses on the deadline set by the court last Nov. 5 as agreed upon during the first hearing last Nov. 3.
Prodigalidad also called out Menorca counsels Trixie Cruz- Angeles and Ahmed Paglinawan for manifesting intent to furnish respondents with copies of the af-fidavits of Lowell and his brother, Anthony, only today, calling this an act to “clearly ambush respondents” and “surprise respondents” with affi-davits not previously provided them.
“We are baffled how come they
could have themselves interviewed and not do their duty as lawyers... We call on this court to give them sanc-tions under the Judicial Affidavit Rule. This court has been lenient with them already in the past hearing when they asked for time to print their affidavits; how many times will this court be le-nient to them?” she said.
Angeles and Paglinawan apologized to the court, but stressed that they got sick, including their lone assistant, and the reason why the copies e-mailed to respondents were unnotarized was be-cause there was difficulty in scanning the notarized pages.
“All our scanners decided to conk out at the same time, your honors. This is a simple technical difficulty,” Angeles told the Court.
Prodigalidad attempted to have the Menorcas’ affidavits stricken off since they were submitted beyond the agreed deadline, but the court decided to accept them “in the inter-est of justice” with a corresponding fine of P2,000 consistent with the Judicial Affidavit Rule.
Mangrove nursery. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Regina Paz Lopez, chair-person of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, inspect the Mangrove Nursery Plant and Baseco Access Road Development Project in Tondo, Manila. LINO SANTOS
By Maricel V. CruzA LAWMAKER has filed a bill that seeks to exempt all forms of socialized housing programs and projects from the payment of capi-tal gains tax.
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said the proposal under House Bill 6122 is meant to en-courage wider participation in comprehensive and continuing urban development and housing program as well as access to land and housing for the underprivi-leged and homeless citizens.
Under the bill, exemption of payment of capital gains tax is ap-plicable to all institutions, whether national government’s Key Shel-ter Agencies or local government units, private sector, non-govern-ment organizations or civil society
organizations, people’s or coop-erative organizations engaged or who shall engage in any form of socialized housing projects and programs.
The bill states that any disposi-tion by way of sale or donation of lands for socialized housing programs and projects shall be ex-empt from the payment of capital gains tax or donor’s tax, as the case may be.
Castelo said socialized housing program is the most appropriate solution that resolves underprivi-leged and homeless families’ need for security of tenure and shelter.
“Housing is a basic human need—a matter of concern since it directly and significantly affects public health, safety, the environ-ment and in sum, the general wel-fare,” he said.
Bulacan judge shot dead
T H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
NEWS
High Court looks into detainees’ complaint By Rey E. Requejo
THE Supreme Court will investi-gate the issues raised by detainees of the Pampanga provincial jail, especially their complaint on the snail-paced resolution of their cas-es in the lower courts.
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who exercises supervision over trial court judges in the country, acknowledged that his office had re-ceived the letter of hundreds of detain-ees about the supposed “very slow set-ting of hearings in various courts and judges” handling their criminal cases.
“I have already instructed our Le-gal Office to look into the veracity of the allegations,” Marquez said in a text message Wednesday.
The Court administrator said there was a need to look into the complaint “more so now that the Supreme Court has come out with the Guide-lines on Continuous Trial which is being pilot tested in some first- and second-level courts in the National Capital Judicial Region.”
In a three-page handwritten letter last Monday, the detainees told the high court that most of their cases are being heard by the regional trial courts only once a year while some of their cases have run for 10 to 15 years and still have no resolution up to this day.
The detainees said they have al-ready sought relief from San Fer-nando, Pampanga regional trial court Executive Judge Divina Luz Simbu-lan “about our sorry condition here.”
“But she had no action.... We told her about our concerns but she just ignored us,” they said.
They reported to the high court that instead of addressing their problems, Judge Simbulan has interfered with the management by the jail warden.
By Rio N. Araja
THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday ordered the filing of graft raps against a former Benguet mayor with the Sandiganbayan for alleged irregular purchase of P1.9 million worth of liquid fertilizers in 2004.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the indictment of ex-Bacun mayor Bartolome Sacla Sr., ex-municipal treasurer Manuel Bagayao, ex-accountant Virginia Kigisan and Dolly Vil-laflor of Bry Crin Enterprises for violation of Section 3(e) of Repub-
lic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In a 19-page resolution, the mu-nicipality of Bakun received P1.95 million from the Department of Agriculture under its farm inputs and farm implements program that formed part of the supposed P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004.
The municipal government used the funds to buy 1,300 bot-tles of Nutro Ocean fertilizers at P1,500 per bottle from Bry Cin Enterprises.
The inspection and payment for the supplier were made on May 7,
2004, but the items were actually delivered only on May 14 on that same year.
In its audit, the Commission on Audit found there was no public bidding conducted since the mu-nicipal government was not able to create its bids and awards com-mittee, and that the fertilizers were grossly overpriced by as much as P1.74 million.
Based on the investigation of CoA, suitable fertilizers were read-ily available at the market at much lower prices, and that the products delivered were substandard and not registered with the Fertilizer
and Pesticides Authority.As a result, CoA issued a no-
tice of disallowance in January 2006.
“All these circumstances showed that public respondents, in conspiracy with Dolly Villa-flor, acted with manifest partial-ity and gross inexcusable neg-ligence in the procurement of nutro ocean fertilizers thereby causing undue injury to the mu-nicipality of Bakun and giving unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference to Bry Cin Enter-prises and/or Dolly Villaflor,” the resolution read.
Ombudsman charges ex-Benguet mayor of graft
The victim was identified as Wilfredo T. Nieves, presiding judge of Bulacan RTC-Branch 84, a special court handling heinous crimes and drug-related cases. Nieves was alone driving at the time of the ambush.
Police probers who arrived at the crime scene minutes after the ambush gathered that at least two armed suspects, on board separate motorcycles, alighted just as the Fortuner-SUV with plate 16-C-84 (UOC-273) stopped at the red-light at the junction of Barangay
Tikay, a kilometer away from the Tabang entry plaza of the North Luzon Expressway.
The suspects, believed to be hired assassins, shot Nieves at close range from both sides of the car. The car sustained three bullets holes from the passenger side and another three from the back window. Five bullet holes penetrated the window glass of the driver’s side. Judge Nieves left his office past 4 p.m. and was on his way home in Quezon City via NLex.
By Orlan L. Mauricio
MALOLOS CITY—A 63-year-old judge of the Regional Trial Court of Bulacan based in this capital city was shot dead at about 4:30 Wednes-day afternoon along McArthur Highway in Ba-rangay Tikay.
Another day. The sun rises in Tacloban City which recently commemorated the second year anniversary of Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ SONNY ESPIRITU
Ambush. Judge Wilfredo Nieves was shot dead inside his vehicle Wednesday afternoon. ORLAN MAURICIO
Court sources said Nieves had been receiving death threats af-ter he convicted a member of the Dominguez brothers group
sometine last year.The Bulacan RTC has 27 salas
composed of family courts, drugs courts and heinous crime courts.
franchises given to private bus companies and to bid out major routes to one company each per route, say, to operate buses exclusively on Edsa.
Under this system, which enlightened metropolises like Hong Kong use, the government will accept bids for only one company to ply the length of Edsa in exchange for very specific performance deliverables, like adhering to strict sched-ules and having a minimum number of buses to service commuters. The renewal of a firm’s franchise and even the expansion of its area will be contingent on the
OPINIONA8
[ EDI TORI A L ]
IN THE HEART
A9ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R
T H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
OPINION
NO-WIN MAR
I SOMETIMES feel sorry for Mar Roxas, the presiden-tial candidate of the Liberal Party and President Noynoy Aquino. If you ask me, he is really in a “no-win” situation —in more than one sense of that phrase.
It’s bad enough that Rox-as is basically tied down to swearing allegiance to the
philosophy, politics and programs of Aquino as the chosen future steward of the daang matuwid. It also ba-sically means that Roxas is attacked—and justifiably so —for his oft-stated promise to continue all that his pre-decessor started, including, by force of immutable logic, all the things bungled by government during Aquino’s now-ending term.
At the same time, Roxas’ promise to ape everything that Aquino did precludes him from coming up with
anything that strays from the Yellow path, even the good things that he dreams up on his own. When he does that – and again, with actual justi-fication—Roxas lays himself open to this charge: “Why didn’t you think of that when you were in government?”
I was reminded of the difficult situation that Roxas constantly finds himself in when I heard him propose a solution to the traffic situation that I actually agree with. I’m talking about Roxas’ plan to cancel all existing
THE plan that will be put in place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila from Nov. 18 to 19 is an overkill. For all intents and purposes, the whole Metro Manila, with about 12 to 13 million people, and the center of economic activity of the country will be locked down for three to four days. One wonders whether all the actions that will be taken by the gov-ernment are all necessary.
Let us consider the following: About 1,125 domestic flights will be canceled. This excludes the international flights that will also have to be canceled. Manila Bay has been declared as a no-sail zone. Cargo trucks will be banned. The four non-working days in Metro Manila will deprive daily wage earners of their salaries which they badly need considering that Christmas is just 42 days away. In spite of a Holy Week scenario that will decongest the streets of Metro Manila, many roads will still be closed and restricted during the conference. The roads that will lead to the Philippine International Convention Center will be limited to the delegates and the hundreds or even thousands of security personnel assigned to secure the venue which is a great inconvenience. It would have been a lot simpler to declare an odd-and-even scheme and reduce vehicular traffic by 50 percent. This would also save motorists from figuring out which road to take and avoid all the confusion.
The choice of holding the con-ference in Manila is also another matter. Would it have been better, perhaps, to have selected a different venue? Given the slowing economy of the country, three or four days lost in economic productivity is a lot. Maybe a more secluded place where there is a beach will probably be more appreciated by the leaders of countries located in the northern hemisphere where winter is about to set in. Maybe the selection of Ma-nila is our President’s choice so that there will be less expenses. But host-ing events like this will entail ex-penses no matter what and because of the loss of economic productivity, we might be losing more instead of saving. Maybe if Boracay, Cebu or Subic were chosen, this would be better in the long run since the mon-ey that will be spent to improve the
OVERKILL
ratings given by government and passengers after a fixed, reasonable amount of time that represents the length of the franchise term.
The proposal has a lot of things going for it because, done correct-ly, it will not only stop the traffic-causing cutthroat competition among bus companies. It will also end the “boundary” system that forces competing firms to cause traffic jams by forcing their vehi-cles to stay too long in one bus stop
in the first place.Of course, anyone who gets be-
hind this proposal can expect oppo-sition from the bus companies. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea —even if does come from Roxas.
* * *Because it’s Roxas who’s sup-
porting the proposal, he deserved-ly gets flak for not pushing it when he was in a real position to do so, as secretary of transportation and communications. And this is not
just the expected pushback from bus owners, who will quite natu-rally resist such an idea.
If Roxas really felt so strong-ly about the idea, he could have implemented it when he was ap-pointed DoTC secretary as the sec-ond year in office of the Aquino administration was about to start. Instead, Roxas exacerbated the problem by allowing—through the Land Transportation Franchising
Continued on A11
THE President’s smile, captured in a photo now circulating online, appears genuine. In that wedding of a son of a businessman, he is in the company of friends—people he knows. Why should the people expect Mr. Aquino to spend his Sunday in unfamiliar territory, never mind if it was the second anniversary of a killer typhoon that devastated a large part of the country?
He did go to Eastern Visayas last year, during the first anniversary, even as he skipped Ground Zero—Tacloban City—of the disaster and proceeded instead to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. There was a big crowd protesting in Tacloban last year, and perhaps the President figured he would rather not face them and subject himself to the inconvenience of answering their difficult questions.
The bereaved need their time to grieve. Mr. Aquino has always believed this, which is why in January, he never bothered to show up at Villamor Air Base as the bodies of the slain Special Action Force commandoes were flown in from Maguindanao. He chose instead to grace the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna.
And how dare other people accuse him of insensitivity. He knew of loss; was he not an orphan, too?
The Palace offered a perfectly good excuse for the President’s absence in Tacloban last weekend. They did not receive any invitation from the city government. Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma even took the trouble of checking with the appointments office—nothing. The Tacloban City government says otherwise. A photo of the letter was circulated on the Internet to show there was an invitation.
Letter or not, however, Mr. Aquino could have gone anyway to show his compassion is beyond whatever differences he may have with the people running the local government. The fact that he chose not to speaks volumes. The fact that he exchanged pleasantries with his fellow wedding guests at an inopportune time, even louder.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. attempted to be profound when he said that commemoration is in the heart, and not in the show. The attempt fails—the claim sounds hollow and trite, a lame excuse.
After five years of the Aquino administration, the people know better than expect their President to be there when it matters. It’s a sad reality that we have become used to. Our hearts are thankful we no longer have to suffer for long.
Ultimately, of course,
Roxas has no one to blame
for his no-win situation
except himself.
LOWDOWN
JOJO A. ROBLES
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
MEMBERPhilippine Press InstituteThe National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI
can be accessed at:www.manilastandardtoday.comONLINE
MSTPublished Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-
5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: [email protected]
MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Chairman Arnold C. Liong President & Chief Executive Officer Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Jocelyn F. Domingo Director of Operations Ron Ryan S. Buguis Finance Officer
Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board
DUTYCALLS
FLORENCIOFIANZA
Continued on A11
franchises given to private bus companies and to bid out major routes to one company each per route, say, to operate buses exclusively on Edsa.
Under this system, which enlightened metropolises like Hong Kong use, the government will accept bids for only one company to ply the length of Edsa in exchange for very specific performance deliverables, like adhering to strict sched-ules and having a minimum number of buses to service commuters. The renewal of a firm’s franchise and even the expansion of its area will be contingent on the
OPINIONA8
[ EDI TORI A L ]
IN THE HEART
A9ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R
T H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
OPINION
NO-WIN MAR
I SOMETIMES feel sorry for Mar Roxas, the presiden-tial candidate of the Liberal Party and President Noynoy Aquino. If you ask me, he is really in a “no-win” situation —in more than one sense of that phrase.
It’s bad enough that Rox-as is basically tied down to swearing allegiance to the
philosophy, politics and programs of Aquino as the chosen future steward of the daang matuwid. It also ba-sically means that Roxas is attacked—and justifiably so —for his oft-stated promise to continue all that his pre-decessor started, including, by force of immutable logic, all the things bungled by government during Aquino’s now-ending term.
At the same time, Roxas’ promise to ape everything that Aquino did precludes him from coming up with
anything that strays from the Yellow path, even the good things that he dreams up on his own. When he does that – and again, with actual justi-fication—Roxas lays himself open to this charge: “Why didn’t you think of that when you were in government?”
I was reminded of the difficult situation that Roxas constantly finds himself in when I heard him propose a solution to the traffic situation that I actually agree with. I’m talking about Roxas’ plan to cancel all existing
THE plan that will be put in place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila from Nov. 18 to 19 is an overkill. For all intents and purposes, the whole Metro Manila, with about 12 to 13 million people, and the center of economic activity of the country will be locked down for three to four days. One wonders whether all the actions that will be taken by the gov-ernment are all necessary.
Let us consider the following: About 1,125 domestic flights will be canceled. This excludes the international flights that will also have to be canceled. Manila Bay has been declared as a no-sail zone. Cargo trucks will be banned. The four non-working days in Metro Manila will deprive daily wage earners of their salaries which they badly need considering that Christmas is just 42 days away. In spite of a Holy Week scenario that will decongest the streets of Metro Manila, many roads will still be closed and restricted during the conference. The roads that will lead to the Philippine International Convention Center will be limited to the delegates and the hundreds or even thousands of security personnel assigned to secure the venue which is a great inconvenience. It would have been a lot simpler to declare an odd-and-even scheme and reduce vehicular traffic by 50 percent. This would also save motorists from figuring out which road to take and avoid all the confusion.
The choice of holding the con-ference in Manila is also another matter. Would it have been better, perhaps, to have selected a different venue? Given the slowing economy of the country, three or four days lost in economic productivity is a lot. Maybe a more secluded place where there is a beach will probably be more appreciated by the leaders of countries located in the northern hemisphere where winter is about to set in. Maybe the selection of Ma-nila is our President’s choice so that there will be less expenses. But host-ing events like this will entail ex-penses no matter what and because of the loss of economic productivity, we might be losing more instead of saving. Maybe if Boracay, Cebu or Subic were chosen, this would be better in the long run since the mon-ey that will be spent to improve the
OVERKILL
ratings given by government and passengers after a fixed, reasonable amount of time that represents the length of the franchise term.
The proposal has a lot of things going for it because, done correct-ly, it will not only stop the traffic-causing cutthroat competition among bus companies. It will also end the “boundary” system that forces competing firms to cause traffic jams by forcing their vehi-cles to stay too long in one bus stop
in the first place.Of course, anyone who gets be-
hind this proposal can expect oppo-sition from the bus companies. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea —even if does come from Roxas.
* * *Because it’s Roxas who’s sup-
porting the proposal, he deserved-ly gets flak for not pushing it when he was in a real position to do so, as secretary of transportation and communications. And this is not
just the expected pushback from bus owners, who will quite natu-rally resist such an idea.
If Roxas really felt so strong-ly about the idea, he could have implemented it when he was ap-pointed DoTC secretary as the sec-ond year in office of the Aquino administration was about to start. Instead, Roxas exacerbated the problem by allowing—through the Land Transportation Franchising
Continued on A11
THE President’s smile, captured in a photo now circulating online, appears genuine. In that wedding of a son of a businessman, he is in the company of friends—people he knows. Why should the people expect Mr. Aquino to spend his Sunday in unfamiliar territory, never mind if it was the second anniversary of a killer typhoon that devastated a large part of the country?
He did go to Eastern Visayas last year, during the first anniversary, even as he skipped Ground Zero—Tacloban City—of the disaster and proceeded instead to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. There was a big crowd protesting in Tacloban last year, and perhaps the President figured he would rather not face them and subject himself to the inconvenience of answering their difficult questions.
The bereaved need their time to grieve. Mr. Aquino has always believed this, which is why in January, he never bothered to show up at Villamor Air Base as the bodies of the slain Special Action Force commandoes were flown in from Maguindanao. He chose instead to grace the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna.
And how dare other people accuse him of insensitivity. He knew of loss; was he not an orphan, too?
The Palace offered a perfectly good excuse for the President’s absence in Tacloban last weekend. They did not receive any invitation from the city government. Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma even took the trouble of checking with the appointments office—nothing. The Tacloban City government says otherwise. A photo of the letter was circulated on the Internet to show there was an invitation.
Letter or not, however, Mr. Aquino could have gone anyway to show his compassion is beyond whatever differences he may have with the people running the local government. The fact that he chose not to speaks volumes. The fact that he exchanged pleasantries with his fellow wedding guests at an inopportune time, even louder.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. attempted to be profound when he said that commemoration is in the heart, and not in the show. The attempt fails—the claim sounds hollow and trite, a lame excuse.
After five years of the Aquino administration, the people know better than expect their President to be there when it matters. It’s a sad reality that we have become used to. Our hearts are thankful we no longer have to suffer for long.
Ultimately, of course,
Roxas has no one to blame
for his no-win situation
except himself.
LOWDOWN
JOJO A. ROBLES
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
MEMBERPhilippine Press InstituteThe National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI
can be accessed at:www.manilastandardtoday.comONLINE
MSTPublished Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-
5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: [email protected]
MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Chairman Arnold C. Liong President & Chief Executive Officer Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Jocelyn F. Domingo Director of Operations Ron Ryan S. Buguis Finance Officer
Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board
DUTYCALLS
FLORENCIOFIANZA
Continued on A11
a journalist, I have never seen a President more hypocritical and so in-sensitive to the poor and the needy than BS Aqui-no III.
And Mar Roxas thinks we want more of this?
* * *With the Comelec
deadline for the printing of official ballots for next year’s May elections less than a month away, sena-tor and presidential as-pirant Mrs. Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares is get-ting desperate. She is fac-ing numerous cases, one of which has been filed against her by Rizalito David, a rival in the 2013 senatorial race.
David contends that Mrs. Llamanzares is not a natural-born Filipino and is therefore barred by the Constitution from seeking office as a sena-tor. The SET decision is due on the 17th of this
month, and if the SET rules against her, she could well be ousted as a senator and even as a presidential contender.
With all the troubles besetting her, Poe is frantically in search of that bridge that will take her over troubled waters. But, unlike the lyrics of the ‘60s song of the same title, her time to shine has not yet come —and may not come at all. In fact, her dream of a stay in Malacañang is in danger of being swept away in a raging political tempest.
At the moment, there are four other petitions before the Comelec seek-ing her disqualification from the presidential elections next year. These are the cases she can’t simply dismiss as harass-ment suits because they are based on solid con-stitutional grounds. The complainants are highly
credible individuals, for-mer Senator Kit Tatad, former GSIS lawyer Es-trella Elamparo, De La Salle University political science professor Anto-nio Contreras and lately, former UE College of Law Dean Amado Valdez.
Now, even some big names in the entertain-ment industry who sup-ported Poe for senator could find themselves respondents in criminal and administrative suits due to alleged violations of the Corporate Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 68) that bars companies from giving donations to any political party or candidate, or for purpos-es of any partisan politi-cal activity.
It appears from re-cords when Poe ran for the Senate in 2013, she received campaign con-tributions from a well-known company that produces a highly rated
noontime show over tele-vision. And as expected, Poe herself submitted to the Comelec of the SOCE or Statement of Contri-butions and Expenses that showed a donation of P3,307,390.80 from the producers of the show. And this was stated in a notarized report dat-ed June 15, 2013 and duly signed by the producer.
The prohibition against political cam-paign contributions by corporations is speci-fied in Section 36 (9) of the Corporation Code. Section 144 of the code says that violators may face fines of not less than P1,000, but not more than P10,000, or imprisonment for not less than 30 years, but more than five years, or both. The penalty may cause dissolution of the company by the SEC. It is also in the Omnibus Election Code.
OPINIONT H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
A10
DESPITE all the efforts of President Aquino and his lapdogs to hide the true state of the na-tion—closing down the airport, canceling domestic and interna-tional flights, providing special lanes for partici-pants in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and giving money to the homeless so they can make them-selves scarce during the event—they will not be able to hide the truth.
Can Mr. Aquino stop the Apec participants from using media to know what’s going on? They will know that in this country, one can get mugged anywhere. There are scams galore, from the streets to the airport.
Does the President really believe he can hide the truth on how inept and insensitive his administration is?
* * *Both President Aqui-
no and his anointed Mar Roxas gave a cop-out that the reason they snubbed the second year commemoration of Typhoon “Yolanda” is that they had not been invited to Taclo-ban City.
Speaker Sonny Belmonte made it worse. Remembering those who died from the typhoon is “in the heart,” he said. That’s plain baloney, and Sonny knows it.
The thousands of sur-vivors are disappointed that the President had a more important ap-pointment—the wed-ding of the son of a bil-lionaire friend. And to think Mr. Aquino was not even a sponsor.
He could have gone to Tacloban to show “malasakit” to the peo-ple. But he did not, and that says a lot.
This reminds me of the time the President was caught smiling when he surveyed the bus where the hostage tragedy of 2010 took place. Eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed that time.
He did it again when the bodies of the slaugh-tered police comman-does were brought to Villamor Air Base from Maguindanao. Instead of being there, he chose to go to the inaugura-tion of a car manufac-turing plant.
This President really does not have empathy or compassion in his veins.
A President doesn’t need a formal invitation to attend an event so important.
Recall what Mar Roxas said when he wanted to take over Ta-cloban City in the wake of the looting, and when so many dead bodies were still lying along the streets. “Remember you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino.” Roxas added “bahala na kayo sa bu-hay ninyo,” when the mayor refused to hand Tacloban over to him.
It could be true that the Yolanda survivors would protest the snail-paced delivery of relief and rehabilitation. But a caring President would welcome that if he really had empathy and com-passion for them.
Then again, that would be asking too much of the President, whose five-year reign has been anchored on lies, and whose straight-path mantra has been ex-posed to be hypocritical.
In my over 65 years as
LACK OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION
PROTECTING OFW INTERESTS
THE peso’s six-year low against the dollar has its pros and cons—it will be bad for the im-porters but contrarily, it bears good tidings for the exporters. Definite-ly, the continuing debil-ity of the peso against the dollar will be man-na from heaven for our overseas Filipino work-ers and their families here who are recipients of their regular remit-tance in dollars.
Overseas Filipino workers around the world sent $26.92 bil-lion (P1.20 trillion) back to the Philippines last year, up 6.2 per-cent from $25.35 bil-lion (P1.13 trillion) in 2013, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pili-pinas. Moreover the Philippine Overseas Employment Adminis-tration noted 1.6-mil-lion Filipinos were de-ployed abroad in 2014 and their remittances similarly contributed as much as 8.5 percent to the Philippine gross domestic product last year. The expected an-nual remittances for this year will be about 27 billion dollars. The
additional two pesos per dollar would defi-nitely be a boost to the spending power of the families of OFWs in the country. I would also like to take note of the fact that according to the National Economic and Development Au-thority the inflow of remittances is about 30 percent the earnings of our exports sector, and additionally it is even higher than the foreign direct investments that we are getting.
Remittance inflows from overseas Fili-pino workers there-fore have become our second-largest source of foreign exchange, effectively keeping our national econo-my afloat. Therefore, next to their families, it is this administra-tion that has much to thank our OFWs, bet-ter known as our mod-ern heroes, for. Despite its bungling, inutile and delusional sense of governance and lead-ership, our country is still functionally “alive” and can still manage to cross over to the next elections.
The significant contribution of our OFWs in propping up our economy alone is enough reason why this
administration should not be so careless about disregarding issues that affect them like the “tanim-bala” scam which primarily gained notoriety at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, victimizing both local and foreign nationals alike.
Since the time me-dia took an eager eye to monitor and expose the extortion racket, there have been a total of 84 incidents of ammuni-tion found in luggage and bags of airline trav-elers in the Naia alone for the year. One of the victims was an ag-ing grandmother who, judging by her situation as reported by newspa-pers covering the scam, could not have had any reason to bring one bul-let (take note, just one bullet) in her luggage which security person-nel at the Naia so con-veniently found leading to her ordeal over her apprehension.
Despite this un-nerving pattern in the reported incidents by victims, it actually took considerable time after a much publicized ex-posé of a whistle blower and at the heels of con-sequent investigations to be held both at the House of Representa-
tives and in the Senate, before Malacañang ac-tually decided to “seek” the truth in the matter in response to public indignation. Of course this also meant keeping the Naia general man-ager/ presidential rela-tive free and safe from any form of account-ability whatsoever. This is what the Presi-dent always does for his many political allies and other relatives who have been subject to al-legations of corruption, impropriety and graft in the past five years.
Overall, the num-ber of registered OFWs has reached 6.3 million. Despite their number and extremely signifi-cant contribution to our economy, OFWs and their families have re-mained below the radar of priorities under this administration much like it goes for the rest of us outside the yellow fence of the benign one in Malacañang. Ironic to PNoy and reminis-cent of an oppressive era, we could justifiably tell our OFWs “hindi kayo nag iisa” (you are not alone). Similarly, we join you in saying “tama na, sobra na, palitan na (enough already, this is too much, we need change now).”
And Mar Roxas
thinks we want more
of this?
TO THE POINT
EMIL P. JURADO
MINORITYREPORT
DANILOSUAREZ
A11T H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
OPINION
ELECTIONS–IT’S A HORSE RACEELECTIONS are like horse races, and when they come around, everyone’s a handi-capper.
From the pundits in the papers to the driver in taxi-cabs, they all have opinions as to what might transpire in 2016. They’re imagining likely scenarios and making book on who the favorite and longshot are in this most important of races.
But nothing is as constant, the wise man said, as change; and what seems likely now might not be the case in the future.
Here are possible scenari-os I’ve heard:
Vice President Jojo Binay’s chances looked dismal after the allegations of plunder against him in connection with Makati City spending on the new city hall. But the Supreme Court’s junking of his son Mayor Jun Binay’s case could turn things around. Binay could win due to his foresight of laying strong grassroots mechanisms during his years
as Makati administrator.As a presidential hopeful,
Senator Miriam Santiago will have to overcome the number of supporters of the candidates ahead of her in the surveys. Her teammate Bongbong Marcos is rallying strong support and looks well-poised in the vice presidential race.
If Grace Poe loses the cas-es questioning her citizen-ship and residency, her high survey ratings are rendered moot. If the cases are thrown out, it still won’t be easy go-ing for her given the number of opponents.
Mar Roxas is still con-structing his narrative that hinges on continuity of the present administration’s plans and goals. The Ilonggo vote that might be expected to support him would per-haps be divided between him and Santiago.
Davao City Mayor Rodri-go Duterte has up to Dec. 10 to decide whether to run for President or not as the substitute of Martin Diño.
If he runs, he is expected to carry Mindanao and many in the Visayas. Support for him in Luzon is also growing. If Senator Alan Cayetano man-ages to hitch his wagon to this rising star, this might be the tandem to beat.
Leni Robredo is so far looking shiny and untar-nished, and looks like the top favorite in the race for veep.
As we always say in the races, anything can happen. Even the top favorite that punters believed could not lose, may break badly or clip his heels or stumble at the start. But an election is not a horse race where you can hedge your bets; you only have one vote, and you have to make it count.
The temptation will be strong to vote for the can-didate who will give you an advantage—a good job, a government contract, some other favor. But the country deserves better. Vote accord-ing to your conscience. Vote for the people who will do
the best job. Vote for the can-didates who will lift us up, not bring us down.
* * *The Polytechnic Univer-
sity of the Philippines, with the Department of Educa-tion and the National Book Development Boar, is hold-ing the 1st PUP Litfest dubbed “Booklatan sa Bay-an” from Nov. 11 to 13 at PUP-Sta. Mesa campus.
Yesterday’s speakers were Alvin Buenaventura, Eros Atalia, and Beverly Siy. To-day, catch Manix Abrera, Mervin Malonzo, and Adam David. Tomorrow, listen to Mina Esguerra and Edgar Calabia Samar.
* * *Mia Alvar, Ondrej Neff,
and other writers and aca-demics will speak at the 6th Philippine International Literary Festival, which ex-plores the theme “Lalang (likha): Writing in Place, Creating Your Place.”
Alvar is the Fil-American author of the acclaimed In The Country, a collection
of short stories about the Filipino diaspora. Neff is a Czech science fiction writer and journalist.
The two-day literary event, organized by the NBDB, will be held for the first time in Davao City, on Nov. 20-21 at the Seda Hotel. Other guest speak-ers include University of the Philippines literature and creative writing professor Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., writers Mina Esguerra and Kristian Sendon Cordero, and NBDB executive director Ciela Cayton.
Topics include readership, regional literature, language, and the publishing chal-lenges faced by authors from the regions. Artistic perfor-mances, literary exhibits, and a book fair are among the event’s activities.
To register, email [email protected].
* * * Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste,
Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Ins-tagram: @jensdecember, Blog: http://jennyo.net
POP GOES THE WORLD
JENNYORTUOSTE
Overkill...From A9
infrastructure in these places will also improve their potential as tourist destinations.
*****One Asian country that
is undergoing profound changes is Myanmar. It has just concluded its elections that might propel the oppo-sition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the pinnacle of po-litical power of her country. This is despite the efforts of the Myanmar military es-tablishment to prevent her from becoming the Presi-dent. Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of the Burmese independence leader Gen-eral Aung San who was as-sassinated in 1947. He is a revered hero of the Burmese people.
The National League for Democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi also won the elections of 1990 but the results were annulled by the military. Instead, Aung San Suu Kyi was put un-der house arrest for over 20 years. In 2008, the military establishment drafted a con-stitution that made it impos-sible for Suu Kyi to become President. The constitution banned any citizen from be-coming President if he or
she has children or spouse who holds foreign citizen-ships. The military also has the power to appoint 25 per-cent of the members of par-liament and reserved all the national security portfolios under its control.
In spite of that, however, it appears that the NLD has defied the odds and might win more than 70 percent of the votes which would allow NLD to form the govern-ment. The way they do it in Myanmar is different how we do it here. Theirs is a little more complicated. We will have to wait until April of next year to see the shape and form of government that will be formed.
Since she cannot be Presi-dent, we will also have to wait and see how she will navigate the legal prohi-bition and still be able to lead and govern the coun-try. She has already stated in an interview that she will be above the President. It would be interesting to see whether the military would allow this or not.
Senator Grace Poe must be following the develop-ments in Myanmar with keen interest. If at all, her problem is somewhat simi-lar to Aung San Suu Kyi. It is all about citizenship which
prevents both from becom-ing officially the Presidents of their countries. Suu Kyi because of her children who are British and Senator Poe because of her citizenship and residency requirements. I have it from a good source as I have written a few weeks back that Senator Poe will almost certainly be disquali-fied by the Senate Electoral Tribunal. The administra-tion will see to that. This after President Aquino tried so hard to convince her to be the running mate of Mar Roxas which really goes to show the kind of people running this government.
If this happens, Senator Poe will not only be dis-qualified from running for President but will also lose her seat in the Senate. Chiz Escudero could still possibly take her place and if he wins, Senator Grace could also be above the President like Aung San Suu Kyi of Myan-mar. Senator Grace it seems is becoming more popular as her political problems grow. Already, her ratings are above 40 percent and ap-proaching 50 percent. The maneuvering of this govern-ment is dangerous, to say the least. Let us hope it will not drive the country to a preci-pice that it will regret later.
No-win...From A9
and Regulatory Board—the continuation of the old policy of basically just giv-ing bus franchises to anyone who asked for them.
In fact, by the time Roxas moved to the interior department, he had already set the stage for the near-total collapse of all manner of public transport systems through his chosen successor, the now infamous Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya. So, yes, if Roxas really had some bright ideas about improving transportation, he could have very well have tried them out when he was still the head of DoTC—not now, when he is a candidate.
Beyond coming up with brilliant ideas, Roxas should understand that he is the inheritor of a legacy that is no slouch in pitching “killer” programs that never leave the drawing board. To cite just one big program of this administration that never got off the ground, there’s the much-ballyhooed public-private partnership scheme that got investors all excited at the start of Aquino’s term—and which ended up only with a still-
unfinished four-kilometer connector road linking Daang Hari to the South Luzon Expressway.
And every time Roxas attempts to improvise on daang matuwid, he even gets criticized by the Yellow faithful, who suspect that what Mar is saying when he does so is that Aquino may not really be “the best Presi-dent the Philippines ever had,” as the true believers profess. So what’s a Yellow candidate to do except to just act like a dummy and a parrot?
Ultimately, of course, Roxas has no one to blame for his no-win situation except himself. In spite of his own elitist roots, he has tried so hard to act like an indentured slave of the Aquino family in order to secure the anointment that he so desperately sought.
Now that he’s received the Yellow baton, he can’t act like he’s his own man. Or at least he can’t while he hasn’t been elected President yet.
Of course, all of this means that Roxas’ campaign has been preordained to fail. And that’s something that immediately makes any feelings of sympathy I may have for him immediately evaporate.
T HURSDAY : NO VEMB ER 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
SPORTS
Shamed ex-IAAF head resigns
Rory’s European no. 1rank hangs by a threadSHANGHAI—Rory McIlroy has skipped the BMW Mas-ters starting Thursday but will still be keeping one eye firmly on the scores from Shanghai knowing that his status as Eu-rope’s number one is hanging by a thread.
World number six Justin Rose is one of five players who could topple McIlroy from the top spot in the Race to Dubai standings at Lake Malaren, the final stop before the season-ending DP World Tour Cham-pionship next week.
Second-placed Danny Wil-lett, after his fourth-round 62 and third place in the $8.5 mil-lion WGC-HSBC Champions across the city last weekend, is just 74,213 points adrift and needs only to finish 28th or higher to overtake McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.
Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthui-zen, Rose and Branden Grace
also have the chance to knock four-time major champion McIlroy off his perch, with the first three players each need-ing to finish second or better to move into the number one spot, while only victory would be good enough for sixth-placed Grace.
McIlroy won the Race to Dubai last year and in 2012 but may find by Sunday night he needs nothing less than a win in Dubai to win his third Harry Vardon trophy.
The world number three is de-termined to give himself every chance by arriving early in the Middle East after skipping the second Shanghai event this week.
“I’ll get to Dubai next week-end, so I’ll be there a few days early,” McIlroy told AFP after his final round 66 at Sheshan International Golf Club on Sunday left him in a tie for 11th place in the World Golf Cham-pionships event.
“The IAAF confirms it has tonight (Tuesday) received a letter from Lamine Diack resigning his position as President of the International Ath-letics Foundation (IAF),” the IAAF said in a state-ment.
“This information has been passed to IAF Honor-ary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
“Discussions will be held in due course regarding the IAF and the appointment of a new IAF President.”
Established by the IAAF
in 1986 by then-IAAF president Primo Nebiolo, the foundation’s “primary mission is to charitably assist the world governing body for track and field athletics... and its affili-ated national governing bodies in perpetuating the development and promo-tion of athletics world-wide”.
Diack took over as foun-dation president after Ne-biolo’s death in 1999.
The foundation is best known in the public eye for organising the prestig-
ious black-tie gala awards, which honour the best ath-letes of the year.
The IAAF last week can-celled this year’s annual gala just days after Diack was charged by French po-lice with corruption over suspicions he took bribes to cover up doping cases.
Meanwhile,The head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory resigned late Tuesday, an advisor to the sports minister told Rus-sian news agencies, after he was accused of being part of a state-sponsored dop-ing programme.
The World Anti-Dop-ing Agency (WADA) has accused Grigory Rod-chenkov of being at the heart of a scheme to cover up widespread use of ille-gal drugs among Russian athletes, including delib-erately destroying posi-
tive test samples.His resignation comes
after the WADA suspended Moscow’s heavily criticised anti-doping laboratory on Tuesday, the day after re-leasing its explosive, 335-page report on the scandal.
“The acting director of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rod-chenkov announced his resignation,” an aide to Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
“The minister accepted his resignation and one of the specialists at the labo-ratory was appointed in his place, Maria Dikunets,” Natalya Zhelanova said, adding that “the labora-tory’s accreditation is tem-porarily halted”.
IAAF president Sebas-tian Coe has given the
Russian athletics federa-tion (ARAF) “until the end of the week” to respond or risk possible suspension, with the IAAF Council set to meet in Monaco on Friday.
With concerns mount-ing Russia could be banned from the Rio Olympics, Mutko met the heads of Russian organisations sin-gled out for criticism by IAAF.
“Today I held consulta-tions with the presidents of WADA and IAAF and I can say that I don’t see in-surmountable obstacles to dealing with the situation,” Mutko said.
“We have young athletes for whom it will be their first Olympics. And there are those for whom it will be the fifth games. Inno-cent athletes should not suffer,” Mutko said. AFP
Seiko boss capturesSolane golf crown
KAZUKO Ushiyama of Nagano Seiko bagged the championship title at the Solane LPG 2nd Golf Tournament.
Ushiyama made a total of 72 net points in the 9-hole play-offs to win the title cup. He also re-ceived the Best Flight and Near-est to the Pin awards.
Nagano Seiko, a Cavite-based manufacturer of reduction gear boxes end parts and shaft for agricultural machinery, is one of Solane’s customers who par-ticipated in the tournament. The Solane LPG Golf Tourna-ment is an annual and exclusive sporting event organized by Isla Petroleum & Gas Corpora-tion as part of their customer-appreciation and nurturing activity. The competition was
attended by company execu-tives and officers from IPG’s biggest clients.
This year’s tourney was held at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club and partici-pated by 34 challengers from 17 companies, namely, Angel’s Burger, Chooks to Go, EMME, Gardenia, Isuzu, JG Summit, McDonald’s, Mister Donut, Monde M.Y. San, Nagano Sei-ko, Ortigas & Company, Puyat Steel, Royal Tern, Sofitel, SurTec, Swedish Match, and Pilipinas Shell.
Joining the play-offs were the big bosses of IPG Group of Companies, led by chairman of the executive committee Ricky Delgado, Jr., IPG chief execu-tive officer Shoichi Watanabe,
CagayanValley nails2nd victoryA FEW days after handing erstwhile unbeaten Caida Tiles its first defeat in the PCBL Founders’ Cup, Cagayan Valley made it two in a row after whip-ping Supremo Lex, 74-60, to strengthen its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round of the tournament Tues-day night at the JCSGO gym.
Mark Brana, the hero in the previous game, picked up form where he left off as he finished with a game-high 23 points to power the Rising Suns to their fourth win in seven games in this tournament supported by Spalding, Ambucore, Accel and Aquabest.
Point guard Carlo Isit had a double-double per-formance of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephen Siruma contrib-uted 10 for the Rising Suns of coach Ronnie Dojillo.
Cagayan Valley flexed its muscles in the shaded lane as it out-rebounded Supremo Lex, 51-41. That resulted in 50 points in-side the paint for the Ris-ing Suns compared to only 36 for their rivals.
The Rising Suns also got 10 more second-chance points than Supremo Lex, 16-6.
Kama Motors pulled off an 82-78 upset win over sister team Caida Tiles in the second game.
LAUSSANNE—Disgraced former IAAF president Lamine Diack on Tuesday re-signed as president of the International Athletics Foundation in the wake of dam-aging corruption charges that have rocked track and field.
Justin Rose of England, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, China’s Wu Ashun and Li Haotong chip golf balls during a photo session ahead of the BMW Shanghai Masters golf tournament at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai. AFP
IPG chief finance officer Willie Sarmiento, Isla LPG Corporation CEO Ruben Domingo, and ILC general manager for sales Tonito Gonzales.
Other winners in the Solane
LPG 2nd Golf Tournament in-cluded Ricky Sta. Ana of Chooks to Go, Sumio Tange of SurTec and Leo Obias of Swedish Match who placed first, second and third run-ners up, respectively.
IPG chief financial officer Willy Sarmiento (left) is shown with (starting second from left) Kazuho Ushiyama, Yasuyuki Kondo, and IPG chief executive officer Shoichi Watanabe.
Westbrook heroicscarry OKC Thunder
T HURSDAY : NO VEMB ER 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
SPORTS
POPULAR Team Kramer com-prising of pro cager Doug Kramer and actress Cheska Garcia and their children will be gracing the 2015 Run Against Dengue Family Run on Nov. 14 (Saturday) at the Quirino Grandstand.
The Kramers, who are also com-posed of their adorable kids Ken-dra, Scarlett and Gavin, are the latest Tempra endorsers expected to add more fun and prestige to the advocacy run offering distances of 5k, 3k, 2k Family Run (any combi-nation of parent-kid/s) and 1k Kids Run.
Registration is available at the SM Manila Toby’s branch and at the Rizal Park Administration of-fice. Interested participants may also call Subterranean Ideas at 504-5990 (landline), 09179790803 (Globe) or 0928-2618028 (Smart) for further details.
The advocacy run, backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Bonamine, Tempracof, Deuter, Toby’s, Medicard, Guard Insect Repellent, Goldlife, May-nilad, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Colegio De La Immaculada Con-cepcion (Concordia), and media
partner Malaya Business Insight, is a social marketing collabora-tion among stakeholders from the private sector, government and NGOs.
With a significant spike in the cases of the deadly dengue disease, Tempra is staging the fun run, which also offers hand-some raff le prizes ranging from mountain bikes, to tablets and phones and SM gift cheques, among other giveaways. Partici-pants just have to bring emptry Tempra wrappers and blister packs to avail of discounts and
be eligible of the raff le.The cases of dengue have sky-
rocketed the past two months, with 23,000 affected in just a span of a less than a month (Aug. 9 to Sept. 5, 2015). This is the primary reason why this Tempra is con-tinuing its advocacy against the water-borne disease.
The project also aims to dem-onstrate the power of collaborative efforts, using sports as one of the main tools, to provide information campaign about the danger of den-gue and conduct activities to fight this epidemic.
SOUTHERN Luzon racked up two victories, including a thrill-er of a three-setter over fancied National Capital Region, 25-22, 23-25, 32-30, to clinch the first semifinal berth in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League Season 13 national finals at the Astro-dome last Tuesday.
Composed of the De La Salle-Lipa spikers, Southern Luzon, led by skipper Janel Maraguinot, Jewel Encarna-cion, Justine Jazareno and Mary Bautista, first trounced Northern Mindanao, 25-18, 25-14, then displayed awesome form and staying power to out-last NCR champion National U, including in the back-and-forth decider.
Counting their scrambling 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 win over Central Visayas Monday, the SLU squad swept the four-team Pool B and booked the
first slot in the crossover semis of the two-group finals featur-ing the eight regional winners of the annual event sponsored by Shakey’s, which revived the sport in 2003.
NCR, which earlier ripped Northern Mindanao, dropped to 1-1 and must hurdle its last game against Central Visayas to nail the other semis berth in their side.
Defending champion West-ern Visayas and Southern Mindanao took the two semis slots in the Pool A with a sweep of their first two games in the event organized by Met-ro Sports headed by Freddie Infante and backed by Asics, Mikasa and My Phone.
Western Visayas, repre-sented by Central Philippine U headed by Princess Robles, Julie Ann Robles and Claudine Troncoso, dominated Eastern Visayas, 25-18, 25-17, while
Southern Luzon stunsNCR, gains volley semis
Kramers to grace Tempra Family Run vs Dengue Iglupas eyesPSC-Phinmanet repeatKHIM Iglupas sets out for the PSC-Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships next week, upbeat of her chances to score a repeat in Week 1 of the two-stage Grade 4 ITF event at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
Iglupas knocked off five foreign rivals, including Indonesian Ri-fanty Kahfiani, 6-2, 6-4, in the fi-nals, to claim the singles crown in the first of two legs of the annual event featuring some of the world’s top juniors last year.
She also bagged the doubles plum with Kahfiani but the Philip-pine Tennis Academy standout fell short of her sweep bid in Week 2, bowing to Japanese Ayumi Miy-amoto in the semis of the event backed by major sponsors Phinma Group of Companies and the Phil-ippine Sports Commission.
But the Filipina ace is all primed up for the event set Nov. 17-22 al-though she will be up against a souped-up roster that includes Mi-yamoto and fellow Japanese Naho Sato, Satoko Sueno, Anri Nagata and Himari Sato.
Others in the 32-player main draw are Taiwan’s Ho Chao Hsia and Ting Chieh Wei, the Nether-lands’ Lian Tran and Demi Tran, Koreans Hyeran Yun and Yuseung Suh, Indonesian Joleta Budiman and Sara Tsukamoto of the US.
Meanwhile, 24 players will slug it out for the last 10 spots in the main draw in the two-day qualify-ing set Nov. 15-16, including local hopefuls Monica Cruz, Frances Santiago, Shaira Rivera and Rafella Villanueva.
Southern Lu-zon’s Justine Jazareno unloads a kill against NCR’s Joyme Cagande (6) and Thea Gagate during their Shakey’s GVL Pool B show-down at the Astrodome.
Russell Westbrook (left) of the Oklahoma City Thunder puts a shot over the defense of John Wall of the Washington Wizards in the first half at Verizon Center on November 10, 2015 in Washington, DC. AFP
Southern Mindanao, led by Lycha Ebon and Georgie Loreto, thwarted Northern Luzon, 25-18, 25-22. EV and NL bowed out of the race with 0-2 cards.
Meanwhile, Western Visayas and Southern Mindanao, repre-
sented by Davao City National High School, were disputing the top spot in Pool A at presstime with the winner taking on the No. 2 team in Pool B and the loser fac-ing Pool B topnotcher Southern Luzon in today’s crossover semis.
WASHINGTON—Russell Westbrook’s first triple-double of the season more than made up for Kevin Durant’s early exit Tuesday in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 125-101 NBA triumph over the Washington Wizards.
Westbrook sat out the entire fourth quar-ter after amassing 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for Oklahoma City, who led 68-50 at halftime and by as many as 29 points in the second half.
But the news wasn’t all good for the Thun-der as Durant clutched his left leg late in the second quarter and didn’t play the second half because of a hamstring strain.
“We knew we had to come out and play the right way and not be relaxed,” Westbrook said of the Thunder’s determination to keep the pressure on in the second half. “I thought we did a great job of sticking together.”
Durant, who played just 27 games last sea-son as he battled to recover from a broken foot suffered in October 2014, downplayed Tuesday’s injury.
“I can walk, it’s just a little sore,” said the former NBA Most Valuable Player, who put up a double-double of 14 points and 10 re-bounds before exiting.
“I’ll just get treatment and see how it goes,” he added.
Durant, who hails from the Maryland suburbs near Washington, is a fan favorite in the nation’s capital, with many hoping he might opt to join the Wizards when he be-comes a free agent at the end of the season.
But after Durant said this week that his
warm reception in Washington was “disre-spectful” to the hometown team, he was ac-tually booed sporadically on Tuesday.
The Wizards didn’t give their supporters much to cheer.
They committed only eight turnovers af-ter a combined 49 in their prior two games, but were out-rebounded 53-41 and shot just 39.2 percent from the field.
Washington felt the absence of guard and leading scorer Bradley Beal, who hurt his left shoulder in Saturday’s road loss at Atlanta, and forward Nene, who was sidelined by back spasms.
- Pelicans finally win - The New Orleans Pelicans finally notched
their first win of the season, snapping a six-game losing streak with a 120-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
However, the triumph was shadowed by an injury to star forward Anthony Davis, who exited with a hip contusion early in the third quarter after scoring 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds in 19 minutes on the floor.
Guards Eric Gordon, Ish Smith and Toney Douglas also each scored 17 points for the Pelicans, who handed the Mavs their third defeat in four games. AFP
University of the Philippines ManilaThe Health Sciences Center
BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE 32nd Floor, BAC Conference Roon, Damian Hall
University of the Philippines ManilaP.Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Manila
Telefax # 525-43-22 / 526-22-76
INVITATION TO BID 1. The University of the Philippines Manila through its Bids and Awards Committee III (BAC 3), invites
suppliers/manufacturer/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:
Name of Project: Supply and Installation of Fiber Optic Cabling for UP Manila
Supply and Installation of Electrical System, UPM Computer Center
Supply of Portable Gait Analysis System and Activity Monitor with Accessories-REBID
Requesting Unit/Location:
CAD-Information Management Services
CAD-Information Management Services
CAMP
Approved Budget for the Contract:
Php 4,189,729.12 Php 2,619,902.62 Php 2,145,000.00
Bid Documents Php 5,000.00 Php 5,000.00 Php 5,000.00Contract Duration: 120 Days 120 Days 120 DaysPR No.: IMS2015-01 IMS2015-02 GAA 15-04Source of Fund: ITF ITF LRTE2015
2. Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two
(2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated responsive bid shall be conducted.
3. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).
4. The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:
Activities Schedule1 Issuance of Bid Documents Starting – November 12, 20152 Pre-bid Conference November 24, , 2015 – 1:30 pm (For Project 1
& @ only)3 Opening of Bids December 8, 2015 – 1:30 pm4 Bid Evaluation Within two (2) weeks after the opening5 Post-qualification Within one (1) week after the bid evaluation6 Issuance of Notice of Award Seven (7) days after Post-qualification
5. Bid Documents will be made available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount stated above for each project to the U.P. Manila Cashier’s Office.
6. UP Manila assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.
7. The University of the Philippines Manila reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality or defects therein, or to accept such as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila.
8. All inquiries shall be directed to the BAC III Secretariat at tel. no. 525-4322 / 526-2275. This is also posted at the UP Manila Official Web: http://www.upm.edu.ph/procurement.
(SGD) DR. TRISTAN NATHANIEL C. RAMOS Chair, BAC 3(SGD) ARLENE A. SAMANIEGO, MDVice Chancellor for Administration (TS-NOV. 12, 2015)
I N V I T A T I O N T O B I DCavite State University, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites all interested bidders to bid for the Construction of Five Storey Interdisciplinary
Research, Phase I amounting to PHP 41, 186,062.37, contract duration is 270 calendar days:
Projec t Approved Budget for the Cont rac t (ABC) Cont rac t Durat ion
1. Const ruc t ion o f F ive S to rey In te rd isc ip l inar y Research,Phase I PhP 41,186,0 62 .37 270 CD
Prospective bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizen of the Philippines.
Bidding Documents may also be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and CvSU Website, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
The schedule of activities is listed as follows:
1. I ssuance o f B idd ing Documents November 12, 2015 (8:0 0 AM) to December 1, 2015 (12NN)
2. Pre -b id Conference November 20,2015(3:00 PM) at S. L . Lasap Hal l , CvSU, Indang, Cavi te
3. Submission and Opening of Bids December 1, 2015 (3:00 PM) at S. L . Lasap Hal l , CvSU, Indang, Cavi te All particulars relative to Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be
governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).Interested bidders may purchase a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address below upon payment of the following nonrefundable fee:
Projec t Amount of B idding Documents
1 . Const ruc t ion o f F ive S to rey In te rd isc ip l inar y Research,Phase I PhP 22 ,50 0.0 0 Pre-bid Conference shall be open only to all interested bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the Office of the BAC
Chairman, Administration Building, CvSU, Indang, Cavite on or before the above mentioned date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ authorized representatives who choose to attend the bidding. Late bids shall not be accepted.
Cavite State University assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.Cavite State University 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.(Sgd.) MA. AGNES P. NUESTRO, Ph.D.
BAC Chairman1F Administration Building
Don Severinodelas Alas CampusCavite State University
Indang, Cavite(046) 862-0806 / 862-0853 / 415-0014 loc. 270 or 209
Repub l i c o f the Ph i l ipp inesCAVITE STATE UNIVERSIT Y
(CvSU)Don Sever ino de a las Campus
Indang, cav i te(0 46) 415010 /415 - 0 011 415 - 0 012
w w w.cvsu.educ .ph
(TS-NOV. 12 & 19 2015)
Republic of the PhilippinesDepartment of Transportation and Communications
CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
IN RE : PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE CARGO SECURITY
SURCHARGE ON ITS INTERNATIONAL AIRWAY BILL
CAB Case No. EP-15-3756/HED082015/5J/403 SC1
CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR),
Petitioner.X--------------------------------------------------------X
NOTICE OF HEARINGPursuant to the provisions of R.A. 776, as amended, notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR) has filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for authority to impose security surcharge on all its international cargo shipments, detailed as follows:
ROUTE (v.v.) Security SurchargeMNL/CEB/CRK/DVO/KLO/ILODestination - All International USD 0.10 / Kg
The above entitled case is scheduled for hearing on November 26, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at the CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay City, before the undersigned Hearing Officer, at which hearing the petitioner shall present evidence.
Under Section 16 of R.A. 776, the applicant is hereby required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once, two (2) weeks before the scheduled hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and have copies hereof and the application be sent to all Philippine carriers with international scheduled operations, either by personal service or by registered mail with return card at least five (5) days before the scheduled hearing.
Let a copy of the petition and this Notice of Hearing be posted at the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.
27 October 2015. Pasay City, Philippines.
(Sgd.) MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing OfficerCopy Furnished:
MR. JOSEPH G. MACAGGAVP – Fuel and Cargo OperationsCEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC)Airline Operations CenterManila Domestic Airport
ATTY. ENRIQUE ANTONIO J. ESQUIVEL, IllAssistant Corporate Secretary andHead of Aeropolitical Division Philippine Airlines, Inc.PNB Financial CenterPres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue CCP Complex, Pasay City
ATTY. KHRISTIAN B. ALVAERAManager, Aeropolitical AffairsCEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR)Airline Operations Centre Domestic Airport, Pasay City
ATTY. MICHAEL JOURDAN NAVARROLegal Services DepartmentPAL Express Legal Services DepartmentAir Philippines Corporation d.b.a. PAL Express 8TH Floor, PNB Financial CenterPresident Diosdado P. Macapagal Avenue CCP Complex, Pasay City
ATTY. ANNA ROSARIO V. PANERCounsel for AirAsia, Inc.PANER HOSAKA & YPIL502 Pacific Center Bldg.,33 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center Pasig City, 1600
MS. MARIA INEZ F. JOSEStrategy, Airport and PlanningZEST AIRWAYS, INC. (AIR ASIA ZEST)Air Asia Zest Corporate & Cargo Office Domestic Road cor. Andrews Avenue Pasay City
ATTY. LEILANI N. DE LEONChief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), Inc.3rd Floor, Cebu Pacific Building8006 Domestic Road Pasay City (TS-NOV. 12, 2015)
Notice is hereby given to the public that Firmus Distribution Corporation’s Receipts with OR No. 08610-08611 were lost.
Any transactions covered by this OR Nos. would not be honored by the company.
Firmus Distribution CorporationBldg., No. 12, Tayabas St., Corner 2nd Ave.,
Sta. Maria Ind`l Estate, Bagumbayan,Taguig City, 1631
(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)
NOTICE OF LOSSFIRMUS
Distribution Corporation
A14T H U R S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
3 gutsy ladies shareV-League top honorsA 27-YEAR-OLD mom, a young breadwinner, and a reserve but tal-ented setter took the spotlight over the weekend by dishing out big games to share the Player of the Game hon-ors in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12-Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, drawing inspiration from her three-year-old son AJ, blasted in 15 points to power PLDT Home Ultera to a 25-20, 20-25, 25-13, 25-13 victory over Philippine Navy and into the semifinal round of the season-end-ing conference of the league where it all started.
Pretty Mina Aganon, 22, who has been sup-porting her family while she was still playing for and studying at National University, tallied 15 points to help snap Kia Forte’s three-game skid for the newcomer’s first victory in the league
Philips, Cignalclash for lead
WITH the semifinal cast now complete, heavy-weights Philips Gold and Cignal clash for the solo leadership as the double-round eliminations of the 2015 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix wom-en’s volleyball tournament enters its final stretch today at The Arena in San Juan.
Action starts at 4 p.m. before the encounter be-tween Foton and also-ran RC Cola-Air Force in the 6 p.m. main offering of this prestigious inter-club tourney presented by Asics and backed by Milo with Mueller, Mikasa and Senoh as techni-cal partners and TV5 as official broadcaster.
After pulling off an emphatic straight-set con-quest of RC Cola-Air Force last Tuesday, Philips Gold joined reigning champion Petron and Cig-nal in a three-way logjam on top of the team standings with a 6-2 mark, while shoving the Raiders out of title contention together with win-less Meralco.
With that, the semifinal cast has been formally completed with Petron, Cignal, Philips Gold and Foton using their remaining games to determine their placing in the knockout, kill-or-be killed semifinal showdown scheduled next week.
sponsored by Shakey’s, a 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 25-19 decision over University of the Philippines.
And given the chance the to shine, Sarah Jane Gonzales seized the moment to become the sec-ond Army player to earn the best player honors after helping steer the Lady Troopers to a 25-4, 25-12, 33-31 win over the Coast Guard Lady Dol-phins. The 24-year-old playmaker also became the second player in the conference, presented by PLDT Home Ultera, to win back-to-back best player titles after UP’s Ma. Isabel Molde.
Gonzales, who hails from Biñan, Laguna, said she never got discouraged for spending much of her time on the bench, particularly during crucial games. But when coach Kungfu Reyes opted to rest starter Tina Salak, Gonzales quickly proved her worth, displaying near-flawless setting from the start on her way to snatching her first ever V-League best player honors.
“I’m privileged to be playing with teammates who keep supporting and encouraging me,” said Gonzales, formerly of Lyceum, one of the pioneers of the league. “Their excellent receives and digs make my job as a setter a little bit easier.”
Aguilas breakinto win column
MINDANAO’S Aguilas finally entered the win col-umn after escaping with a 78-72 victory over Our Lady of Fatima University in a battle of winless teams Tues-day night in the 5th DELeague Basketball Tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City.
Jerome Juanico scored on a jumper to cut Mind-anao’s lead down to three, 74-71, with 50 seconds remaining in the game.
The OLFU Phoenix, however, failed to contain Gino Jumao-as in the next play as he scored on a dif-ficult basket that gave the Aguilas a more comfort-able 76-71 lead.
OLFU had two golden chances to inch closer, but Juanico split his free throws and Edwin Bargola fal-tered in his attempt. Jonathan Pareno of Mindanao grabbed the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Bargola with seven seconds to go.
Pareno sank both free throws and the Phoenix was not able to score again in the game.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas starred in PLDT’s win over Philippine Navy.
Games Today (The Arena, San Juan)4 p.m. -- Philips Gold vs Cignal
6 p.m. -- RC Cola-Air Force vs Foton
Games on Thursday (Marikina Sports Center)7 p.m. Far Eastern University vs Metro Pacific Toll Corporatiom
8:30 p.m. Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlimited vs Our Lady of Fatima University
A15T H U R S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
GRANDMASER Abhijeet Gupta of India turned back GM Alexander Zubov of Ukraine in the battle of the top two seeds in the fourth round yes-terday to climb into a share of the lead with GM Anton Demchenko of Rus-sia in the 2015 Philippine International Chess Championship at the Subic Peninsular Hotel, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Olongapo City.
Developments on the Cheating Controversy
GMs Gupta, Demchenkorip foes, share chess lead
Standings after four rounds (Open Divi-sion) Demchenko, Gupta 3.5, Belous, Shomoev, Lin, Sivuk, Deepan 3.0, Zubov, Sunilduth Lyna, Lu, Laylo, Savchenko, Nguyen, Ranola 2.5, Mozharov, Torre, Sean, Nolte, Rohan, Antonio, Bitoon, Abelgas, Gotel 2.0, Smirnov, Puranik, Bersamina 1.5, Kotanjian, Pederson, Pascua, Frayna, Secopito, Mariano III 1.0, Docena, Di-makilng .5, Fronda, Galas 0.
(Challenger Division, after three rounds) Mirano K., Mendoza 3.0, Morado, Salgados, Alora, Mirano J.F. Salcedo 2.5, Lim, Miciano, Evangelists, Aviles F., Diaz, Marimla 2.0, Rapanot, Pradas, Morsalim, Bernardo, Bagamasbad, Cerezo, Ricana 1.5, Pidor, Polao, Alidani, Doroy, Medina, Vicente, Romero, Salanga, Morsalim 1.0, Segundo, Fagon, Valdez, Graspela 0.5, Bautista, Crisologo 0.
The 26-year old former world junior cham-pion Gupta outwitted his Ukranian foe and erstwhile co-leader in 41 moves of the Vari-ous Indian Defense to collect 3.5 points in four rounds, the same score of Demchenko, who agreed to a draw with fellow Russian GM Vladimir Belous after 42 moves of a Sicilian-Scheveningen Defense.
Also making headway were Indian GM Chakkravarthy Deepan, ninth seed GM Anton Shomoev, IM Chen Lin of China and GM Vitaly Sivuk of Ukraine, who beat their respective opponents to improve their total to 3.0 points, along with Belous, Zubov and Indian IM Narayanan Suldith Lyna.
Deepan, the no. 14 seed, upset no. 7 GM Mikhail Mozharov of Russia after a mara-thon 72 moves of a Queen’s Indian, Shomoev downed Winshand Cuhendi Sean of Indone-
P0 M+
P0 M
6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00
6/45 00-00-00-00-00-004 DIGITS 0-0-0-03 DIGITS 0-0-0
P0 M6/45 00-00-00-00-00-004 DIGITS 0-0-0-0
2 EZ2 0-0
LOTTO RESULTS
PH Azkalsin must-winsituation By Peter Atencio
SHORT on manpower, the Philippine Az-kals national men’s football team promises to do a better job when they clash with Yemen in their 2016 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at 8 p.m. today at the Ri-zal Memorial Football Stadium.
The Azkals come into the fight sport-ing a 2-1-2 win-draw-loss record for sev-en points in Group H.
Unfortunately, they will play without team captain Phil Younghusband, de-fender Luke Woodland and goalie Neil Etheridge.
Younghusband is suspended after he was penalized with his second yellow card in their match with Bahrain, while Woodland won’t make it because of his commitment to his club in England.
Etheridge, on the other hand, is nursing a thigh injury and will sit out the game.
“It’s been four weeks since our game with Bahrain and North Korea. This will be exciting tomorrow. It’s a game we have to win,” said coach Thomas Dooley during a press conference yesterday at the Manila Hotel.
Because of the multiple positions that he can play inside the pitch, Fil-German striker Stephan Schrock will take the place of Younghusband as team captain.
On the other hand, Roland Muller will assume Etheridge’s position in front of the net.
Woodland’s position can be filled up by Javier Patiño, Rob Gier, Simone Rota and Juani Guirado.
Also suiting up against Yemen are Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Kenshiro Daniels, Patrick Deyto, Kevin Ingreso, Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Stephan Palla, OJ Porteria, Iain Ramsay, Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, Stephan Schrock, Martin Steuble and Dennis Villanueva.
04 NOVEMBER—Poland with-drew from EBL Champions’ Cup.
Here is the statement of the players:
In con-n e c t i o n
with accusations of unfair play by Cezary Balicki and Adam Żmudziński, which have not been supported so far, and having great regard to the reputation of the Pol-ish bridge, we decided to withdraw our team from this year’s edition of the European Champions’ Cup.
05 November—Angelini Team (Italy) in 2015 EBL Champion-ships’ Cup
Following the withdrawal of Poland, Italy has been invited to participate in the upcoming EBL Champions’ Cup, scheduled in
Milton Keynes (England) from Nov. 12 to 14, 2015. Italy will be represented by Angelini Team from Rome, winner of the Italian Club Open Teams Championship 2014.
06 November—Cezary Balicki Statement
Extracts of statement:As our Chairman already point-
ed out, we garnered quite a few enemies, like those who lost to us in different events, those who felt we had taken spots that belonged to them or those on various inter-national teams or the Polish Na-tional team. Without going further on this subject, I’ll get to the issue at hand. I strongly suspect that all the arguments against us were manipulated and calculated to ap-pear in such a way that none of the
readers would be able verify them, for the long and painstaking work that would be required. This is how we have been treated by those ac-cusing us. We were attacked three times after each preceding attempt ended in failure.
When the first accusation did not deliver the expected result, the next attack was launched—on our mannerisms on opening lead. And here the method of op-eration was very similar. There were no analyzed hands, inten-tionally chosen clips from the video recordings and no correla-tion to the leads made. Of course, no one bothered to check what the typical mannerisms are for us or many other pairs in stress-ful or tiring situations. This is exactly how players behave who
have for their entire bridge lives filled out scorecards and entered the scores into the bridge mates. After analyzing 336 deals from Opatija 2014, half of which were on lead, you wont see one hand, including part score deals, where a lead, you won’t see one hand, including part score deals, where a lead was suspicious or very lucky. On the other hand there are several deals in which we didn’t lead well in simple situations that cost us a lot of points. Take the deal against Brogeland, where I personally made a serious error from lack of knowledge about de-clarer’s distribution. Despite the lead of the ace of hearts and club continuation, we managed to let the contract make, although that would have seemed impossible.
Poland —NorwayDeal 243NT. Lead ♥A
North ♠K96
♥AK ♦853 ♣AW985West East
♠DW72 ♠A543♥DW106 ♥43♦AD ♦K10942♣643 ♣KD South ♠108 ♥98752 ♦W76 ♣1072
Result: -400
Comments to: [email protected]
SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO
n e c t i o n with accusations of unfair play
statement of the players:SYLVIA LOPEZ
sia in 33 moves of a Sicilian-Sveshnikov, Lin topped GM Eugene Torre while Sivuk out-lasted Filipino IM Rolando Nolte in 57 moves of a King’s Indian Defense.
Following Torre and Nolte’s losses, GM Darwin Laylo and IM Yves Ranola emerged as the best Filipino campaigners with 2.5 each after four rounds. Laylo defeated IM Abhi-maryu Puranik of India, while Ranola drew with Fide Master Ahuja Rohan of India.
Also with 2.5 points are India’s GM Naray-anan Sulduth Lyna, Chinese GM Shanglei Lu, Russian GM Boris Savchenko and Viet-namese GM Duc Hoa Nguyen.
Torre, Nolte trail with 2.0 points along with seven others, including fellow local campaigner sGM Joey Antonio and NM Roel Abelgas.
In the Challenger Divison of the week-long tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Puregold, Asian United Bank and Burlington Socks, Far Eastern Uni-versity varsity players WIM Shania Mae Men-doza and Kevin Mirano are tied for the lead with perfect 3.0 points. Mirano topped Samson Lim, while Mendoza turned back Alfredo Lapanot.
Las Vegas-bound. Bowling World Cup national champions Liza del Rosario and Biboy Rivera will fly to Las Vegas, Nevada today to represent the Philippines in the Qubica AMF BWC international finals set at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas on Nov. 13 to 20. Del Rosario and Rivera are shown receiving their roundtrip tickets from Puyat Sports Group Vice President Jose R. Puyat III (left) and Coronado Lanes General Manager Engr. Gilbert V. Gavino. The organizers also thanked All Nippon Air, Prima Pasta and Boysen Paints for support to the two bowlers’ participation in the prestigious event.
T H U R S DAY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 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
Westbrooktriple-doublecarriesThunder
TURN TO A14
3 gutsyladiesshareV-Leaguehonors
By Peter Atencio
JERON Teng returned to the floor just in time to save De La Salle from losing
its momentum late in the third quar-ter, igniting a crucial 15-0 as the Green Archers escaped with a hard-earned 72-68 win over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last night in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
The victory kept the Archers in the thick of the race for a berth in the Fi-nal Four with a 6-7 (win-loss) card in a tie with defending champion National University Bulldogs.
Teng, who hurt his back after a bad fall in the first quarter and had to be rested for several minutes, finished with a game-high 20 points.
Still, Teng had a lot of help from Prince Rivero and Jason Perkins in the decisive final last minutes, as the two alternated in scoring against the Ma-roons’ zone defense.
After Jet Manuel gave UP a 60-54 edge, Rivero drove in twice and Per-kins forced his way underneath for a layup, touching off a decisive scoring run which put La Salle on top, 69-60, with 2:52 to go.
Teng then knocked in two charities to cap the run in the last 2:52 and add-ed two more in the last 18.4 seconds to seal the win, 71-66.
Manuel led the Maroons with 15 points, while Christian Moralde added 14 as UP stayed near the bottom at 3-10.
TURN TO A13
Texters rout Bolts, 105-91By Jeric Lopez
A WALK in the park. � at’s what Talk ‘N Text had when it hardly broke a sweat in manhandling listless Meralco in carving an impressive 105-91 rout last night for its second straight win in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Four Texters tallied in twin-digits, led by Matt Ganuelas-Rosser who had a game-high 19 points along with six rebounds off the bench while Mo Tautuaa almost had a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. The other two are Jayson Castro with 15 and Troy Rosario with 14 as a reserve.
Talk ‘N Text improved to 2-1 in a four-way logjam with NLEX, GlobalPort and San Miguel.
The hapless Bolts, meanwhile, still couldn’t catch a break as they remain winless and fell further at the bottom at 0-3.
“We played better than our last two games. Mas maganda ipinakita namin,’’ said Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico of his team’s performance. “We’re all continuing to progress and un-derstand each other as we go and this will help.’’
From the get-go, the loaded
Archers win, stays on track for F4 berth Tropang Texters
showed their sister team absolutely no love as they pounced hard right away and made sure that they will cruise the rest of the way.
Behind 10 quick points from Ganuelas-Rosser, Talk ‘N Text ignited a dazzling 23-3 surge to end the first period and zoom to a commanding 33-17 spread heading into the second period.
The Tropang Texters carried their momentum into the second frame by ripping the game apart, , 52-25, in the middle of the period after another 19-8 blast.
By halftime, Talk ‘N Text’s cushion stood at 22 points, 60-38, and it never looked back from there as it kept pounding Meralco in the second half all the way to the final buzzer.
In that excep-tional first half, the Tropang Texters had seven triples and they scored on 14 points off turnovers
after forcing the helpless Bolts to 13 errors.
Castro, Tautuaa, Ganuelas-Rosser and Larry Fonacier com-bined for 41 points for Talk ‘N Text in the first half as the four-some led the charge for their squad.
Talk ‘N Text was never in harm’s way as the slumping Bolts just didn’t provide any threat.
Slotman Rabeh Al-Hussaini led Meralco with his team-high 16 points and five rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Beermen (2-1) are currently looking move ahead to solo third as they are currently battling Blackwater (1-2) as of this report.
Games Friday (Philspors Arena, Pasig City)
4:15 p.m. - NLEX vs. Mahindra7 p.m. - Rain or Shine
vs. GlobalPort
SPORTS
Games Saturday(MOA Arena)
2 p.m. Ateneo vs UE4 p.m. NU vs FEU
Rookie Chris Newsome of Meralco (no. 11) is sandwiched by Talk N Text defenders Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Troy Rosario as he goes up for a basket.
Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasWednesday, November 11, 2015
Foreign exchange rateCurrency Unit US Dollar PesoUnited States Dollar 1.000000 47.2100
Japan Yen 0.008120 0.3833
UK Pound 1.512100 71.3862
Hong Kong Dollar 0.129017 6.0909
Switzerland Franc 0.994135 46.9331
Canada Dollar 0.754034 35.5979
Singapore Dollar 0.703136 33.1951
Australia Dollar 0.703185 33.1974
Bahrain Dinar 2.657595 125.4651
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266660 12.5890
Brunei Dollar 0.700673 33.0788
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000073 0.0034
Thailand Baht 0.027855 1.3150
UAE Dirham 0.272301 12.8553
Euro Euro 1.072300 50.6233
Korea Won 0.000863 0.0407
China Yuan 0.157188 7.4208
India Rupee 0.015108 0.7132
Malaysia Ringgit 0.228964 10.8094
New Zealand Dollar 0.652401 30.7999
Taiwan Dollar 0.030533 1.4415 Source: PDS Bridge
6,983.7216.39
Closing November 11, 2015PSe comPoSite index
43.50
44.60
45.40
46.20
47.00
HIGH P46.950 LOW P47.240 AVERAGE P47.131
Closing NOVEMBER 10, 2015PeSo-dollar rate
VOLUME 753.700M
Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng PilipinasBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
oilPriceS today
P417.00-P640.00LPG/11-kg tank
P35.85-P43.35Unleaded Gasoline
P24.55-P28.00Diesel
P34.55-P39.15Kerosene
todayP35.85-P43.35
P24.55-P28.00
P34.55-P39.15
PP417.00-P640.00
8000
7700
7400
7100
6800
6500
P46.9750CLOSE
RODERICK T. DELA CRUZASSISTANT EDITOR B1
THURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015
[email protected]@gmail.com
RAY S. EÑANOEDITOR
SMC rebuffs Smart, Globe plea
PAL’s income jumped to P6.55b in nine months
BUSINESS
PhilRice anniversary. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala speaks before the offi cials and employees of the Philippine Rice Research Institute during the agency’s anniversary on Nov. 9, 2015. Alcala cites the contribution of PhilRice in uplifting the life of rice farmers and increasing the rice production in the country. PhilRice is developing new rice varieties and rice technologies in the country.
THE operator of Philippine Airlines said Wednesday comprehensive income in the � rst nine months jumped to P6.55 billion from P169.1 million on higher revenues.
PAL Holdings Inc. said the sharp increase in comprehensive income in the January-September period was led by strong revenues, which climbed 10.8 percent to P81.98 billion from P73.98 billion a year ago.
“� e growth was attributable mainly to higher passenger revenues and other revenues generated during the period,” PAL Holdings said.
PAL’s passenger revenue rose
12.5 percent to P68.37 billion from last year’s P60.78 billion, as the number of passengers increased 30 percent, mainly for Americas, Australia, Japan and the Middle East routes.
PAL said the e� ect of interlining arrangement with PAL Express in the domestic sectors contributed to the favorable revenue performance during the period.
Maintenance expenses, one of PAL’s biggest costs, rose 36.6 percent to P8.26 billion from P6.05 billion last year.
Flying operations, which represent the biggest expense of PAL, dropped 3.9 percent to P15.34 billion from P15.97
billion, following the decline in fuel cost. � is was partially o� set by the increase in aircra� lease charges, transportation expense and cockpit crew costs.
Fuel costs declined 22.9 percent over last year’s � gure of P9.89 billion, as a result of the huge drop in jet fuel prices pfrom an average of $129.74 a barrel in 2014 to $83.06 in 2015.
PAL president Jaime Bautista earlier said the airline revived a plan to take strategic investors who could support its expansion in Europe and other international markets.
“� ere’s no rush, but of course it will be good for the airline if
there is a strategic investor as we expand, take delivery of more airplanes and as we compete more in Asia, US and Europe,” he said.
PAL is spending $500 million to acquire seven brand-new aircra� next year as part of a re-� eeting program.
Bautista said he expected to take delivery of � ve Airbus 321s and two Boeing 777-300s next year. � e aircra� would be used for PAL’s regional and long-haul destinations.
� e airline plans to launch � ight to Port Moresby and Cairns, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand in December.
Darwin G. Amojelar
By Darwin G. Amojelar
SAN Miguel Corp. on Wednesday turned down the plea of Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications to share some of its “very powerful” frequency band, which the conglomerate plans to use to build a new mobile broadband company in joint venture with Telstra Corp. of Australia.
“� ey [Globe and Smart] have more than enough frequency between them. � ey have almost 300 megahertz of LTE [long-term evolution] frequency, why do they need more? All they need is to improve and � ne-tune what they have,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said at the sidelines of the special stockholders’ meeting of Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc.
“� ey want what we have, so that we could not operate,” Ang
said.San Miguel, which owns wi-
Tribe Telecommunications Inc. and High Frequency, holds 80 Mhz and 10 Mhz of the spectrum in the 700 Mhz band, respectively.
Telstra chief executive Andy Penn earlier said San Miguel would be a “very strong” partner in the Philippines because of its spectrum holdings.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the parent
company of Smart, earlier said the 700 Mhz band is a “very powerful” frequency, because the coverage is wider and the capital spending requirement is lesser. � e spectrum was previously used for analog television broadcasting.
PLDT and Globe asked the National Telecommunications Commission for their fair share in the 700 Mhz band.
� e 700 MHz band, located above the TV broadcast channels, penetrates buildings and walls and covers larger areas. Mobile wireless service providers in other countries have been using the spectrum to o� er mobile broadband services.
Ang said talks with Telstra for possible mobile broadband joint venture was still “ongoing.”
� e planned joint venture between San Miguel and Telstra would see the local conglomerate holding a majority stake, in
compliance with the 1987 Constitution, which limits the foreign ownership of utilities to a maximum of 40 percent.
Telstra plans to invest less than $1 billion in the Philippines to roll out the telecom network.
Penn also described the telco experience in the Philippines as “lousy.”
Telstra currently operates customer service centers in the Philippines that serves its clients globally. San Miguel earlier said it planned to launch mobile broadband services as early as January next year.
San Miguel has four telecommunications companies under its portfolio, including Express Telecommunications Inc., Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc., Bell Telecommunications Philippines Inc. and Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc.
[email protected]@gmail.com
BUSINESSTHURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015
B2
52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Wednesday, november 11, 2015
FINANCIAL7.88 2.5 AG Finance 2.62 2.7 2.6 2.7 3.05 31,000 -2,700.0075.3 66 Asia United Bank 49.35 49.2 47.25 49.2 -0.30 28,600 310,940.00124.4 88.05 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 100.50 101.00 99.50 100.50 0.00 3,042,980 41,611,617107 88.1 Bank of PI 84.60 84.75 84.00 84.35 -0.30 1,943,240 63,671,905.0056.5 45.45 China Bank 40.1 40.1 39.95 39.95 -0.37 71,400 1,232,005.002.49 1.97 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 0.00 3,000 4.2 1.68 Bright Kindle Resources 1.59 1.60 1.55 1.57 -1.26 47,000 17 12.02 COL Financial 15.68 15.6 15.6 15.6 -0.51 400 1,560.0030.45 19.6 Eastwest Bank 19.3 19.3 19.18 19.18 -0.62 70,000 -1,020,944.0010.4 6.12 Filipino Fund Inc. 7.52 7.53 7.52 7.52 0.00 300 2.6 1.02 I-Remit Inc. 1.61 1.65 1.62 1.63 1.24 74,000 1.01 0.225 MEDCO Holdings 0.530 0.520 0.500 0.500 -5.66 1,033,000 50,000.00100 78 Metrobank 85 84.95 84.35 84.5 -0.59 1,673,630 44,051,972.5030.5 17.8 PB Bank 17.92 18.00 17.94 18.00 0.45 80,700 75 58 Phil Bank of Comm 23.60 23.55 23.50 23.50 -0.42 35,500 470,000.0091.5 62 Phil. National Bank 52.50 52.70 52.10 52.35 -0.29 160,700 -1,989,754.00137 88.35 Phil. Savings Bank 100 103.9 100 103.9 3.90 590 361.2 276 PSE Inc. 303 303 303 303 0.00 90 21,210.0057 41 RCBC `A’ 30.9 32 31 32 3.56 136,600 1,076,115180 118.2 Security Bank 135.4 139 135 136.1 0.52 241,720 -7,214,271.001700 1200 Sun Life Financial 1554.00 1559.00 1555.00 1559.00 0.32 310 388,730.00124 59 Union Bank 56.75 57.00 56.70 56.70 -0.09 232,890 -554,788.50
INDUSTRIAL47 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 40.85 41 40.5 41 0.37 2,133,900 -4,979,225.005 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 1.84 1.9 1.66 1.9 3.26 76,000 7,480.001.46 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.85 0.88 0.84 0.85 0.00 540,000 2.36 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.57 1.6 1.57 1.57 0.00 168,000 15.3 7.92 Asiabest Group 11 11.1 10.5 11 0.00 400 148 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 95.00 95.00 95.00 95.00 0.00 20 20.6 15.32 Century Food 17.7 18 17.5 18 1.69 106,700 391,468.0036 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 20.7 21.8 20.8 21.3 2.90 3,113,300 -879,400.0065.8 29.15 Concepcion 44 46.85 41.1 44 0.00 58,800 -2,074,3602.97 1.5 Crown Asia 2.39 2.54 2.39 2.48 3.77 1,998,000 4.14 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 1.59 1.62 1.54 1.58 -0.63 544,000 21.5 10.72 Del Monte 10.18 10.02 9.98 9.98 -1.96 19,000 21.6 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 9.000 9.170 8.96 9.000 0.00 7,656,700 -23,468,408.0011.96 9.04 Emperador 8.90 9.08 8.72 8.98 0.90 4,967,600 -34,910,654.009.13 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.21 6.24 5.94 6.05 -2.58 16,132,700 -19,646,382.0011.8 8.86 EEI 6.11 6.11 5.92 5.97 -2.29 1,539,400 -3,902,081.002.89 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.7 1.8 1.79 1.8 5.88 9,000 31.8 20.2 First Gen Corp. 23.7 24.15 23 23 -2.95 1,632,000 -21,132,710.00109 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 68.15 68.15 67.8 68.15 0.00 157,540 -2,843,085.0015.3 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.40 14.50 13.98 14.40 7.46 66,600 950,848.009.4 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.11 6.2 6.15 6.19 1.31 1,433,100 7,129,197.000.98 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.060 2.140 2.070 2.100 1.94 3,055,000 -426,280.00241 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 205.80 204.40 200.00 204.00 -0.87 1,279,020 17,105,800.00 LBC Express 12.06 12.8 12 12.5 3.65 74,800 -60,760.0079 34.1 Liberty Flour 42.00 42.00 42.00 42.00 0.00 100 4 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3 3.06 3 3.01 0.33 7,000 74 33 Macay Holdings 41.15 41.15 41.00 41.00 -0.36 200 33.9 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24 24.05 23.7 23.95 -0.21 790,400 8,763,670.0090 17.3 Maxs Group 23.2 23.8 22.7 23 -0.86 117,100 -1,723,525.0013.26 5.88 Megawide 6.01 6.37 6.01 6.37 5.99 2,500 293 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 337.00 343.80 339.00 343.80 2.02 818,530 104,207,244.005.25 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.16 4.17 4.13 4.14 -0.48 11,234,000 761,550.0012.98 8.45 Petron Corporation 8.10 8.14 8.00 8.05 -0.62 679,400 -532,977.006.75 3 Phil H2O 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.6 0.00 2,000 15 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.98 11.96 11.96 11.96 -0.17 5,000 7.03 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.60 3.70 3.43 3.70 2.78 87,000 -3,700.003.4 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.99 2.02 1.98 1.99 0.00 363,000 4.5 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.37 2.49 2.38 2.38 0.42 77,000 6.3 4.02 RFM Corporation 4.12 4.13 4.11 4.12 0.00 231,000 650,960.00238 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 133 133 131.6 131.8 -0.90 26,310 -807,206.003.28 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.16 2.24 2.16 2.16 -0.19 165,000 0.315 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.148 0.150 0.148 0.148 0.00 850,000 2.18 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 1.14 1.15 1.14 1.14 0.00 46,000 2.65 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.16 2.17 2.01 2.09 -3.24 2,075,000 234 152 Universal Robina 201 201.6 199.8 201 0.00 1,834,400 -13,047,674.005.28 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.72 4.6 4.6 4.6 -2.54 6,000 1.3 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.67 0.7 0.67 0.67 0.00 415,000 2.17 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 1.23 1.25 1.18 1.20 -2.44 464,000 42,000.00
HOLDING FIRMS0.59 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.400 0.400 0.390 0.390 -2.50 310,000 59.2 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 56.5000 56.6000 56.0000 56.6000 0.18 2,198,990 -3,122,083.5030.05 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 18.34 18.46 18.02 18.20 -0.76 3,278,300 -25,522,928.007.39 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.35 6.40 6.40 6.40 0.79 20,000 3.4 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.00 370,000 3.35 0.23 ATN Holdings B 0.239 0.26 0.250 0.250 4.60 100,000 823.5 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 767 767.5 748.5 749 -2.35 156,130 -69,975,590.0010.2 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.46 7.46 7.27 7.34 -1.61 1,505,300 9,044,819.0084 12.8 DMCI Holdings 13.30 13.18 12.82 13.18 -0.90 3,904,400 -22,505,384.003.35 2.6 F&J Prince ‘A’ 4.36 4.7 4.5 4.5 3.21 38,000 4.92 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 3.70 3.70 3.60 3.60 -2.70 49,000 0.66 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.240 0.250 0.249 0.250 4.17 200,000 1455 837 GT Capital 1330 1331 1316 1323 -0.53 149,600 -40,124,585.0076 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 72.10 72.65 71.50 71.70 -0.55 1,081,280 -39,595,703.509.25 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 7.31 7.3 7.1 7.27 -0.55 2,027,500 -2,335,208.000.85 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.75 0.75 0.73 0.75 0.00 94,000 17.3 12 LT Group 12.4 14.24 12.6 13.88 11.94 84,419,600 45,448,596.005.53 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.3 5.29 5.23 5.25 -0.94 24,686,300 2,667,388.006.55 4.5 Minerales Industrias Corp. 9.4 9.54 9 9.5 1.06 1,617,000 0.0670 0.030 Pacifica ̀ A’ 0.0300 0.0420 0.0310 0.0400 33.33 1,052,200,000 -207,000.002.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.350 1.450 1.350 1.400 3.70 107,000 1.61 0.550 Prime Orion 1.900 1.950 1.900 1.910 0.53 478,000 84.9 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 48.50 48.00 47.70 47.70 -1.65 131,800 -1,256,740.003.5 1.5 Seafront `A’ 2.69 2.69 2.69 2.69 0.00 11,000 974 751 SM Investments Inc. 855.00 858.00 850.00 854.50 -0.06 281,150 -207,140,185.001.66 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.19 1.19 1.19 1.19 0.00 6,000 1.39 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.00 30,000 156 80 Top Frontier 78.100 78.000 77.350 77.350 -0.96 5,760 -422,693.500.710 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3300 0.3300 0.3200 0.3300 0.00 630,000 0.435 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.2280 0.2290 0.2160 0.2290 0.44 240,000 0.510 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.265 0.280 0.255 0.280 5.66 210,000
P R O P E R T Y10.5 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.540 6.750 6.540 6.730 2.91 391,100 1,669,424.001.99 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.89 0.92 0.85 0.87 -2.25 4,290,000 41.4 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 35.150 35.100 34.700 34.800 -1.00 22,711,800 -71,686,920.005.6 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 3.21 3.21 3.1 3.14 -2.18 682,000 -931,240.005.59 4.96 Cebu Holdings 5.1 5.1 5.07 5.1 0.00 64,100 1.44 0.79 Century Property 0.59 0.6 0.57 0.57 -3.39 7,379,000 -812,380.00
52 Weeks Previous % Net ForeignHigh Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
Trading SummarySHARES VALUE
FINANCIAL 9,375,396 725,188,456.13INDUSTRIAL 73,272,114 1,562,812,855.902HOLDING FIRMS 1,186,514,946 2,828,205,910.072PROPERTY 196,998,722 1,708,533,498.83SERVICES 112,242,638 874,243,377.82MINING & OIL 76,080,795 31,286,862.2036GRAND TOTAL 1,658,376,441 7,800,588,271.958
FINANCIAL 1,554.07 (down) 1.97INDUSTRIAL 11,289.72 (down) 21.31HOLDING FIRMS 6,556.07 (down) 22.16PROPERTY 2,979.67 (up) 11.86SERVICES 1,556.79 (down) 18.23MINING & OIL 11,149.76 (up) 12.65PSEI 6,983.72 (down) 16.39All Shares Index 4,039.03 (down) 1.83
Gainers: 70 Losers: 89; Unchanged: 53; Total: 212
STOCKS Close(P)
Change(%)
NOW Corp. 0.700 -6.67
Waterfront Phils. 0.300 -6.25
MEDCO Holdings 0.500 -5.66
Centro Esc. Univ. 9.51 -4.33
Bloomberry 5.25 -4.20
Premium Leisure 1.000 -3.85
Basic Energy Corp. 0.212 -3.64
Century Property 0.57 -3.39
Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 2.62 -3.32
Trans-Asia Oil 2.09 -3.24
Top LoSerSSTOCKS Close
(P)Change
(%)
Pacifica `A' 0.0400 33.33
LT Group 13.88 11.94
Liberty Telecom 4.58 7.51
IRipple E-Business Intl 86 7.50
Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.40 7.46
PCOR-Preferred B 1129 6.01
Megawide 6.37 5.99
Crown Equities Inc. 0.124 5.98
Euro-Med Lab 1.8 5.88
Robinson's Land `B' 30.65 5.87
Top gainerS
1.48 0.97 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.01 1.03 1.00 1.03 1.98 3,000 0.201 0.083 Crown Equities Inc. 0.117 0.125 0.117 0.124 5.98 710,000 0.69 0.415 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.470 0.480 0.475 0.480 2.13 490,000 10.96 2.4 Double Dragon 20.55 20.8 20.4 20.75 0.97 1,896,600 -20,838,340.000.97 0.83 Empire East Land 0.880 0.910 0.880 0.880 0.00 3,000 0.305 0.188 Ever Gotesco 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.00 10,000 2.22 1.15 Global-Estate 1.13 1.17 1.13 1.14 0.88 1,443,000 -126,030.002.1 1.42 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.70 1.70 1.65 1.65 -2.94 22,832,000 -18,103,990.001.8 1.27 Interport `A’ 1.27 1.28 1.27 1.27 0.00 127,000 5.94 4.13 Megaworld 4.52 4.54 4.42 4.42 -2.21 23,816,000 -46,567,990.000.180 0.090 MRC Allied Ind. 0.080 0.083 0.083 0.083 3.75 30,000 0.72 0.39 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.4050 0.4050 0.4050 0.4050 0.00 60,000 8.54 2.69 Primex Corp. 8.4 8.52 8.4 8.41 0.12 72,900 59,640.0031.8 22.15 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.95 30.65 28.90 30.65 5.87 4,372,200 -320,215.002.29 1.6 Rockwell 1.5 1.48 1.48 1.48 -1.33 224,000 21.35 15.08 SM Prime Holdings 21.50 22.00 21.00 22.00 2.33 12,867,100 -81,009,155.001.06 0.69 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.74 0.00 352,000 7.56 3.38 Starmalls 7.78 7.75 7.73 7.73 -0.64 6,200 1.62 0.83 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.900 0.940 0.890 0.920 2.22 180,000 8.59 5.73 Vista Land & Lifescapes 5.750 5.900 5.600 5.640 -1.91 6,043,600 -9,151,410.00
S E R V I C E S10.5 1.97 2GO Group’ 7.82 7.99 7.45 7.6 -2.81 529,200 46,860.0066 35.2 ABS-CBN 65.5 65.8 64.2 64.5 -1.53 28,970 1.09 0.63 APC Group, Inc. 0.560 0.560 0.550 0.560 0.00 220,000 14.88 10.5 Asian Terminals Inc. 11.3 11.12 11.12 11.12 -1.59 100 15.82 8.6 Bloomberry 5.48 5.46 5.25 5.25 -4.20 8,439,700 -18,543,977.000.1430 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 0.0520 0.0530 0.0510 0.0520 0.00 35,190,000 -103,000.005.06 2.95 Calata Corp. 3.59 3.62 3.4 3.56 -0.84 332,000 99.1 56.1 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 85.85 87 85.5 86.4 0.64 234,460 4,360,821.0012.3 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ. 9.94 9.51 9.51 9.51 -4.33 1,000 2.6 1.6 Discovery World 1.66 1.89 1.66 1.66 0.00 3,000 7.67 4.8 DFNN Inc. 5.70 5.90 5.60 5.90 3.51 6,300 2720 1600 Globe Telecom 2138 2118 2072 2084 -2.53 54,995 -28,703,270.008.41 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 7.35 7.40 7.22 7.34 -0.14 231,700 1.97 1.23 Harbor Star 1.24 1.22 1.20 1.22 -1.61 35,000 2,400.00119.5 102.6 I.C.T.S.I. 68 69.35 67.2 68 0.00 2,721,500 -28,524,320.0012.5 8.72 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11.42 11.42 11.42 11.42 0.00 200 0.017 0.011 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.00 8,500,000 0.8200 0.041 Island Info 0.178 0.177 0.172 0.174 -2.25 860,000 -31,330.002.2800 1.200 ISM Communications 1.4000 1.4000 1.3900 1.3900 -0.71 268,000 12.28 6.5 Leisure & Resorts 8.99 8.99 8.76 8.96 -0.33 8,400 -17,840.003.32 1.91 Liberty Telecom 4.26 4.58 4.30 4.58 7.51 3,549,000 -10,640.0095.5 3.1 Manila Broadcasting 29.95 29.90 29.90 29.90 -0.17 100 1 0.650 Manila Bulletin 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.00 1,000 2.46 1.8 Manila Jockey 2 2 1.98 2 0.00 11,000 15.2 6 Melco Crown 3.59 3.65 3.59 3.64 1.39 5,021,000 -1,370,740.000.62 0.335 MG Holdings 0.265 0.265 0.260 0.260 -1.89 550,000 1.040 0.37 NOW Corp. 0.750 0.750 0.700 0.700 -6.67 6,037,000 397,180.0022.8 14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 18.14 18.1 17.98 18.1 -0.22 11,500 6.41 3 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.55 4.90 4.58 4.58 0.66 52,000 185 79 Phil. Seven Corp. 110.00 109.00 101.00 109.00 -0.91 18,360 243,454.0022.9 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 20.30 20.10 19.60 20.10 -0.99 84,500 -792,844.003486 2748 PLDT Common 1990.00 1987.00 1970.00 1970.00 -1.01 130,330 -115,494,870.000.760 0.435 PremiereHorizon 0.550 0.570 0.550 0.570 3.64 6,000 -570.002.28 1.2 Premium Leisure 1.040 1.040 1.000 1.000 -3.85 8,662,000 385,880.0046.05 31.45 Puregold 34.50 34.65 34.00 34.00 -1.45 1,058,700 -6,311,180.0090.1 60.55 Robinsons RTL 72.00 71.50 71.00 71.00 -1.39 347,510 -6,827,761.50 SBS Phil. Corp. 6.14 6.24 6.11 6.15 0.16 978,200 11.6 7.59 SSI Group 4.50 4.64 4.47 4.50 0.00 22,785,000 30,954,780.000.85 0.63 STI Holdings 0.465 0.47 0.455 0.455 -2.15 2,350,000 -432,250.0010 5 Travellers 4.27 4.27 4.18 4.25 -0.47 1,055,000 -1,284,470.000.490 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 0.320 0.310 0.300 0.300 -6.25 1,470,000 1.9 1.14 Yehey 4.100 4.120 4.000 4.080 -0.49 107,000
MINING & OIL0.0098 0.0043 Abra Mining 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 0.0048 0.00 42,000,000 -33,600.005.45 1.72 Apex `A’ 2.10 2.09 2.07 2.07 -1.43 32,000 17.24 6.47 Atlas Cons. `A’ 5.18 5.19 5.15 5.15 -0.58 108,800 -369,256.000.330 0.236 Basic Energy Corp. 0.220 0.212 0.212 0.212 -3.64 90,000 14,840.0012.7 6.5 Benguet Corp `A’ 5.7 6.09 6 6.0000 5.26 1,200 1.19 0.85 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 0.7 0.68 0.68 0.68 -2.86 363,000 68,000.001.62 0.77 Coal Asia 0.65 0.67 0.64 0.67 3.08 346,000 9.5 5.99 Dizon 8.50 8.55 7.75 8.50 0.00 4,300 4.2 1.17 Ferronickel 0.8 0.83 0.80 0.83 3.75 3,591,000 16,200.000.48 0.305 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.300 0.300 0.295 0.300 0.00 120,000 0.420 0.2130 Lepanto `A’ 0.190 0.190 0.188 0.189 -0.53 480,000 0.022 0.013 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.00 2,000,000 0.023 0.014 Manila Mining `B’ 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.00 200,000 8.2 3.240 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 2.71 2.82 2.6 2.62 -3.32 450,000 49.2 18.96 Nickelasia 7.22 7.5 7.04 7.26 0.55 2,501,800 6,798,838.004.27 2.11 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.88 2.96 2.85 2.88 0.00 89,000 1.030 0.365 Omico 0.5900 0.5800 0.5800 0.5800 -1.69 41,000 7.67 5.4 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 3.76 3.90 3.88 3.88 3.19 8,000 12.88 7.26 Philex `A’ 5.08 5.100 5.030 5.03 -0.98 446,100 557,266.0010.42 2.27 PhilexPetroleum 1.44 1.490 1.420 1.45 0.69 308,000 0.040 0.015 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0130 0.0140 0.0130 0.0130 0.00 20,500,000 420 115.9 Semirara Corp. 136.70 137.00 135.80 137.00 0.22 28,850 -372,484.009 3.67 TA Petroleum 2.25 2.39 2.3 2.3 2.22 43,000 -80,500.000.016 0.0100 United Paragon 0.0078 0.0078 0.0077 0.0077 -1.28 2,000,000
PREFERRED70 33 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 65 67.9 62.5 64 -1.54 146,240 4,736,355.00553 490 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 513 520 520 520 1.36 10 525 500 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 525 525 525 525 0.00 50,000 26,250,000120 101.5 First Gen G 116 120 120 120 3.45 1,200 515 480 GLOBE PREF P 519.5 519.5 519 519.5 0.00 1,900 12.28 6.5 Leisure and Resort 1.14 1.13 1.13 1.13 -0.88 27,000 111 101 MWIDE PREF 109 109.5 109.5 109.5 0.46 17,090 1060 997 PCOR-Preferred A 1065 1060 1050 1050 -1.41 11,790 10,353,000.00 PCOR-Preferred B 1065 1129 1098 1129 6.01 455 1047 1011 PF Pref 2 1035 1035 1035 1035 0.00 2,015 78.95 74.5 SMC Preferred B 78.7 79 79 79 0.38 10,590 84.8 75 SMC Preferred C 83 83.45 82.5 83 0.00 26,650 SMC Preferred D 79.05 79.15 79 79.05 0.00 31,840 SMC Preferred E 79.1 79.2 79 79.2 0.13 25,340 SMC Preferred F 80.05 80.2 80.05 80.15 0.12 94,990
WARRANTS & BONDS6.98 0.8900 LR Warrant 2.800 2.800 2.710 2.710 -3.21 107,000
S M E88 13.5 IRipple E-Business Intl 80 86 75.7 86 7.50 26,260 12.88 5.95 Xurpas 16.7 17.22 16.7 17.12 2.51 3,842,800 19,579,504.00
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS130.7 105.6 First Metro ETF 114.5 114.5 113.8 114.1 -0.35 22,770 -34,140.00
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BUSINESSTHURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015
B3
BPI books P13.8-b net profit
Remittance firmties up with BDO
By Julito G. Rada
Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest bank in the country, posted an 8-percent in-crease in net income in the first nine months to P13.84 billion from P12.8 billion year-on-year on the strength of its core busi-nesses.
Total revenues increased 9 percent or P3.67 billion to P44.1 billion year-on-year as both net interest income and non-interest income grew P2.98 billion and P0.68 billion, respectively.
Operating expenses rose 6.7 percent to P22.89 billion on year, a slower rate than revenue growth. As a result, the bank’s cost-to-income ratio im-proved to 51.9 percent from 53.1 percent a year ago. Return on equity decreased to 12.6 percent, from last year’s 13.3 percent.
Both total loans and total deposits rose in double digits year-on-year. Total loans stood at P780.07 billion, an increase of 11.2 percent on year. Corporate loans accounted for 76.6 percent while retail loans stood at 23.4 percent.
“Gross 90-day non-performing loans rose slightly to 1.9 percent from 1.8 percent of total loans, while loan loss cover remained 107 percent. Total deposits stood at P1.18 trillion, up 13.3 per-cent higher year-on-year. CASA ratio ended the quarter at 72.5 percent,” the bank said.
Total assets during the period stood at P1.41 trillion, 8.8 percent or P113.78 billion higher than that of the same period last year.
Investment securities closed at P303.28 billion, a 15.2 percent hike year-on-year. The bank’s in-vestment securities remained mostly held-to-ma-turity, at P240.87 billion.
Capital, net of cash dividends of P3.54 billion paid to shareholders on Sept. 2, 2015, ended at P150.44 billion. This represents a 9.3-percent growth in total capital versus September last year.
Capital adequacy ratio was at 14.9 percent from 15.7 percent a year ago. CET1 stood at 14.0 per-cent.
Earlier in the year, the Asian Banker named BPI as the Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for 2015. BPI also received the Best Electronic De-livery Channel award during the inaugural Bank Marketing Awards night, organized by the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines.
The award recognizes the bank that successfully implemented the most innovative electronic de-livery systems and achieved the desired results in terms of usage and acceptance.
PALAWAN Pawnshop is expanding the menu of its financial services following the availment of BDO Unibank’s Point-of-Sale cash service, also known as Cash Agad.
Through the POS cash service, clients of Pala-wan Pawnshops will have the convenience of withdrawing money from their selected branches nationwide. BDO plans to roll out over 500 POS terminals in Palawan Pawnshops’ branches this month.
“For over 30 years, we remain committed to provide fast and easy service to our customers at all times. With our strong partnership with BDO, we are confident that we can go further,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and chief executive Bobby Castro.
“With Palawan Pawnshop’s wide branch net-work, many customers can have access to cash us-ing their ATM/Debit Cards,” BDO executive vice president and transaction banking head Edwin Reyes said.
“It is our aspiration to provide suitable solu-tions to the varying needs of our clients and our Cash Agad POS Service is another example of the many benefits achieved through our synergistic partnership with Palawan Pawnshop,” he said.
MANILA BANKERS LIFE INSUR ANCE CORPOR ATIONSYNOPSES OF THE ANNUAL STATEMENT
As of December 31, 2014, 2013 & 2012 ADMITTED ASSETS 2014 2013 2012
Bonds P 74,756,155.21 74,863,501.87 59,278,216.07 Stocks 28 ,465,500.42 30,796,251.36 28 ,951,250.00 Real Estate 106,794,818.52 71,633,818.26 52,523,937.14 Mor tgage Loans 61,743,405.20 65,971,710.97 53,498,410.55 Po l icy Loans - 75,468.80 78 ,669.00 Other Loans 5 ,323,779.84 8 ,136,066.03 - Secur i t y Fund 14,808.22 14,808.00 14,808.00 Other Investments 200,000.00 550,000.00 550,000.00 Cash on Hand and in Banks 24,859,011.05 11,683,953.75 13,437,311.64 Elec t ron ic Data Process ing Machine 1,690,760.03 1,394,770.00 933,029.00 Amount Due f rom Ceding Companies 457,244.81 457,245.00 1,058,080.00 Receivab les f rom L i fe Insurance Poo ls 7,922,103.00 13,206,902.00 14,100,551.00 Amount Recoverab le f rom Accept ing Companies - - 391,807.00 Net Life Insurance Premium & Annuity Considerations Due & Uncollected 4,733,061.79 370,581.00 5 43,791.00 Acc ident & Heal th Premiums Due & Unco l lec ted 937,050.25 186,952.00 9,396,655.00 Investment Income Due & Accrued 23,750,290.78 13,301,214.00 - TOTAL ADMITTED ASSETS P 341,647,989.12 292 ,643,243.04 234 ,756,515.40 L IABILITIES
Aggregate Reser ves fo r L i fe Po l ic ies & Cont rac ts P 39,645,696.55 21,232,702.16 9,629,533.00 Aggregate Reser ves fo r Acc ident & Heal th Po l ic ies 2 ,491,803.91 1,626,211.42 629,5 43.00 Po l icy & Cont rac t C la ims 11,557,164.06 12,556,085.51 6 ,704,478.00 Amount Prov is ional ly He ld fo r Defer red D iv idend Po l ic ies - 1,797,066.00 - Premiums & Annui t y Cons iderat ions Received in Advance - 3 ,981,603.00 -L iab i l i t y fo r Premium Depos i t Funds 6 ,345,567.99 9,876,371.00 9,557,932.00 Amount Due to Accept ing Companies - 234,694.00 - Amount Due to Reinsurers - - 296,803.00 Accrued Expenses 5 ,251,290.55 8 ,951,377.00 1,752,363.00 Taxes Payable 2 ,953,288.39 2 ,332,042.46 3 ,579,765.86 Unearned Investment Income 1,222,440.88 1,280,728.39 - D iv idends Payable - 641,333.33 - O ther L iab i l i t ies 22,102,786.74 8 ,299,489.82 10,730,205.34 TOTAL LIABILITIES P 91,570,039.06 72 ,809,704 .09 42 ,880,623.20 STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUIT Y
Capi ta l S tock Paid Up* P 244,000,000.00 175,000,000.00 175,000,000.00 Capi ta l Paid in Excess of Par Value - 4 ,687,500.00 - Cont r ibuted Surp lus 3 ,589,340.22 13,589,340.00 13,589,340.00 Cont ingency Surp lus - 3 ,600,000.00 148,651,696.00 Fluc tuat ion Reser ve - Bonds - 412,800.00 - F luc tuat ion Reser ve - S tocks - 959,890.50 - Revaluat ion Reser ve - Real Estate 34,021,15 4.84 34,021,15 4.84 7,219,100.00 Reta ined Earn ings (31,532,5 45.01) (12,437,146.39) (152,584,243.80)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUIT Y P 250,077,950.05 219,833,538.95 191,875,892 .20 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUIT Y P 341,647,989.12 292 ,643,243.04 234 ,756,515.40 * Def ic iency in the minimum requi red Capi ta l Stock Paid up subsequent ly covered up in fu l l ( This synopses , prepared f rom the 2014 , 2013 and 2012 Annual Statement , approved by the Insurance Commissioner is publ ished pursuant to Sect ion 225 of the Insurance Code of 1978 as amended)
Disaster resilience forum. DHL Supply Chain Philippines country managing director Suzie Mitchell makes a strategic disaster management presentation during the 3rd Building Resilience Forum hosted by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, formerly the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. The forum was followed by an inter-cluster coordination meeting for the PDRF disaster operations center with more than 40 companies participating. Other presentations were made by Pilipinas Shell country health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) manager Oliver Ortega, earthquakes and mkgacities initiative chairman Fouad Bendimand and Manila Observatory executive director Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga. PDRF is co-chaired by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manuel Pangilinan and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.
B4
FOTO 1
2EDC’s netincomefalls 43%to P5.9b Economy expected
to grow 5.5%—HSBC
Dubai company investing P250m to build clinics in PH
Voyager’s partner. Voyager Innovations Inc., the digital unit of PLDT and Smart Communications, teams up with finance technology com-pany Cash Credit of Bulgaria to bring easier and more convenient consumer micro loans to mobile subscribers in the Philippines. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Voyager product manager Clarice Cruz-Ogena, chief operating officer Benjie Fernandez, founder Orlando Vea, PLDT-Smart Foundation executive director Esther Santos, PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan, Cash Credit founder and chief executive Georgi Krumov, co-founder and executive director Plamen Petrov, chief commercial officer Diana Krumova and Voyager vice president Lito Villanueva.
By Julito G. Rada
HONGKONG and Shang-hai Banking Corp., one of the world’s largest banks, said Wednesday the Philip-pines will continue to outper-form other Asian countries, with a gross domestic prod-uct growth of 5.5 percent this year.
“The fundamentals of the economy remain strong… Even if the economy grows at 5 per-cent, it will remain one of the bright spots in the Asian region,” HSBC Asia-Pacific econo-mist Joseph Incalcaterra said in a news brief-ing.
Incalcaterra said this year, the Philippine economy was poised to expand by 5.5 per-cent, lower than the government’s official tar-
get of 7 percent to 8 percent.“If the economy grows by 5 percent, this is
not a cause for concern [because of high base last year],” he said.
HSBC said in an earlier report the growth prospects for the Philippines remained bright, given the country’s indirect exposure to the Chinese economic slowdown and lower commodity prices.
HSBC cited the Philippines along with eco-nomic powerhouse Japan as two of the coun-tries that could be less vulnerable to external shocks.
It said the Philippines’ outlook could be better than its neighboring countries in the region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. It said commodity weakness hurt both countries, affecting their foreign exchange reserves and current account balances.
“By being close to China, both geographi-cally and in terms of trade linkages, the downturn in Chinese data has hit sentiment. Currencies have weakened and borrowing costs have risen, putting the sustainability of
the corporate sector at risk,” HSBC said.It said the Philippines was one of the few
emerging markets that were relatively unex-posed to a slowdown in Chinese growth and lower commodity prices.
It said trade in goods played a small part in exports and so the same risks to growth did not exist.
Economic growth averaged 5.3 percent in the first half. The government vowed to ac-celerate fiscal spending in the remainder of the year to boost economic growth.
The Philippine economy grew by 6.1 per-cent in 2014, making it one of the fastest growing markets in the region.
Meanwhile, Incalcaterra said inflation would continue to be benign this year, even if a severe El Nino phenomenon happened. “In-flation will remain within the 2 to 4 percent target range of the Bangko Sentral this year,” he said.
Inflation in the first 10 months averaged 1.5 percent, below the official target of 2 per-cent to 4 percent.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
ENERGY Development Corp., the country’s largest renewable energy producer, said Wednes-day consolidated recurring core income attributable to eq-uity holders of the parent fell 10 percent in the first nine months to P7 billion from P7.8 billion a year ago.
EDC attributed the decline in core income to lower output of the 112.5-megawatt Tongo-nan geothermal power plant, resulting from the unplanned outage of a 37.5-MW unit ear-ly in 2015.
Higher operating expenses largely spent on typhoon re-siliency works and the start of income tax payments of the Pantabangan Masiway hydro plants following the expiration of its income tax holiday in April 2014 also affected the core income.
EDC said including non-re-curring items, consolidated net income attributable to equity holders of the parent or report-ed net income went down by 43 percent in the January-Septem-ber period to P5.9 billion from P10.4 billion a year earlier.
“The decrease was primar-ily driven by higher foreign exchange losses of P1.2 billion [versus P0.2 billion last year] and the absence of any impair-ment reversals this year. Last year, the company recognized a P2-billion impairment reversal on its Northern Negros power plant,” it said.
EDC’s consolidated revenues increased 10 percent in the nine-month period to P25.3 bil-lion from P23 billion recorded in the same period in 2014.
The company said the reve-nue growth was led higher ener-gy sales coming from the newly rehabilitated Bacon-Manito geothermal power plants that contributed P1.2 billion and the recently commissioned Nasulo power plant that contributed an additional P600 million.
By Othel V. Campos ASTER DM Healthcare, a com-pany based in Dubai, is investing P250 million to build at least five ambulatory clinics in the Philip-pines over the next 18 months.
Aster teamed up with local company Casam Holdings Inc. of businessman Sammy Lim to roll out the investment, beginning with an ambulatory clinic, which recently opened at St. Francis Square in Ortigas.
“We are building a network of ambulatory clinics to fill the gap in hospital and healthcare man-agement. The Philippines is one of the countries with insufficient
healthcare facilities. We intend to provide service where it is needed,” Aster DM president and country manager Joyce Alumno said in news briefing at Oakwood Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Aster has a 90-percent in the joint venture, while Casam Hold-ings has 10 percent.
“Aster would like to make the Philippines a medical center in Asia. We’ll set a new standard now in the industry and the oth-ers will have to upgrade. Aster have the most modern equipment in the whole of Asia,” said Lim.
Aster DM is the largest health-care network in the Gulf Co-operation Countries with over
290 establishments composed of a network of 14 hospitals, five medical centers, a medical uni-versity and nearly 145 pharma-cies in India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.
The company said in the Phil-ippines, it planned to penetrate places where there was a dearth of healthcare management and facilities.
Alumno said there were more hotel beds than hospital beds in the Philippines.
She said the Philippines had only 100,000 hospital beds for a population of nearly 102 million Filipinos, translating to a ratio of 1:1,000.
Philippines hotels have more than 200,000 beds for about 6 million foreign visitors and 45 million local tourists.
“This can be the reason why healthcare and health manage-ment in the Philippines hasn’t grown in previous years,” she said.
Alumno said the Aster had the capability to grow “because we have the system, the infrastruc-ture is there. It’s a matter of du-plicating them from one model to another,” she said.
Ambulatory clinics are health-care facilities where patients walk in and walk out after treatment. Minor surgeries can also be per-formed in these clinics.
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T H U R S D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
BUSINESS B5
SEC raises questionson merger of bourses
World Bank report rankles Purisima
Sweetened beverage tax to hurt the poor
Shinhan Bank opening. Trade Undersecretary for industry promotion Ponciano Manalo Jr. (left) congratulates Shinhan Bank president and chief executive Cho Yong-byoung during the opening ceremony of Shinhan Bank Manila Branch at Makati Shangri-La. Manalo is optimistic that the presence of Shinhan Bank in the Philippines will facilitate expansion of existing Korean companies and attract more Korean firms to set up their operations in the country.
FINANCE Sec-retary Cesar Purisima found the World Bank’s latest edition of Doing Busi-ness Report very u n f l a t t e r i n g , prompting him to write a strong response and express his “grave con-cerns” on the lender’s scorecard.
He did not mince words in his strongly-worded letter dated Nov 5, 2015 to World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim. Purisima set aside decorum and dispensed with preliminaries to point out the bank’s “in-accurate” report.
“I write to raise again the Philippines’ grave concerns on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, the 2016 edition of which again brings to the fore its most glaring flaws and inconsistencies, doing member coun-tries like the Philippines a great disservice by damaging investor percep-tions while at the same time serving as an unhelpful and unreliable basis for further improvement,” Purisima said in the very first paragraph of his letter.
“The Philippines is keen to use competitiveness studies as tools for improvement, but reports like the Doing Business Report lose their utility and value if methodologies change almost yearly, and if they are inconsistent with majority of the other reports gauging improvement across a variety of indicators,” he added.
The Philippines lately slid six spots in the World Bank’s global rank-ing of countries in terms of ease of doing business this year. It ranked 103rd among 189 economies in this year’s survey, dropping six notches from last year’s 97th place. The World Bank said the drop was reflected in nine of the 10 indicators used to compute the index score.
Compared with most of Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines did a poor job in making the country an ideal investment location. Malaysia placed 18th in the global ranking; Thailand, 49th; Brunei, 84th; Viet-nam, 90th; Indonesia, 109th; Cambodia, 127th; and Laos, 134th.
The report noted that the Philippines in terms of starting a business slipped eight spots from 157th in 2014 to 165th this year. “In starting a business, the Philippines falls among the lowest ranked countries at 165th. It takes 16 steps to do this in the country, which is higher than the average in the region,” says Roberto Galang, operations officer of Inter-national Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank.
The Philippines’ latest poor rating on the ease of doing business came hardly as a surprise. Foreign and local businessmen have often com-plained about the cumbersome steps required in opening a business in this country, not to mention the corruption one has to deal with in various transactions. Just ask the big and small businessmen who have opened their business in Makati City, for instance, where even the city hall has an issue with the brand of fire extinguishers that must be in-stalled in the business premises.
Erratic methodology Purisima, meanwhile, considered the World Bank report inaccurate
and damaging. Excerpts from Purisima’s letter are as follow:“First, we question the accuracy of the report’s title, given that it only
selects 1 or 2 cities as its sample. For the Philippines, the report collects sample data from Quezon City only, as the most populous city. It disre-gards the fact that countries like the Philippines have islands of excel-lence such as those operated by the Philippine Economic Zone Author-ity, which were precisely established in order for investors to easily do business in the Philippines.
“Apart from fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, businesses accredited to operate in these zones have simpler registration processes—evidence that the experience of doing business in the Philippines, or in any coun-try for that matter, is never homogenous.
“A suggestion made was to rename the report “Doing Business Across Selected Cities,” but was not considered. Thus the report fails to provide an accurate representation of the country, and is misleading to foreign investors who inadvertently use the report in their decision-making.
“We reiterate the more troubling issue at hand: the report’s method-ology is erratic and unsound. For one, the sample data collected is not empirical data but based on surveys, whose respondents may not be up-to-date with reforms or active in the city under review. We have given the Doing Business team actual, empirical data to help them understand the procedures and regulations to the conduct of doing business in the sample city, but the Doing Business team discounted these.
“There is also an over-reliance of looking at legislation as evidence of reforms, when in fact most of the effective reforms done in the Philip-pines have been administrative and executive in nature, and do not even require Congressional or Presidential action.
“The report changes methodologies year after year, and ranks/scores are subsequently retroactively revised a year after publication. These changes are done unilaterally and retroactively, defeating the purpose of the report as a helpful benchmark for improvement, as the baseline measures keep shifting. Repeated changes in the numbers are not only confusing, they undermine the utility of the report as a basis or tool for improvement.”
Purisima gave a parting shot: “We are not alone in voicing critiques on the report. Many countries such as Malaysia, and even the private sector community in South Korea, have also expressed the same senti-ment. Even the Independent Review Panel of the Doing Business Report in 2013 expressed serious concern on the fundamentals of the report. With the chorus of criticism against the report’s conduct and methodol-ogy—we wonder why the World Bank has failed to respond to serve its members better.”
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]
By Jenniffer B. Austria
THE Securities and Exchange Commission is not yet ready to give its nod on the merger of Philippine Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing System & Holdings Corp. because it may undermine competition.
By Gabrielle H. BinadayTHE Beverage Industry Asso-ciation of the Philippines said Wednesday a bill proposing a 10-percent ad valorem tax on sweetened beverages, including softdrinks, juice drinks and in-stant coffee would hurt ordinary consumers.
BIAP described House Bill 3365, which was approved by the House ways and means commit-tee, as “anti-poor” and “anti-business.”
“We also believe that these fis-cal initiatives must be fair, sus-tainable and holistic. Tax mea-sures that simply trade one form of revenue for another do not and will not address the problems of fiscal reform,” BIAP said in a statement.
Under the proposed bill, an ad-
ditional 10-percent ad valorem tax will increase taxes already slapped on sweetened beverages.
“To impose a tax on soft drinks and other sweetened beverages like powdered juice drinks, three-in-one coffee, and ready-to-drink juice is taking away this power [to plow back into the broader econ-omy through spending on goods and services] from the Filipino consumer,” BIAP said.
“This additional tax on basic goods and products commonly purchased by majority of Filipi-nos, particularly those in the lower socio-economic classes will make items like coffee, juice and soft drinks more expensive for ordi-nary consumers,” the group said.
It said HB 3365 “exempts 100-percent pure and natu-ral fruit and vegetable juices, 100-percent pure or fresh milk,
all milk products and alterna-tives as well as yogurt and yogurt beverages—all products typically positioned in the premium mar-ket and consumed by more afflu-ent consumers.”
BIAP said the proposed bill put the burden of taxation on commodi-ties consumed by middle, lower-middle and lower-income classes.
“We understand the need to offset the estimated revenue loss from income tax reform, but to do so in the form of a new com-modity tax on consumer goods like sweetened beverages is anti-poor and goes against the very spirit of income tax reform,” BIAP said.
The Finance Department ear-lier said the government would raise additional P10 billion in an-nual revenues from taxed sweet-ened beverages.
“It is really the issue of com-petition, especially since we have a new competition law. We are mindful that the unification of two exchanges might result in dominance by a single entity,” SEC chairman Teresita Herbosa said in a news briefing.
Herbosa said there should also be a timetable for the PSE to com-ply with the ownership require-ment, as provided under the Se-curities Regulation Code.
Under the SRC, no single in-
dustry or business group should own more than 20 percent of an exchange. PSE is asking for an exemptive relief from the SEC re-garding the rule.
Herbosa said the corporate regulator wanted to determine if the unification of the two ex-changes would really benefit the public in terms investing in the capital markets.
“We cannot just give the license now and give condi-tions post-requirements. If
we are going full steam ahead of the unif ication of two ex-changes, everything should be in place before approval,” she said.
PSE has been waiting for SEC’s approval for the merger of the two exchanges, after the bourse signed share purchase agree-ments with major shareholders of PDSHC, including Bankers As-sociation of the Philippines and Finex Research and Development Foundation Inc.
Closing date for the agree-ments was targeted not later than Nov. 27, 2015.
The SPAs are subject to SEC approval.
PSE president Hans Sicat last month said he expected PSE to acquire as much 95-percent stake in PDSHC, the operator of the country’s markets for fixed-income securities and foreign exchange.
Filinvest Land earns [email protected]
BUSINESSTHURSDAY: NOVEMBER 12, 2015
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DoST programs not making a difference
MNTC honors bus, trucking companies
IT IS almost cer-tainly correct to say that of the approxi-mately 25 Cabinet-rank agencies of the government, the Department of Sci-ence and Technology is one of the most low-key. Rarely does DoST figure in the headlines and the TV evening newscasts, and the only DoST component that the average Filipino gets to hear or read about is Pagasa.
This is regrettable and incomprehensible, considering that science and technology—more precisely research and development—should be in the forefront of government economic-related activity. If First World countries continue to budget enormous amounts for R&D, Third World countries, which have much catching up to do, need to financially support R&D activities to an even greater extent. Some First World countries devote as much as 6 percent of their gross do-mestic product to R&D; by contrast the Philippines devotes less than 2 percent, one of the lowest percentages in Asean.
There is an intimate connection between resource availability and performance. It is a well-known fact that the government has only so much money to divide among the myriad of important public-sector operations. But it is also true that the fiscal authorities would proba-bly be inclined to give DoST a bigger share of the General Appropria-tions Act if they could see a greater stream of substantive results from that Department’s activities. Unfortunately this appears to not have been the case. Apart from the operations of PAGASA—as well as the activities of the institutes devoted to the mining and textile indus-tries—DoST has not been reported as providing results that measure up to the executive and legislative steps taken to enable DoST to play a more meaningful role in Philippine economic development. These include Executive Order No. 128 of January 1987 and the Inventors and Investment Incentives Act (RA No. 7459).
In line with the mandate of RA No. 7459, DoST established TAPI (Technology Application and Promotion Institute) I doubt very much if many readers of this column knew of TAPI’s existence. I cer-tainly did not.
Did you, dear readers, know that TAPI is divided into three divi-sions bearing the initials TIPD (Technology Information and Pro-motion Division), IBOD (Investment and Business Operations Divi-sion) and IDD (Investment Development Division)? Again I say that I did not. Nor had I heard or read about the operations and results of these TAPI entities.
TIPD has established two centers—Business Assistance Center and Technology Training Center—and maintains programs concerned with technology-based enterprise development, institutional support for trade and exhibitions, and prototype development assistance.
IBOD maintains programs relating to venture financing, technolo-gy-based enterprise development, agricultural productivity enhance-ment, manufacturing productivity extension and S&T exports vol-unteer pooling.
The third TAPI division, IDD, concerns itself with intellectual property rights assistance, tax and duty exemption assistance, inven-tion testing analysis assistance, travel assistance for inventors, school inventing and invention guaranteeing.
This is a very broad and an exceedingly ambitious program for a single institute, public or private. TAPI has taken upon itself a very heavy workload.
To repeat, I had not previously heard of TAPI, its divisions and its programs. Perhaps I have been sleeping. Or—and this is probably the reality—TAPI has not been living up to the expectations of those who legislated it into existence. It has not made a difference to this country’s economic development. Things don’t look good for DoST and its leadership.
The next time the members of Congress examine DOST’s bud-get, I suggest that they ask the Secretary of Science and Technology searching questions about the effectiveness of the GAA allocation for his department. If DoST continues to be underperforming, it will remain a low-priority part of the government. That would be a grave mistake, considering the vast amount of R&D work that remains to be done.
Shape up, Mr. Secretary. Start with a good look at TAPI.
E-mail: [email protected]
By Jenniffer B. Austria
FILINVEST Land Inc., the real estate unit of the Gotianun Group, said net income in the first nine months of the year rose 12 percent to P3.24 billion from P2.89 billion year-on-year on higher residential sales and rental income.
Filinvest Land said in a disclo-sure to the stock exchange consol-idated revenues increased eight percent to P12.71 billion from P11.82 billion on-year, as real es-tate sales climbed seven percent to P9.75 billion, while revenues from rental assets rose eight per-cent to P1.8 billion
“We expect FLI’s growth to be sustained as we execute our plans for the residential sales business as well as the recurring income business. We will continue to provide a wide range of housing products that range from house and lots, mid-rise building units and select high rise building units to cater to the different needs of home buyers in different locations across the country,” FLI president
and chief executive Josephine Go-tianun-Yap said.
“We are also on track with our plans to triple the GLA of our rental assets by the end of 2019,” she added.
Filinvest Land operates 14 buildings in Northgate Cyber-zone and one on EDSA in Man-daluyong, all fully occupied.
Cyberzone Cebu Tower 1 with a gross leasable area of 20,000 square meters is in the final com-pletion stage and will start gener-ating revenues by the fourth quar-ter of 2015.
Two additional buildings with a combined area of 48,000 square meters at the Northgate Cyber-zone are slated to start operations in the next few months and are
already being pre-leased. Filinvest Land’s office rental
portfolio will increase to 275,000 square meters by the end of this year.
For its residential business,Filinvest Land said it would continue to launch proj-ects addressing the needs of its core market, which are the first time home buyers and ultimate end-users.
Among the projects in the pipe-line are a 10.5-hectare premier housing development in Daang Hari; a 4.3-hectare affordable housing development in Suba-basbas, Lapu-lapu City in Cebu; and a mixed-used development along on EDSA near the GMA-Kamuning MRT station in Que-zon City called Studio 7
Filinvest Land is also expand-ing its retail rental space portfolio.
Among the planned retail de-velopments are the Fora Mall, which will have 32,000 square meters of mall space in Tagaytay City, and the 36,000 square meter Il Corso Mall, a seaside lifestyle mall in City di Mare, a township development at the South Road Properties in Cebu.
MANILA North Tollways Corp., the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway, recognized this year’s awardees of the NLEX-cellence Safety Awards from the bus and trucking companies.
A total of 15 companies that showed exemplary performance in ensuring road safety were hon-ored in an awards night Wednes-day at The Manila Hotel. MNTC also inducted one company to the Hall of Fame, and also featured a company from their roster of companies in the Hall of Fame.
The NLEXcellence Safety Awards, launched in 2013, is ac-corded as a “seal of honor” to companies who share MNTC’s best practices in road safety. It first started as a simple Appre-ciation Night for bus and truck
companies who are heavy users of the NLEX back in 2007. It was the cornerstone activity to develop meaningful ties with MNTC’s key customers.
“From the time we began the NLEXcellence Safety Awards, we have set our sights to make it a benchmark recognition that gives credence to companies that are committed to road safety, “ said MNTC vice president for market-ing Renato Ticzon.
“Being an NLEXcellence awardee singles them out as role models for other companies to emulate when it comes to best practices in company operations in general and road safety in par-ticular,” Ticzon added.
The 15 awardees, who were announced at the awards night,
were chosen from over 40 nomi-nees. “They exemplify the culture of safety that we want ingrained among NLEX motorists,” said Ticzon.
MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said safety was part of MNTC’s culture. “Aside from safe infrastructure, the features of the road, as well as the pleasant but firm enforcement of traffic rules and regulations are all intended to promote road safety,” he said.
While MNTC provided all the safety features along NLEx, “we expect motorists, particularly truck and bus drivers using the NLEx, to do their part for road safety. Safety is a basic need, and at the end of the day, what we want is to come home to our fam-ilies safe,” Franco added.
SSS campaign. The Social Security System and the Quezon City office of the Vice Mayor, lead the 2nd Grand Launching of AlkanSSSya Program at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Basketball Court on October 9. The event highlights include the awarding of AlkanSSSya units to two tricycle operators and drivers associations and a group of job order and contractual workers from a local government unit covered by the SSS Commonwealth branch. Shown are SSS Commonwealth branch head Liberty Gordovez (second row, seventh from right) and officials and members during the turnover of the AlkanSSSya unit by SSS president and chief executive Emilio de Quiros Jr. (third row, third from left) and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte (second row, seventh from left).
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Onstage. Bridgette Tatum and Kalisa Ewing perform during “Songwriters 4 Songwriters-Ladies’ Night,” a fundraiser to benefit The Pen Fund at 3rd and Lindsley on November 10, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP
Suu Kyi calls for dialogwith Myanmar military
China in online buying spreeBEIJING—Shoppers spent around $9 billion in the first 12 hours of China’s “Singles Day” sale on Wednesday, e-commerce giant Alibaba said, in the world’s biggest online shopping day.
INVITATION to BID November 6, 2015
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for:ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-38 AMRIS Lateral D WS#2, Pandi, Bulacan. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 4,834,790.71 with contract duration of 60 calendar days. Bid Documents cost 5,000.00ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-39 Maasim RIS San Rafael & San Ildefonso, Bulacan and Candaba, Pampanga. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,549,686.39 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-40 Lower Maasim RIS – Improvement of NMC – LMD#1 @ WS#7 Candaba, Pampanga. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,376,302.92 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-41 AMRIS, Lateral 1-D and Sto. Niño Drainage/Canal San Luis, Pampanga.The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 9,637,284.26 with contract duration of 60 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 10,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-42 Angat RIS (AMRIS NMC) San Rafael, Bulacan. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 6,788,244.21 with contract duration of 90 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 7,000.00 ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – AU-43 AMRO RIS, Casiguran, Aurora. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 5,146,253.75 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 6,000.00
Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.
Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.
Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable November 12, 2015 @ 10:00 AMamount as stated above each ITB) NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, BulacanSchedule of Activities; Pre-Bidding Submission/ NIA, BANE IMO November 17, 2015 Opening of Bids December 1, 2015
ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-38 9:00 AM 1:00 PMITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-39 10:00 AM 2:00 PMITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-40 11:00 AM 3:30 PM November 17, 2015 December 2, 2015ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-41 1:00 PM 1:00 PMITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-BU-42 2:00 PM 2:00 PMITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2015-AU-43 3:00 PM 3:30 PM
The NIA-BANE IMO assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.
SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ BAC Chairman
Republic of the PhilippinesOffice of the President
NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG)
Region 3Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office
Office Address: Tambubong, San Rafael, BulacanTelephone Nos. (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524Email Address: [email protected]
Telefax No. (044) 766-3888TIN 000-578-009-000
(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)
INVITATION to BID November 9, 2015
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for:
ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS 2015 – BU-44 Improvement of North Main Canal I and Various Irrigation Facilities, Pulilan, Bulacan. The approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P 18,915,599.97 with contract duration of 120 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P 20,000.00
Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.
Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected
outright.
Issuance of Bid Documents; November 12, 2015 @ 10:00 AM(upon payment of non-refundable NIA BANE, Tambubong, Sanamount as stated above each ITB) Rafael, Bulacan Schedule of Activities; Pre-Bidding Submission/ NIA, BANE IMO November 18, 2015 Opening of Bids December 3, 2015
ITB No. R3-BANE- 9:00 AM 1:00 PM 2015-RRENIS-BU-44
The NIA-BANE IMO assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.
SGD.ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ BAC Chairman
Republic of the PhilippinesOffice of the President
NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG)
Region 3Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office
Office Address: Tambubong, San Rafael, BulacanTelephone Nos. (044) 766-3888/766-4142/766-0157/766-3524Email Address: [email protected]
Telefax No. (044) 766-3888TIN 000-578-009-000
(TS-NOV. 12, 2015)
The total gross merchan-dise volume, a measure of sales, matched the 2014 US dollar total of $9.3 billion just after 12:30 pm (0430 GMT), after the promotion began at midnight.
“The 2015 sale has eclipsed last
year’s final results in a little over half the time,” it said.
In an earlier release Alibaba’s chief executive officer Daniel Zhang said: “The whole world will witness the power of Chinese consumption this November 11.”
BUCHAREST—Four more people have died of injuries sustained in a devastating nightclub blaze in Romania, tak-ing the toll in the in-ferno that brought down the government to 50, hospital sources said Wednesday.
Two of the four latest victims of the October 30 fire at a Bucharest club had been undergo-ing treatment in Britain, where they were trans-ferred at the weekend.
The other two were in hospital in Romania.
Colectiv nightclub was packed with revelers attending a rock concert when fireworks were let off, triggering a blaze and a stampede.
Twenty-six people died on the spot, with another 200 suffering injuries.
Around a dozen people were still listed in critical condition in Romanian hospitals Tuesday. More than 30 others have been flown abroad for treatment. AFP
“Singles Day” is not a tra-ditional Chinese festival, but Alibaba has been pushing November 11―11/11 being a date heavy on ones―since 2009 as it looks to tap an expanding army of Internet shoppers in China, which has the world’s biggest on-line population of 668 million.
At first it was marketed as an “anti-Valentine’s Day”, featur-ing hefty discounts to lure the country’s singletons and price-sensitive buyers.
With sales hitting new highs year after year, “Singles Day” has become a lucrative business op-portunity embraced by all online retailers in China, with competi-tion between them turning in-creasingly fierce.
The event has received vocal support from the government at a time when China’s economic expansion is slowing and Beijing is trying to transform the growth model into a more sustainable one driven by consumption.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s office phoned Alibaba chairman Jack Ma hours ahead of the pro-motion kicking off, “congratulat-ing and encouraging the creation and achievement of the 11.11 event”, said a posting on a so-cial media account of Tmall, the group’s business-to-consumer arm.
Chinese Internet users showed off their acquisitions Wednesday —with many lamenting that they had spent far too much money.
“I can only afford to eat dirt for the next half year,” said a user on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo, with an attached screengrab of a Taobao app showing she had bought 42 items.
But some consumers also ex-pressed concerns about fake products.
“Good luck. Hope you guys will not get phoney products or things that turn out to be useless,” said a Weibo user.
Headquartered in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Alibaba does
not sell products directly but acts as an electronic middleman, operating China’s most popular consumer-to-consumer plat-form, Taobao, which is estimated to hold more than 90 percent of the market.
Nasdaq-listed rival online mar-ketplace JD.com reportedly filed a complaint with the government last week, accusing Alibaba of monopolising the market by re-stricting suppliers from partici-pating in other operators’ promo-tion events on November 11.
But Alibaba listed on the New York Stock Exchange―shrugged off the allegations, asserting that it owns the “Singles Day” brand.
“Today the chicken reported on the duck, accusing the duck of monopolizing the lake,” said a spokeswoman for Alibaba’s promotional event, according to Chinese media report.
Ahead of the shopping spree, Alibaba mounted a television spectacular at Beijing’s Water Cube Olympic swimming ven-ue, featuring Chinese and for-eign celebrities including James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and Hollywood star Kevin Spacey in his role as President Frank Underwood from the Netflix se-ries “House of Cards”.
In comparison with Singles Day, desktop sales for the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday in the United States last year stood at $6.56 bil-lion, according to Internet ana-lytics firm comScore. AFP
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AB InBevtakes overSABMillerfor $121b
Japan’s first passenger jet in test flight
Remembrance service. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy Turnbull look on during a remembrance service attended by Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cambridge, at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on November 11, 2015. Armistice Day is observed on November 11, the anniversary of the 1918 signing of the peace that ended fighting in World War I. AFP
Caring for the disabled. This handout picture received on November 11, 2015, and taken by Japan’s Kyoto University associate professor Michio Nakamura in 2011 shows a female chimpanzee holding her disabled sister’s baby chimpanzee in her arms at the Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania. AFP
worldSuu Kyi calls for dialogwith Myanmar military
Power beckons for her National League for Democracy or NLD party after it took nearly 90 percent of the seats declared so far.
Although poll officials are yet to announce the NLD as winners, Myanmar’s balance of power, dominated for half a century by the army and its allies, appears set to be redrawn.
But Suu Kyi’s supporters remain anxious at how the army will respond to a mauling at the polls, with memories still keen of the 1990 election won by the NLD but then swatted away by the army.
“Citizens have expressed their will in the elec-tion,” she said in letters addressed to President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing as well as influential parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann.
“I would like to invite you to discuss national rec-onciliation next week at a time of your convenience.”
The letters, shared by the NLD on Facebook, come as her democracy movement continued its blitz of ruling party bases following Sunday’s poll.
Thein Sein has agreed to a meeting once the official election results are announced, the coun-try’s Information Minister said on Wednesday afternoon.
Suu Kyi’s early move to reach out to the army and its political allies shows willingness to work with her former captors who kept her under house arrest for 15 years to cut through Myanmar’s tan-gled politics.
Analysts say difficult months lie ahead, with the army-scripted constitution gifting the mili-tary 25 percent of all parliamentary seats and key security posts.
The document also blocks the 70-year-old Suu Kyi from becoming president despite her position as the democracy movement’s magnetic force.
On Wednesday, election officials said the NLD took its haul to 163 of the 182 seats declared so far across the lower and upper houses.
Suu Kyi retained her seat in Kawhmu constituency.The NLD needs 67 percent of the contested
seats to form a majority. But it is eyeing a much bigger margin—and greater clout inside the new parliament. AFP
LONDON—The world’s biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev said Wednesday it has reached a formal agreement on a mega-take-over of its nearest rival, Britain’s SABMiller, for $121 billion (112 billion euros) including debt.
After a long-running saga, the giant behind top lager brands like Beck’s, Budweiser and Stella Artois has finally agreed on the terms to buy the London-listed maker of Foster’s, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni, the pair said in a statement.
InBev will pay 44 pounds per share for SABMiller, which has also agreed to sell its stake in US unit MillerCoors for $12 billion to Molson Coors as part of the deal, in a move aimed at winning regu-latory approval.
“The boards of Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of SABMiller by AB InBev,” the statement read.
The transaction is expected to complete in the second half of 2016, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
The blockbuster deal is the world’s third biggest takeover in corporate history, according to financial information provider Dealogic, and is also the largest ever takeover of a British firm.
InBev, which also brews Hoegaarden and Leffe beers, add-ed that the takeover will “create a truly global brewer, drawing on a similar heritage and shared pas-sion for brewing and commitment to quality”.
The transaction will also “strengthen AB InBev’s position in key emerging regions with strong growth prospects such as Asia, Central and South America, and Africa”, it said.
The group is meanwhile target-ing annual efficiency savings of at least $1.4 billion, stoking fears of job losses.
The two brewing giants had already agreed in principle last month on the 44-per-share deal that will see Belgian-Brazilian be-hemoth AB InBev swallow its clos-est rival. AFP
NAGOYA—Japan’s first passen-ger jet made its maiden test flight Wednesday, a landmark in a decade-long program to launch the plane aimed at competing with Brazilian and Canadian rivals in the global market for smaller aircraft.
About half a century after the last Japanese-made commercial plane took to the skies, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), painted with dark blue, red and beige stripes, took off from Nagoya airport un-der clear skies for a 90-minute trip.
After being barred from devel-oping aircraft following World War II, Japan―and its MRJ jet―is
competing with other regional passenger jet manufacturers such as Brazil’s Embraer and Canada’s Bombardier.
Hiromichi Morimoto, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp.—a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—voiced his delight and relief at the successful flight.
“We were able to see the beauti-ful fuselage of the MRJ taking off into the sunny autumn sky,” he told a press conference.
“The fact that I was able to see that with you, as someone who was involved in its development, there is no greater joy.”
Its pilot also praised the jet.“The operation performance of
the MRJ was far better than ex-pected,” Yoshiyuki Yasumura said, according to a Mitsubishi Aircraft release.
“We had a significantly comfort-able flight.”
The two-engine MRJ marks a new chapter for Japan’s aviation sector, which last built a commer-cial airliner in 1962 -- the YS-11 turboprop that was discontinued about a decade later.
The MRJ is approximately 115-feet long, has a pointed nose and will seat about 80 passengers. AFP
YANGON—Aung San Suu Kyi called for “national reconciliation” talks with Myanmar’s president and the nation’s powerful army chief on Wednesday as her pro-democracy party stood poised for a landslide election victory.
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Almost 55,000 marathoners from 139 countries ran through the five boroughs of New York City during the 44th annual New York City
Marathon last November 1. New York is one of the most difficult courses among the four major marathons (including London, Boston, and Berlin) because of the inclines on its bridges.
At least 131 Filipinos ran the NYM, and it was a privilege for me to run this as my first marathon. Your slot in the NYM is determined through a lottery system; many sign up but only a few can be accommodated.
For me, it was a life-changing experience.
HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM RUNNING THE NYM:1. Have fun, even in the most difficult of
situations. Forty-two kilometers is no easy task but New Yorkers knew how to dish it to us in style. There were bands playing from all genres of music – jazz,
hip-hop, soul, blues, pop, rock – you name it. There were people with banners like “Smile, if you peed a little,” and “Press this mushroom to power up (alluding to Mario Bros.).”
2. Be joyful, even when in pain! I was literally smiling through the whole course except for the last 5-km when I really had to dig deep to make my target time of five hours (I clocked in at five hours one minute). Aside from the amusing entertainment we runners got from the crowd, what really plastered that smile on my face was this immense sense of gratitude that I am running this 42-km right here, right now, in New York City, one of the most coveted marathons in the world.
3. The human connection is priceless. There were so many moments when I thought to myself, “No more, I don’t think I can take another step,” but thanks to the iron-on print of my name I had on my shirt (a veteran’s suggestion), the crowd kept cheering me on and chanting my name. To see and hear complete strangers wanting to see you succeed in your goal is a feeling that left me in pure awe. The solidarity felt like a mass prayer.
4. Energy ebbs and flows. There are times when you can let others ignite your energy as the crowd did to us; and there are times when you need to create it to propel yourself forward. When the crowd was thick and crazy I found my pace very much accelerated with no effort; when there was no crowd, like on the difficult bridges, my
pace slowed down and I had to dig deep within me to push forward.
5. Life’s a journey, not a destination. I’ve been running for over a year, but the four months of intense training leading up to the marathon changed my life for the better. I was never an athletic person and this marathon allowed me to find that inner athlete in myself. It is a very empowering experience to know with certainty that you have immense command over your body. When you exercise it regularly, nourish it with the proper food and nurture it with love, your body can take you to heights you have never known before. I came to the concrete understanding that I was
given this body as a gift, in this lifetime, and I want to use it to expand myself.
6. Let your spirit run free. For me, the marathon was also a spiritual exercise. The journey allowed me to experience freedom from all the blocks that told me I can’t do it. I came to the conclusion, that should I choose, I can live a life more and more without limits. I am limitless, abundant and eternal.
7. Be an inspiration to others. If you saw the way the crowd looked at us runners, your heart would be full. They gave us that I-wanna-be-like-you-some-day look. And guess, what? You can be. Get up and let’s run!
SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED RUNNING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
BY SARA BLACK
The 44th annual New York City Marathon last November 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF F11PHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
The author’s victory photo op
The author was all smiles while braving the 42k distance
Finisher- the fruit of all the training and hard work
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HEALTH BULLETIN
They say one of the effective ways to truly lose weight and commit to your plan is to tell your friends about it so you’ll feel accountable. Support from people close to you will also strengthen your resolve to stick with your goal. But wouldn’t it be more fun if you actually have people who will join you on your journey?
BodyKey by Nutrilite, a weight management program from Amway, is calling groups of four friends to participate in the 60-day weight management challenge. The prizes? Losing those pesky extra pounds and an all-expenses paid luxury cruise to China, Japan and Korea.
BodyKey by Nutrilite is a personalized weight loss program. It starts with an extensive assessment and follows with a recommendation of meal plans based on nutrition guidelines endorsed by the
Nutrilite Health Institute and exercise strategies. To jumpstart your weight loss, the program also comes with scientifically formulated meal replacement shakes in chocolate or vanilla flavors, Nutrilite All Plant Protein Powder, Nutrilite Nutri Fiber Blend Chewable Tablets and Nutrilite Double X (31-Day Supply).
Those who will avail the program and interested to take the challenge only need to share their story. The team that shows the most dramatic results wins a six-day luxury cruise. Other prizes include iPad minis for the 1st runners up, and iPod touch units for the 2nd runners up.
Registration is open until November 30, 2015. For more details on the contest mechanics and criteria, go to: http://www.bodykey.ph/en_us/get-started/challenge-activities.html
Unlike rheumatic and congenital heart diseases, aortic aneurysm – despite its fatal consequences – is not commonly known and discussed. And often, people who have this cardiovascular illness do not know about it until it’s too late.
According to the medical professionals of the Aortic Endovascular Unit at the Heart Institute of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, the number of Filipinos at risk of aortic aneurysms continuously increases but the awareness on it remains low.
There are two kinds of aortic aneurysms: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or AAA, which occurs in the abdominal area, and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm or TAA, which happens in the chest area. The condition develops when the wall of the aorta deteriorates and weakens due to cholesterol deposits. The main artery then enlarges and becomes thinner, thus becoming vulnerable to rupture.
Aneurysms can develop quietly and slowly over the years, usually without symptoms, until the aorta begins to leak or expand to 6-cm in diameter. Without warning, it can rupture and cause death. Aortic aneurysms have a near 50 percent fatality rate upon rupture.
This raises the urgency for screening, especially for those who have hypertension, high level of cholesterol, existing clogged arteries, history of the condition in the family and lead a sedentary lifestyle. “If one has any of these risk factors, he or she is a candidate and is advised to get a diagnosis through vascular screening,” urges Dr. Timothy Dy.
Those who who test positive for the disease should go through Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) for abdominal aneurysms, or Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) – and both procedures are available at CGHMC.
While aortic aneurysms are generally asymptomatic, there are signs that may hint of this such as: hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the chest, back, side for TAA or stomach with pain ranging from mild to severe for AAA.
The experts, however, assert that no two cases are alike and stress the need for proper screening. “There are cases where the aneurysm is small and can be addressed with monitoring, medication, and with the patient choosing an overall healthy lifestyle. Earlier diagnosis is still the optimal course of action,” reiterates Dr. Dy.
THE HEART DISEASE THAT SILENTLY KILLS
Diabetes has become one of the leading chronic diseases in the world as well as here in the Philippines. In fact, the World
Health Organization reveals that our country is one of the world’s emerging hotspots of the metabolic condition. Proof is the 2012 survey of the Philippine Council for Research and Development Library which found that 11 million Filipino adults had diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition with grave consequences such as blindness or diabetic retinopathy, foot amputation due to nerve damage, kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are many misconceptions regarding the disease that only make people misinformed and paranoid. Hence, Dr. Nicky Montoya of MediCard Philippines sets the record straight.
MYTH: Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.FACT: Not directly. Drinking sugary drinks such as sodas has been linked to excess weight and people with excess weight or have 23 and up BMI (body mass index) are at risk of developing diabetes. However, it is not yet proven that too much sugar in itself causes the disease.
MYTH: Diabetics should never consume alcoholic drinks.FACT: One drink a week is fine. People diagnosed with the disease are advised against drinking alcohol since it may lead to a major drop in blood sugar. But several studies posit that one drink is allowed once week, depending on one’s health condition.
MYTH: People with diabetes should not eat rice.FACT: Rice, especially the white variant, is avoided because it’s tagged as a
bad source for carbohydrates. But carbohydrates, broken down into glucose, are the body’s primary source of energy and total restriction will result in complications. The key is to get the right amount of carbohydrates by consuming the right amount of its food source. If you can’t give up rice, opt for brown or black rice instead.
MYTH: Women with diabetes should not get pregnant. FACT: Women who manage their diabetes well can have a normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. It is, however, crucial for the expectant mother to keep her blood glucose within the target range, before she becomes pregnant and during pregnancy to avoid long-term diabetes problems for the mother and birth defects for the infant.
MYTH: Diabetics cannot donate blood. FACT: Diabetics are eligible to donate blood as long as their sugar level is controlled, are in good health, their blood pressure is below 180/100, and are not anemic. On the day of the blood donation, they need to eat an adequate meal, drink extra fluids, and avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
5 MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DIABETES
LOSING WEIGHT IS MORE FUN WHEN DONE WITH FRIENDS
People with diabetes are not recommended to eat white rice
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Lining up for clinic services gets really tedious with all the waiting, processing, and requesting numerous letters before getting medical services. Health care
provider PhilCare has partnered with Samsung Electronics Philippines Co. to create a faster and more efficient availment of healthcare services with the use of NFC-capable membership cards.
NFC is a radio frequency technology that allows a reader device and a storage device to send and receive information via brief contact. Close to paperless – PhilCare membership cards simply need to be tapped on Samsung devices to ensure the secure transfer of data. Hospitals and clinics can now determine coverage and benefits of a member, as well as other details of the member’s account via a single tap. NFC-powered PhilCare cards can be handed over to any of the 200 service providers of PhilCare and members can use it as long as they have an NFC-capable phone from Samsung.
“We are proud to introduce this new technology to the HMO industry. We’ve been
looking for the best technology to make medical services smoother and more convenient for our clients and providers and NFC seems to be the perfect fit for this goal,” says Noemi Azura, CEO and president of PhilCare.
Samsung smartphones have long been equipped with NFC technology which is widely used by banks, retail, transport, and service providers worldwide to accommodate wireless payments. The mobile device is equipped with security features from the hardware level, and can be further enhanced with Samsung’s
propriety security platform to protect such transactions from being leaked or breached.
“R&D is at the heart of what we do, allowing us to continuously produce innovative products and offer progressive solutions for like-minded, forward looking institutions like PhilCare. Ultimately, it is our goal to enrich the lives of people,” says Chad Sotelo, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporate Marketing head.
The partnership provides a much-needed upgrade in the way healthcare is delivered
to thousands of Filipinos. The use of NFC for healthcare is the first of its kind in the Philippines and it allows patient information to be updated in real-time, ensuring quick, efficient, and accurate service. “We are very excited with this technology and in the future we hope to set up a rewards program for members with the NFC cards,” Azura said.
The launch of its new membership card is one of the many innovations PhilCare has set up since 2013. Two years ago they launched the mobile application GO! Mobile, designed as a quick reference guide for members on their coverage and benefits while also giving access to a complete list of PhilCare-affiliated hospitals, clinics, and doctors. Just last year, the mobile app introduced various updates in addition to being made compatible with iOS devices alongside Android devices. In addition to its mobile app, PhilCare also recently launched its e-commerce website, becoming the first HMO provider to offer online purchases for its health care packages.
Mandala Park recently held its popular weekend market with good food and soulful music set in a space fit to accommodate
families and guests. The 3.2-hectare enclave was set up with white canvas tents to serve as an avenue for people to partake of the different produce from artisans and merchants.
A lot of homegrown produce were sold in the market and the merchants featured focused on sustainability and support for the local industries, particularly in the agricultural sector. Merchants included crowd favorites like Fog City Creamery’s organic preservative-free ice cream, Scout Honor’s made-on-the-spot cookies, Ribs Manila’s smoked pulled pork, B&T Mexican Kitchen, Ramen Iroha, and IAmKim. Fruit Magic brought back their cold-pressed juices, while Stanford & Shaw delighted second-timers and newbies with a taste of their guilt-free citrusy ginger ale. New additions included the makers of Hawaiian ceviche Poke Boy, farmer-owned natural dairy cooperative Arla, handcrafted delicatessen Mister Delicious, organic salad dressing brand Whisk, organic cotton candy makers Mister Fluffies, and Laguna-based in-house brewery Pedro Brewcrafters.
“Weekend markets are great ways of meeting our customers because we get to interact with them. I think it’s awesome that we get to hear people’s feedback right away,” shares Nadine Howell-Fanlo of Pedro
Brewcrafters. “Mandala Park is different from the weekend markets we usually join because this one seems to be more focused on the ingredients merchants use.”
Mandala Park, Mandaluyong’s new bastion of healthy living, was borne out of Litton & Co.’s desire for sustainably built communities that enrich people’s wellbeing and cultivate an environment of wellness that is accessible to all. According to Litton & Co. president and CEO Dr. Joseph Litton-Gallego, the weekend market series is just the beginning; there will be more in activities that they will organize in the future that are anchored towards wellness and sustainability.
For more information on Mandala Park and the Mandala Park weekend market series, follow them on facebook at Mandala Park Ph, and @mandalaparkph on Instagram.
PhilCare and Samsung revolutionize healthcare availment with NFC cards
A WEEKEND OF SOOTHING SOUNDS AND TRACEABLE TREATS
Samsung Electronics Philippines’ Corporate Marketing Head Chad Sotelo with PhilCare CEO & President, Noemi Azura
During the media launch of PhilCare’s NFC-capable membership cards Hospitals and clinics can now determine coverage and benefits of a member, as well as other details of the member’s account via a single tap.
PhilCare’s NFC-capable membership cards Samsung smartphones equipped with NFC technology will be used in PhilCare centers and partner hospitals.
The Mandala Park weekend market heralds the kind of community offered by the soon-to-rise mixed-use 3.2-hectare enclave that promotes a lifestyle anchored on sustainability and wellness
A spread of Whisk’s unique salad dressings which is made from vegetables and herbs sourced from local markets
A crowd favorite–Mister Fluffies’ fairy floss (cotton candy) made from stevia
Litton & Co. President and CEO Dr. Joseph Litton- Gallego talked about the company’s bigger plans for wellness and sustainability programs during the weekend market
A few months ago, I did something most people would deem crazy. I was getting allergic to most of my favorite food like peanuts, mangoes
and pineapples – yes, it’s possible to acquire new allergies later in life, it’s something accumulated especially if you eat those allergy triggers a lot. Lets face it, almost anything with peanuts are delicious. And I wasn’t ready to give up my love for seafood kare-kare or my once-in-a-while Reese’s peanut buttercups for life. So for one whole week, I did not eat anything and drank nothing but water.
See, water fasting isn’t anything new. I’ve been researching about this for a couple of years now and what got me was the repairing process it does to your body. Losing weight is just a side effect but the more important aspect is the healing. Truth be told, I was not quite as healthy as people may think – when I was young I had primary complex, I grew up suffering from severe asthma and doctors would say I really have very weak lungs. Then I developed all these food allergies. I found it quite annoying really. So that week, my goal was to just really get rid of my allergies, but it became more than that. It was a mental game, it was a healing journey, and yes, I did lose some weight... Which I gained back in no time. (Saying this now is a disclaimer that this is not a form of extreme dieting.)
Experts at curezone.com outline the first two stages of fasting which one will experience in seven days:
STAGE 1 (DAYS 1-2)“On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for a half day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.
“Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.”
STAGE 2 (DAYS 3-7)“Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the glyceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus called the appestat. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40-60 days.
“The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen and are autolyzed.”
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FINE FETTLEBY BUBBLES PARAISO
7 DAY WATER FAST: How I got rid of my food allergies
DAY 1 (Sunday 2:00 p.m. to Monday 2:00 p.m.)Day one seemed pretty normal for me. I was still digesting the heavy lunch I had but at dinner time, I started getting hungry. It was hard to ignore the stomach growling but I did anyway. I just drank a lot of water and still did whatever I had to do that day. Monday morning I still had the energy to workout, although all I did was run on the treadmill for 3-km because I was getting hunger pangs and was beginning to feel weak already. I felt weak but strong, also a little bit bloated.
Day 2 (Monday 2:00 p.m. to Tuesday 2:00 p.m.)Day 2 was hard. I felt very weak and spent most of the day on the bed and on the couch. I was marathoning documentaries like Crazy Sexy Cancer and Food, Inc. to keep me sane (I will talk about these films on another week), but I would fall in and out of sleep. All I wanted was to sleep all day – I felt very “low batt.”
Day 3 (Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to Wednesday 2:00 p.m.)The hardest part was when I had to get up and teach Kids Yoga at 4:00 p.m. despite being in a fasted state. It was a full class and boy, was it a challenge. As their teacher I had to keep up with their energy and show them how to do everything. Thank goodness I survived. I also managed to go to a rock concert and go up and down four floors to the parking lot. Keyword is managed. That night, going up the stairs had me gasping for air. I was so winded. Fell asleep for 10 hours after that.
You can tell by my face, voice and even skin how weak I was on the third going on the fourth day. My skin was also beginning to purge, it had little spots on my face – like the reaction I get when I have allergies. My tongue also felt gross and chalky. My breath stank. I had to walk one kilometer (to and from) to a meeting nearby because I couldn’t trust myself to drive. I wasn’t the best person to have a meeting with because I found myself only saying yes and no to most questions. My brain could not power through it. My energy level could not afford to say anything more than that. I was a zombie. I felt exceptionally weak after that business meeting, and fell asleep as soon as I got home. I did not feel hungry at all though.
Day 4 (Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to Thursday 2:00 p.m.)Day 4 wasn’t so bad. There were no more hunger pangs. But I had all sorts of aches and pains all over my body. My legs started to hurt and especially my lower back. As I mentioned before, I got into a car accident two years ago that made me unable to walk for a couple of days so I think it was the body repairing that old injury. I was cold but hot at the same time. I was feverish without fever. Am I making sense? I started expelling mucus in the form of sniffles and a bit of phlegm (yeah, gross, I know, but it’s part of the healing process).
Day 5 (Thursday 2:00 p.m. to Friday 2:00 p.m.)I honestly can’t share much about this day as this was my weakest day and all I did was sleep the whole day. I literally only got up to drink water then went back to sleep.
Day 6 (Friday 2:00 p.m. to Saturday 2:00 p.m.)Surprise! I had so much energy this day and was able to walk on the treadmill again although the speed was only 3.4kph. I was slower than a turtle. But slow as it was, I kept walking around home the whole day. My skin also began to clear up and I had a little glow. You can tell by just looking at me that I wasn’t as weak as the days before. I would also like to mention that although I wasn’t feeling hungry, I still thought about food a lot and started writing down recipes of food I would like to eat the whole day.
I semi-tortured myself by going to a steakhouse with my friend and watched him eat as I enjoyed my water. Good thing I don’t eat meat so I didn’t really get enticed by his food. I was able to convince myself that I was happy with the variety of what I’ve been having the past week: cold water, hot water, warm water. How exciting. My sense of smell seemed heightened though, so I enjoyed smelling all the food in the restaurant.
I’d also like to take note that my legs seemed to keep cramping up that night. I couldn’t wear heels as it was very painful to do so.
Day 7 (Saturday 2:00 p.m. to Sunday 2:00 p.m.)I had enough energy Saturday morning to walk on the treadmill again with a faster
speed of 4.4 kph this time. I was energetic yet weak. I felt like I was gasping for air most of the time, as if I ran a marathon even if I just walked a few steps. There were little spurts of energy which I took advantage of by walking. But when I wasn’t walking, I’d be on the couch being a little potato. When Sunday arrived, I tried to workout but my legs didn’t want to.
SUNDAY 2:00 p.m.WOOHOO! I’ve completed 168 hours! I was very chirpy and energetic when I hit it but also couldn’t wait to finally put something in my belly. But of course, after seven days of no eating, I had to be careful. I couldn’t just eat what I wanted right away. To exit a fast you have to ease your way into eating food again, and that’s what I did.
Breaking my fastI went to one of my favorite healthy places and ordered a pineapple malunggay smoothie plus a salad. I ate at 3:30 p.m. which made my fast officially 169.5 hours long. The first taste of that pineapple was oh, so delicious! I ate slowly, and didn’t finish the salad – I did not want to shock my body after the prolonged period it went without sustenance. I lost eight pounds. and an inch off my waist as a side effect, but of course the main reason for this fast was healing, and I couldn’t wait to test it right away.
My salad had mangoes in it, and as I ingested them, my body did not show any signs of allergy at all. As the days went by, I reintroduced all kinds of food again, and carefully took note of how my body reacted to it. Two months later, I was enjoying a bag of peanuts without breaking out in hives or rashes. Yup, my allergies have entirely disappeared.
In conclusion, I think this fast wasn’t as hard as people think it would be. It is not impossible to do. Impossible is a state of mind. And if your mind wills it, your body will follow. I believe that if your mind is strong, you can do anything. And doing this 7-day water fast to heal myself was all worth it. It’s a mental game. All it takes is willpower and dedication. If I can do it, so can you.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bubblesparaiso
I kept a journal all throughout my fast, so for those interested to take on this challenge, here’s how I fared. Take note that I started my fast midday, but the way to count it is
per 24 hours, so it’s a bit awkward when you look at it.
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C5ISAH V. REDE D I T O R
T HUR S DAY : NOV EMBER 1 2, 2015
Signaling a committed shift to premium pro-gramming, National Geo-graphic Channel (NGC)
will be airing the highly anticipat-ed science series Breakthrough this November. Breakthrough, a show that will bring to life the stories, people and technology behind the world’s most advanced scien-tific innovations that determine how our lives shall evolve, made its Philippine premiere, the first in Asia, on Nov. 5 at 9 p.m., with all six one-hour episodes showing on Thursdays on NGC.
Executive produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Steve Mi-chaels, Jonathan Koch and Mark Dowley, this groundbreaking series will highlight the most important and fascinating innovations that are currently making waves in the sci-entific community and are set to affect how we live our lives in the
immediate future and beyond. Not only will Breakthrough outline the science behind these innovations, but it will also explore the courage, imagination, passion and self-sac-rifice of the scientists who brought them to life. Their stories will be portrayed with compassion and yet instill a sense of wonder as each episode will be directed by a differ-ent Hollywood visionary including Ron Howard, Brett Ratner, Pe-ter Berg, Angela Bassett, Akiva Goldsman, and Paul Giamatti.
Tackling diverse scientific realms ranging from brain sci-ence to cyborg technology, Break-through promises an exciting and thorough preview of the future, ably presented by Hollywood’s best talents. Howard undertakes human longevity and Giamatti expounds on innovations in tech-nology, while Ratner explores the brain, Berg examines pandemics,
and Bassett and Goldsman pres-ent on the necessary resources of water and energy, respectively.
Breakthrough is co-produced by NGC and GE, both long-time proponents of innovation, science and exploration. However, what makes their partnership for this project unique is that they not only financed the series but shared equally in its creative direction.
“Modern science and technol-ogy are the keys to addressing the challenges the world is fac-ing today,” said Courteney Mon-roe, CEO, National Geographic Channels. “By partnering with GE — as dedicated to science and innovation as we are — and by working with top-tier directors at the helm, Breakthrough will cel-ebrate the curiosity, innovation and exploration of our world, and spotlight the individuals and institutions at the center of these
groundbreaking achievements.”“GE’s involvement brings a cer-
tain poetic justice to this endeavor,” said producer Grazer. “Thomas Ed-ison, GE’s founder, and Alexander Graham Bell, a founding member of the National Geographic Society, are two of our greatest inventors. Their breakthroughs laid the foun-dation for tremendous innovation and continue to inspire generations of scientists and engineers. That same spirit will, no doubt, be evi-dent in every episode.”
NGC and GE have united to pro-duce a series that will inspire and cultivate global interest in science and innovation, possibly spawning brilliant individuals who may one day become leading innovators in various scientific fields. Break-through is a remarkable television event that will leave its mark on young minds, especially in Asia, from which many of the world’s
leading scientists have hailed.“We take great pride in present-
ing Breakthrough to viewers in the Philippines as it is a celebration of the relentless efforts of the scientific community to better our lives and improve our environment,” said Jude Turcuato, Senior Vice Presi-dent and General Manager of FOX International Channels Philippines, which carries NGC, said. “We hope that it helps viewers appreciate how science has shaped our existence and how it will continue to help us evolve into the future.”
Breakthrough’s succeeding epi-sodes will be shown on Thursdays at the same time. The show’s pre-miere episode, a truly important milestone in Philippine television history, will also be simulcast on FOX, FOX Filipino Channel, Star Movies and Star World by FOX International Channels, which carries NGC in the country.
NatioNal GeoGraphic’S iNNovative ScieNce SerieS
Peter Berg
Paul Giamatti
Angela BassettRon Howard
Brett Ratner
Ackiva Goldsman
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T HUR S DAY : NOV EMBER 1 2, 2015
ACROSS 1 Cause a blister 4 Large cay 8 Syrup brand 12 Movie theater 13 Drop anchor 14 Gossip tidbits 16 Elephant owner, perhaps 17 Move about confusedly 18 Grassy places 19 Ms. Hagen
A N S W E R F O R P R E V I O U S P U Z Z L E
CROSSWORD PUZZLE THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 12, 2015
20 Superfast ride (2 wds.) 22 Licks a stamp 24 Whodunit suspect 25 I-90 26 Consumer 28 Mr. DeLuise 31 S-shaped moldings 34 The one there 35 Costa — 36 Glamorous 37 Dry-heat bath 38 Freeze starter?
39 Online info 40 Down to the — 41 Light bulb filler 42 Good name for a cook? 43 Benefit, often 44 “... the giftie — us” 45 Horror-film servant 47 Lowest stratum 51 Gun in the Smithsonian? (2 wds.) 55 “Annabel Lee” poet 56 Object 57 Bumper-sticker word 58 Part of G.T.O. 59 — Dame 60 Wild about 61 Marshal Dillon 62 Take advice 63 Bonny miss 64 T’ai — ch’uan
DOWN 1 Gaucho’s rope 2 Fix, as a copier 3 Ms. Arthur 4 Vaccinated 5 Gets dirty 6 Lounge about 7 Gardner of mystery
8 Out of — (awry) 9 Video game pioneer 10 Worthwhile 11 Old Dodge model 12 Filth 15 Form 1040 info 20 Wagers 21 Iota preceder 23 Hunts, with “on” 26 Kirk’s lieutenant 27 Feasible 29 Caesar’s eight 30 Might’s partner 31 Ons and — 32 Capricorn symbol 33 Lovely 34 Follow 35 More scarce 37 Travel like gnats 41 — -de-camp 43 Overcharged 44 Sticky-footed lizards 46 Rock or country 47 Aptitudes 48 Winfrey of TV 49 Raccoon kin 50 Smallville name 51 Atlas abbr. 52 Oops! (hyph.) 53 Noted groundhog 54 Hebrides isle 58 Truck mfr.
Jimboy Martin and Miho Nishida were declared the Big Winners of Pinoy Big Brother 737 after garner-
ing the highest number of public votes at the program’s Big Night held at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City on Nov 8.
Jimboy, the 17-year-old “Barrio Rapper of Nueva Vizcaya,” was named the Teen Big Winner for getting 56.76 percent of the votes, while Teen Second Big Placer Ylo-na Garcia got 43.24 percent.
Big Winner Miho Nishida, the “Sexy Mommy of Japan” won by landslide with 81.96 percent of the votes, while Second Big Plac-
er Tommy Esguerra gathered 18.04 percent.
When asked what he wants to do now that his PBB journey is over, Jimboy said, “A simple life is okay for me as long as I’m with my family. But they helped me build my dream to be the Teen Big Win-ner… I will grab whatever oppor-tunity comes my way.”
Miho, meanwhile, cheerfully thanked the Albay crowd for their support after hugging her mother and daughter Aimi.
Jimboy and Miho were both granted an Asian tour package, a house and lot, and P1 million. This is the first time that PBB announced
two Big Winners in a Big Night.Both Ylona and Tommy, mean-
while, won P500,000 each.Awarded on Nov. 7 were third
Big Placers Franco Rodriguezand Roger Lutero who won P300,000 each, while Fourth Big Placers Bailey May and Dawn Chang were given P200,000.
People from Albay also showed their support from the program as more than 17,000 people were es-timated to have showed up at the venue on the first night of the Big Night last Saturday.
Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Robi Domingo, Enchong Dee, and Toni Gonzaga-Soriano hosted the finals.
Jimboy and miho Pbb 737 big winners
Fans of the very best action TV were treat-ed to one of the most astonishing openings
of any pilot, as Blindspotmade an impressive Philip-pines debut on Warner TV. With the show airing just a few hours after the US pre-miere, clips and comments buzzed around social media with audiences around the world already hooked.
The opening sequence is arguably one of the most am-bitious in television history, with New York City’s Times Square completely emptying to reveal a mysterious duffel bag. After the bomb squad descends, the viewers finally learn its contents: a lady with no memory of what hap-pened, and completely naked except for head-to-toe tattoos.
“It was really intimidat-ing but super-exciting at the
same time,” revealed Jamie Alexander who plays Jane Doe – the lady in the bag. “I think it’s one of the most epic scenes I’ve ever shot in my life. To see Times Square that empty was pretty unusu-al but it was incredibly cold at that time in New York, so that made it even more eerie and atmospheric.”
This is not a series that hangs around; the story moves quickly and clues as to Jane’s identity are instantly discovered. An obvious one is her FBI connection. Agent Kurt Weller’s name is tat-tooed right across her back. Along with a team of agents, they later discover that her intricate tattoos are actually a map of crimes leading to a vast conspiracy that’s just waiting to be solved.
According to Sulli-van Stapleton, who plays
Agent Weller, the beauty of Blindspot is down to the surprising plot twists that often the cast doesn’t even know about yet. “We’re not locked-in to a one way [plot] and it’s kind of re-freshing,” added Stapleton.
The first few episodes of Blindspot have already set the tone for an incredibly fast-paced series, with a dis-tinctly non-formulaic sto-ryline that will keep viewers hungry for more.
Warner TV is available on SKYcable Channel 77, SKY-cable HD Channel 197, Cig-nal HD Channel 119, Desti-ny Cable (Digital) Channel 77, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 80, and Cable Link Channel 30. For more up-dates on the best in action, comedy and drama, follow the channel on Facebook.com/WarnerTVAsia.
‘BLinDSPOt’ WOWS viEWERS
Jimboy Martine PBB 737 Teen Big WinnerMiho Nishida, PBB737 Big Winner
Poster for Blindspot
SHOWBITZ C7i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m
Unstoppable. That’s how people describe Alden Richards’ s pop-ularity these days. This also refers to how people are getting crazier over the young matinee idol.
In Iloilo, more than 50,00 fans filled up the venue where Rich-ards was scheduled to have a meet and greet session with his Ilong-go fans who waited for the actor to arrive as the flight he took had been delayed.
The crowd, said an observer, was really record-breaking in number. No actor of this genera-tion has gathered that much peo-ple in one venue.
Also, last Friday, the social me-dia was abuzz when the video of the recording session of GMA Network’s Christmas Station ID was uploaded on YouTube. In no time, it had 1.5 million views and why? Alden Richards was in that video recording “MaGMAhalan Tayo Ngayong Pasko”!
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Majasty reigns in MOa arena2015 is a big year for Maja Salvadornot only in acting but also in her singing career. Aside from platinum albums and a teleserye with Coco Martin (FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano) that gained 39.4 percent national ratings on the previous Kantar Media, Maja proves she is a performer ready to set the stage on fire in her second con-cert on Nov. 13, Friday 8 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After her successful out-of-the-country shows with Jericho Ro-sales, Maja continued to prepare for her upcoming concert.
The dance queen is very much excited than ever as she once again promises to give an all-out performance on stage. It can be remembered that she did her first solo concert on July 12 at the Mu-sic Museum.
Maja will groove to the latest dance hits with Hotlegs and G
Force and will share her musi-cality in different genre with her special guests – Paulo Avelino, Kakai Bautista, Rayver Cruz, Enchong Dee, JC De Vera, En-rique Gil and Piolo Pascual.
Majasty ticket prices are avail-able via www.smtickets.com and all SM Ticket outlets.
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#setlist at Music HallMonique Luahalti, Katrina Ve-larde and RJ dela Fuente contin-ue to take the bar scene by storm with their series #Setlist, as they return to Music Hall, Metrowalk 8 p.m. on Nov. 13.
#Setlist, is a night of musical
revelry showcasing their musical prowess, singing songs of different genres. Performers and fans re-fer to a setlist as a roster of songs that a performing artist chooses to sing or play. The setlist is played or sang for every performance on a given show or concert series. For RJ, Katrina, and Monique, their setlists represent their passion for their craft and their music.
RJ dela Fuente started singing at special concerts and events in Cal-ifornia, U. S. A., guesting in shows of Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nieve-ra, and Brian McKnight. He was a contestant in the 2011 American IdolSeason10 and made it past the early rounds singing before judges J Lo, Randy Jackson, and Steve Tyler. He was Celebrity Chronicle’s Most Promising Male Performer in 2011 and he auditioned and got in The Voice of the Philippines season 1, and was one of team Lea’s finalists.
Katrina Velarde started as an amaturista at the age of seven. In 2012, she became a part of AKA
JAM, an all female group (of which Monique was also a part of) from the first season of X-Factor Philip-pines and was mentored by Gary Valenciano. She is known popu-larly as the “Suklay Diva” because her video of Beyonce’s “Danger-ously in Love” using her “suklay” as a makeshift microphone has gone viral. Because of this, TV-5 cast her in a show titled Trenderas and was nominated as New Female Artist by ENPRESS and PMPC Star Awards For Television. Her recent video, which she uploaded on her Face-book account, impersonating dif-ferent singers has reached the three million mark in views.
Monique Lualhati started com-peting in amateur singing contests. This year, Monique joined the sec-ond season of The Voice Of The Philippines, and was part of coach Sarah Geronimo’s team. Being part of the Top 8 opened doors for her. Monique has been busy with shows all over the Philippines.
RJ, Monique and Katrina are co-managed by Manila Genesis and Viva Artists Agency. For ticket reservations, please contact 0929-3154086 and 0915-3082308.
All-Filipino girl group, 4TH Im-pact, opened the second live per-formance show of The X Factor UK this week to resounding ap-plause from the judges and the au-dience. They performed “Sound Of The Underground,” the song that launched Cheryl Fernan-dez-Versini and her own group Girls Aloud, as one of the biggest pop sensations in the UK. They mashed up the track with another pop hit, “The Clapping Song.”
Simon Cowell praised the group, “I thought you looked better than last week. The cho-reography was better, vocals great, harmonies great. You are a band who rehearse like crazy, are ready for the real world. You’ve done great; you always do great.”
Rita applauded the girls for
their solid performance and said, “Can I just say what I love the most is that your identity now is coming into your own. Even though you are sisters, you are each individuals at the same time. Vocally, it sounded great.”
During the Results show, 4TH Impact was the first group an-nounced to be safe and moving on to the third live show next week on The X Factor UK.
Filipino-Australian singer Se-
ann Miley Moore sang “Califor-nia Dreaming.” Rita Ora and Boys’ mentor Nick Grimshawgave him a standing ovation after the performance. Rita said, “It was like I was watching a movie in slow motion. Vocally, you are very solid. You’re just intoxicat-ing.” Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was also impressed and said she was “spellbound”. Though Simon Cowell admitted that Seann has an “amazing presence and a spec-
tacular voice,” he described the performance as “lazy”.
At the Results show, Mason Noise and Seann sang for survival. The judges were split two and two; this left the decision to the public vote which revealed that they opt-ed to save Mason Noise and send Seann home leaving the audience in shock. “It’s been an incredible journey. But the show must go on,” said Seann when asked about his reaction to his elimination.
4TH Power will compete next week with the remaining acts in The X Factor UK. These in-clude Reggie n Bollie, Mason Noise, Ché Chesterman, Anton Stephans, Max Stone, Louisa Johnson, Lauren Murray, and Monica Michael.
The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertain-ment HD as live via satellite on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with a 9 p.m. primetime encore. The weekly episodes repeat on Thursdays at 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. on Saturdays.
RTL CBS Entertainment HD is available on SkyCable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), Destiny Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite channel 17 and Cablelink chan-nels 37(SD), 313 and 800(HD).
T HUR S DAY : NOV EMBER 1 2, 2015
4th ImpaCt Gets Into top 9, seann mIley moore elImInated
alden ricHards Marks anOtHer MilestOne
From c8
Fil-Aussie Seann Miley Moore said goodbye to The X-factor UK crowd last Monday
Katrina Velarde, RJ de la Fuente and Monique Lualhati perform their #Setlist
Alden Richards gathered 50 thousand Ilonggos last Friday night
4TH Impact moves on to the next The X Factor UK round
Maja Salvador
C8 ISAH V. REDE D I T O R
PolyEast Records and one of the country’s most prominent names of OPM, Bamboo Mañalac an-nounced the release of Bless This Mess. The album was offi-cially launched on Oct. 26 at 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub in Makati City.
Nearly four years after begin-ning a solo career with the bril-liant No Water, No Moon (2011), Bamboo eases into his second phase with the new album.
Taking subtle risks such as the bluesy but energy-boost kick-off single “Firepower”, Bamboo said
the song was written at the time of his 2011 No water, No Moon, but didn’t think it matched the tone of the other songs in his first solo album.
He added, “So it was shelved and developed and was ready for this new album. I think listeners have to figure out for themselves what the songs mean. I wanted folks to feel the music, the kick, then they’ll get the lyric”.
“Firepower” was officially heard on digital platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Deezr, Spinnr, Amazon, Guvera Music as well as local ra-dios all over the country on Oct. 15. PolyEast Records’ YouTube channel also premiered a prelude song “Nothing Like You” which connects to Firepower music vid-eo directed by Paolo Valenciano.
“In the video, both songs are to-gether because they are meant to be the same thing. If you see the video, you’ll get to interpret how both connect to each other,” Bam-boo added.
The album was recorded in Grand Street Recording Studio in Brooklyn, New York and fea-tures 10 brand new well-crafted compositions. “After the whole experience, I think it was the only place on the planet I could have recorded this album-- with all the elements needed and the different characters for each track. It’s the songs that dictate the direction of the album where all just fit. It wasn’t easy but that’s the fun part”.
In a five-month process during his TV stints as coach of The Voice, Bamboo produced and wrote most of the songs winding up a renewed energy pushing different styles as he said, “There’s definitely a shake up-- from the quiet feeling of the last album, I wanted this one to be a punch in the face”.
As the album title Bless This Mess signifies more than it seems, he explained, “I’ll let folks figure that out but it’s something I’ve whispered to myself before ses-sions or gigs in past years”.
“I could be wrong with how
long the break was and that’s the challenge of why it took so long. There was just so much swimming in my head and this album is part moving forward as well as just fit-ting another piece to the puzzle -- in regards to how my current sets will sound and look like”.
Bamboo Mañalac’s new offer-ing, Bless This Mess CD, is available at all music and video stores na-tionwide. Digital tracks can also be downloaded on iTunes, Amazon and Guvera Music. You may also listen to the full album on Spotify.
SHOWBITZ
T HUR S DAY : NOV EMBER 1 2, 2015
BamBoo mañalac says ‘Bless This Mess’
There’s definitely a shake up--
from the quiet feeling
of the last album,
I wanted this one to be
a punch in the face
ISAH V. RED
– Bamboo Mañalac, recording artist
➜ continued on c7
Bamboo Mañalac releases Bless This Mess, his new album this year
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