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Aquino also‘impatient’for justiceto be done

Drilon chooses Pia over Mamasapano

VOL. XXIX � NO. 348 � 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 � TUESday : JaNUaRy 26, 2016 � www.thestandard.com.ph � editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Dutertemay hold‘critical’SAF info

Comelecgoes intodeal with Twitter

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Hail to the queen. Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is showered with confetti as the parade held in her honor passes through Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Monday. BiniBining PiliPinas

By sandy araneta, Florante s. solmerin and Rey E. Requejo

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Mon-day praised the heroism of the 44 Special Ac-tion Force commandos killed by Muslim rebels a year ago in Mamasa-pano, Maguindanao, but blamed other police of-ficials for not doing their jobs.

Aquino, who approved the covert mission to neutralize two high-profile terrorists, ignored allegations that he did nothing to save the commandos while they were being slaughtered, in his speech to mark the first an-niversary of the Jan. 25 Mama-sapno massacre.

Instead, he blamed others in the Philippine National Police for the debacle.

“We appeal to Congress: review the PNP Law; specify the provi-sions that hinder the immediate imposition of penalties against leaders who fail in their responsi-bilities. We do not want a repeat of this tragedy just because they do not want to follow the policies. It is not right to continue a system where one would carry a bigger responsibility just because others fail to do so,” Aquino said.

Aquino also lashed out at op-portunists that he said were ex-ploiting the deaths of SAF elite troopers.

“There are those who would try to take advantage of the contro-versy in your [PNP] ranks in order to create disunity; they might use the tragedy for their own agenda,” Aquino said.

By Macon Ramos-araneta

SENATE President Franklin Drilon welcomed Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to the Senate Monday, say-ing more people were interested in her than in the Mamasapano massacre in which 44 police commandos were killed one year ago.

“I tell you, your visit here has gener-

ated more interest than the Mamasa-pano hearing,” Drilon told Wurtzback during a ceremony to honor her win-ning the Miss Universe crown.

“It is obvious, I have never seen a committee hearing room so full of peo-ple,” Drilon added.

In a press conference afterward, Drilon said Wurtzbach is interested in entering politics after her reign.

“You know, given her politically con-scious responses to the questions, I am not surprised. You know the question was very political—the presence of the American bases, the presence of Amer-ican troops, the matter of the HIV, her views on a number of critical issues,” Drilon said.

Drilon said he told Wurtzbach that

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Kin of slain lawmen snub PNoy

Aquino also vowed to bring justice to the slain comman-dos.

“Just like yourselves, I have been impatient [about] the slow system of justice.... As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied,” Aquino said in award ceremonies for the SAF 44 in Camp Crame, Que-zon City.

“You can expect, together with the support given to the families of the SAF 44, we will thoroughly do our best efforts to obtain justice,” he said.

At the ceremonies, the Medal of Valor—the high-est distinction given to uni-formed personnel of the PNP—was given to the fami-lies of Police Chief Inspector Gednat Garambas Tabdi and Police Officer 2 Romeo Cu-manoy Cempron, two of the SAF 44.

Tabdi was the Team Leader of the 84th Special Action Company of SAF. Tabdi led his team to ac-complish its mission de-spite his wounds.

Cempron was the lead gun-ner of the 55th Special Action Company. When his fel-low commandos were being killed, he sacrificed himself as a human shield so that PO2 Christopher Lalan could move to safety.

Also awarded the PNP Dis-tinguished Conduct Medal were 47 other SAF troopers, including the five survivors of the Mamasapano encounter. Twenty-five other survivors received special promotions.

In a statement, Communi-cations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said Aquino met with families of the SAF troopers from 11 a.m. into the afternoon.

Coloma said they discussed the implementation of various forms of assistance extended by the government such as housing, education, employ-ment and livelihood assist-ance.

“The President has instruct-ed concerned government of-ficials to exert all efforts to extend the needed assistance to the families,” Coloma said.

Coloma said this was the third time that the President has met with the families.

He added that some 85 per-cent of the benefits have al-ready been given to the SAF families.

Codenamed “Oplan Exo-dus”, the covert operation last year dispatched 300 SAF troopers to Mamasapano to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan and two other terrorists.

The operation was led by then SAF commander re-tired police director Getulio Napeñas and cloaked in se-crecy.

The SAF troopers were able to kill Marwan but were am-bushed while withdrawing. Forty-four of them died when no help came from Armed Forces soldiers nearby.

A police general who was privy to the activities of the board of inquiry formed to investigate the incident said Aquino ordered Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, com-mander of the 6th Infantry Division, to stand down for fear that their involvement

would endanger the govern-ment’s peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Senate is scheduled to reopen its investigation into the Mamasapano debacle on Wednesday, Jan. 27, after Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile claimed that he has evidence that will expose the President’s liability.

Earlier, retired PNP chief superintendent Diosdado Valeroso said he had in his possession a digital audio recording of a conversation between a high-ranking gov-ernment official and a legis-lator that occurred a day or two after the clash, showing that there was an attempt to cover up what happened so that the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the lynchpin in the gov-ernment’s peace pact with the MILF, would be passed in Congress.

Reacting to this allegation, Coloma said Valeroso should present his evidence during the Senate hearing.

The Justice Department has closed its preliminary investigation into criminal charges against 90 people charged for the bloody Ma-masapano encounter, but no cases have been filed against them.

Newly appointed acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas said all the talk about new evidence was “specula-tive” at this point.

“Let us wait. I don’t know what additional evidence that is. Let us just wait,” Caparas told reporters, when asked about the new evidence that Enrile will present during the reopening of the Mamasapa-

no probe in the Senate.Enrile vowed to show proof

that President Aquino “ac-tively and directly involved himself in the planning and preparation of Oplan Exo-dus.”

Caparas also denied allega-tions that the Justice Depart-ment is delaying its resolu-tion of the Mamasapano case, which has been submitted for resolution by a panel of pros-ecutors following preliminary investigation.

Although it has been a year since the death of the SAF 44, Caparas said they are not sit-ting on the Mamasapano case, and assured the public that a resolution will be out soon.

“You are talking about many witnesses, you are talk-ing about several defendants, and when you put that all together, ...an investigation like that can take a very long time,” Caparas said.

A total of 90 respondents belonging to the MILF, its ri-val Bangsamoro Islamic Free-dom Fighters, and local pri-vate armed groups have been charged before the DoJ for the complex crime of direct assault with murder for the death of the 35 of the 44 SAF members belonging to the 55th company.

But the fact-finding team failed to gather evidence that would point to those respon-sible for the killing of the oth-er nine members of the 84th company.

State prosecutor Alexander Suarez, one of the members of the five-man preliminary investigation panel, earlier said only four out of the 90 respondents responded to the subpoenas they issued.

if she’s really interested in joining the government, she could be a strong advocate on issues that mattered to her.

“I advised her to first try her hand in some appointed position where she can push her advocacy, rather than join politics in an election. That’s my advise to her. She is very politically aware,” Drilon said.

Tens of thousands of peo-ple gave Wurtzbach a hero-ine’s welcome home during a colorful parade through Met-ro Manila Monday.

The parade was one of the highlights of a week-long celebration for Wurtzbach, who has been praised for her poise during last month’s pageant, despite a blunder by event host Steve Harvey who mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as Miss Uni-verse before correcting him-self minutes later and giving Wurtzbach the crown.

Wurtzbach, the Philip-pines’ first Miss Universe in

42 years and the third since the pageant started in the 1950s, expressed gratitude for the acclaim just before the pa-rade.

“We’ve been waiting for this crown for a long time now... I don’t think a lot of people know how big of a deal Miss Universe is to the Philippines. It brings a lot of honor and a lot of pride to the country,” she told reporters.

“I can’t wait to see every-body for the parade that is happening later so I see all the followers of the Miss Universe pageant,” she said in remarks broadcast by ABS-CBN tel-evision.

Wurtzbach, born to a Ger-man father and Filipina mother, already had a taste of fame in the Philippines before winning the Miss Universe title, having appeared on TV and in movies for years.

She was due to meet Presi-dent Benigno Aquino III, to whom she was once roman-tically linked, and received a medal at the Congress before attending a concert in her honor.

The 26-year-old model and actress said Sunday ahead of

the parade that she was over-whelmed with the rousing welcome so far.

“It’s in the parade that I can get a little emotional. I can’t wait. I’m just trying to hold back tears,” Wurtzbach said.

“It was a long journey com-ing here. I hope my story can become an inspiration for de-termination, discipline, faith and hard work,” said Wurtz-bach, who had tried to be the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Universe pageant twice previously before finally breaking through.

The parade saw Wurtzbach board a gigantic float sur-rounded with crystal spires, modeled on her diamond and sapphire crown, for a parade that passed through several major thoroughfares before ending at the Araneta Center, where she was welcomed by a massive fireworks display.

Congress is even readying a resolution that would give her a tax exemption on all her Miss Universe winnings and prizes.

In Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada welcomed Wurtzbach to the Capital City, saying her beauty and charm has in-

spired him to work harder to restore Manila to its status as the “Pearl of the Orient.”

“Being a mayor is not a joke. There are many challenges ... but today, Miss Universe vis-ited us and I can tell you, I really love my job!” Estrada said in a speech he delivered for the beauty queen’s arrival honors in City Hall.

As a former actor, Estrada said he remembered when he was paired with the first Fili-pina to win Ms. Universe in 1969, Gloria Diaz. He praised Pia for being a woman of beauty, grace, wit, intelli-gence, and compassion.

“Despite initial disappoint-ments, you never gave up un-til finally, you reached your dream and won the title of Ms. Universe. That is what we want here in Manila, Pia. We will continue to work hard, and we will never give up until we succeed in restoring Manila’s old glory and make it the Pearl of the Orient once again,” he said.

Estrada then gave Wurtz-bach a symbolic key to the city, saying that she is now an adopted daughter of Manila. With Joel E. Zurbano, AFP

By Francisco Tuyay

SOME of the families of the 44 Spe-cial Action Force commandos killed last year in Mamasapano snubbed a ceremony led by President Be-nigno Aquino III Monday to award medals to the fallen policemen.

Erika Pabalinas, wife of Senior Insp. Ryan Pabalinas, and who served as the spokesper-son of the families of the SAF 44 during the necrological rites a year ago, was not present to receive his posthumous award, which was received instead by the police officer’s father and brother.

Pabalinas was the most senior among the 44 SAF commandos, who was conferred the Distin-guished Conduct Star, the second highest police decoration along with 41 other troopers.

Last year, Erika pleaded with Aquino to help them find justice for their loved ones.

During the awarding rites, the Medal of Valor awards were conferred to Senior Insp. Gednat Tabdi and PO2 Romeo Cempron—the highest combat award for both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Tabdi was the one who led the attacked and eventually killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir in his hideout while Cempron shielded his comrade from a barrage of gunfire to enable PO2 Christopher Lalan to escape.

Nobody from the families of PO2 Nicky Naci-no and PO1 Rennie Tyrus who were awarded the posthumous Distinguished Conduct Star, went on stage to receive the award.

The classmates of Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria and PO2 Franklin Danao, received their respec-tive awards, while an uncle of Senior Insp. John Gary Erana took the award bestowed by the President.

A total of 47 troopers were given the DCS award, 42 of them assigned with the 84th SAF Seaborne Company and 55th SAF Company, that assaulted the safe house of the Malaysian terrorist.

PNP chief Ricardo Marquez denied allegations that the relatives of the SAF 44 were compelled to attend the ceremonies.

“We did not force them. We asked our officers to invite them over last Friday and I made these instructions that if they would not attend, I will recommend the cancellation of this awarding today,” Marquez said.

He also said the awarding of medals to the fallen commandos would bring closure to last year’s tragedy.

On Sunday, retired police chief superinten-dent and president of the Philippine National Po-lice Academy Alumni Association Inc. said that justice has not yet been served to the SAF 44, and that the “whole truth” must come out during the reopened Senate investigation.

Marquez and Interior Secretary Senen Sarmiento denied allegations of a coverup.

The leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Monday accused Aquino of committing “six deadly sins” in the Mamasapano debacle.

These were:1) Aquino violated the chain of command by

putting suspended police chief Alan Purisima in charge of the operation.

2) Aquino violated the suspension order of the Ombudsman by putting Purisima in charge of the covert operation.

3) Aquino failed to inform his own PNP OIC and Department of Interior and Local Govern-ment secretary of the operation.

4) Aquino failed to inform other Cabinet of-ficials and the Armed Forces. The lack of coordi-nation between the SAF and the AFP proved to be fatal for 44 SAF troopers.

5) Aquino failed to inform the government peace panel and the MILF, thus violating the ceasefire agreement.

6) Aquino allowed the participation of a for-eign government—the United States—in an in-ternal operation. With Joel E. Zurbano

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Poe dismisses rumors sheand husband have parted

Duterte says he might reveal critical info on SAF mission

Comelec signspartnershipwith Twitter

The killing recalled. President Benigno Aquino III delivers a speech during the first anniversary of the mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25 last year that resulted in the killing of 44 police commandos in a clash with Muslim rebels. Jansen RomeRo

Wake. Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Gringo Honasan visit the wake of a supporter of their political party United Nationalist Alliance who was shot dead near his house on Jan. 18.

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Du-terte said over the weekend he was studying whether to reveal critical information about the ill-fated mission that killed 44 po-lice commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25 last year, and that he would be willing to tell the truth “under oath.”

Duterte, a presidential can-didate, said he was at the com-mand center in Andrews Base in Zamboanga City with President Benigno Aquino III and then In-terior Secretary Manuel Roxas in the afternoon of Jan. 25, and that he knew what transpired in the command center.

“I know something about the government action during the Ma-masapano incident because I was at the base camp with President Aquino, and if I am called to the Senate inquiry I will tell the truth because I have the moral obliga-tion to tell what I know,” Duterte said in Zamboanga City.

“If I am called, I will be forced to tell the truth because I would be under oath,” Duterte told the wife of one of the 44 Special Action Force commandos who were killed in a clash with Muslim rebels in Mama-sapano on Jan. 25, 2015.

He made his statement even as Liberal Party standard-bearer

Roxas on Monday brushed aside Duterte’s latest tirade against him, saying the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban presidential candi-date was using him to gain political mileage.

Duterte had described Roxas as the “most incompetent” among those vying for the presidency in this year’s national elections dur-ing a gathering with Filipino-Chi-nese businessmen.

Roxas said Duterte had no defi-nite plans for the country, and that was the reason he slid to No. 4 in latest Social Weather Stations sur-vey on the presidential bets.

“He is lagging behind in the sur-

vey, and that’s why he is again pick-ing on me. I am always his target to promote himself,” Roxas said.

Duterte questioned the Aquino administration’s involvement in the SAF operations, saying it should disclose who claimed the $5-million reward offered for the killing of the international terror-ist Zulkifli bin Abdul alias Mar-wan by the police commandos and how it was divided.

“Where’s the money?” Duterte said. He said the “operators” of the raid that resulted in the death of Marwan and the 44 police com-mandos must tell the truth.

He said the families of the raid-

ing team who died during the clash with the Muslim rebels must share in the reward money be-cause, “more than anybody else, they made the supreme sacrifice.”

The US government had offered the $5-million reward for the capture or killing of the Malaysian terrorist.

The League of Filipino Stu-dents said Monday the Mama-sapano debacle would not have happened if President Aquino had not followed the orders of the US government to conduct the operation against Marwan. Aquino should be put behind bars as a result of it. John Paolo Bencito, with Pna

SENATOR Grace Poe on Monday laughed off rumors that she and her husband, whom she said would have become the “most handsome” First Gentleman if she won this year’s presidential election, had been sepa-rated since November.

Poe told dzBB radio she had heard many rumors but it was the first time that she heard that she’d been separated from Teo-doro Misael “Niel” Llamanzares.

In fact, she said, she and her husband would be celebrating their silver wedding anniversary this year.

“My strength and inspiration come from my husband, my family and my mother,” Poe said.

“My husband is really my friend.”

Poe, who is running for president as an independent candidate, said her husband would be the kindest First Gentleman and a husband for the government. She also vouched for his integrity.

Poe said her husband was low-key, and that he preferred staying home.

She remembered her husband asking her if he could just stay home even if she got elected president and had to live in Malacañang.

“So I told him I would have a CCTV in-stalled in our house to know what he’s do-ing,” Poe said.

She said her husband would not do anything that would tarnish their names and their family. macon Ramos-araneta

THE Commission on Elections said Monday it had signed a deal with the social messaging giant Twitter to generate reports from voters over any violations of campaign rules by candidates in the May 9 national and local elections.

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista an-nounced the partnership along with Rishi Jaitly, Twitter’s vice president for media in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

Jaitly said this was the “first real partner-ship” that Twitter had announced in the Phil-ippines.

He said the Philippines was “one of their fastest-growing markets,” with the site notic-ing the “enthusiasm” of Filipino users, and notably the so-called AlDub phenomenon or the fans of Eat Bulaga’s Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza breaking several records in Twitter.

For the 2016 elections, the social network-ing site will provide “premium services” to help the Comelec address complaints and en-courage engagements during the scheduled election debates.

Jaitly said those services would include “ac-cess to a whole range” including software, technology, data and analytics to enable the poll body to better monitor engagement as needed.

“We’ll be providing insight data and visu-alization that help represent the pulse of the country and the viewers with respect to what is top of mind during the debates,” Jaitly said

in a press conference.He said people would also be given a chance

to interact. “Our users will have a chance to tweet any

irregularities seen on the ground,” Jaitly said.Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said

there will be a relaunch of their #SumbongKo campaign before the start of the campaign pe-riod on Feb. 9.

“One of the things we are looking at is learning how to use the Twitter dashboard, specifically to aggregate the incident reports we will be getting. We tried this in 2013 with #SumbongKo,” Jimenez said.

However, this time the Comelec would be getting ample assistance from the Twitter management itself, Jimenez said.

He said while the public complaints sent through the social media could not be used as evidence against any erring candidate, it could be used as a lead by the Comelec.

“At the very least, the Comelec will treat it as an initiatory document,” Jimenez said.

“Once someone sends us information, we can verify it and come out with a case against the candidate.”

In the 2013 polls, the Comelec sent notices to several national, party-lists and local candi-dates after people complained that they had il-legal campaign posters and then sent pictures of those to the poll body through the social media.

Aside from the online public grievance system, Bautista said, their partnership with Twitter would also let them hold more inclu-sive presidential debates by using the power of social media.

“We look forward to working with Twitter to make the presidential debates more acces-sible to millions of Filipinos,” he said. Rey e. Requejo

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SSS hit for fudging figuresBy Maricel V. Cruz

TWO opposition congressman accused the Social Security System on Monday of manipulating figures to delude the public about the agency’s P325 billion in uncollected premiums and challenged the state-run pension agency to reveal how much it really failed to collect.

“The P325-b uncollected contribution was reported by SSS itself during the congressional hearings on the SSS Condonation Law of 2009,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, principal author of the SSS pension hike bill that President Benigno Aquino III vetoed Jan. 14.

“SSS was not really truthful when it said that out of 8,869 collection cases they filed since 2010, a total of 7,786 ‘have been terminated due to full payment’ making it appear that they have collected more than 80 percent of the P325-billion uncollected premiums in 2008,” Colmenares said.

“Notice, however, that they did not give the exact amount actually collected, precisely because they cannot publicly admit that they failed to collect the P325 billion,” the congressman added.

“We challenge the SSS to come out with exact amounts collected by them so that the public will know if they are telling the truth here” Colmenares said.

He recalled that during the congressional hearings on the SSS pension increase in 2012, the SSS reported that as of Dec. 31, 2010 a total of 174,985 employers failed to remit contributions.

“If the SSS has only filed 8,869 collection cases since 2010 it’s a rate of 1,773 cases filed per year. It will take SSS 100 years to collect from these employers. That is not an efficient collection rate,” Colmenares added.

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed disbelief to the SSS claim that it was able to collect 88 percent of contributions actually due for its 30-million members because it collected P103 billion in 2013.

“We maintain that the SSS collection rate is just 38 percent and we challenge the SSS once more to report how many of its 30-million members were paid for by their employers or covered by this P103-b remittance,” Zarate said.

“SSS cannot claim 88-percent collection rate efficiency if it only collected contributions covering less than half of its 30-million members,” Zarate said.

“We urge the SSS to come out with the complete facts so that the public will know the truth.” Colmenares added.

So sorry, BoC says of pouchesBy Eric B. ApolonioTHE airport Customs examiner, who opened a diplomatic pouch of the Japanese Embassy at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, could only offer “an apology for [the] honest mistake” of violating international law that protected such cargo from official examination.

Naia Customs district collector Edgar Macabeo said he had already reprimanded Customs Examiner Pompeo Manalo and his supervisor Emily Balatbat, chief of the BoC Composite Unit at the Pair Cargo, for the incident but did not specify what charges would be filed against the two.

Macabeo said it was the first time the violation occurred and stressed that most examiners are aware that

all “diplomatic pouches that arrives at the airport has immunity and cannot be examined by anyone without authorization from the commissioner and from the district collector.”

He said the incident happened last Dec. 3 at the Pair Cargo Customs Bonded Warehouse in Pasay City, day after the diplomatic pouch was released. The cargo arrived Nov. 30.

Contrary to Manalo’s claim that the opening of the pouch was an “honest mistake,” diplomatic sources said there was a representative of the Japanese Embassy who was at the Customs office and presented pertinent documents to prove that the cargo was a diplomatic pouch.

According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to which the Philippines is a signatory, a diplomatic

pouch is any properly labelled package or container of any size and weight that is used to transport materials for the use of embassies and offices of international organizations, among others.

In accordance with Article 27.3 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, properly designated diplomatic pouches “shall not be opened or detained.”

Macabeo could not explain why Manalo violated the standard operating procedure and said the examiner claimed that he was merely acting on the order of his superior.

Aside from official documents of the Japanese Embassy, the diplomatic pouch Manalo opened also contained Japanese rice wine to be used in the reception for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko who are set to arrive Tuesday.

SAF44 remembered. Retired Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. lays a wreath for the 44 police commandos killed in the Mamasapano massacre at a shrine built in their honor at the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite. DANNY PATA

By Maricel V. CruzWHILE the Aquino administration has rejected a P2,000 pension hike, a proposal for an increased travel allowance from P800 to P2000 for government officials and employees has been filed at the House of Representatives.

ABS party-list Rep. Catalina Leonen-Pizarro stressed the need for Congress to review the current travel allowance being given to public officials and employees who are considered public servants.

“The present travel allowance was based upon the prevailing market prices during the time it was crafted and does not truly reflect the current fiscal situation of the economy,” Pizarro said.

“The prices of basic commodities in 2004 have changed, and the real value of the amount of travel expenses worth P800 is not the same as it is today,” Pizarro added.

Pizarro, author of House Resolution

2261, said it is the responsibility of the government to provide travel allowance to its officials and employees in fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities.

Under Executive Order 298, government officials and employees are given P800 travel allowance regardless of rank and destination.

Under the law, 50 percent of the travel allowance shall be allotted to hotel and lodging while 30 percent shall be allotted for meals, Pizarro said, adding that the remaining 20 percent of the P800 travel allowance should be allotted for incidental expenses.

Pizarro added the increase in travel allowance shall be allocated to hotel and lodging, P600 for meals and P400 for incidental expenses.

“The travel allowance is also subject to reduction depending on the time of arrival at the place of destination and departure from such destination,” Pizarro said.

Govt allowance hike eyed

Explaining actuarial life. Social Security System chairman Emilio de Quiros stresses a point during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum in Manila. New Land Transportation Office chief Roberto Cabrera III was also at the weekly forum. LINO SANTOS

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SSS hit for fudging figures Architects, engineers told: Build resilient structuresLeyte Rep. Martin Romualdez  on Monday  called on Filipino engineers and architects to contribute to building a disaster-resilient country and urged the members of the two professions to spearhead efforts to amend provisions of the 1972 National Building Code.

“According to United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Centre on the epidemiology of Disasters, we are the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world,” warned Romualdez, who is running for senator in the May 2016 national elections.

“Given this painful reality, our engineers and architects must take the lead in convincing their clients—including the government—to adopt safety standards beyond what is currently required by our outdated building code,” added the solon.

“It may be more costly, but no one can put a price on saving lives.”

In a study conducted by the two institutions, the Philippines was struck by 274 natural calamities from 1995 to 2015. the only countries to be hit by more natural disasters are the United States, China, and India. 

the Leyte native, whose province was battered by typhoon “yolanda’’ in November 2013, said that weather phenomena like these “may become the new normal” and that the structures built in our country “must be able to withstand the ferocity and increased frequency of these storms.”

“Our painful experience in Leyte and the damage caused by earthquakes in Cebu and Bohol should open our eyes to the need for us to revisit the standards  on which our houses, buildings, roads, and bridges are built. It is obvious that what used to be acceptable can no longer cut it,” explained Romualdez. 

estimated property and infrastructure damage as a result of typhoon yolanda was pegged at P89.6 billion. 

Oil prices cut; diesel cheaper by P3.30/liter

Pump prices went down by P1.10 per liter of kerosene, P0.90 to P0.95 per liter of diesel and P0.60 per liter of gasoline. the latest price adjustment resulted in a net reduction in the price of diesel and gasoline by P3.30 and P1.80 per liter, respectively, in January alone.

eastern Petroleum Corp. slashed prices starting 6 p.m.

Monday and the other oil firms followed suit on tuesday.

Fernando Martinez, eastern Petroleum Chairman and chief executive officer, said the latest price adjustment reflected the current downward trend of oil prices in the world market.

As of Monday, crude oil was at $32 per barrel as prices continued to be affected by the oil

By Alena Mae S. Flores

The country’s oil companies cut pump prices for the third consecutive week, this time, by as much as P1.10 per liter amid a continuing drop in world oil prices.

supply surplus in the US and the economic slowdown in China.

“Analysts also believe the long-term price of oil is literally unforecastable, and the only thing that can be said is that oil prices will continue to defy experts’ expectations,” Martinez said.

Aside from eastern Petroleum, other oil companies that announced their respective price hikes as of press time are Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines.

“In spite of the peso depreciation and mainly due to the oversupply in the region, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of diesel by P0.90 per liter

and gasoline by P0.60 per liter effective 6 a.m. of Jan. 26, 2016 to reflect the continued downward price movements of petroleum products in the world market,” the company said.

the energy Department, meanwhile, is closely monitoring the compliance of oil companies on the euro 4 fuel standard after its implementation early this month.

energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said “preparations are underway” to monitor the oil firm’s compliance with a requirement for them to use cleaner fuel to motorists even as he admitted that “not all” firms have been compliant.

By Rey Requejo

PReSIDeNt Aquino on Monday  appointed six new associate justices of the Sandiganbayan who will compose the additional two divisions in the anti-graft court.

Named as magistrates of the anti-graft court were Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi, Reynaldo Cruz, Ma. theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Karl Miranda, Zaldy trespeses and Geraldine Faith econg.

Mendoza-Arcega, trespeses, and econg took their oath before Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, while Musngi, Cruz and Miranda before Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.

the President appointed them following the passage of Republic Act 10660, which strengthens the functions and structures of the anti-graft court to speed up resolution of cases.

Under the law, two divisions will be added to the existing five, all with three members each.

the Judicial and Bar Council submitted to the President the shortlist for the post last October.

6 justices namedto anti-graft court

Peaceniks. Senior Programme Manager of Center for Humanitarian Dialogue Philippines Camilo Montesa, Chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer of the government peace negotiating panel, Ambassador Franz Jessen of the European Union in the Philippines and Chairman Mohager Iqbal of the MILF negotiating panel hold copies of the ‘Journey to the Bangsamoro,’ a compilation of all signed agreements from the GPH-MILF Peace Process during the book launching held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City on Monday, Jan. 25. DANNY PATA

Grateful. Senatorial candidate Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) hands a plaque of appreciation to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for helping ‘Yolanda’ victims in Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte. Ver NoVeNo

A6t u e s D AY : j A n u A r Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

NEWSeditorial@thestandard.com.ph

Group seeks fare cuts for Uber, Grab taxis

De Lima draws flak over ‘irresponsible’ claims

Associate Commissioner Abdullah Mangotara as cluster head of the BI’s intel-ligence, administrative and finance division, formally relinquished his functions that were assigned to him by former Commissioner Sieg-fred Mison under a person-nel order.

The controversial DO 911 clipped former com-missioner Mison’s authori-ty and control over approv-al and issuance of visas in all immigration port of entries.

The order also included the inventory of all “ex-clusion and recall” orders issued by the Immigra-tion bureau for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Exclusion refers to an act wherein a foreigner is immediately ordered to be deported back to his or her country or origin upon ar-rival for being an undesir-able alien, while recall is the lifting of the exclusion order.

DO 911 also appointed Repizo as “commissioner-in-charge” of all ports of entry in the country.

Under the new DoJ or-der, Geron now fully con-trols the Bureau of Im-migration but without

interrupting the operation.Repizo said that as ear-

ly as Jan. 11, 2016, he was the one who asked for the revocation of DO 911 out of courtesy to the new commissioner.

“The revocation was re-leased immediately. The BI is now in normal and regu-lar operation mode and the powers of the new com-missioner must be restored. It’s reverted to the new com-missioner as legal conse-quence of the termination of 911,” Repizo said.

Right after the revoca-tion of DO 911, Geron ordered all BI personnel reassigned to various BI ports and satellite offices in far-flung provinces back to their mother units.

Geron was the deputy executive secretary for fi-nance and administration of the Office of the Presi-dent since 2010.

He has been in public service for over 20 years, including stints as provin-cial administrator of Ba-tangas and member of the provincial board.

The new BI commis-sioner graduated from the University of the Philip-pines College of Law in 1987.

By Rio N. ArajaA TRANSPORT group  on Monday  filed a petition for a 50-percent fare re-duction with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for Uber Systems Inc. and other transport network vehicle service.

Vigor Mendoza II, 1-United Trans-port Koalisyon national president, said the fare for Uber, GrabTaxi and other TNVS “patterned [after] or equated to taxi fares.”

“1-Utak files a petition to reduce base of transport network companies (TNCs)—GrabTaxi and Uber—by half and remove surge pricing,” he told The Standard.

He invoked Section 16(c) of the Public Service Act and the guide-lines of the Supreme Court “in the case of of Kilusang Mayo Uno La-

bor Center s. Garcia, the pertinent portion of which read.”

“To fix and determine individual or joint rates, tolls, charges, clas-sifications or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage, kil-ometrage and other special rates which shall be imposed, observed and followed thereafter by a public service,” he cited.

He said Uber and the rest of the TNCs have their own price formula not under the control of the LTFRB.

“On top of this, Uber charges a surge pricing where Uber in its own discretion may increase fares by up to five times the standard fare rates,” his petition read.

The TNCs have been violating the Public Service Act and Section 5(c) of Executive Order No. 202 of 1987, he maintained.

By Vito Barcelo Commissioner rolando Geron Jr. is now in full control of the Bureau of immigration after Justice secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa revoked DoJ’s Department order 911 that has given two Bi deputies certain powers. Associate Commissioner Gilberto repizo had the exclusive and direct supervi-sion and control over all personnel directly or indirectly connected with border control opera-tions of all the ports in the country. These per-sonnel include regular employees, confidential agents, contractual employees and job orders of the intelligence Division, the counter intel-ligence Unit, the Border management security Unit and Travel Control enforcement Unit.

Immigration chief regains powers

LAwyER-ACTIVIST and Kabayan party-list first nomi-nee Harry Roque on Monday  denounced the “irrespon-sible” statements of former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima concerning the arrest of expelled Iglesia ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca and advised the senatorial candi-date to “exercise restraint” in issuing statements “without having all the facts.”

“De Lima’s statements are just plain irresponsible, espe-cially coming from a former Justice secretary and Com-mission on Human Rights chair. There was a valid war-rant of arrest issued by a com-petent court. In fact, there were two such warrants is-sued by different courts,” said the UP Law professor.

Roque said that De Lima’s statements were not surpris-

ing as this was not the first time she has “thrown out the presumption of innocence” when it comes to the INC.

“what can we expect from De Lima? She has shown a propensity to dip her hands into the affairs of the INC and take advantage of the deep-seated prejudice of the Filipi-no electorate against the INC to gain media attention and political mileage,” Roque said.

The Liberal Party sena-torial candidate said that Menorca’s arrest was “ir-regular” and “most probably illegal.” De Lima made the comment immediately after being shown an alleged video of Menorca’s arrest.

Police authorities took cus-tody of Menorca on Jan. 20 by virtue of two warrants of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Courts of Lanao del

Norte and Marawi City, re-spectively. Menorca is facing separate libel cases filed by members of SCAN Interna-tional, an organization com-posed of INC members who have an inclination to com-munications and conducts rescue and rehabilitation missions during calamities. Menorca’s libel cases stem from his accusations that SCAN International acts as the INC’s death squad.

De Lima has been accused of bias by INC members after personally receiving the com-plaint for illegal detention of expelled minister Isaias Sam-son Jr. against INC leaders.

De Lima also speculated on the merits of the case on national television even be-fore the complaint was heard on preliminary investigation. The case was subsequently

dismissed by De Lima’s suc-cessor, Benjamin Caguioa, who was recently appointed as justice of the Supreme Court.

Roque said he is “bewil-dered” by the continued at-tacks on the INC by person-alities close to LP candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas. It has been previously reported that Roxas will never get the INC’s endorsement in the May 2016 elections.

“The libel cases against Menorca were filed by indi-viduals whom he called hoo-ligans and hired killers. The INC has nothing to do with these cases. I cannot under-stand why they have to con-tinuously drag the church’s name in these cases; any in-nocent individual accused of being a hitman would do the same thing,” Roque stressed.

Anti-poverty program. Officials and members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo distribute 20,000 packs of goods and 15,000 shirts to residents of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija during its Lingap sa Mamamayan program on Jan. 16, 2016. Lingap sa Mamamayan is part of Iglesia’s anti-poverty thrust nationwide.

Voting machine sample. An official of the Commission on Elections checks the sample vote counting machine during the roadshow held at Pope Pius XII Conference Hall in Paco, Manila on Monday. LINO SANTOS

A7T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

NEWSeditorial@thestandard.com.ph

Police kill 5 suspected carjackersin N. EcijaBy Romeo Dizon

CAMP Olivas, Pam-panga—Five suspected carjackers were killed during an encounter with the police opera-tives in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija yesterday.

Police Regional Di-rector Superintendent Rudy C. Lacadin said that the suspects re-main unidentified as of press time. Their re-mains were brought to a local funeral parlor for autopsy.

Lacadin said that suspects rammed the checkpoint manned by the Muñoz police force and the Regional Public Safety unit and fired on them, forc-ing the policemen to fire back. The suspects were killed on the spot.

Initial investigation showed that the sus-pects took the motorcy-cle of certain Macario dela Cruz along Basa 3, Talavera, Nueva Ecija who immediately re-ported the incident to the authorities.

Upon learning of the incident,the police es-tablished a checkpoint in Muñoz.

Recovered on the scene of the firefight were five .38 cal re-volver and several am-munition together with the stolen motorcycle and another motorcycle owned by the suspects.

Gov. Roberto Uy on Mon-day said 80 percent repre-senting P150.6 million of the road concreting project covering 13.82 kilometers will be funded through a loan from the World Bank.

Provincial Planning and

Development Office data showed the project will benefit 2,047 households consisting of 9,659 inhabitants.

The data further showed that 1,709 of the 2,047 fami-lies are farming households and the remaining 338 are

CEBU CITY—The Cebu City Council has approved another ordinance impos-ing a one-year moratorium on all clearing operations by the city government.

The first ordinance seeking a moratorium on city government-initiated demolitions had been ve-toed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who is now on a 60-day preven-tive suspension imposed by the Office of the Presi-dent for the demolition of a barangay-initiated cent-er island project.

Under the amended ap-proved ordinance, only those settlers who are liv-ing in danger areas duly-registered by the city’s Di-vision for the Welfare of the Urban Poor will be cov-

ered by the moratorium.Records from DWUP

showed that there are more than 10,000 residents who are still living in danger zones.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, principal author of the ordinance, said the moratorium will cover danger areas, such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, river-banks, shorelines, and waterways.

It will also apply to public places, such as sidewalks, roads, parks, public cem-eteries, playgrounds, and areas where government infrastructure projects with available funding are about to be implemented.

But the city can still carry out clearing operations in

areas mentioned if there is imminent danger on the lives of the residents, pro-vided that a temporary or permanent relocation will be given to them.

Rama said he vetoed the ordinance because it con-tradicted some national laws like the Water Code of the Philippines which re-quires that riverbanks and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes through-out their entire length and within its three-meter easement zone must be free of any structures.

Rama said it is also an ul-tra vires act or beyond the council’s power to enact.

The proposed meas-ure was refiled due to the clamor of the urban poor sector. PNA

Cebu City council imposes ban on clearing operations

Zamboanga town to spend P188m on road concretingDIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte—The government is set to imple-ment a P188.1-million farm-to-mar-ket road concreting project traversing six barangays in the nearby town of Tampilisan, this province.

non-farming households.The completion of the

project will benefit 7,557.98 hectares of agricultural lands, 3,313 hectares of which are identified as “road influence areas” while 1,741 hectares as “service areas.”

Uy said the provincial government will shoulder 10 percent (P18.8 million) of the project cost while Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Ru-ral Development Project will also provide 10 percent

as counterpart.The PRDP is a national

project under DA that pro-vides key infrastructures and facilities aimed to im-prove household income, competitiveness and pro-ductivity of the target bene-ficiary-communities.

Uy said the project’s ben-eficiary-barangays are Pob-lacion, Farmington, Galin-gon, Balacbaan, Cabong and Tilubog.

Uy said groundbreaking is scheduled for the second

week of February.“The completion of the

project would be a big help to farmers since this will ease the transport of their agricultural products to the market,” he said.

Tampilisan, which has 20 barangays, is a fourth class town in the third congres-sional district of this prov-ince with a population of 23,056 as of the 2010 census.

The main crops of Tampilisan is palay, corn and rubber. PNA

Bamboo reefs. Seventy-two of these artificial bamboo reefs were launched off the coast of Barangay Poblacion, Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte to attract marine life. RIO CAHAMBING/JEFF MARAILHAC

Roofless gallery. Jordan Mangosan, a renowned solar painting artist, relaxes in his roofless art gallery in Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet. DAVID CHAN

it. To me, Drilon’s e� usive remarks spoke more of his unspoken desire to bury the massacre underneath the at-tention that Wurtzbach was sure to get than of his being smitten by Pia’s charms.

� at, naturally, was what the administration wanted —to use a beauty queen as a propaganda tool so people will forget about the killing of the SAF 44 and make people stop asking questions about what President Noynoy Aqui-no did or didn’t know and did or didn’t do. Why else hold the Wurtzbach parade on the massacre’s anniversary (a Monday, no less) and have it

OPINIONA8

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE PRESIDENT’S HYPOCRISY

A9ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R

T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

IN A perfect world, nobody would elect Franklin Drilon to any position, unless a po-sition can be found that re-quired unstinting loyalty to those in power (only while they are in power, naturally) and world-beating, thick-skinned insensitivity. Oh, wait—that could very well be Drilon’s self-description of

his job as Senate president.In seeking to curry favor

with the new Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the beastly Drilon bleated: “I tell you, your visit here has gen-erated more interest than the Mamasapano hearing.”

Drilon, of course, is against the reopening of the Senate investigation of the Mama-sapano massacre, which hap-pened exactly one year ago yesterday. But he didn’t have to trample on the memory of the 44 members of the Special Action Force who were butch-

ered by the “peace partners” of Drilon’s beloved (while it is in power) Aquino admin-istration by comparing that lamentable, unforgettable in-cident with the outpouring of a� ection for Wurtzbach.

Even if you grant that Drilon’s glowing tribute to the beauty queen was literally true (the Senate president, af-ter all, rightly noted that he has never seen a gathering in his chamber that was more jam-packed than Wurtzbach’s appearance there), there was still no call for him to say

BEAUTY AND BEASTLINESS

THERE is good reason to believe that we  are entering a new era of en-ergy  development.  Reports  of coal companies going bankrupt have hit the news.  The  surge of this shift is auspicious, as it  gained  momentum just after  the adoption of the Paris agreement on  Dec. 12,  2015. The le-gally-binding climate deal mandates developed and developing countries to achieve a long-term global tem-perature goal of as low as 1.5 degrees Celsius.  Major emitters such as  US and China are onboard to  lower their carbon footprint.  The Philip-pines, in its intended nationally de-termined contribution or INDC, also set a conditional 70-percent emis-sion reduction goal by 2030.

Phasing out coal is considered one of the steps that have to be taken in order to have a cleaner and greener world.  Coal-� red power plants have  various environmental stressors  and as such contribute to pollution  and climate change. We discussed thoroughly the e� ects of the CFPPs on the environ-ment  in the policy brief  we  produced at  the  Ateneo  School of Government.

In “Striking a Balance:  Coal-� red power plants in the Philippines’ En-ergy Future,” we showed that  from  emissions from the smokestacks to byproducts from coal combustion, CFPPS cause harm to the environ-ment. � e smokestacks serving the boiler emit pollutants such as bitumi-nous and  subbituminous  coal.  From  using bituminous and  subbituminous coal, we pointed out  that   particulate  matter (PM), such as oxides of sulfur (SOx), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)  are released to the air.  Unburnt  com-bustibles such as carbon monoxide (CO) and organic compounds are  also  emitted  “even under proper boiler operating conditions.”

Wastewater, ash and  leachate, which came from coal combustion, produce selenium, arsenic and mer-cury, all of which are dangerous to health.  � ese stressors came from the parent coal, some of which even per-sist in the environment and bio-accu-mulate in organisms. CCFPs also  use huge amounts of water to turn tur-bines and cool thermoelectric plants.

BEYOND COAL, OUR

ENERGY FUTURE

wend its way from Manila’s reclama-tion area, to Makati’s business dis-trict, all the way to Cubao, Quezon City via Edsa, thereby ensuring that tra� c would practically grind to a halt in the bargain?

I confess I don’t know why Wurtz-bach agreed to such an arrangement, because she has never struck me as an airhead—a� er all, she did turn down Aquino, when the latter was supposedly making his usual bum-bling attempt at courtship. Maybe

the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s much-ballyhooed bid to make the new Miss Universe pay taxes on her earnings a� er she won the title has something to do with it.

I’ve got nothing against Miss Uni-verse, who surely deserves all the ac-colades she’s been getting. But I’ve got everything against a government—and its lackeys like Drilon—that will use even Pia Wurtzbach in its never-ending campaign to hide what really happened in Mamasapano a year ago.

* * *It’s been pointed out to me that

the incompetence and laziness of the administrators of the Social Security System are, thankfully, not catching. For instance, under this same gov-ernment, the housing pension fund known as Pag-IBIG has been thriving.

� e reason why President Noynoy Aquino is having such a hard time de-fending the managers of SSS headed by its president, Emilio de Quiros Jr.,

Continued on A11

IN THE commemoration of the first anniversary of the Mamasapano mas-sacre on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III conferred medals of valor, posthumously, on two of the 44 men who died in the clash.

The “Medalya ng Kagitingan” was given to Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi and Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron for their roles in the capture of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alyas Marwan, in Maguindanao.

Tabdi led his team to their target despite extreme odds. He served as navigator and pointman, serving as strength and inspiration to his men despite the adverse situation they were facing.

Cempron displayed valor despite being surrounded by more than 700 enemies. He was hit several times but managed to stand up after falling to the ground. He used his own body to shield his comrades.

We agree that these men deserve the highest honor for their supreme sacrifice in carrying out their mission. The remaining 42, along with the five survivors of the killings, were also recognized in Monday’s speech.

No words will be enough to describe their valor, the President said, as he said their sacrifices were not only for their comrades, not only for the PNP, but the entire country.

But what we cannot agree with are the President’s succeeding words and claims. He asked why those responsible for the deaths of the 44 men are still not held accountable? He said he was impatient about the pace of the justice system in the country. He then assured the families of the SAF 44 that he was doing everything he could to find justice. He said there was need to review the PNP Law, implying that there were police leaders who were remiss in their duties and who violated protocol.

This shows Mr. Aquino was not at all sincere in saying he assumed re-sponsibility for whatever happened in Mamasapano and that he would carry this burden to his grave. Now he is back to his original stance—that others are to blame, that he did not have anything to do with it, and that he and the fallen men’s families were even for losing their loved ones.

Self-righteousness and hypocrisy have been the hallmark of the Presi-dent’s six years in office. We see these traits when something—and there are many that do—goes wrong under his watch.

Let’s see where these take him when the hearings on the Mamasapano killings resume on Wednesday.

What the administration

wanted was to use a beauty queen

as a propaganda tool so people will forget about the

SAF 44.

EAGLE EYES

DEAN TONYLA VIÑA

LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

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

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Continued on A11

it. To me, Drilon’s e� usive remarks spoke more of his unspoken desire to bury the massacre underneath the at-tention that Wurtzbach was sure to get than of his being smitten by Pia’s charms.

� at, naturally, was what the administration wanted —to use a beauty queen as a propaganda tool so people will forget about the killing of the SAF 44 and make people stop asking questions about what President Noynoy Aqui-no did or didn’t know and did or didn’t do. Why else hold the Wurtzbach parade on the massacre’s anniversary (a Monday, no less) and have it

OPINIONA8

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE PRESIDENT’S HYPOCRISY

A9ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R

T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

IN A perfect world, nobody would elect Franklin Drilon to any position, unless a po-sition can be found that re-quired unstinting loyalty to those in power (only while they are in power, naturally) and world-beating, thick-skinned insensitivity. Oh, wait—that could very well be Drilon’s self-description of

his job as Senate president.In seeking to curry favor

with the new Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the beastly Drilon bleated: “I tell you, your visit here has gen-erated more interest than the Mamasapano hearing.”

Drilon, of course, is against the reopening of the Senate investigation of the Mama-sapano massacre, which hap-pened exactly one year ago yesterday. But he didn’t have to trample on the memory of the 44 members of the Special Action Force who were butch-

ered by the “peace partners” of Drilon’s beloved (while it is in power) Aquino admin-istration by comparing that lamentable, unforgettable in-cident with the outpouring of a� ection for Wurtzbach.

Even if you grant that Drilon’s glowing tribute to the beauty queen was literally true (the Senate president, af-ter all, rightly noted that he has never seen a gathering in his chamber that was more jam-packed than Wurtzbach’s appearance there), there was still no call for him to say

BEAUTY AND BEASTLINESS

THERE is good reason to believe that we  are entering a new era of en-ergy  development.  Reports  of coal companies going bankrupt have hit the news.  The  surge of this shift is auspicious, as it  gained  momentum just after  the adoption of the Paris agreement on  Dec. 12,  2015. The le-gally-binding climate deal mandates developed and developing countries to achieve a long-term global tem-perature goal of as low as 1.5 degrees Celsius.  Major emitters such as  US and China are onboard to  lower their carbon footprint.  The Philip-pines, in its intended nationally de-termined contribution or INDC, also set a conditional 70-percent emis-sion reduction goal by 2030.

Phasing out coal is considered one of the steps that have to be taken in order to have a cleaner and greener world.  Coal-� red power plants have  various environmental stressors  and as such contribute to pollution  and climate change. We discussed thoroughly the e� ects of the CFPPs on the environ-ment  in the policy brief  we  produced at  the  Ateneo  School of Government.

In “Striking a Balance:  Coal-� red power plants in the Philippines’ En-ergy Future,” we showed that  from  emissions from the smokestacks to byproducts from coal combustion, CFPPS cause harm to the environ-ment. � e smokestacks serving the boiler emit pollutants such as bitumi-nous and  subbituminous  coal.  From  using bituminous and  subbituminous coal, we pointed out  that   particulate  matter (PM), such as oxides of sulfur (SOx), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)  are released to the air.  Unburnt  com-bustibles such as carbon monoxide (CO) and organic compounds are  also  emitted  “even under proper boiler operating conditions.”

Wastewater, ash and  leachate, which came from coal combustion, produce selenium, arsenic and mer-cury, all of which are dangerous to health.  � ese stressors came from the parent coal, some of which even per-sist in the environment and bio-accu-mulate in organisms. CCFPs also  use huge amounts of water to turn tur-bines and cool thermoelectric plants.

BEYOND COAL, OUR

ENERGY FUTURE

wend its way from Manila’s reclama-tion area, to Makati’s business dis-trict, all the way to Cubao, Quezon City via Edsa, thereby ensuring that tra� c would practically grind to a halt in the bargain?

I confess I don’t know why Wurtz-bach agreed to such an arrangement, because she has never struck me as an airhead—a� er all, she did turn down Aquino, when the latter was supposedly making his usual bum-bling attempt at courtship. Maybe

the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s much-ballyhooed bid to make the new Miss Universe pay taxes on her earnings a� er she won the title has something to do with it.

I’ve got nothing against Miss Uni-verse, who surely deserves all the ac-colades she’s been getting. But I’ve got everything against a government—and its lackeys like Drilon—that will use even Pia Wurtzbach in its never-ending campaign to hide what really happened in Mamasapano a year ago.

* * *It’s been pointed out to me that

the incompetence and laziness of the administrators of the Social Security System are, thankfully, not catching. For instance, under this same gov-ernment, the housing pension fund known as Pag-IBIG has been thriving.

� e reason why President Noynoy Aquino is having such a hard time de-fending the managers of SSS headed by its president, Emilio de Quiros Jr.,

Continued on A11

IN THE commemoration of the first anniversary of the Mamasapano mas-sacre on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III conferred medals of valor, posthumously, on two of the 44 men who died in the clash.

The “Medalya ng Kagitingan” was given to Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi and Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron for their roles in the capture of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alyas Marwan, in Maguindanao.

Tabdi led his team to their target despite extreme odds. He served as navigator and pointman, serving as strength and inspiration to his men despite the adverse situation they were facing.

Cempron displayed valor despite being surrounded by more than 700 enemies. He was hit several times but managed to stand up after falling to the ground. He used his own body to shield his comrades.

We agree that these men deserve the highest honor for their supreme sacrifice in carrying out their mission. The remaining 42, along with the five survivors of the killings, were also recognized in Monday’s speech.

No words will be enough to describe their valor, the President said, as he said their sacrifices were not only for their comrades, not only for the PNP, but the entire country.

But what we cannot agree with are the President’s succeeding words and claims. He asked why those responsible for the deaths of the 44 men are still not held accountable? He said he was impatient about the pace of the justice system in the country. He then assured the families of the SAF 44 that he was doing everything he could to find justice. He said there was need to review the PNP Law, implying that there were police leaders who were remiss in their duties and who violated protocol.

This shows Mr. Aquino was not at all sincere in saying he assumed re-sponsibility for whatever happened in Mamasapano and that he would carry this burden to his grave. Now he is back to his original stance—that others are to blame, that he did not have anything to do with it, and that he and the fallen men’s families were even for losing their loved ones.

Self-righteousness and hypocrisy have been the hallmark of the Presi-dent’s six years in office. We see these traits when something—and there are many that do—goes wrong under his watch.

Let’s see where these take him when the hearings on the Mamasapano killings resume on Wednesday.

What the administration

wanted was to use a beauty queen

as a propaganda tool so people will forget about the

SAF 44.

EAGLE EYES

DEAN TONYLA VIÑA

LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES

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Continued on A11

citizenship. The issue boils down to

the intent, letter and spirit of the Constitution which mandates that a candidate for President must have resided in the Philippines 10 years before Election Day and must be a natural-born Filipino.

The Comelec says that Mrs. Llamanzares “mis-represented” or “lied” about her residency. Count three years of her being a senator. Santa Banana, she is not qualified insofar as the residency requirement in the 1987 Constitution.

The battleground at the Supreme Court now is on the interpretation of the Constitution on Poe’s case. Those who seem to favor Poe want the Constitution interpreted liberally. They even claim that the people should decide.

But, Santa Banana, the

Constitution itself is al-ready the voice of the peo-ple, which was ratified by the people. As such, its in-tent, letter and spirit must be followed. Otherwise, we may as well throw the fun-damental law of the land into the trash can.

Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, dean of the San Beda graduate law school, whose opinion I respect, came out last week with the Supreme Court ruling on Vicente Ching, who was a legitimate son of a Chinese father and a Fili-pino mother. He was born in 1964, and therefore his case fell under the 1935 citizenship provisions of the 1935 Constitution. Ch-ing was born here, which makes him a Filipino citi-zen because of our “jus sanguini” (right of blood) doctrine. He resided here, studied law, and in 1998,

took the bar exam and passed.

But because of Ching’s unresolved citizenship issue, he was not allowed to take the lawyers’ oath nor to inscribe his name in the Roll of Attorneys. On Oct. 1, 1999, the high court finally decided on his citizenship issue, based on the 1935 constitutional provision that the children of Filipino mothers and foreign fathers, must decide upon reaching the age of majority, which was 21 years old at that time. The Supreme Court also said that “the extension of the option to elect Philippine citizenship is not indefinite.”

The ponecia of then-Justice Santiago Kapunan was precise and clear:

“Philippine citizenship can never be treated like a commodity that is claimed

when needed and sup-pressed when convenient. One who is privileged to elect Philippine citizen-ship has only an inchoate right to such citizenship. As such, he should avail of the right with fervor, en-thusiasm and promptitude. Sadly, in this case Ching slept on his opportunity to elect Philippine citizenship, and as a result, this golden privilege slipped away from his grasp.”

If we follow Justice Marvic Leonen’s opinion, my gulay, the Constitution can be interpreted to a ri-diculous conclusion.

In other words, the in-tent and letter of the 1987 Constitution clearly pro-vides that Mrs. Llaman-zares must have 10 years residency in the Philippines and must be a natural-born Filipino. If she is not, she must be disqualified.

OPINIONT U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

A10

THERE are times when I get confused about our kind of politics.

Take the case of Sena-tor Serge Osmeña who is running for reelection under the administration’s senatorial ticket.

While Osmeña says that administration presiden-tial candidate Mar Roxas is “incompetent,” his son is getting married to the daughter of Mar’s sister.

“Onli in da Philip-pines,” as they say.

* * *There are several ques-

tions the people would like answered during the re-opening of the hearings on the Mamasapano massacre.

The operation was planned to serve warrants of arrest to two known ter-rorists, a Malaysian with a $5-million bounty on his head, and a Filipino with $1-million price.

Santa Banana, that re-sulted in the slaughter of 44 police commandos despite their calls for aid from a military battalion not too far away.

Wasn’t BS Aquino III, as President, Chief Ex-ecutive, overall head of the Philippine National Police as top cop, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines totally and completely in charge of the operation?

Why was BS Aquino III’s best friend Alan Puri-sima, who was already suspended at that time, made to head the opera-tion, keeping both Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and

then PNP Chief Leonardo Espina out of the loop?

Why was there a news blackout for three days, starting Jan. 25, 2015, the day of the massacre?

Why did BS Aquino III go to Zamboanga City on Jan. 25, ostensibly to in-vestigate a bombing which killed one person?

Why, despite appeals from the PNP Special Ac-tion Force for immediate assistance from a military battalion nearby, did the help not come?

Was it true that BS Aquino III told the mili-tary to “stand down” for fear of endangering the peace process if the 6th In-fantry Division headed by Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pan-gilinan assisted the police commandos?

Were the lives of 44 SAF commandos less im-portant than the peace process, which was sup-posedly BS Aquino III’s legacy?

Wasn’t the President monitoring the operation in Mamasapano, together with some of his Cabinet members? And who were they? They must be made to answer for their role in the operation.

Another thing—why were the Americans’ pres-ence needed to assist the wounded?

President Aquino must answer these questions, and answer for his acts.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile claims he has the goods against the President. The motives of Enrile are irrelevant at this point.

Now look at what Malacañang and the PNP are doing to assuage the feelings of the survivors and relatives of the 44 po-lice commandos left to be butchered.

President Aquino is giving them post-humous awards and the PNP is stumbling all over the place to provide the ben-efits promised them.

What hypocrisy, the hallmark of this adminis-tration!

* * *The oral arguments on

the disqualification case against Mrs. Mary Grace Natividad Kelly Poe Lla-manzares will resume to-day. The Comelec had ear-lier disqualified her on the basis of her residency and

THE CONSTITUTION’S

INTENT AND LETTER

WHAT FURTHER ARGUMENTS ARE NEEDED?

THE oral arguments on the disqual-ification cases lodged against Sena-tor Grace Poe, an independent can-didate for president in the May 2016 elections, continues in the Supreme Court.  From the way the hearing went last week, Poe is fighting an uphill battle. 

One justice, however, intimated that Poe’s opponents must prove her ineligibility.  That’s odd, consider-ing that the documents Poe submit-ted to the Commission on Elections in 2013, when she ran for senator, indicates, with Poe’s knowledge and consent, that by May 2016, she will be several months short of the minimum ten-month residency re-quirement imposed by the Consti-tution on candidates for president.  Since those documents are official documents in government custody, they carry a lot of probative value.  Clearly, the burden is on Poe to prove otherwise.

If the information in Poe’s docu-ments is supposedly false or errone-ous, Poe should have corrected it.  Poe’s unexplained refusal to make the needed correction is an indica-tion that the information she sup-plied in her documents is true and correct.       

Evidently, Poe didn’t bother to correct the alleged error in her 2013 Comelec records because the resi-dency requirement for a valid run for the Senate is two years, and by the time of her election as senator in May 2013, she would have satis-fied the two-year residency require-ment.  Thus, for three years, Poe’s 2013 Comelec records remained unchanged, even when  she had the services of lawyers at her beck and call as senator.

Under the legal principle of estoppel, one is not permitted to disavow whatever representations one has earlier made to others who relied on such representations.  For example, one who freely makes

an admission against himself or herself cannot be permitted to object to the use of that admission against him later on.  Therefore, since Poe did not correct her 2013 Comelec records, Poe is estopped from alleging that those records are erroneous.

Nobody questioned Poe’s citizen-ship in 2013 because back then the electorate saw her as the adopted daughter of film actor Fernando Poe Jr., who was perceived by many as the real winner of the 2004 presi-dential elections.         

Poe’s landing first place in the 2013 senatorial elections apparently convinced Poe to run for president in 2016.  It also prompted many po-litical opportunists, most of whom did not consider Poe a viable sena-torial candidate in 2013, to cajole Poe to run for president in May 2016.  These are the same charac-ters who would not have bothered giving Poe the time of the day be-fore she won in 2013. 

Now, these opportunists want the electorate to believe that Poe’s three-year, lackluster stint as the national cinema and television censor, and another three years as a virtually inactive senator, are enough to make her a competent leader.  They are, however, conveniently silent about Poe’s American husband who, if Poe is elected president, will be the country’s first alien first gentleman. 

When President Benigno Aqui-no III was still a legislator, he was never identified with any out-standing legislation.  As president, Aquino has not shown any compe-tence, either.  Compared to Poe,

however, Aquino has more expe-rience in public service.  Imagine then what a Poe presidency will be like?  No wonder Poe’s supporters with vested interests want her to be president.  They expect to wield influence in an administration that should not be in office in the first place. 

As pointed out in previous es-says in this column, many of the politicians supporting Poe’s run for president do not, or refuse to un-derstand the Constitution, and they conveniently raise populist conten-tions whenever they run out of valid arguments.  They do not mind vio-lating the Constitution just to suit one individual like Poe.   

Compared to the politicians be-hind Poe, the petitioners who filed the disqualification cases against Poe did their homework, and they know what they are talking about.  One is an ex-senator who writes le-gal and political anthologies, one is a former prosecutor of the Depart-ment of Justice, one is a law school dean, and one is an academician specializing in Political Science.

The Solicitor General argues that it is unfair to demand that foundlings like Poe establish their citizenship at birth with strict certainty, and that since Poe has Filipino features, and since she was found in a Catholic church in Jaro, Iloilo where the majority of the population is Catholic, it is likely that she is born of Filipino parents, and that she is a natural-born Filipino.

Two columnists from another newspaper debunked that argu-ment and pointed out that the Constitution requires a fact, not a mere likelihood.  The issue, they said, is not what is beneficial to foundlings, but whether or not a specific foundling—Grace Poe—is a natural-born citizen.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR

VICTOR AVECILLA

The Constitution

itself is already the voice of the people,

because it has been ratified by

them.

TO THE POINT

EMIL P. JURADO

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

Continued on A11

A11T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

OPINION

CHINA’S MIGRANTS GO HOME–AND STAY THEREBy Adam Minter

EVERY year, tens of millions of China’s  246-million mi-grants  return home to cel-ebrate the Chinese New Year. It’s the  world’s biggest annual migration, and it typically goes off smoothly. This year, however, something’s amiss.

Although the holiday doesn’t start until Feb. 8, mil-lions of workers—especially  in the construction and electrical-appliance industries—have  al-ready returned  home due to the country’s slowing economy. For local governments across China, this is raising  a tough question: What happens if these laborers don’t go back to work after the holiday?

The concern isn’t a new one. In early 2009,  20-mil-lion unemployed migrants  returned home for the holi-days in the wake of the global financial crisis, raising  fears  of social unrest. Labor riots did, in fact,take place. But most of the unemployed ap-

pear to have gotten back to work when China’s monster stimulus kicked in later that year.

This time is notably differ-ent. Prospects for a 2009-style stimulus are slim. More im-portant, China is on the cusp of a long-term trend of re-verse migration back to the countryside. This week, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that the migrant population  dropped by 5.68 million  in 2015—its first de-cline in about three decades.

Some of that decline is simple demographics, and parallels China’srapidly shrinking  labor force. But much of it is attributable to a slump  in the labor-intensive manufacturing sector, and a steady improvement in ru-ral economies. These trends haven’t caught authorities completely off-guard: Despite a long-term commitment to urbanization (in 1980, China was  19.6 percent urbanized; today the figure is  more than

50 percent), the government has recently directed more attention and money to rural development projects, rang-ing from infrastructure im-provement to  credit support  for the country’s hundreds of millions of farmers. This year, rural per-capita income isex-pected  to exceed 10,000 yuan for the first time, surpassing urban income growth for the fifth straight year.

But just as economics were  never the sole reason  for mov-ing to the city, many migrants also have non-economic mo-tives for moving back home, in-cluding a desire to care for aging parents left behind and a hun-ger for uncontaminated food.

“The migrant workers are rooted in the countryside,” said Yang Tuan, a promi-nent sociologist at the China Academy of Social Science, in a September interview. “They have feelings for the land.” She predicted that reverse migration might peak in the next five to 10 years.

On balance, that should be good news. It should help al-leviate the overcrowding in China’s biggest cities and the sharp income disparity be-tween rural and urban areas. Returning migrants tend to be more worldly and wealthy than when they left, as well as more entrepreneurial: The number of people starting new businesses in rural China  grew  3.1 percent, year over year, in the first half of 2015. In total, about two million migrants have returned home to start businesses. That trend appears to be accelerating: Si-chuan Province, China’s lead-ing source of migrant labor,  reports  that more than 40,000 of its returned migrants have attempted to start businesses over the past year.

The government could still do more to help, starting with expanding access to capital via micro-credit programs (re-turning migrants don’t attract many bankers), and boosting Internet access in rural areas

(less than a third of rural in-habitants  are online). Many returning workers will also be looking for training and jobs —not a start-up opportunity. Agriculture, the industry that many of them left behind, is badly in need of moderniza-tion, and the government could help by creating agriculturally focused vocational schools that help workers gain entry to Chi-na’s nascent but growing agri-business sector. Long-overdue land reform would also allow farmers to finally choose for themselves how to buy, use and sell their small plots, and thus unlock the true value of China’s countryside.

Reversing 30 years of de-mographic trends won’t be easy for China’s cities or its countryside. But the transi-tion itself is a reminder that decades of reform is finally starting to pay off for some of China’s most economically backward regions.

That’s worth celebrating this Chinese New Year. Bloomberg

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

What... From A10

Besides, the reference to fairness is misplaced.  If ev-ery candidate for president, vice president, senator, and representative is required to prove their natural-born citi-zenship when they are ques-tioned about it, there is no valid reason for creating a le-nient standard for a candidate who is a foundling.  Subject-ing foundlings to such lenient standards will encourage circumvention of Philippine laws on citizenship.  Since adoption does not confer Philippine citizenship on a child, aliens who want their child to obtain Philippine citizenship will go around the law and make it look like the child is a foundling left in a Catholic church. 

Many noted opinion lead-ers agree that Poe is ineligibili-ty to run for the presidency.  A senior columnist of this news-paper has repeatedly under-scored why Poe is and remains disqualified for a presidential run on the ground of citizen-ship and residency consider-ations.  His arguments, often expressed in simple language, cannot be ignored or dis-missed indiscriminately. 

A writer from another newspaper wrote that the Constitution should not be set aside just to accom-modate popular individu-als like Poe. He added that while the current Consti-tution may not be perfect, and until it is amended, it is entitled to everyone’s com-pliance.  That includes Poe and the Supreme Court. 

Beyond... From A9  The  amount of greenhouse

gases such as  methane and car-bon  that came from  CFPP oper-ations  could not be ignored.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that “nearly 99 percent of the fuel car-bon in coal is converted to CO2 during the combustion process relatively independent of firing configuration (USEPA).”  Data from the US Energy Informa-tion Administration also showed that coal power plants in the US emit 2.07 to 2.17 pounds (938.9 to 984.3 grams) of carbon diox-ide per kilowatt-hour of electric-ity.  Research by environmental experts Thomas Bruckner, Igor  Alexeyevich Bashmakov  and others, which was published by  Cambridge University, mean-while,  concluded that “globally, coal power plants generate the largest lifecycle GHG emissions.”

All of these combined, “these unnatural inputs to the environ-ment and considerable usage of natural resources lead to climate change, air, water and soil pollu-tion, and acid rain.” 

There are technologies that could minimize the negative ef-fects of CFPPs to the environ-ment. These include what we call “clean coal technologies” such as supercritical and ultra-super-critical, integrated gasification combined cycle and fluidized bed combustion which could lower emissions. There are also retro-fitting measures such as com-bustion control optimization, cooling system heat loss recov-ery, low-rank coal drying,  scoot-blower optimization, among others which have the capacity to increase efficiency. Some CF-PPs in the Philippines such as the  Sual  power plant in  Panga-sinan  use similar technologies in compliance with the World Bank standards as well as that of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. But even if there are technologies that could mitigate the stressors we men-tioned, CFPPs, as compared to other power sources “still pro-duce more  potential land, air, water, and people stressors per unit of electricity generated.” 

We have  mechanisms  in place in the Philippines that

enable us to assess the  effects of CFPPs on the environment.   Communities that are affected by CFPPs—through the multi-partite team—could participate in scoping, developing and re-viewing the Environmental Im-pact Assessment study of CFPPS. This MMT is composed of rep-resentatives from government agencies and nongovernment groups.  The results of the EIA are  also  disclosed to the public. There is the danger though that these mechanisms are not  prop-erly utilized and the opportunity to take part in genuine evalua-tion of CFPP operations is not  maximized, given limitations in the capacity of the stakeholders themselves to understand how CFPPs work.  We have to assess the effectiveness of  the MMT,  do the  necessary improvements and take steps  to  empower and educate  stakeholders  for them to be able to fulfill their role  in minimizing and even preventing the increase of  the harmful im-pacts of CFPPs on  the environ-ment.

With 23 more CFPPs also al-ready in the pipeline, stakehold-

ers must be proactive and be vigilant in demanding that these CFPPs adopt technologies that will reduce their harmful effects to the environment. This re-quirement, we propose, should be part of a “gold standard” that will also include a social-cost benefit analysis and scientific assessment of the health and so-cial impacts of CFPPs. I will ex-pound on these social and health impacts in the next part of my column.

Last but not the  least,  the national government must also give a clear timeline of its own coal  phaseout. When we seek assistance from the interna-tional community in reducing our emissions, we must provide strong, feasible and sustainable strategies. How do we intend to reduce our coal use? What do we plan to do to deliver on our own promise? It is important that we find a way of balancing our im-mediate energy needs with our long-term aim to adopt clean energy.  This should be the core of our exit plan from dirty en-ergy and of our entry into the new era of energy security.

Beauty... From A9

is that they cannot conceive of giving a P2,000 increase in the monthly pensions of 2.15 mil-lion retirees without raising the contributions of current mem-bers. And, unfortunately for Aquino, he has decided to up-hold De Quiros and his highly-paid men, who have convinced him that giving more to the pensioners will eventually kill the fund unless contributions are raised.

But the people running Pag-

IBIG Fund, led by the highly effective and efficient Darlene Berberabe, have done wonders without even once calling for increases in contributions. Pag-IBIG officials have opted merely to increase the housing fund’s membership base and improve collection efficiency.

Within a couple of years, Pag-IBIG membership was nearly doubled from 8.5 million to 15 million. Collection efficiency dramatically improved and the viability of the fund was extended without having to

resort to punitive increases in contribution rates.

The only knock on Berber-abe is actually political: She was handpicked to head the fund —and took policy direction from— the head of the government housing sector, Vice President Je-jomar Binay, the former Housing and Urban Development Coordi-nating Council chairman.

As a result of Berberabe’s identification with Binay, she has been dragged into the witch-hunt conducted by Senator An-tonio Trillanes against Binay in

the Senate. And those who fol-lowed that farce of an investiga-tion know that Berberabe put Trillanes in his place by proving that the fund she headed was managed exceptionally well.

Trillanes, of course, was motivated by his desire to smear Binay by trying to find something wrong with Pag-IBIG. Would that Trillanes (and all the others who wish Binay ill) could show just a little of that enthusiasm in going after De Quiros and his fellow mis-managers.

A12sports@thestandard.com.ph

T UESDAY : JANUARY 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

Raonic nipsWawrinkato marchinto q’finalCANADA’S Milos Raonic fought off a comeback by 2014 champion Stan Waw-rinka in a tense five-setter before taking a major scalp and reaching his second straight Australian Open quarter-final on Monday.

Canada’s Milos Raonic celebrates winning a game in the final set during his men’s singles match against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka on day eight of the 2016 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2016. AFP

Degenkolb, pals to undergo surgery PARIS-ROUBAIX winner John De-genkolb has undergone surgery to re-pair a deep cut on his leg after he and five other Giant-Alpecin teammates were mowed down by a car whilst training in Spain.

German Degenkolb, the team’s star rider, also suffered a fractured fore-arm in Saturday’s collision with an English driver near Alicante in the southeast of the country.

“After yesterday’s successful sur-gery on a cut in his upper leg, John had operations on his hand and frac-tured forearm this morning, which were successful,” Giant said in a statement on Sunday.

“He will travel to Germany in the next few days for further treatment to his arm and hand. Then he will also start his recovery process.

“His immediate focus will be on recovery, which will take time, but it’s difficult to make an estimation at this point.”

American Chad Haga was airlifted to hospital and underwent success-

ful surgery on neck and chin wounds with an orbital fracture to be treated once the swelling around his eye re-cedes.

“In several days to one week, he will have surgery on his orbital fracture too,” the team statement added.

“Until then, and to recover follow-ing the orbital surgery, he will stay in the hospital for treatment.”

Warren Barguil, Fredrik Ludvigs-son, Ramon Sinkeldam and Max Walscheid were all released from hospital in Alicante on Sunday.

Barguil suffered a fractured scaph-oid that may require surgery and will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks before he can return to train-ing.

Walscheid has a fractured tibia and thumb which will keep him out for months.

Meanwhile, Ludvigsson and Sin-keldam suffered cuts and bruises.

“Obviously yesterday’s accident had a huge impact on the team,” said

CEO Iwan Spekenbrink.“The recovery of the riders is the

first priority, as well as the emotional processing of the event for those who were there.

“It is clear that the team has been set back some months. It will cer-tainly take time for the team to return to full strength, but eve-rybody will work hard, (be) dedi-cated and (work) closely together to get there.”

The driver of the car was an Eng-lishwoman who was on the wrong side of the road when the accident oc-curred, according to the emergency services.

“Everyone on the team is in shock right now, and there are some major issues that we need to take care of, but we also realise that we have had some luck on our side,” said team physician Anko Boelens.

In 2012 Spanish cyclist Victor Ca-bedo was killed after being run over on a training run in Almedijar near Valencia. AFP

Adidas to end sponsorship of IAAF

Raonic, who earlier spoke of his grief over a high school shooting in his home country, eliminated the Swiss world number four 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 and will face Gael Monfils in the quarters.

The 13th seed, who beat Wawrinka’s fellow Swiss Roger Federer to win this month’s Brisbane Interna-tional, remains unbeaten this year after his impres-sive victory in three hours 44 minutes.

It was Raonic’s first win against the reigning French Open champion in five meetings, and he has not lost a match at tour level since going down to Rafael Nadal in the third round of last year’s Shang-hai Masters.

Raonic, looking to take his game to another level under new coach Carlos Moya, was on track for a straight-sets win after four service breaks to lead by two sets in 76 minutes.

But Wawrinka lifted his intensity and took the match to a fifth set.

“It is more about what always comes down to me, trying to play in my

rhythm, dictate and con-trol the centre of the court and I thought like I was able to carry that through today,” Raonic said.

“It’s the next step for me to try and achieve the goals I want to achieve and I am always looking at ways to get better and I am always working for that.”

The match turned in the third set when Wawrinka broke Raonic’s serve in the 11th game and served out to keep the encounter alive.

Raonic started miss-ing more and Wawrinka picked up his serving per-centage, and he broke the Canadian in the fifth game of the fourth set and fought off four break points on his serve in the eighth game.

Wawrinka steamed to triple set point in the 10th game and took the match into a fifth set with the momentum shifting his way.

But in the final set, Wawrinka lost serve in a shaky sixth game when on second break point his forehand drive was just out, giving Raonic a 4-2 lead. AFP

GERMAN sportswear gi-ant Adidas, the biggest sponsor of the scandal-hit International Association of Athletics Federations, is to end its multi-million dollar backing of the gov-erning body four years early, the BBC reported Sunday.

The BBC said Adidas’s decision was related di-rectly to the doping scandal engulfing global track and field.

Contacted by AFP, Adi-das refused to respond di-rectly to the report.†

“Adidas is opposed to doping in any form. We are therefore in close contact with IAAF to learn more about the reform process,” a spokeswoman said.†

According to the BBC, Adidas is understood to have told the IAAF it was

thinking of withdrawing from its agreement as a re-sult of the World Anti Dop-ing Agency (WADA) In-dependent Commission’s first report, published in November, which detailed claims of “state sponsored doping” within Russia.

Earlier this month, com-mission chairman Dick Pound produced a second report, which revealed that “corruption was em-bedded” within the IAAF under former president Lamine Diack.

That, the BBC said, led Adidas to terminate its agreement, with officials at the company telling the IAAF of its decision this week.

According to the BBC, Adidas believes the dop-ing revelations in Pound’s report constitute a breach

of its agreement with the IAAF.

The 11-year sponsorship deal was signed in 2008 and was due to run until 2019. At the time it was agreed, the deal was reported to be worth $33 million (£23 million).

But the BBC, citing anonymous sources, said the figure was much higher and was worth around $8 million (£5.6 million) this year alone.

On those figures, the projected lost revenue for the IAAF over the next four years will be $30 mil-lion (£21 million).

Adidas’ move will add to the pressure on IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who succeeded Diack in August, having been one of his vice-presidents for seven years. AFP

Kenyan athletes run during their training session in Iten in the Rift Valley, 329 kms north of Nairobi as the scandal gripping athletics promises to worsen with the publication of a second explosive report on targeting corrupt “scumbags” and a leaked blood database that could have worldwide ramifications for track and field. AFP

A13sports@thestandard.com.ph

T UESDAY: JANUARY 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTS

Broken arm won’tkeep Davis fromSuper Bowl 50

David Johnson (left) of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the ball in the first half as Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers defends him during the NFC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP

K-12 Program to have big impact on PalaroBy Peter Atencio

THE implementation of the K-12 program will have a big impact in the competitions of the Palarong Pambansa in the coming years.

in Legazpi City. “Pagdating sa indoor sports,

we’ll have it at the private schools around the city. For outdoor, it’s the oval that be-ing readied. Everything is place,” added Salceda.

There will be 17 sports to be contested for top honors in the Palaro, including arnis, athlet-ics, badminton, baseball, bas-ketball, chess, football, gym-nastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taek-wondo and tennis.

There’s also archery, vol-leyball and boxing. Wushu, billiards, wrestling and fustal will remain as demo events.

Special games for students with disabilities will also be held.

Athletes from 18 regions are coming, including the newly created Region 18, which is known as the Negros Island Region.

Department Education sec-retary Bro. Armin Luistro said this after the Deped signed a memorandum of agreement on the hosting of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Legazpi City with Albay Gov. Joey Salceda yester-day.

He said age eligibility of ath-letes competing at the high school level has now been stretched from 16 year old to 18.

“The immediate impact is in the extension of the high school level to two more years. It will affect athletes competing in high school and those who are about to enter college,” said Luistro during the signing cer-emony held at the Bulwagan ng

Karunungan of the Deped of-fices in Pasig.

Because of this, sports of-ficials of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Deped will have to meet the technicali-ties involved and figure out how to go about the changes taking place in the future.

The K-12 Program, which was enacted into law two years ago, covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education. This includes six years of primary education, four years of junior high school and an additional two years of senior high school.

Bicol University, which will also be known as the Albay Sports Complex, will be the

main venue of the Palarong Pambansa 2016, slated from April 10 to18.

Salceda said the province is almost ready for the hosting and they are excited about it because this is the first time that the province is organizing it.

“We are 80 percent complete. It’s going to be in the heart of the city,” said Salceda.

All the facilities needed, in-cluding the oval, are nearing completion. Other facilities include two swimming pools and a tennis court. There’s no need to construct facilities for indoor events like basketball, volleyball, since it can be host-ed by numerous private school

Varsity hoops’ best feted tonightTHE awarding of the Smart Player of the Year highlights the gathering of some of the best and brightest of the varsity season as the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps and Smart Sports stage the Col-legiate Basketball Awards tonight at Saisaki-Kamayan EDSA.

The winner of the prestig-ious award given each year by the group of scribes cov-ering the collegiate beat will be chosen from the members of the Collegiate Mythical Five that stood out as some of 2015’s best players. They are Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme, Far Eastern University’s Mac Belo, University of Santo To-

mas’ Kevin Ferrer and Uni-versity of Perpetual Help’s Scottie Thompson.

The awards night, hosted by ABS-CBN Sports court-side reporter Ceej Tantengco, will also recognize coaches Aldin Ayo, formerly of Le-tran, and Nash Racela of Far Eastern University for lead-ing their teams to the cham-pionship.

Also to be feted in the event backed by ACCEL Quantum-3XVI, Gatorade, UAAP Sea-son 78 host University of the Philippines, NCAA Season 91 host Mapua, San Miguel Corporation and the Philip-pine Sports Commission, is legendary coach Aric del Ro-sario.

Del Rosario will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments, particularly as the architect of UST’s historic four-peat in the 1990s. He joins former San Beda high school mentor Ato Badolato as the only win-ners of the said plum.

Other awardees are FEU’s Roger Pogoy and Letran’s Kevin Racal (Pivotal Play-er), San Beda’s Baser Amer, Letran’s Mark Cruz and FEU’s Mike Tolomia (Super Senior), San Beda’s Art dela Cruz and UST’s Ed Daqui-oag (Impact Player), Arel-lano’s Jiovanni Jalalon (Ac-cel Court General) and La Salle’s Jeron Teng (Gatorade Energy Player).

WASHINGTON—The Caro-lina Panthers are headed to the Super Bowl and lineback-er Thomas Davis has his eye on the NFL championship showcase, broken arm or no.

“We’ll get it worked out and figured out, and I’ll be ready,” Davis said after departing in the second quarter of the Panthers’ 49-15 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football Conference title game in Carolina.

Davis, a Pro Bowler in his 11th NFL season, said he broke his right forearm.

He wasn’t the Panthers’ only casualty, with safety Ro-man Harper suffering an eye

injury in the second quarter.Harper, a 10-year pro, said

he had some vision problems after he was hit from behind by teammate Luke Kuechly.

The Panthers had already lost cornerback Bene Ben-wikere to a late-season broken leg and cornerback Charles Tillman to a season-ending knee injury in the regular-season finale.

Defensive end Jared Allen missed Sunday’s game with a broken bone in his right foot, but was irked by the team’s decision to have him sit out when he thought he was suf-ficiently recovered to play.AFP

THE Philippine Volcanoes are out to regain supremacy in the coming months.

Their 15s, 7s, women’s and youth rugby teams are all set to make their presence felt in various international tourneys this year.

The Volcanoes 7s, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, fell short in their big to make it to the Olympics.

But they will be back on their feet in the Asian 7s series.

Philippine Rugby Football Union head of national teams Jake Letts said they will get their campaign going by playing in the two-leg Asian Rugby Development Series.

They will be around when the tournament takes off from Feb. 20 to 21 in Chennai, India, while the sec-ond will unwrap Feb. 26 to 27 in Al Ain, Dubai.

They will next compete in the South East Asia Sevens tourney from April 15 to 16 in Singapore.

After that, they will return to Divi-sion 1 action in the Asian Rugby Sev-ens Series. Peter Atencio

PH Volcanoesout to makepresence felt

Winning move. Joss Christensen competes to a first-place finish in the Men’s Slopestyle Fi-nal at the 2016 Visa US Freeskiing Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Resort in Mammoth, California. AFP

A14T UESDAY : JANUARY 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTSsports@thestandard.com.ph

DEFENDING champion Emilio Aguinaldo College and Perpetual Help collide one last time today for the men’s volleyball title in the 91st NCAA volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Generals, Altas dispute title today

Pacman look-alikewins in 19 secondsBy Ronnie Nathanielsz

E I G H T - D I V I S I O N world champion Manny Pacquiao look-alike Mario Sismundo looked every bit like a champion when he scored a spectacular knockout in the first round of a lightweight battle with John Rey Larena in the UGB-MMA presentation of “Foreign Invasion” at the beautiful Circuit venue of Ayala Land in Sta. Ana last Friday.

A large crowd of MMA enthusiasts gave Sismundo a rousing round of applause as he entered the ring, grin-ning broadly much like Pacquiao.

The moment the bell sounded, Sismundo got to work and nailed Larena with a vicious left hook, which is Pacquiao’s lethal weapon and knocked out his foe at 19 seconds of the opening round.

The Pacquiao look-alike was one of nine fights on the UGB-MMA card put up by founder and CEO Ferdie Munsayac, whose initial partnership with Viva Sports was a genuine success.

Viva Sports will telecast the fights on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. over Pinoy Box Office on Sky Cable with a replay at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday

However, the foreign invaders won all three in-augural titles at stake, with American Brad Robinson winning the middleweight title by beating Mark Palo-mar in the third round.

Pakistani fighters Uloomi Karim and Ahmed Mujtaba proved too good for their Filipino rivals with impressive victories over bantamweight Michael Mondragon and feather-weight Rodian Menchaves, respectively.

Drawing strength from their solid blocking and superb court coverage, the Altas pulled the rug from under the fancied Generals, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19, in Friday’s Game 2 to level their se-ries at one game apiece and send it to a deciding

Game 3 slated at 2 p.m.Diminutive but big-

hearted Rey Taneo, Jr. is expected to spearhead the Altas’ attack anew after he uncorked a team-best 16 hits, including 13 on kills while six-footer Ranidean Philipe Abcede will be the focal point in defense after

he accounted for four of his team’s 11 blocks.

“Everything will rely on how our defense holds. If we can play like the way we did in Game 2, we’ll have a chance,” said Per-petual Hep coach Sammy Acaylar, who has won 10 men’s, eight juniors’ and three women’s crowns since he started coaching for the Las Pinas-based school three decades ago.

Perpetual Help’s defense held down reigning league MVP Howard Mojica to

just 22 points.The power-hitting Mo-

jica actually scored 22 in Game 1 in powering the Generals to a 22-25, 25-14, 14-25, 16-25.

But unlike in the series opener, the Altas found a way to silence the rest of the EAC players outside Mojica.

In women’s play, St. Be-nilde goes for the jugular, while San Sebastian fights for dear life as the two face off at 4 p.m.

The Lady Blazers downed

the Lady Stags, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16 , to move a win away from clinching their first title since joining the league more than a de-cade ago.

It was St. Benilde’s fourth straight victory after the elimination round.

It came at the expense of Perpetual Help, last year’s title-holder Arellano Uni-versity in the stepladder semis and the two others over San Sebastian.

“This is our chance to win a championship so we

might as well go for it,” said St. Benilde mentor Michael Carino.

Gretchel Soltones, the women’s MVP, unleashed a game-best 27 points, but didn’t get ample sup-port from her teammates for the second game in a row now.

“We need to play as a team,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb, who steered his team to an elim-ination round sweep before dropping two straight to St. Benilde.

Isuzu launches sponsorshipwith Rider Omega Tri TeamISUZU Philippines Corporation—the official local distributor of Japanese carmaker for the country—has formal-ly forged a new partnership with some of the top tier athletes in the country, this time, triathletes from the Visayan region.

On Jan. 21, IPC Executive Vice Presi-dent Takashi Tomita has formally an-nounced the latest sponsorship deal between the Japanese carmaker and the Rider Omega Pro Tri Team at Robinsons Galleria Cebu coinciding with its the team’s grand launching vent and press conference.

Cebu-based Rider Omega Pro Tri Team is composed of both professional and budding triathletes in training that is set to compete on both local and in-ternational races.

The Rider Omega Pro Tri Team is currently on its fourth year as a tri-athlon group but only started their campaign as a commercial unit. The team has a core of 28 outstanding members, Headed by Actor/Triath-

lete Paul Jake Castillo as the Team Manager, Tonyson Luther Lee as Marketing Manager and Frederick Castañeda as Team Captain; other Age Grouper members composed of Mendel Lopez, Jeffrey Codino, Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez, Christopher Capist-rano, Reinier Englis, Allistair Patino, Joseph Larida, Alton, Enzo and Lorna Amor, Steve Cortez, En Torres, Rashell Cabrera, Sean Yu, Ryan Capuno, Jezryl Villarete, Rachel Rae Ngo and Jude Ba-guio, among others.

Beefing up the group’s roster are Fili-pino Elite’s  Cianyl Jamae Gonzalez, Johnny Ferniz, Franz Baguio Welmar Saavedra  and former  Alaska Tri-Aspire members Banjo Norte, Kristiane Lim and Paul Jumamil.

The first event that the team would be facing is the  Tri United Series, a three-leg race set in  Feb. 28,  July 3 and Oct. 23 in Subic Bay, wherein they would be fielding a 15-man lineup.

Aside from participating in numer-ous events, the team is set to hold a

Forum tacklesGilas, volleyballTHE coming campaign of Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the country’s subsequent hosting of the event will be tackled in Tuesday’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Fo-rum at Shakey’s Malate.

Team manager Butch Antonio is going to be on hand to discuss the matter, with coach Tab Baldwin hoping to make it at the last minute and join the public sports program to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Joining the two top basketball personali-ties in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are volley-ball players Bea Tan, Charo Soriano, and Jovelyn Gonzaga to promote the Beach Vol-leyball Republic Tour on Jan. 30 and 31 in Ilocos Sur.

Others appearing in the forum starting at 10:30 a.m. are Andres Alisuag of Team Ganit and Rose Landicho of Lima Park Hotel to talk about the Batangas Earth and Fire duathlon in Balete, Batangas, along with Mike Tampingco of Gapan, Nueva Ecija to represent the Environ-mental Tour meet.

grassroots clinic for triathlon starting summer this year. The training camp would be for the less fortunate chil-dren, which possess high potentials in the sport.

For his part, IPC Executive Vice Pres-ident Takashi Tomita expressed firm belief that such skills being shown by these athletes are world-class, saying competition has become very stiff in triathlon.

He also vowed that IPC will support Rider Omega Pro Tri Team for the 2016 Triathlon Season as part of their com-mitment to support Filipinos.

Such focus on sports is not new with Isuzu as the Japanese car company has previously launched its own Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team. Launched in 2010, the Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team —made up of 11 avid riders who take part in various competitions around the country.

“The Rider Omega Pro Tri Team— like the Isuzu D-MAX Cycling Team—would surely embody the qualities that the brand displays. The vehicles and the athletes perfectly ex-ude  toughness, excellence and com-petitiveness.  We wish all the best for these top-caliber athletes as they go for the gold this year,” Tomita said.

IPC Executive Vice President Takashi Tomita is shown with members of the Rider Omega Pro Tri Team at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

A15T UESDAY : JANUARY 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

SPORTSsports@thestandard.com.ph

Beermen hope to buildon Game 4 win in finalsBy Jeric Lopez

NEVER ever underestimate the heart of a champion.

MA. Delrose Duran upended the top two seeds to snare the girls’ 16-and-under crown then romped o� with the 18-U title to lead the winners in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit at Tacloban City Tennis Club in Leyte yesterday.

Baybay City’s Joshua Torres matched that two-title feat in the boys’ side of the Group 3 tournament presented by Slaz-enger, scoring a 3-2 (ret.) win over Chyme Arradaza in the 16-U � nals. � e 13-year-old rising star from the Visayas State University then crushed Ghylem Basalo, 6-0, 6-1, in the 14-U class.

Earlier, Duran, from Eastern Samar, stunned No. 2 Mae Sal-

ameda, 6-0, 6-1, in the semis then toppled top seed Anica Cari, 6-3, 6-3, to clinch the 16-U diadem. � e 15-year-old upcoming player out of Gen. McArthur National Agricul-tural School later overpowered Trixic Sumapig, 6-0, 6-1, to capture the premier 18-U plum in the tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the o� cial ball of the circuit, and sanctioned by Philta.

Unranked John Chris De Paz gave the local fans something to cheer about as he copped the boys’ 18-U diadem with a come-from-behind 1-6, 6-1, 10-5 victory over Arradaza while Basalo, also from Baybay City, hacked out a 1-0 (ret.) tri-

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LOTTO RESULTS

The toweris king

Y E S T E R D AY (January 25) was the day that the Philippine Sports C o m m i s s i o n inducted chess grandmaster Eu-

gene Torre and 16 other sports greats into its Hall of Fame. � e group was the second batch of honor-ees a� er the sports agency inducted the � rst batch of overachieving athletes of the past, led by boxing legend Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

I say that the honor is long overdue, Still, the PSC should be commended for honoring Torre for his achievements that inspired millions of young people to take up the di� cult but challenging game of chess.

� e legend of Eugene Torre started in Nice, France, when, as a 22-year-old, he led the national team to the 21st Chess Olympiad to an impressive 11th-place � nish. He capped the tournament un-scathed with nine wins and 11 draws and went on to become Asia’s � rst GM.

I had my � rst glimpse of the young Torre in 1975, the year a� er the Nice Olympiad, when he visited Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School. It turned out that he graduated form the same school, where I studied.

Years later, I � nally met Torre when I covered the 1991 Chess Olympiad held here in Manila. � en, I had the privilege of covering his exploits in the suc-ceeding years and since then we had what one can describe as a “professional but friendly” relation-ship. Torre turned 64 last year in the middle of a tournament held at the PSC Athletes’ Dining Hall, but his vast knowledge of the game, and his instinct for inspired play remained unparalleled.

Last year, I covered the Manny Pacquiao Random Chess Championship in General Sanots City, which was organized by Torre and two other chess rosters.

In all the years that I’ve known him and watched him play and interact with other chess players, young and old, the Ilonggo GM remained the same humble person that he was. He is friendly to everybody, but more so to younger players who look up to him.

I have seen up close how parents, their kids in tow, approach Torre with awe, as they ask him to pose a picture with their kids who are just begin-ning to play the game. Torre would gladly oblige for the photo-ops and a� erwards, gives encourag-ing words for the young children and their parents. Students, who chose to take up chess as a sport, calls him Sir Eugene, and an observer, you will feel the deep respect that these young players accord to the grandmaster.,

Nowadays, Torre always has his wife Marilyn beside him wherever he goes and plays. � e Torre couple has an only child in Eloise Nicole. Nicole is all grown up and working, leaving Eugene and Marilyn all the time to rekindle their ever-loving relationship.

Marilyn, who also hails from the south, is an at-tentive wife. In General Santos City, we were all wit-nesses on how she takes care of her husband. She is a caring and loving wife, but she knows when to take a backseat when Torre is at the limelight. I sus-pect that Marilyn is the secret to Torre’s longevity as an athlete. Whoever said that behind every man’s success is a woman must have foreseen that a wife like Marilyn would someday marry a young Torre, who would soon become a legend.

As the PSC honored Torre on Monday, I raise a toast (even if only I have a mug of co� ee in my hand), to also honor the man, and to the Almighty who had given me the privilege of knowing the Philippines’ towering king of chess. Congrats, GM!

* * *I’m not fond of reunions, but I admit I had a

fun time during the get-together with my friends from Tanghalang Batingaw, our theater group from Lyceum of the Philippine last Sunday. So this is a shout-out to Meg Elisee� -Aguarino and husband Tim, who are visiting the country from Australia, former Batingaw presidents Bobby Suarez and Noel Amata, Maris Cambel, Gretel Velasco, Willie Sicio, Allan David and Abet Sikat. � e fun, however, was tinged by sadness when we decided to visit another former Batangaw mem-ber, Arman Bautista in Cavite City. My “tokayo” was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and is bedridden at their residence. We all prayed for his quick recovery. Until next Tuesday.

E-mail me at armero_23@yahoo for reactions.

� at’s the famous saying of former Houston Rockets’ coach Rudy Tomjanovich re-ferring to his championship squads in the mid-1990s—a saying that San Miguel Beer put into life as it refused to go down just when it seems that it was about to.

With Alaska on the brink of winning the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Phil-ippine Cup championship in Game 4 of the � nals last Sunday, the Beermen suddenly showed their championship heart as they � aunted a memorable � ghtback to prevent an Aces’ sweep and

keep their title defense alive,In gut-wrenching fashion,

the defending champions came back from 11 points down late in regulation just when Alaska was on the cusp of ending its All-Filipino title drought.

� e Beermen went on to take a 110-104 overtime victory to extend the best-of-seven titular series and make it 3-1, still in the favor of the Aces.

In that game, Marcio Lassiter, Gabby Espinas and Chris Ross came up huge for the Beermen, producing on both ends of the � oor to make sure SMB remained alive.

Lassiter scored a game-high

STEP BACKARMAN

D. ARMERO

26 points, while Espinas was a monster down low, tallying a double-double of 21 points and 14 points before fouling out, while Ross was all over the place as he nearly had a triple-double with his 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria commended his players for playing their hearts out and refusing to bow down without a gallant stand.

‘’Our players didn’t give up. Nakita talaga natin ‘yung heart of a champion,’’ said Austria of his wards’ e� ort in Game 4. ‘’I am happy for it.’’

Austria added that his players didn’t want to just lay down and die as a sweep from Alaska just wasn’t acceptable for them.

‘’� e players gladly accepted the challenge and they really

didn’t want to get swept by Alas-ka,’’ he said. ‘’� is is what we’re waiting for.’’

Alaska coach Alex Compton, who was disappointed with how his Aces closed Game 4 out, conceded that San Miguel Beer fought its heart out just to stay alive despite his squad being in the driver’s seat for most part of that said game.

‘’� ey (Beermen) fought hard. � ey deserved that win. It was a testament to their charac-ter,’’ said Compton.

Manuel led Alaska with 20 points and 13 rebounds in yet another solid e� ort for the Aces.

� e Beermen still have a mountain to climb with a 1-3 de� cit, but some life has been restored to their campaign and are looking to make the most out of it.

Duran, Torres top Tacloban net tourney

umph over Jhun Cedric for the 12-U title.

“Given proper training and exposure, I expect Duran, Tor-res and De Paz to get better

along with the other players competing in our year-long nationwide circuit,” said Pala-wan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Ma. Delrose Duran (second from right) and Joshua Torres (second from left) hold their trophies as they pose with PPS-PEPP sports program director Bobby Mangunay (left) and Tacloban Tennis Club president Judge Mario Melchor after scoring two victories each in Tacloban yesterday.

SMB’s Gabby Espinas secures the rebound, but is fouled by Alaska’s Calvin Abueva in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. The Beermen won, 110-104, to stay alive.

T U E S DAY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 16

A16RIERA U. MALL ARI

E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

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

LOS ANGELES—Kyle Lowry scored 21 points as the Toronto Raptors thumped the Los Angeles Clippers 112-94 on Sunday to stretch their winning streak to eight games and close in on NBA Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland.

TURN TO A12

RaonicsurprisesWawrinka

Turn to A14

The Raptors’ latest win, on their home floor in To-ronto, was their 29th in 44 games this season, one less than than the Cavaliers, who top the East at 30-12.

The Raptors have built the second-longest win-ning streak in club history, behind a nine-game run in 2002.

Seven Toronto players scored in double figures, led by Lowry who also handed

out six assists.Center Jonas Valan-

ciunas scored 20 points and grabbed eight re-bounds and guard De-Mar DeRozan added 18 points—ending his string of three straight games of at least 30.

The Raptors’ four re-serves, Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson and Bismack Bi-yombo, out-scored the Clip-

pers’ bench 51-29 and helped turn the game around after Los Angeles had leapt to an early lead.

The Raptors led 62-49 at halftime and were up by 16 early in the third quarter.

The Clippers, paced by Chris Paul’s 23 points, twice trimmed the deficit to four in the third period, but could get no closer.

“(The Clippers) had 34 in the first quarter and I thoughat it was going to be a long night but the second unit ... came in and changed the game, started getting into bodies, getting into players, being physical and I thought that changed the mentality,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

The struggling Brooklyn Nets surprised the Okla-homa City Thunder 116-106 thanks largely to a season-high 31 points from center Brook Lopez.

Lopez bounced back after being held to eight points in an ugly loss to the Jutah Jazz on Friday, scoring in double figures for the 43rd time in 45 games.

Lopez connected on 11 of 19 shots, notching his 18th double-double of the season as Brooklyn snapped a five-game losing streak.

The win, in a game postponed several hours because of the snowstorm that pummelled the eastern United States this weekend, was the Nets’ second home

win in their last 15 games at the Barclays Center.

Kevin Durant paced the Thunder with 32 points, his 10th game of 30 or more points.

Russell Westbrook con-tributed 27 points, 10 re-bounds and seven assists, but the Thunder saw their seven-game winning streak end.

James Harden notched the eighth triple-double of his NBA career to lead the Houston Rockets to a 115-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks—with a little help from recent Rockets acquisition Josh Smith.

Harden scored 23 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists. AFP

TURN TO A15

SMB hopesto build onGame 4 win

By Peter Atencio

GRANDMASTER Wes-ley So forced a draw by perpetual check with GM Shakhrya Mamedyarov in 38 moves in the eighth round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee in Holland.

The game ended with So pushing the queen to the h6, pinning down the king, which was in eighth rank for the third time.

Playing the white piec-es, So used the Guioco Piano in his match with Mamedyarov.

He stayed in third place with 4.5 points, sharing the position with Anish Giri and Liren Ding.

GM Magnus Carlsen drew with Sergey Karja-kin in 31 moves of a Ruy Lopez to stay in the lead with 5.5 points.

His rook a8 move al-lowed him to stay in con-trol of his own backrank when it was over.

GM David Navara pulled off the day’s biggest upset, stopping Fabiano Caruana in 55 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense.

He managed to trap Caruana’s black king in the backrank with his bishop f7 move, and with a rook supporting it at kingside.

SPORTS

Raptors trounce Clippersfor 8th straight triumph

Wesleystays at3rd spot

Lance Stephenson (center) of the Los Angeles Clippers fights for rebounding position against Patrick Patterson (left) and Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game won by the hosts, 112-94, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZASSISTANT EDITOR B1

TUESDAY: JANUARY 26, 2016

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

RAY S. EÑANOEDITOR

IBC 13 up for sale for P2bBUSINESS

Bangko Sentral ng PilipinasMonday, January 25, 2016

Foreign exchange rateCurrency Unit US Dollar PesoUnited States Dollar 1.000000 47.8570

Japan Yen 0.008418 0.4029

UK Pound 1.426600 68.2728

Hong Kong Dollar 0.128398 6.1447

Switzerland Franc 0.984446 47.1126

Canada Dollar 0.707264 33.8475

Singapore Dollar 0.699545 33.4781

Australia Dollar 0.701902 33.5909

Bahrain Dinar 2.656042 127.1102

Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266581 12.7578

Brunei Dollar 0.697107 33.3614

Indonesia Rupiah 0.000072 0.0034

Thailand Baht 0.027751 1.3281

UAE Dirham 0.272272 13.0301

Euro Euro 1.080400 51.7047

Korea Won 0.000836 0.0400

China Yuan 0.152010 7.2747

India Rupee 0.014806 0.7086

Malaysia Ringgit 0.232883 11.1451

New Zealand Dollar 0.648887 31.0538

Taiwan Dollar 0.029877 1.4298 Source: PDS Bridge

6,434.08226.03

Closing January 25, 2016PSe comPoSite index

48.00

46.00

45.00

44.00

43.00

HIGH P47.710 LOW P47.900AVERAGE P47.813

Closing JANUARY 25, 2016PeSo-dollar rate

VOLUME 644.500M

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-P627.00LPG/11-kg tank

P33.30-P40.75Unleaded Gasoline

P20.40-P23.80Diesel

P34.55-P39.15Kerosene

todayP33.30-P40.75

P20.40-P23.80

P34.55-P39.15

PP417.00-P627.00

8000

8340

7880

7420

6960

6500

P47.880CLOSE

Govt buyout of MRT 3 expected in June—Abaya

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

STATE-OWNED Intercontinental Broadcast-ing Corp., operator of free-television channel 13, is up for sale for a � oor price of P1.977 billion, the Governance Commission for Gov-ernment Owned and Controlled Corporations said Monday.

By Darwin G. AmojelarTHE Transportation Department said Monday it is set to meet with the Finance Department next month to resolve issues raised by two government banks over the takeover of Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

“We are hoping [to buy out MRT Corp. by June] and we have set up a meeting � rst week Febru-ary with the DoF,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a text message.

Abaya said the remaining challenge was the � nancial issue raised by Land Bank of the Phil-ippines and Development Bank of the Philippines on possible losses

once the government executed the buyout.

LandBank and DBP own a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, while the re-maining stake is held by creditors of MRTC.

Abaya earlier said the govern-ment would need over P40 billion to take over MRT 3, down from as high as P53.9 billion two years ago.

President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transporta-tion and Finance Departments to buy MRTC out of MRT 3, under the build-lease-transfer agree-ment.

Metro Paci� c Investments

Corp. earlier proposed a $524-million expansion of MRT 3, which was lower than the gov-ernment’s $1.13-billion buyout plan. MPIC’s proposal has yet to be formally rejected by the Trans-portation Department.

Metro Paci� c signed a coopera-tion agreement in 2011 with vari-ous groups holding rights and in-terests in MRT 3, including MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Mon-umento Rail Transit Corp., giving the company led by businessman Manuel Pangilinan an option to ac-quire 48 percent. Metro Paci� c has yet to exercise the option.

MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon

City to Ta� Avenue in Pasay City, serves 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000 passengers.

� e line has a � eet of 73 Czech-made air-conditioned rail cars.

� e Transport Department earlier awarded the P3.81 billion long-term maintenance contract of MRT 3 to the joint venture of Busan Transportation Corp., Edison Development & Con-struction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc. and Castan Corp.

� e three-year contract will al-low the new service provider to procure the necessary spare parts needed to increase the number of operating trains, especially dur-ing peak hours.

GCG said President Benigno Aquino III approved the privati-zation of IBC 13, a� er the broad-cast company incurred an average annual � nancial loss of P45.26 million from 2010 to 2014.

IBC studios are located at the 4.1-hectare Broadcast City in Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City.

“� e privatization rationalizes the state’s portfolio in the commu-

nications sector in view of the over-lap with PTV-4, which is already su� cient to address market failures in the private broadcast industry such as providing programs with social value but are not considered pro� table,” GCG said.

It also said the decision came in the wake of the recent revitaliza-tion of PTV-4 mandated by Re-public Act No. 10390, which iden-ti� ed the privatization of IBC-13 as one of the sources of funding for the increase in PTV-4’s capital.

IBC-13 was in � nancial dis-tress, as it operated at an average net loss of P45.26 million from 2010 to 2014 and received op-

erational subsidies amounting to P23.56 million in 2015, according to GCG.

“� e privatization should pave the way for infusion of additional capital to revitalize the network, which will also be able to operate with more � exibility as a private entity,” it said.

� e privatization of IBC-13 will be done through public bid-ding with an estimated � oor price of P1.977 billion. A committee composed of representatives from GCG, the Presidential Commu-nications Operations O� ce and IBC-13 will implement and con-duct the process.

IBC-13 started out in 1960 as a private company known as Inter-Island Broadcasting Corp., and was sequestered by the Presiden-tial Commission on Good Gov-ernment in 1986 as part of the recovery of ill-gotten wealth. It is one of two networks considered as GOCCs aside from Philippine Television Network Inc.

GCG, which was established in 2011 as the central advisory and oversight body for ensuring the active exercise of the state’s own-ership rights in GOCCs, has abol-ished 22 non-performing GOCCs and classi� ed 25 more as inactive or non-operational.

Global rally. Pedestrians walk past a share prices board showing the numbers from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and other world markets in To-kyo on January 25, 2016. Tokyo stocks rose on January 25, extending a global rally as investors bet on the possibility that central banks will unleash more stimulus to bolster hard-hit fi nancial markets. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 0.90 percent, or 152.38 points, to close at 17,110.91. Related story on B3. AFP

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BUSINESSTUESDAY: JANUARY 26, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Monday, January 25, 2016

FINANCIAL7.88 2.5 AG Finance 2.82 3.05 2.72 2.8 -0.71 366,000 -28,800.0075.3 66 Asia United Bank 44.5 45 44.1 45 1.12 11,700 348,855.00124.4 88.05 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 96.50 99.20 96.10 99.20 2.80 819,440 7,844,496107 88.1 Bank of PI 85.80 86.50 85.00 86.50 0.82 1,569,100 -13,141,413.5056.5 45.45 China Bank 34.4 35 34.7 34.95 1.60 18,700 13,880.002.49 1.97 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.49 2.49 2.42 2.42 -2.81 10,000 4.2 1.68 Bright Kindle Resources 1.24 1.27 1.26 1.26 1.61 16,000 17 12.02 COL Financial 14.44 14.74 14.44 14.68 1.66 13,600 -76,388.0030.45 19.6 Eastwest Bank 16 16.1 15.9 16 0.00 135,600 -1,600,000.002.6 1.02 I-Remit Inc. 1.82 1.63 1.63 1.63 -10.44 2,000 1.01 0.225 MEDCO Holdings 0.435 0.440 0.415 0.425 -2.30 70,000 100 78 Metrobank 68.3 71.4 69 71.3 4.39 4,837,300 -87,267,264.5030.5 17.8 PB Bank 15.50 15.80 14.60 15.80 1.94 3,200 75 58 Phil Bank of Comm 22.00 21.80 21.80 21.80 -0.91 2,600 56,680.0091.5 62 Phil. National Bank 45.95 47.50 45.30 46.20 0.54 77,600 -3,190,340.00137 88.35 Phil. Savings Bank 95 95 95 95 0.00 270 361.2 276 PSE Inc. 235.2 250 238 250 6.29 1,650 7,140.0057 41 RCBC `A’ 32.2 32.5 32 32.5 0.93 365,100 4,677,775180 118.2 Security Bank 140 143 139.7 140.5 0.36 655,140 -10,055,883.001700 1200 Sun Life Financial 1250.00 1320.00 1320.00 1320.00 5.60 20 -26,400.00124 59 Union Bank 54.60 56.00 54.60 56.00 2.56 11,870 -555,000.003.26 2.65 Vantage Equities 1.5 1.59 1.59 1.59 6.00 2,000

INDUSTRIAL47 35.9 Aboitiz Power Corp. 40.55 41 39.95 41 1.11 1,735,700 2,489,045.005 1.11 Agrinurture Inc. 4.23 4.42 4.26 4.28 1.18 215,000 87,510.001.46 1.01 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.69 0.68 0.63 0.64 -7.25 364,000 2.36 1.86 Alsons Cons. 1.21 1.21 1.18 1.2 -0.83 183,000 15.3 7.92 Asiabest Group 9.6 9.6 9.3 9.6 0.00 200 148 32 C. Azuc De Tarlac 110.00 96.10 96.10 96.10 -12.64 10 20.6 15.32 Century Food 15.9 16.28 15.6 16.1 1.26 1,265,900 15,308,888.0036 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.44 19.5 19.1 19.1 -1.75 208,000 65.8 29.15 Concepcion 42 41.3 41 41 -2.38 3,700 -147,6902.97 1.5 Crown Asia 2.13 2.17 2.02 2.14 0.47 335,000 -19,230.004.14 1.5 Da Vinci Capital 2.77 2.83 2.6 2.65 -4.33 6,551,000 1,873,100.0021.5 10.72 Del Monte 11.18 11.78 11.2 11.78 5.37 38,000 181,306.0021.6 9.55 DNL Industries Inc. 7.500 7.800 7.560 7.760 3.47 25,129,000 -7,755,285.0011.96 9.04 Emperador 7.07 7.10 6.98 7.05 -0.28 2,625,300 -5,524,771.009.13 6.02 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.38 5.56 5.47 5.54 2.97 8,604,700 8,512,395.0011.8 8.86 EEI 6.13 6.05 5.50 6.05 -1.31 3,358,700 10,835,442.0031.8 20.2 First Gen Corp. 17.9 18.88 18.1 18.1 1.12 7,258,300 -11,657,222.00109 71.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 52.35 54.75 53.6 54.55 4.20 1,217,650 5,191,040.509.4 5.34 Integ. Micro-Electronics 4.85 5.04 4.8 5 3.09 817,000 0.000.98 0.395 Ionics Inc 2.110 2.170 2.100 2.140 1.42 1,786,000 -47,500.00241 173 Jollibee Foods Corp. 198.00 201.20 199.50 200.20 1.11 1,271,290 -72,568,682.00 LBC Express 7.1 6.01 6.01 6.01 -15.35 2,200 79 34.1 Liberty Flour 27.20 27.00 27.00 27.00 -0.74 1,100 3.95 2.3 LMG Chemicals 1.86 1.72 1.72 1.72 -7.53 7,000 4 1.63 Mabuhay Vinyl 3.05 2.81 2.8 2.8 -8.20 9,000 33.9 23.35 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.7 25.6 24.7 24.85 0.61 1,672,400 -5,518,385.0090 17.3 Maxs Group 13.78 14.02 13.6 13.8 0.15 724,500 836,760.0013.26 5.88 Megawide 5.57 5.5 5.4 5.5 -1.26 17,800 42,750.00293 250.2 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 307.00 313.80 309.80 313.80 2.21 170,460 13,063,422.005.25 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 2.9 2.98 2.89 2.9 0.00 618,000 707,430.0012.98 8.45 Petron Corporation 5.56 5.90 5.58 5.90 6.12 6,598,500 17,443,119.0015 10.04 Phinma Corporation 11.50 11.42 10.80 11.42 -0.70 800 7.03 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 3.60 3.60 3.52 3.60 0.00 157,000 3.4 1.95 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.35 1.38 1.30 1.36 0.74 303,000 1,370.004.5 1 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.18 2.31 2.19 2.29 5.05 363,000 -8,440.006.3 4.02 RFM Corporation 3.70 3.75 3.70 3.70 0.00 10,094,000 237,510.007.34 5.9 Roxas Holdings 5.14 4.9 4.81 4.83 -6.03 2,000 238 161 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 119.8 124 119.8 122 1.84 61,850 -3,019,219.003.28 1.55 Splash Corporation 2.58 2.6 2.51 2.51 -2.71 660,000 25,600.000.315 0.138 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.136 0.139 0.137 0.137 0.74 2,350,000 2.18 1.02 TKC Steel Corp. 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.00 1,000 2.65 2.09 Trans-Asia Oil 2.08 2.11 2.02 2.09 0.48 686,000 234 152 Universal Robina 184.4 186.4 184.6 185.7 0.70 1,830,040 45,360,499.005.28 4.28 Victorias Milling 4.55 4.55 4.55 4.55 0.00 1,000 4,550.001.3 0.640 Vitarich Corp. 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 1.72 50,000 26 10.02 Vivant Corp. 22.50 22.50 22.50 22.50 0.00 15,000 337,500.002.17 1.2 Vulcan Ind’l. 0.99 1.00 0.96 0.98 -1.01 291,000

HOLDING FIRMS0.59 0.44 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.290 0.295 0.295 0.295 1.72 20,000 59.2 48.1 Aboitiz Equity 54.4000 56.9500 54.3500 56.9500 4.69 1,413,280 -3,456,196.5030.05 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 13.20 14.10 13.56 14.00 6.06 8,428,700 60,039,006.007.39 6.62 Anscor `A’ 6.00 6.00 5.98 5.98 -0.33 91,600 3.4 0.23 ATN Holdings A 0.200 0.186 0.171 0.186 -7.00 400,000 823.5 634.5 Ayala Corp `A’ 613 659 635 659 7.50 523,460 73,670,245.0010.2 7.390 Cosco Capital 7.06 7.25 7.07 7.13 0.99 2,206,000 7,976,298.0084 12.8 DMCI Holdings 10.78 11.12 10.78 10.96 1.67 16,454,900 -27,091,444.004.92 2.26 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.42 4.54 4.45 4.50 1.81 78,000 301,000.000.66 0.152 Forum Pacific 0.183 0.182 0.175 0.181 -1.09 990,000 1455 837 GT Capital 1225 1240 1214 1233 0.65 204,060 -104,006,320.00 IPM Holdings 9.50 9.60 9.40 9.60 1.05 2,711,100 76 49.55 JG Summit Holdings 60.00 61.90 61.05 61.70 2.83 1,273,830 10,202,588.009.25 4.84 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.04 5.3 5.06 5.1 1.19 4,626,800 11,142,910.000.85 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.53 0.55 0.53 0.53 0.00 7,000 17.3 12 LT Group 14.62 15 14.5 15 2.60 2,178,900 -11,887,470.005.53 4.2 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.24 5.34 5.2 5.32 1.53 35,692,800 13,350,609.000.0670 0.030 Pacifica `A’ 0.0270 0.0270 0.0270 0.0270 0.00 24,600,000 2.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 0.900 0.910 0.910 0.910 1.11 10,000 1.61 0.550 Prime Orion 1.960 2.020 1.980 1.990 1.53 5,064,000 37,700.0084.9 59.3 San Miguel Corp `A’ 60.00 62.00 59.15 62.00 3.33 1,274,320 -23,354,032.00974 751 SM Investments Inc. 740.00 782.00 740.00 782.00 5.68 137,920 -6,457,100.001.39 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.68 1.49 56,000 156 80 Top Frontier 71.450 77.000 73.000 77.000 7.77 45,330 -1,448,345.000.710 0.211 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.2300 0.2450 0.2400 0.2400 4.35 1,200,000 0.435 0.179 Wellex Industries 0.1900 0.1950 0.1830 0.1950 2.63 510,000 0.510 0.310 Zeus Holdings 0.249 0.240 0.239 0.240 -3.61 100,000

P R O P E R T Y10.5 6.74 8990 HLDG 6.680 6.680 6.400 6.600 -1.20 37,000 42,520.001.99 0.65 A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.62 0.66 0.63 0.64 3.23 569,000 1.75 1.2 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.050 1.060 1.050 1.060 0.95 22,000 41.4 30.05 Ayala Land `B’ 28.600 30.750 29.150 30.750 7.52 23,656,800 170,854,220.005.6 3.36 Belle Corp. `A’ 2.11 2.23 2.15 2.19 3.79 5,562,000 -1,470,850.001.44 0.79 Century Property 0.415 0.42 0.41 0.410 -1.20 5,110,000 -645,450.000.201 0.083 Crown Equities Inc. 0.101 0.103 0.100 0.103 1.98 31,800,000 0.69 0.415 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.370 0.380 0.370 0.370 0.00 1,070,000 -373,000.0010.96 2.4 Double Dragon 20.25 20.8 20.3 20.3 0.25 700,500 4,147,870.000.97 0.83 Empire East Land 0.730 0.730 0.730 0.730 0.00 3,000 0.305 0.188 Ever Gotesco 0.138 0.137 0.137 0.137 -0.72 10,000

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

Trading SummarySHARES VALUE

FINANCIAL 10,671,906 786,086,969.25INDUSTRIAL 110,012,936 1,524,015,009.634HOLDING FIRMS 111,493,478 1,729,195,861.82PROPERTY 228,955,256 1,404,783,330.49SERVICES 201,033,912 1,166,959,592.825MINING & OIL 220,393,203 49,603,550.667GRAND TOTAL 884,223,771 6,675,513,513.684

FINANCIAL 1,486.32 (UP) 30.44INDUSTRIAL 10,328.52 (UP) 137.63HOLDING FIRMS 6,003.16 (UP) 246.04PROPERTY 2,578.26 (UP) 133.61SERVICES 1,440.63 (UP) 40.87MINING & OIL 8,763.53 (UP) 101.02PSEI 6,434.08 (UP) 226.03All Shares Index 3,678.80 (UP) 100.88

Gainers: 131; Losers: 46; Unchanged: 35; Total: 212

STOCKS Close(P)

Change(%)

LBC Express 6.01 -15.35

Manila Broadcasting 19.00 -13.44

C. Azuc De Tarlac 96.10 -12.64

I-Remit Inc. 1.63 -10.44

Mabuhay Vinyl 2.8 -8.20

LMG Chemicals 1.72 -7.53

Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.64 -7.25

ATN Holdings A 0.186 -7.00

Roxas Holdings 4.83 -6.03

APC Group, Inc. 0.380 -5.00

Top LoSerSSTOCKS Close

(P)Change

(%)

Easy Call "Common" 3.19 35.74

Italpinas 2.44 20.79

Phil. Realty `A' 0.300 15.38

Melco Crown 1.53 15.04

Island Info 0.133 11.76

Apex `A' 1.68 8.39

Interport `A' 1.19 8.18

Ferronickel 0.530 8.16

Top Frontier 77.000 7.77

Ayala Land `B' 30.750 7.52

Top gainerS

2.22 1.15 Global-Estate 0.86 0.89 0.85 0.86 0.00 5,667,000 6,090.002.1 1.42 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.46 1.49 1.40 1.49 2.05 40,999,000 -6,151,530.001.8 1.27 Interport `A’ 1.10 1.20 1.13 1.19 8.18 162,000 5.94 4.13 Megaworld 3.27 3.41 3.28 3.36 2.75 88,907,000 63,110,870.000.180 0.090 MRC Allied Ind. 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.070 0.00 10,000 0.470 0.290 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.2200 0.2100 0.2090 0.2090 -5.00 530,000 0.72 0.39 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.260 0.3 0.295 0.300 15.38 240,000 8.54 2.69 Primex Corp. 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.4 0.00 16,600 31.8 22.15 Robinson’s Land `B’ 23.50 24.50 23.50 24.00 2.13 4,282,000 -2,838,065.002.29 1.6 Rockwell 1.46 1.46 1.46 1.46 0.00 119,000 94,900.004.9 3.1 Shang Properties Inc. 2.98 3 2.96 3 0.67 14,000 5,920.0021.35 15.08 SM Prime Holdings 19.22 20.20 19.26 20.20 5.10 7,835,600 -5,144,394.001.06 0.69 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.77 0.76 0.74 0.76 -1.30 1,698,000 7.56 3.38 Starmalls 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 0.00 12,000 1.62 0.83 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.800 0.810 0.760 0.810 1.25 142,000 8.59 5.73 Vista Land & Lifescapes 3.680 3.880 3.690 3.880 5.43 9,747,000 -4,134,410.00

S E R V I C E S10.5 1.97 2GO Group’ 6.46 6.74 6.2 6.55 1.39 169,900 -31,926.0066 35.2 ABS-CBN 53.9 55.2 54 54.15 0.46 54,920 1.44 1 Acesite Hotel 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.13 0.00 7,000 1.09 0.63 APC Group, Inc. 0.400 0.390 0.365 0.380 -5.00 1,260,000 14.88 10.5 Asian Terminals Inc. 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 0.00 600 15.82 8.6 Bloomberry 3.42 3.64 3.43 3.64 6.43 18,504,000 -6,513,080.000.1430 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 0.0380 0.0390 0.0370 0.0380 0.00 1,000,000 5.06 2.95 Calata Corp. 3.3 3.38 3.31 3.32 0.61 118,000 99.1 56.1 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 76 77 75.8 77 1.32 345,600 -813,824.0012.3 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ. 9.38 9.5 9.5 9.5 1.28 200 7.67 4.8 DFNN Inc. 6.04 6.29 6.06 6.10 0.99 42,700 -3,660.004 2.58 Easy Call “Common” 2.35 3.19 3.19 3.19 35.74 1,000 2720 1600 Globe Telecom 1718 1755 1718 1749 1.80 81,460 -13,861,960.008.41 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 6.35 6.49 6.30 6.49 2.20 60,700 70.5 17.02 Grand Plaza Hotel 21.00 21.00 21.00 21.00 0.00 167,000 1.97 1.23 Harbor Star 1.08 1.11 1.11 1.11 2.78 29,000 27,500.00119.5 102.6 I.C.T.S.I. 58 60.2 58.9 60 3.45 1,975,960 76,229,813.0012.5 8.72 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11 11.1 10.6 11.1 0.91 5,900 0.017 0.011 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.0077 0.0083 0.0079 0.0079 2.60 9,000,000 0.8200 0.041 Island Info 0.119 0.134 0.116 0.133 11.76 16,870,000 -500.0012.28 6.5 Leisure & Resorts 6.90 7.00 6.94 6.99 1.30 13,300 -23,047.003.32 1.91 Liberty Telecom 3.99 4.05 3.90 4.05 1.50 309,000 0.003.2 1.95 Macroasia Corp. 2.20 2.20 2.19 2.20 0.00 6,000 95.5 3.1 Manila Broadcasting 21.95 22.00 19.00 19.00 -13.44 2,800 1 0.650 Manila Bulletin 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.00 33,000 15.2 6 Melco Crown 1.33 1.59 1.37 1.53 15.04 64,149,000 -14,490,050.00 Metro Retail 2.95 3.19 2.95 3.02 2.37 2,603,000 1,015,620.000.62 0.335 MG Holdings 0.260 0.260 0.250 0.260 0.00 270,000 1.040 0.37 NOW Corp. 0.620 0.620 0.600 0.600 -3.23 3,539,000 61,000.0022.8 14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 17.42 18.5 18.48 18.5 6.20 8,000 6.41 3 PAL Holdings Inc. 4.11 4.28 4.28 4.28 4.14 5,000 18 8.8 Phil. Racing Club 9.24 8.86 8.85 8.85 -4.22 14,700 185 79 Phil. Seven Corp. 100.00 102.00 100.00 101.00 1.00 11,200 70,400.0022.9 4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 20.10 20.10 19.70 20.00 -0.50 63,300 -674,019.003486 2748 PLDT Common 1990.00 2074.00 2006.00 2068.00 3.92 209,220 -46,485,700.000.760 0.435 PremiereHorizon 0.405 0.405 0.400 0.405 0.00 200,000 2.28 1.2 Premium Leisure 0.580 0.650 0.590 0.620 6.90 64,333,000 -184,940.0046.05 31.45 Puregold 32.85 33.30 32.90 33.05 0.61 521,000 -3,996,670.0090.1 60.55 Robinsons RTL 58.20 59.05 58.20 58.50 0.52 2,717,790 -2,237,882.00 SBS Phil. Corp. 4.82 4.99 4.78 4.80 -0.41 2,120,000 48,500.0011.6 7.59 SSI Group 2.50 2.59 2.49 2.51 0.40 6,243,000 -9,698,370.000.85 0.63 STI Holdings 0.385 0.395 0.385 0.385 0.00 1,040,000 -92,100.0010 5 Travellers 3.5 3.7 3.55 3.6 2.86 459,000 65,100.000.490 0.315 Waterfront Phils. 0.330 0.345 0.315 0.345 4.55 40,000 1.9 1.14 Yehey 3.460 3.700 3.430 3.690 6.65 248,000

MINING & OIL0.0098 0.0043 Abra Mining 0.0040 0.0042 0.0040 0.0042 5.00 149,000,000 5.45 1.72 Apex `A’ 1.55 1.68 1.44 1.68 8.39 450,000 17.24 6.47 Atlas Cons. `A’ 4.00 4.05 3.95 3.95 -1.25 362,000 -601,450.0025 9.43 Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 14.00 14.00 13.80 14.00 0.00 2,300 0.330 0.236 Basic Energy Corp. 0.209 0.203 0.189 0.203 -2.87 70,000 12.7 6.5 Benguet Corp `A’ 3.7900 4 4 4.0000 5.54 50,000 1.62 0.77 Coal Asia 0.31 0.315 0.305 0.315 3.28 360,000 9.5 5.99 Dizon 5.99 5.90 5.65 5.90 -1.50 200 4.2 1.17 Ferronickel 0.490 0.540 0.495 0.530 8.16 15,170,000 27,500.000.48 0.305 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.240 0.245 0.225 0.240 0.00 60,000 0.420 0.2130 Lepanto `A’ 0.150 0.151 0.149 0.151 0.67 2,020,000 0.022 0.013 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0096 0.0098 0.0097 0.0097 1.04 20,000,000 8.2 3.240 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.45 1.45 1.39 1.39 -4.14 163,000 49.2 18.96 Nickelasia 3.55 3.82 3.6 3.7 4.23 4,309,000 -6,497,700.004.27 2.11 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.1 2.18 2.02 2.02 -3.81 113,000 3.06 1.54 Oriental Peninsula Res. 0.9600 1.0000 0.9600 0.9600 0.00 321,000 0.020 0.012 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0090 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 2.22 5,000,000 7.67 5.4 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 3.12 3.26 3.21 3.26 4.49 18,000 12.88 7.26 Philex `A’ 3.80 3.85 3.76 3.85 1.32 1,079,000 -3,002,260.0010.42 2.27 PhilexPetroleum 1.20 1.24 1.20 1.23 2.50 231,000 56,580.000.040 0.015 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0096 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 4.17 21,000,000 10,000.00420 115.9 Semirara Corp. 120.00 125.00 119.30 121.00 0.83 135,500 -9,669,011.009 3.67 TA Petroleum 1.8 1.8 1.77 1.79 -0.56 100,000 -34,000.00

PREFERRED70 33 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 53.55 54 52.6 52.6 -1.77 231,530 -2,929,165.00553 490 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 529.5 529.5 529.5 529.5 0.00 1,900 525 500 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 530.5 540 540 540 1.79 10 515 480 GLOBE PREF P 510 530 510.5 530 3.92 11,080 8.21 5.88 GMA Holdings Inc. 6 6.02 6.01 6.02 0.33 51,300 12.28 6.5 Leisure and Resort 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.00 700,000 111 101 MWIDE PREF 111 111 111 111 0.00 5,000 1060 997 PCOR-Preferred A 1020 1023 1023 1023 0.29 950 1047 1011 PF Pref 2 1026 1028 1028 1028 0.19 30 PNX PREF 3A 104 106 106 106 1.92 10 78.95 74.5 SMC Preferred B 80 80.5 80.5 80.5 0.63 3,710 84.8 75 SMC Preferred C 82 82.5 81 82.5 0.61 101,120 -5,276,100.00 SMC Preferred D 78.4 78.4 78.4 78.4 0.00 405,900 SMC Preferred E 79 78.7 78.4 78.4 -0.76 352,080 SMC Preferred F 78.6 78.8 78.5 78.8 0.25 231,040 534,230.00

WARRANTS & BONDS6.98 0.8900 LR Warrant 1.300 1.420 1.300 1.340 3.08 267,000

S M E Alterra Capital 3.12 3.15 3.15 3.15 0.96 100 15 3.5 Makati Fin. Corp. 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.53 0.00 70,000 48,070.00 Italpinas 2.02 2.45 2.07 2.44 20.79 559,000 12.88 5.95 Xurpas 12.3 12.4 12 12.16 -1.14 1,024,200 -1,313,354.00

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS130.7 105.6 First Metro ETF 101.2 105 101.6 105 3.75 8,840 -101,889.00

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESSTUESDAY: JANUARY 26, 2016

B3

Economy grew 5.9%in 2015, says survey

Stock market surges; PLDT, Ayala issues lead advances

Meralco,2 powerfirms signcontracts

McDonald’s in Tacloban. McDonald’s Philippines opens its second store (in-set) in Tacloban, Leyte province as part of its expansion in Visayas. The latest outlet brings McDonald’s to operating 500 stores nationwide. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the opening of the store are McDonald’s Tacloban owner-operator Caroline Lee Andrade (fourth from left), Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominic Petilla (fifth from left) and guests.The two McDonald’s stores in Tacloban are owned Andrade. McDonald’s Tacloban was the first quick-service restaurant chain to reopen in October 2014, or nearly a year after Typhoon Yolanda struck Eastern Visayas.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE gross domestic product likely expanded 5.7 percent to 5.9 percent for the full of 2015, or much lower than the government’s target of 7 percent to 8 percent, economists and analysts polled by The Standard said Monday

The economy grew 5.0 per-cent and 5.7 percent in the first and second quarters, respec-tively, before expanding 6.0 per-cent in the third quarter to push the average to 5.6 percent in the nine-month period.

The government is set to release

the GDP data for the full year of 2015 on Thursday.

Standard Chartered economist Jeff Ng predicted a 5.7 percent economic growth for the full year of 2015 following a slower ex-pansion of 5.9 percent in the last quarter amid weak external de-mand for the country’s exports.

“External demand likely re-mained a drag as merchandise export growth continued to fall in October and November,” Ng said in an e-mail.

ING Bank economist Joey Cuyegkeng also sees GDP grow-ing at 6.0 percent in the fourth quarter, bringing the full-year ex-pansion to between 5.6 percent to 5.7 percent.

Accord Capital Equities Corp ana-lyst Justino Calaycay Jr. saw the econ-omy growing 5.9 percent in 2915.

DBS Bank of Singapore, in a separate statement, said it expects the economy to grow 6.1 percent from an expected 5.7 percent last year, giving Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas more room to maintain its current policy stance in the months ahead.

“Recent data support our view that GDP growth is likely to tick up to 6.1 percent this year... ,” the bank said.

Diana del Rosario of Deutsche Bank saw a more robust growth of 6.3 percent in the last quarter to bring the full-year expansion to 5.8 percent.

“GDP growth increased in fourth quarter largely because government spending rose sub-stantially from a relatively low base,” del Rosario said in an e-mail.

Bank of the Philippine Islands’ lead economist and vice president Emilio Neri projected a 6.2-percent growth in the last quarter of 2015 and 5.8 percent for the whole year.

Moody’s Analytics earlier said the economy grew at a slower pace of 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, bringing full-year figure to 5.7 percent.

“Philippine GDP growth likely cooled to 5.9 percent year-on-year in the December quarter, after the September quarter’s 6 percent. This brings full-year GDP growth to 5.7 percent in 2015, making the Philip-pines one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies last year,” Moody’s said.

ANZ Research economist Eu-genia Victorino said the economy grew 5.9 percent in the last quarter of 2015 due to base effects. With Julito G. Rada

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co., the coun-try’s biggest power retailer, signed separate supply agreements with Toledo Power Corp. and Panay Power Corp. to secure its require-ments during the dry months.

“After the conduct of a competi-tive selection process, Meralco signed today, January 22, 2016, two separate interim power sup-ply agreements with Toledo and Panay Power,” Meralco said in a disclosure.

Toledo Power will supply Meralco up to 28 MW [on a firm basis] from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Saturdays, while Pan-ay Power will sell up to 45 MW from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. Mondays to Saturday.

The interim supply power agreements will become effective upon provisional or final approval of the Energy Regulatory Com-mission, and expire on February 25, 2017, unless terminated ear-lier or extended.

“The IPSAs were entered into to address the company’s capac-ity requirement arising during the summer months and from sched-uled maintenance shutdowns or forced plant outages from its con-tracted generating plants to miti-gate it’s exposure to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market,” the com-pany said.

WESM is the country’s trading floor of electricity, where distribu-tors are exposed to volatile prices as demand and supply drive pow-er costs.

Meralco last week signed an interim power supply agreement with 1590 Energy Corp., a unit of listed Vivant Corp., to purchase 170 megawatts of firm capacity from its Bauang power plant from February to July this year.

1590 Energy, which owns and manages the output of the 225-MW Bauang bunker-fired power plant in Bauang, La Union, will supply Meralco with 170 MW of firm capacity from 10 a.m. To 9 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays from February 26 to July 25, 2016.

The agreement also covers up to 170 MW of non-firm capacity from 10 a.m. To 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays from July 26, 2016 to February 25, 2017.

THE stock market rallied again Monday on bargain hunting, as investors bet on foreign central bank stimulus measures to sup-port markets after the bloodbath at the start of the year.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 226.03 points, or 3.6 percent, to 6,434.08 on a val-ue turnover of P6.7 billion. Gain-ers overwhelmed losers, 131 to 46, with 35 issues unchanged.

Ayala Land Inc., the second-biggest builder, surged 7.5 per-cent to P30.75, while parent Aya-la Corp. advanced 7.5 percent to P659.

Philippine Long Distance

Telephone Co., the largest tele-communications firm, rose 3.9 percent to P2,068, while Met-ropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender, climbed 4.4 percent to P71.30.

Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan rallied 6.1 percent to P14.

Hong Kong stocks ended 1.4 percent higher, Tokyo gained 0.9 percent and Sydney finished 1.8 percent stronger. Shanghai ended up 0.8 percent.

There were also healthy ad-vances for Seoul, Singapore, Tai-pei, Wellington and Jakarta.

In early European trade Lon-

don climbed 0.6 percent, Frank-furt gained 0.3 percent and Paris was up 0.7 percent.

Regional dealers took up the mantle again, with Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney leading the charge, having set the tone for global trading floors Friday with sharp gains.

Energy firms were among the biggest winners after oil prices surged 10 percent on Friday, halving the losses suf-fered so far in 2016 that have been a key cause of the global market rout.

Analysts said the snapback—after three weeks of heavy sell-

ing—was due, but warned that the volatility which has infected markets from Asia to the Ameri-cas would likely continue.

The rally comes at the start of a full week of market-moving news, including policy meetings by the US and Japanese central banks.

There will be close scrutiny of the Bank of Japan after a report last week said policymakers were considering ramping up its al-ready vast stimulus program to avert a deflation threat that has been exacerbated by plunging oil prices.

That came a day after the head

of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, said he would consider further easing its own monetary policy.

There is also increasing specu-lation the Federal Reserve will delay another interest rate rise for now, having increased the cost of borrowing in December for the first time in a decade.

“There will be some waiting and seeing among policymak-ers until they know how this market volatility will affect the global economy,” Michael Mc-Carthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloom-berg News. With AFP

B4

Balisacan quits as Neda chief

Espenilla: Banks require foreign capital to thrive

Napocorto collect P6b worthof subsidy

Best bank. Hong Kong-

based The Asset Magazine names Citi the best bank in the Philippines

for the 12th consecutive year.

The regional media institution

also cites Citi in China, India,

Indonesia, Korea, Singapore,

Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

with best bank awards. Shown is

Citi Asean chief executive Michael

Zink (left) who picks up awards for best bank in the Philippines

and as joint lead manager for

ICTSI’s senior perpetual capital security, which is

recognized best corporate bond in

the Philippines. With Zink are

ICTSI chief finance office Joel

Consing (center) and The Asset editor-in-chief

Daniel Yu.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

ECONOMIC Secretary Arsenio Balisacan resigned on Monday as National Economic and De-velopment Authority director general to assume a new post as the first chairman of anti-mo-nopoly body Philippine Compe-tition Commission.

“Taking on the job as the first chairperson of the PCC, for me, is a very compelling challenge that is hard to ignore. I see this as both a great responsibility and another privilege to steer the economy toward the right direction to realize all its growth potential,” said Balisacan.

Balisacan’s resignation will take effect on Jan. 31. Neda deputy director-general Em-manuel Esguerra will serve as the officer-in-charge of the agency.

PCC was created after President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No.

10667, or the Philippine Competition Act on July 21, 2015.

The commission is a quasi-judicial body that will enforce and implement the provi-sions of the Philippine Competition Act, in-cluding its implementing rules and regula-tions.

It is tasked to ensure an efficient market competition in providing a level-playing field among businesses engaged in trade, industry and all commercial economic activities.

PCC aims to protect consumer welfare and advance both domestic and international trade and economic development. It also has the mandate to conduct inquiries, investigate and penalize all forms of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.

“We would want to address the problem of having a growing economy but with the benefits of such growth only for a small sec-tor. Promoting fair and healthy competition among firms is a major factor in ensuring that the benefits of growth are properly shared,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan, who was appointed as Neda chief and economic planning secretary in

May 2012, is also the first chairman of the Philippine Statistics Authority board and the Public-Private Partnership Center board.

Concurrently, he is also the chairman of the board for the Philippine Institute of Develop-ment Studies, Philippine Center for Econom-ic Development and the Philippine Statistical Research and the Training Institute.

Prior to his appointment to Neda, Bali-sacan was dean and professor at the Univer-sity of the Philippines School of Economics.

He also served as the director of the South-east Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture from 2003 to 2009 and undersecretary of the Agricul-ture Department in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

“Recognized as a leading development economist in Asia, Balisacan will be bringing to PCC, aside from his experience as secre-tary of socioeconomic planning, is his exper-tise in development economics, international economics and applied welfare economics. Balisacan has been an academician of the Na-tional Academy of Science and Technology since 2008 and an adjunct professor at the Australian National University since 2011,” Neda said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-OWNED National Power Corp. is set to file a pe-tition before the Energy Regu-latory Commission to hike the universal charge on consum-ers to recover nearly P6-billion shortfall in the missionary elec-trification subsidy in 2014.

Napocor proposed to recover P5.895 billion, representing the funding shortfall in 2014. Once approved by the ERC, the pe-tition would translate into an increase in universal charge by P0.0788 per kilowatt-hour.

Napocor president Ma. Glad-ys Sta. Rita said in a statement the petition was based on the actual expenses, as against the actual approved revenue and sales from missionary areas and the universal charge for missionary electrification.

Sta. Rita said the application would “still pass through the process of public hearing and the commission’s evaluation and ap-proval before implementation.”

Napocor said the huge short-fall in 2014 was due to the very low basic universal charge for missionary electrification at P0.0454 kWh, which translated into only P2.7 billion per year.

The state firm said the filing was one of two sources of the corporation’s funds as allowed under the Electric Power In-dustry Reform Act of 2001.

These include the universal charge for missionary electrifi-cation which is to be collected from all electricity consumers and energy sales collected from electric cooperatives.

Napocor said the petition was consistent with ERC Reso-lution 21, series of 2011, which amended the guidelines for the setting and approval of electric-ity generation rates and subsi-dies for missionary areas.

This provided that if the rec-onciliation resulted in Napo-cor’s small power utilities group having a deficiency, as con-firmed by the ERC, it should be entitled to an increase in the UC-ME to cover the shortfall.

Sta. Rita also said that an ad-ditional funding through the approval of the instant petition would ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply as this would fully augment the funding re-quirements of Napocor.

She said given the increasing demand for energy and in line with the government’s thrust of economic development in the off-grid areas, availability of funding through the uni-versal charge for missionary electrification particularly for fuel requirements would enable Napocor to optimize the use of available plant capacity.

By Karl Lester M. YapWEALTHY families running some of the largest Philippine banks need to attract foreign cap-ital and know-how if they are to withstand growing competition from overseas lenders, the coun-try’s bank regulator said.

“If they think they can contin-ue to grow at the pace that pro-tects their position in the market using only internal resources, good luck to them,” Bangko Sen-tral ng Pilipinas Deputy Gover-nor Nestor Espenilla said in an interview in Manila last week. “Banks today with a relatively close ownership may want to take a more open view. Or, they face

stagnation, shrinkage.”Philippine banks are fac-

ing a new wave of competition from foreign lenders, with Ja-pan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Finan-cial Group Inc. and Singapore’s United Overseas Bank Ltd. among six foreign banks which have received approval to open branches. The banks are entering the market after the government loosened its rules on foreign ownership in 2014.

Some local banks have already heeded the advice to seek foreign partners, with Security Bank Corp. sealing a deal this month to sell a 20-percent stake to Mit-subishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan’s biggest bank.

Espenilla said the Security Bank deal is a good example of the foreign partnerships that others should be seeking, to at-tract more capital and gain new management skills. The market has become more competitive as the central bank imposes tougher global capital and risk standards, he said.

“Doing the same things may no longer be a valid strategy if you want to continue to thrive,” said Espenilla, who oversees regulation of banks and financial institutions.

Listed Philippine banks have on average about 20 percent to 30 percent of their shares in public hands, Espenilla said.

The nation’s largest bank by as-sets, BDO Unibank Inc., is con-trolled by billionaire Henry Sy, while Bank of the Philippine Is-lands is controlled by the Ayala family.

Despite the need for foreign partners, Espenilla expressed confidence that Philippine banks can withstand the current global slowdown and market volatility without having to raise new capi-tal.

But he said foreign competi-tion is only likely to increase. The central bank is processing one new foreign bank applica-tion and three more are actively interested, Espenilla said.

Bloomberg

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

BUSINESS B5

The new MacBook

World Bank, BPIhike energy funds

Bulacan bank executives face charges

First Metro briefing. First Metro Investment Corp., the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, holds its annual economic and capital markets briefing to present market information, statistical reviews and forecasts to capital markets players and the financial sector. First Metro sees the Philippine economy expanding 6 percent to 6.5 percent this year. Shown during the briefing are (from left) First Metro president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo, chairman Francisco Sebastian and executive vice president Justino Juan Ocampo.

By Julito G. Rada

STATE-RUN Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. said Monday it filed criminal charges of quali-fied theft and fraudulent disposal of assets against three former of-ficers of the closed Rural Bank of San Jose Del Monte Inc., or Del-mont Bank.

PDIC said in a statement it filed the charges before the Jus-tice Department on Jan. 6, 2016. Fraudulent disposal of assets is in violation of Republic Act 3591, as amended, or the PDIC Charter.

The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, placed the four-unit Delmont Bank under the receivership of PDIC on Aug. 1, 2013.

PDIC alleged in the com-plaint that respondents Wilfre-do Olaguer (former president),

Lerma Torres (former vice pres-ident–Finance) and Rossana Aljon (former vice president–marketing) were charged with qualified theft and fraudulent disposal of assets for the unlaw-ful taking of six

certificates of titles covering real and other properties ac-quired of Delmont Bank with an aggregate value of P33.22 million.

PDIC said the properties were deliberately removed from the books to avoid detection by the bank regulators.

The complaint also said that PDIC came to know of the alleged scheme in Delmont when one of the bank’s deposi-tors reported that the respon-dents offered to sell to him “off-book” assets of the closed bank two days after the bank’s closure.

“The respondents allegedly as-sured the depositor that PDIC, the liquidator of the closed bank, will not be able to trace the assets because these have been removed from the books of the closed bank and the deeds of sale to be entered into will be ante-dated to protect the buyers in case of re-sale,” the agency said.

PDIC said it continued its pur-suit of justice against erring bank owners, officers and unscrupu-lous parties who took advantage of the deposit insurance system for their personal gain.

The corporation’s vigorous le-gal actions are critical in deter-ring other parties from taking advantage of the deposit insur-ance system and protecting the interests of the depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund, PDIC’s funding source for payment of deposit insurance.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

INTERNATIONAL International Finance Corp., the private sector lending arm of the World Bank group, on Monday signed a P3.5-billion risk-sharing facility with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to expand the sustain-able energy finance program.

Under the agreement, IFC and BPI will share the risk for up to P3.5 billion of the bank’s portfo-lio in distributed energy projects, service companies projects and green building construction.

“BPI has always been at the forefront of sustainable energy finance in the country,” said BPI president and chief executive Ce-

zar Consing. “We prioritize creating sustain-

able shared value in our business, and our partnership with IFC will enable us to carry on this com-mitment for the environment, our clients, and stakeholders,” he said.

The program will provide loans and technical advice to clients in-vesting in energy projects to re-

duce energy costs and cut green-house gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main contributors to climate change, which has been blamed for severe weather events that cause massive loss of human lives and damage to property and livelihoods.

IFC will provide risk sharing facilities and technical advice to partner banks who wish to lend to sustainable energy projects.

BPI released P35.3 billion worth of loans with P24.7 billion for en-ergy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resilience projects from 2009 to October 2015.

IFC said these projects helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.9 million tons a year, or equivalent to taking 362,000 cars off the road.

LIKE many longtime Mac users, I was at first intrigued, then appalled by the new 12-inch MacBook.

If you’ve walked into an Apple store recently, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s the sleek and lightweight model – usually with a gold finish – that’s positioned right next to the 11-inch MacBook Air, probably for the sake of comparison. By some feat of engineer-ing, Apple has made the MacBook even lighter than Air (sorry, I couldn’t resist). The new MacBook weighs in at only two pounds, while the MacBook Air 11-inch model I use is 2.38 pounds. At 1.31 centimeters at its thickest point, the MacBook is even thinner than the MacBook Air (1.7 cm). Although both computers are almost the same size, the MacBook squeezes in a larger 12-inch diagonal Ret-ina display with an impressive 2,304 x 1,440 resolution, as opposed to the MacBook Air’s 11.6-inch diagonal display with a maximum resolution of 1,366 x 768.

The Macbook retails here for P64,990—still a hefty chunk of change in comparison to the P44,990 SRP for the 11-inch MacBook Air.

Now before anything else, I need to state that the only time I got to play with the new MacBook was at the store—so I haven’t actu-ally used it for any significant amount of time. I have not run any benchmarks. Nor have I put the new MacBook through the paces of everyday use.

In short, what follows is not a review, but just a few obser-vations about the direction Apple has taken with its new lap-top—and a prayer that the company will not apply the same design philosophy to its other laptop line—including my fa-vorite MacBook Air.

Having said that, let’s look at a few more key differences.While both feature 512GB of flash storage, the MacBook Air has

a more powerful processor, a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5, as against the MacBook’s Intel 1.3Ghz dual-core Intel Core M processor.

That’s not the most compelling reason to stick with the MacBook Air, however, and to give the new MacBook a pass.

That reason can be deduced by examining the left side of the unit where you’d expect the MagSafe power port and a USB port to be—but aren’t. In their place is one that looks like a micro USB connec-tor—but isn’t.

This is the USB-C port, which is used for charging, external USB storage and VGA and HDMI output. All this sounds fine—except that to gain all the extra functionality, you’ll need to buy an adapter separately. Apple’s Philippine website lists the USB-C to USB adapter at P990—but that’s just good enough for one USB device. The web-site lists the USB-C multiport adapter—which lets you connect your MacBook to an HDMI display, a USB device and a USB-C charging cable—at a whopping P3,990. A multiport adapter for VGA—in case you want to connect your MacBook to an LCD projector—costs just as much.

Of course, since USB-C is an industry standard, less expensive third-party adapters will most likely come to market eventually, but it still seems unreasonable to pay extra for basic functionality (USB expansion storage) that is built into most computers.

Andrew Liszewski, writing for Gizmodo, notes that one of the less publicized themes of CES 2016 appears to be “ways to fix the 12-inch MacBook.”

“Not only does it come with just a single USB-C port, there’s also no memory card slot,” he writes, before going into specifics of a new USB-C card reader.

The problem is that Apple has a habit of eschewing widely used technology standards in favor of cutting-edge platforms, whether their customers are ready for it or not. The company did it with floppy drives and VGA ports on its computers some time ago, and ditched USB ports on its iPad more recently.

Will it take the same “one port to rule them all” approach to its MacBook Air and other laptop models? I hope not. I would hate to lose the built-in functionality of having USB ports, and the protec-tion that the MagSafe power connector offers against accidentally yanking my laptop to the ground.

Technology journalist and author Dan Gilmore recently wrote about his decision to shut down his MacBook Air for good in 2012 and switch to a Linux laptop to retain his independence in comput-ing.

“A few months ago, when Apple introduced its iPad Pro, a large tablet with a keyboard, CEO Tim Cook called it the ‘clearest ex-pression of our vision of the future of personal computing.’ That was an uh-oh moment for me. Among other things, in the iOS ecosystem users are obliged to get all their software from Apple’s store, and developers are obliged to sell it in the company store. This may be Apple’s definition of personal computing, but it’s not mine.”

The one-port approach on the new MacBook may well be the uh-oh moment for me, when it comes time to replace my MacBook Air.

Column archives and blog at:http://www.chinwong.com

business@thestandard.com.phextrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESSTUESDAY: JANUARY 26, 2016

B6

JG Summit sees oil bonanzaMEG bullishon rentalincome

PNoy’s balance sheet after almost 6 years

New DoLE director. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (right) delivers her message of support during the formal turnover ceremony of incoming National Capital Region director and officer-in-charge Nelson Hornilla and outgoing NCR director Alex Avila at the DoLE-NCR Building in Manila. Avila is now the OIC executive director of the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

MOST people are disposed to use the word ‘legacy’ to evaluate the entire life of an indi-vidual or a phase of it. ‘Legacy’ is a high-class, legal-sounding word. Oriented as I am to fi-nancial terminology, I prefer to speak of the personal balance sheet of an individual: his or her assets (his or her good accomplishments) against the individual’s liabilities (the things that the individual failed to accomplish).

As he moves into the final semester of his 12-semester term, I have prepared a bal-ance sheet for the son of President Corazon Aquino. I will not speak of PNoy Aquino’s accomplishments; his administration never misses an opportunity to remind the Fili-pino people of them. I will dwell on PNoy’s liabilities, i.e., the things that he botched or failed to do. Here are the principal ones.

At the top of my list of PNoy’s liabilities to the Filipino people is the non-passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Dur-ing his campaign against former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and former Senate president Manny Villar, PNoy vowed again and again that he would work for the ap-proval by Congress of the FOI bill. Once in office, PNoy made it apparent that the FOI bill was not on his list of priorities. Joke-joke lang pala. He stopped making mention of the bill in successive State of the Nation Ad-dresses. I reached the conclusion—as I am

sure millions of Filipinos did—that PNoy was not a person to be expected to keep a solemn vow.

Truth to tell I stopped hoping that PNoy would be a first-rate Chief Executive as early as August 2010. That was the month in which the Luneta hostage-taking of a bus-load of Hong Kong tourists occurred. I con-cluded then and there that Cory Aquino’s son was not going to be an astute, hands-on President. PNoy royally botched that in-cident, whose unfolding he was observing from the vantage-point of a nearby restau-rant. Joseph Estrada would not have allowed the shooting of the tourists to take place, I said to myself. To cap his misperformance, PNoy absolutely refused to offer an apology to the Hong Kong government.

Another major item on the liabilities side of my balance sheet of PNoy Aquino is his total inability to come to grips with the Bu-reau of Customs (BOC). Where BOC is con-cerned, Cory Aquino’s son just hasn’t been able to get it. He has been appointing to the leadership of the BOC individuals whom many knowledgeable observers believed or believe to be of doubtful integrity, com-petence and suitability. The Department of Finance, of which BOC is a component, has been counting on BOC to match the Bureau of Internal Revenue in terms of performance

improvement. No such luck; BOC continues to wallow in inefficiency and corruption. And, as he approached the end of his term, PNoy still has not gotten it. Or maybe he has but thinks that the problem is not all that important.

Another big liabilities item in PNoy Aquino’s balance sheet has been his appar-ent non-concern for the improvement and development for Philippine agriculture. This non-concern was clearly indicated early by his appointment of a second-rate provincial politician, not someone steeped in agricul-tural-sector management, to the Secretary-ship of Agriculture. Almost six years into PNoy’s term, Philippine agriculture has re-mained inefficient across the board and the Filipino farmer has remained among the poorest citizens of this country. Realizing that Secretary Proceso Alcala was never go-ing to deliver performance, PNoy appointed an unprecedented second Secretary of Agri-culture—for agricultural modernization—in the process accommodating his Liberal Par-ty colleague Francis Pangilinan. Did Pang-ilinan deliver on his mandate? The answer is a resounding No. The PNoy administration ended up with two, not just one, non-per-forming Secretary of Agriculture.

Then there is arguably the biggest liabil-ity item on PNoy’s balance sheet. I speak of

the odious Mamasapano episode of January 25, 2015. I don’t think it will take a top-notch criminal lawyer to come to the conclusion that PNoy is ultimately responsible for what happened during the early hours of January 23, 2015 in that sleepy Maguindanao village. Responsibility for that disaster must be laid squarely at PNoy’s door. The illegal activation of an ousted top PNP officer, the incompre-hensible keeping out of the loop of top PNP of-ficers and their boss, the Secretary of the Inte-rior and Local Government—and the dubious failure of coordination between the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units in the vicinity—collectively point to PNoy’s de-sire to prevent the occurrence of anything that would jeopardize passage of the Malacanang-pushed Bangsamoro bill. PNoy will not be off the hook even after June 30, 2016.

B.S. Aquino III has called his administra-tion a daang matuwid administration? Has the daan always been matuwid? Going by the above balance sheet, clearly not.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

By Clarissa Batino

JG SUMMIT Holdings Inc. expects its budget airline to carry a million more pas-sengers this year, as decade-low prices for crude oil flow through to cheaper fares.

Cebu Air Inc. will probably carry more than 19 million passengers this year, up from more than 18 million in 2015, president Lance Go-kongwei said in a Jan. 20 phone interview.

JG Summit, which also owns 27 percent of Manila Electric Co., thinks power use will rise as cheaper fuel drives down electric-ity costs. The conglomerate’s petrochemical unit, which runs on feedstock from refined fuel, also will be more competitive, Gokon-gwei said.

Cheap fuel “is positive for us since we’re a transportation, manufacturing and industrial group,” said Gokongwei, 49. “We always had a

good balance sheet. Now is the opportunity to strengthen it further.”

Cebu Air rose 1.3 percent to P77 at the close of trading, while JG Summit gained 1.7 per-cent to P61.70. The Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index advanced 3.6 percent.

Gokongwei said the drop in fuel prices does have its downsides.

“First is that fuel surcharges have been re-moved, so that has reduced yields” on Cebu Air flights, he said. “Second, it’s a manifesta-tion of weaker economic growth globally, es-pecially with concerns about China’s weaken-ing economy. There also are currency fears in emerging markets.”

Daniel Lau and Edward Xu, analysts at Morgan Stanley, said 2016 could be a better year for carriers in the Association of South-east Asian nations.

“We think that Asean airlines are likely to enjoy margin expansion, albeit on varying lev-els, as we do expect lower fuel prices to drive price competition as rivals pass on fuel cost savings to passengers,” the analysts wrote in a report dated Jan. 24. “We are raising our es-

timates for Asean airlines across the board as we adjust for lower fuel prices, offset by lower pax yield.”

Morgan Stanley is cutting yield growth ex-pectations for low-cost carriers in Asean, giv-en that the airlines will take the opportunity to pass on some fuel cost savings to passengers or reduce fare growth to entice air travel, it said in the report, which doesn’t mention Cebu Air specifically.

Cebu Air, which was unprofitable in the third quarter of 2015 due to fuel hedging and currency losses, is reviewing its fuel-purchase strategy and will consider adding more hedges to take advantage of the current low fuel price, Gokongwei said. Whether it can expand its fleet will depend on demand and the airline’s ability to add new destina-tions, he said.

Jet fuel bought at an average of $75 a bar-rel will account for about 25 percent of Cebu Air’s fuel needs this year and 18 percent in 2017, Gokongwei said. That’s an improvement from 2015, when it paid more than $100 a bar-rel for 30 percent of its fuel needs. Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria

MEGAWORLD Corp., the prop-erty unit of business tycoon An-drew Tan, increased its rental in-come target in 2016 to P11 billion from the original estimate of P10 billion amid an aggressive roll-out of office buildings, hotels and commercial developments.

Megaworld said in a statement it would complete 650,000 square me-ters of office towers, malls and com-mercial centers this year to add to the company’s overall rental portfolio.

It also expects recurring in-come to rise by over 20 percent by the end of 2016.

“We are on track in strengthen-ing our office and mall portfolio as we continue to experience ro-bust demand for spaces, both of-fice and retail, in our townships. Both our offices and retail spaces enjoy a very high occupancy rate of around 99 percent across our developments,” Megaworld senior vice president Jericho Go said.

Megaworld said at least 10 office towers in Uptown Bonifacio, McKin-ley West, The Mactan Newtown and Iloilo Business Park would be com-pleted by year-end. These new office towers will add a gross floor area of 287,500 square meters.

The company has over 150 companies in its portfolio of office tenants, mostly from the infor-mation technology and business process outsourcing sector. Mega-world townships have become home to some of the world’s big-gest IT-BPO companies, such as Accenture, Wells Fargo, HP, IBM and United Health Group.

New Year glow for the ‘lantern capital’

Aussieleadersopt forrepublic

Asia slips and slidesas temperatures dip

Hollande: Threats will notstop fight against jihadists

B7CESAR BARRIOQUINTOE D I T O R

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Aurora

Municipality of San Luis---oOo---

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR

NOTICE OF AWARDJanuary 4, 2016

EPOWER TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONUnit 3A Seibu Tower, 24th St. cor. 6th Ave.Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City

S i r:

We would like to inform you that the Joint Venture Agreement for the REHABILITATION, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF 2X384KW SAN LUIS MINI-HYDRO POWER PLANT PROJECTlocated at Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora is hereby awarded to you as the Original Proponent with no comparative proposals received by the municipality at a project cost equivalent to EIGHTY FIVE MILLION PESOS (PhP85,000,000.00).

You are therefore required, within twenty (20) calendar days from the receipt of this Notice of Award, to formally enter into contract with us, and to submit the following:

1. Prescribed performance security;

2. Proof of commitment of the required equity contribution, as specified by the BAC; and

3. Proof of firm commitments from reputable financial institution to provide sufficient credit lines to cover the total estimated cost of the project.

Failure to enter into the said contract/ agreement or provide the aforementioned requirements within the prescribed period shall constitute a sufficient ground for cancellation of this award and forfeiture of your Bid Security.

Very truly yours,

ANNABELLE C. TANGSON, CPA, MGMMunicipal Mayor

Conforme:

(SGD) EPower Technologies Corp. ( TS - JAN. 26 /FEB. 2 , 2016)

Republic of the PhilippinesDEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. StreetManila 1004

(TS-JAN. 26, 2016)

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION OF VARIOUS IT EQUIPMENT

1. The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Pesos (PhP 2,397,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply, Delivery, Installation and Configuration of Various IT Equipment (DOF) (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

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

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

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

5. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. St. Roxas Boulevard, Manila starting January 26, 2016 during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on January 26, 2016 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee provided as follows:Lot No. Particulars ABC Non-refundable fee

1 Computer, workstation, set PhP 1,497,500.00 PhP 5,000.002 Laptop PhP 900,000.00 PhP 1,000.00

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

6. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Posting of Invitation to Bid January 26, 2016Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Starting January 26, 2016Pre-Bid Conference February 2, 2016, 10:00 amRequest for Clarification February 6, 2016 (by email)Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin February 9, 2016Deadline for Submission of Bids February 16, 2016, 9:45 amOpening of Bids February 16, 2016, 10:00 am

7. Bids must be delivered at the 7th Floor, EDPC Building cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Manila on or before February 16, 2016, 9:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bid (ITB) Clause 18.

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

“LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.”8. The DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, to annul the bidding process,

and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9. For further information, please refer to:

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

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

NEW DELHI—President Francois Hollande vowed not to let threats de-ter France from its fight against ter-rorism on Monday, the second day of an official visit to India focused on security and trade.

Hollande was responding to a new video re-leased by the Islamic State group that threatens countries of the US-led coalition that have been fighting IS and purports to show nine jihadists in-volved in November’s deadly Paris attacks.

“Nothing will deter us, no threat will make France waver in the fight against terrorism,” the French president told reporters in New Delhi.

“These images only serve to discredit the perpe-trators of this crime.”

Hollande, who will be chief guest at Tuesday’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi, will on Monday hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to focus on security after the Paris attacks.

Modi has said he invited Hollande to India as a show of solidarity after the assault on the French capi-tal, which killed 130 people and evoked memories of the even deadlier 2008 Islamist attacks on Mumbai.

The French leader is also looking to shore up a troubled multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal during his three-day visit to India.

The two countries are still struggling to nail

down a deal for India to buy 36 Rafale fighters jets made by the French company Dassault, which is in itself a watered-down version of a plan first un-veiled in 2012.

Hollande’s visit had raised fresh expectations that the Rafale deal would be finalized after years of tortuous negotiations.

But a senior French official, speaking on condi-tion of anonymity, told reporters on Sunday that the two sides were still haggling over the price, which experts say could reach around five billion euros ($5.6 billion).

Hollande has said he is “optimistic” that an in-ter-governmental accord that would pave the way for a final contract would be agreed on Monday, but also warned that pinning down the fine details of such a deal “obviously takes time”.

One sticking point is Delhi’s insistence that arms makers invest a percentage of the value of any major deal in India.

Hollande’s visit has however given impetus to other deals, including one for the French-based Airbus consortium to build military helicopters with India’s Mahindra group.

Hollande, who began his visit in the north-ern city of Chandigarh, said the extremist threat weighed as heavily on France as on India, recently hit by a deadly attack on a military base near the border with Pakistan.

The 17-minute video put out by the IS group describes the attackers as “lions” who “brought France to its knees” and urges Muslims in France to rise up against the country’s leaders. AFP

SYDNEY—Australian state leaders threw their support behind a republic on Monday, with one saying the na-tion should not have to wait for the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign to cut ties with the British monarchy.

Ahead of Australia Day on Tuesday, seven of the nation’s eight state and territory leaders signed a dec-laration calling for an Australian head of state to replace the reigning royal in London.

The only state leader not to sign up, Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett, said he also supported a republic but just did not think “the time is right”.

Federal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is already a noted republican, hav-ing passionately led the cause ahead of a failed referendum in 1999, as is opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten.

A u s t r a l i a n Republican Movement chairman Peter FitzSimons seized on the new enthusiasm.

“All of Australia’s political leaders now support an Australian head of state,” he told the Australian B r o a d c a s t i n g Corporation.

“Never before have the stars of the Southern Cross been so aligned in pointing to the dawn of a new republican age for Australia,” he said, referring to a constel-lation in the south-ern hemisphere sky which appears on the Australian flag.

FitzSimons, who wants the process on a referendum over becom-ing a republic to start by 2020, said the declara-tion sent a message to the prime minister.

Turnbull has previ-ously said that he has more pressing priori-ties than turning the nation into a republic.

“My own view... is that the next occa-sion for the republic referendum to come up is going to be after the end of the Queen’s reign,” he said last year.

But South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill said it would be “the ultimate act of respect” if the Queen presided over the transfer of Australia from a mon-archy to a republic. AFP

Present. Actress Ashley Bell attends the Lena Dunham and Planned Parenthood Host Sex, Politics & Film Cocktail Reception at The Spur on January 24, 2016, in Park City, Utah. AFP

T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

B8 CESAR BARRIOQUINTOE D I T O R

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Blizzardkills 25 asUS fights to rebound

New Year glow for the ‘lantern capital’

Blockade. Smoke rises above a fire as French farmers block the highway access to Lorient, western France, on January 25, 2016, to protest against the falling prices of dairy and meat products. AFP

Record migration. A woman walks with other migrants after crossing the Macedonian border into Serbia, near the village of Miratovac, on January 25, 2016. More than 1 million people from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan entered Europe last year in what has been called the biggest migration to the continent since World War II. AFP

WORLD

Asia slips and slidesas temperatures dip

TUNTOU, China—Carefully steadying the gleaming red lantern between her knees, a worker applied the Chinese character for “wealth” in golden glitter—one of the millions that will illuminate the forthcoming Lunar New Year.

A high wooden arch at the en-trance to the snowy village of Tuntou, in Hebei province southwest of Beijing, proclaims it the “lantern capital” of the People’s Republic.

Bai Liwei, the village’s Communist Party leader, told AFP proudly: “80 to 90 percent of the lanterns used in China come from here.”

For the past two months, the town has been churning out the pumpkin-shaped lamps in preparation for the

biggest holiday of the year in the world’s most populous country.

Known as the “Spring Festival” in China, the holiday, which falls on February 8 on this occasion, com-pares in importance to Christmas in the West, and marks a time when for far-flung family members return home for merriment and meals. According to tradition, they must be back by midnight on the eve of the new year.

Tuntou village has specialized in artisanal lantern-making for nearly 40 years. It is not the site of enormous factories, instead the industry is driven by a number of private work-shops in which families concentrate on the production of a single lantern

element-their spindly metal frames, the exterior “skin” of fabric or silk, the decorative inscriptions.

At the back of one assembly unit, high piles of nearly completed lan-terns awaited processing, while workers wielded wooden canes to lift others high off the ground to dangle delicately from the ceiling.

The color red symbolizes luck and happiness in Chinese culture, and the lanterns are omnipresent throughout the towns and coun-tryside, trotted out at most impor-tant occasions: marriages, busi-ness openings, and most of all the Lunar New Year, which generally falls in late January or early to mid February. AFP

HONG KONG—Snow, sleet and icy winds across Asia caused deaths, flight cancellations and chaos over the weekend as areas used to bask-ing in balmier climates struggled with record-low temperatures.

Weather-related deaths were reported in Japan and Taiwan, with hundreds of flights canceled across the region, tens of thousands of holidaymakers stranded in South Korea, and freezing conditions in sub-tropical Hong Kong causing mayhem on its tallest peak.

While the cold snap is by no means on the scale of the weather now affecting the snow-bound eastern United States, such temperatures are a novelty for many residents of the region.

In Bangkok, a city that rarely sees the ther-mometer dip below 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 Fahrenheit), temperatures dropped to

around 16 degrees late Sunday.It left Bangkokians, whose normal attire gen-

erally includes flip-flops and shorts, digging through their closets for jackets and jumpers.

In Japan five people died and more than 100 were injured Sunday, with record-breaking heavy snowfall and low temperatures in the country’s western and central regions and rare snow in sub-tropical areas, officials and local media said.

The small subtropical island of Amami ob-served snow for the first time since 1901, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

In China, 24 weather stations around the country recorded all-time low temperatures be-tween Friday and Sunday.

At Eergu’Na in Inner Mongolia, the tempera-ture on Saturday hit a record low of -46.8 de-grees Celsius.

The southern city of Guangzhou saw rare sleet, the first in 60 years, in its downtown area, the provincial meteorological station an-nounced on Sunday.

In Hong Kong, primary schools and kinder-gartens were closed Monday after temperatures plunged to a 60-year low.

A 100-kilometer ultra-marathon race was abandoned as competitors crossing the city’s tallest peak, Tai Mo Shan, slipped on icy slopes buffeted by freezing winds.

The peak became the scene of “carnage”, as one race official described it, as hundreds of cu-rious “frost-chasing” citizens became stranded, with dozens stricken with hypothermia and hapless firemen called in to rescue them filmed slipping and sliding on the icy roads.

Close to 90,000 people were stranded on the South Korean resort island of Jeju on Monday after the biggest snowfall in three decades shut the airport for the third straight day.

Taipei registered a low of 4 degrees Celsius over the weekend, the coldest in 44 years, with the Taiwan media reporting 90 deaths due to the cold weather, and rare snowfall drawing enthusiastic crowds to Yangmingshan National Park. AFP

WASHINGTON—The east-ern United States emerged wea-rily from a massive blizzard that dumped huge amounts of snow and killed at least 25 people, but Washington was still reeling, with government offices and schools to remain closed Monday.

The storm—dubbed “Snow-zilla”—walloped a dozen states from Friday into early Sunday, af-fecting an estimated 85 million residents who were told to stay indoors and off the roads for their own safety.

The 26.8 inches (68 centime-ters) of snow that fell in New York’s Central Park was the second-high-est accumulation since records began in 1869, and more than 22 inches paralyzed the capital Washington.

Near-record-breaking snowfall was recorded in other cities up and down the East Coast, with Philadelphia and Baltimore also on the receiving end of some of the worst that Mother Nature could fling at them.

But as the storm ended and temperatures rose, New York emerged from total shutdown and lifted a sweeping travel ban. Roads were reopened throughout the city, on Long Island and in New Jersey.

Thousands of people flocked to parks, tobogganing, organiz-ing snowball fights and strapping on cross-country skis, as children delighted in a winter wonderland under glorious sunshine.

Broadway resumed shows, which were canceled on Saturday, and museums reopened, as snow plows quickly cleared the main av-enues and temperatures hovered at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (zero Celsius).

Jessica Edwards, a filmmaker from Canada, joined in the fun, pulling four-year-old daughter Hazel down a hill on a sled in a New York park.

“Oh my God, she’s so excited! We left the house this morning and we packed a bunch of stuff to make a snowman,” she told AFP.

But as the storm-related death toll rose, authorities advised cau-tion despite the picture postcard scenes outside. AFP

After collaborating with fashion designer Mark Bumgarner in their recently held fashion show last January 18, Love Marie Ongpauco-

Escudero seems to be on a roll as she is set for a solo exhibition at the ArtistSpace of Ayala Museum that will run from January 30 to February 10.

Entitled Oceans Apart, this is her second exhibit in ArtistSpace after a successful exhibition last year where all her artwork was sold out on the first hour of the opening.

Since then, she had two more exhibits: one at the Gallerie Joaquin in San Juan while the latest was in Singapore. Just like the first, the two succeeding exhibits also saw her work sold out. Known to many as actress and product endorser Heart Evangelista, the artist now prefers to be known by her real name Love Marie.

During the presscon on her collaboration with Mark Bumgarner, she explained, “I’ve

been an artista for 17 years now, and people probably think that I’m used to people criticizing me. Actually I’m still very afraid and very pressured by what people have to say, so, I figured by using my real name I could hide away from being that artista ‘Heart’ that they knew. (I want to show) a different side of me; my classmates from school know me as Love Marie, and I wanted to introduce that little girl with dreams. More than anything, I wanted to be a painter and a vet when I was young. Of course I wanted to become an artista, but before I thought of that I wanted to paint. So I want to introduce who I really am to the real world without being judged or without people saying, she’s an artista who got into singing, or she’s an artista who ran for politics or whatever. I wanted to be who I really was and what I really do, that’s why I wanted to introduce Love Marie.”

As a child, she really had an inkling for painting but it took a while before Love

Marie got the courage to get back to her brush and canvas and showcase her talent to the public due to fear of scrutiny. “I was afraid that people might come up with critical reactions,” she admits. “When you’re a public figure, you’re so open to all the criticisms, judgments. It took a lot of courage for me to come out with a painting because I felt that people might say, ‘Oh, so now she paints.’ I really just had to be confident, brave and fearless to come out with it,” she adds.

The success of her first exhibit propelled her to paint more. In her previous works, Love Marie creatively explored the varying emotions of women, surrounding them with ambiguous shapes and forms and colors. Oceans Apart showcases repetitive images of fish in fluid motion and in different colorful renditions, inspired by her childhood memories with her father, Rey Ongpauco, who used to bring her to go fishing when

she was a child. “It was kind of our thing. He had wanted a boy, which is why he brought me along hiking or fishing,” she discloses.

The title of her latest exhibit could also be in homage to her father as their relationship has gone through so much over the years. Her happy memories as a child have always had a place in her heart and now it has become part of her art. “I love painting fish. It’s just a never-ending flowing idea, a fantasy place with so many colors,” she enthuses.

Oceans Apart will be on display at ArtistSpace in Ayala Museum from January 30 to February 10. ArtistSpace is located at the ground level of Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For more information on the ArtistSpace, contact Lorraine Datuin, gallery coordinator at (02) 759-8288 or email artistspace@ayalafoundation.org.

C1TUESDAY : JANUARY 26, 2016

LIFE

TATUM ANCHETAE D I T O R

BING PARELA S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNASW R I T E R

A RTS, CU LT U RE & T ECH

l i f e @ t h e s t a n d a r d . c o m . p h @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d

OCEANS APARTA Solo Exhibition by Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero

'Pirouette'Oil on canvas, 38"x48"

'Stream of Consciousness'Oil on canvas, 25"x37"

'Chiz+Heart' Oil on canvas, 36"x48"

'Oceans Apart' Oil on canvas, 48"x48"

'Forgotten' Oil on canvas, 72"x48"

'In Full Flow' Oil on canvas, 48"x72" 'Under the Sea' Oil on canvas, 48"x72"

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T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

When a former rural dweller moves to the city, personal comparisons arise. In his latest exhibit, visual artist Kris Abrigo presents his latest works featuring his personal narrative that tackles the extreme contrasts and distinct differences of the moneyed and the people living on the streets.

Abrigo showcases images of collected memories and experiences with people and places using his geometric hyper color urban pop contemporary style. His main subjects are portraits and landscapes that range from popular celebrities to common people of the streets, and from cityscapes to rural natural sceneries mixed up and juxtaposed with each other. Serving as the show’s highlight is the monumental mural outside the gallery. For more details on this ongoing exhibit, visit www.vinylonvinyl.com

In this day and age when everything is spoon-fed and everything can be artificial – from food to feelings –young artist Tyang Karel showcases her take on modern traditions as well as folk arts, and satirically explores our society’s love for pop culture, nostalgia and food. This series presents her woodworks that depict her personal struggles, inside jokes, and the people around her.

Tyang’s wood sculptures, as well as her painting and other creations using mixed media, are characterized by her unique style featuring sinuous lines that are luminous and pastel in color. The Cavite-born artist draws inspiration from lowbrow art, outsider art, cult celebrities, cult films, Russian folk art, Filipino folk art, Japan surplus, kitsch, and pop culture. Visit www.vinylonvinyl.com to know more about this show.

Illustrator and comic book artist Apol Sta. Maria mounts his latest works in his first solo show at Vinyl on Vinyl gallery. Sta. Maria is known for his works drawn in a simplistic and humorous manner that capture the funny side of life. His love for comics inspired him to self-publish his own works, which eventually gained notice from the local art scene. For more details on this exhibit, visit www.vinylonvinyl.com or better yet, check out his artworks at the gallery.

With the national elections just around the corner, popular comedian and seasoned impersonator Jon Santos impersonates the Philippine presidentiables in his upcoming series of shows.

The audience are in for a treat as Jon showcases his new personas as Madonna showing how elections are more fun in the Philippines, Senator Miriam’s unofficial address to voters, P-Noy’s last days in Malacañang, Grace P.’s exclusive interview with Karen D., Erap’s plea for “A Second Chance,” Mommy Dioning’s role as Cupid to Manny and Jinky, and other hilarious sides of the latest current events in the country. Tickets are now available at the RWM Box Office located on the ground floor of Newport Mall and all TicketWorld outlets. Visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/ Visitor hotline at (02) 908-8833 for more information.

Feng shui and Chinese astrology master and global best-selling author Joey Yap is spreading the good fortune that the year of the Fire Monkey brings as he holds a one-day feng shui and astrology seminar.

In Chinese culture, feng shui is a philosophical system of harmonizing relevant aspects with the surrounding environment. Yap, a self-made millionaire at 26, will provide a lucid perspective on how astrology plays a significant part with aspects such as luck, relationships, finances, and more divining information on human affairs and terrestrial events. Attendees of his session are expected to gather systematic insights and useful tips to help them attract luck this year. Limited tickets for the seminar are available at the RWM redemption store, ground floor gaming area. For more inquiries, call the RWM Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (02) 908-8833 or visit www.rwmanila.com.

Mixed media artist and writer Maria Victoria “Mav” Rufino stages her 18th solo exhibit that features her latest dreamscape paintings showing the interconnectivity of memories with ideas. According to Rufino, this series reflects her fascination with the nuances of light– radiant and luminous – in nature.

Through her “impressions of timeless vistas blending with memories of the future and déjà vu images of the past,” the multifaceted artist demonstrates how a particular dream can lead to another no matter how fragmented or disparate they are in terms of time, space and place.

Rufino has mounted successful exhibitions of her artistic creations in the Philippines and abroad. She has also authored several books and has written a number of articles and essays. Hence her current show is creating a ripple of excitement among art and literary circles. Proceeds of the exhibit will benefit the Child Protection Network Foundation.

Urbanized IndioMain Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, Makati CityOngoing until February 6

Artificial FlavorLeft Wing, Vinyl on Vinyl, Makati CityOngoing until February 6

SexobyotUpper Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, Makati CityOngoing until February 6

Luminescence – Dreamscapes 2016The Gallery, The Peninsula Manila, Makati CityFebruary 3 to February 7

HuGot your VOTE! WTF: Wala Talagang Forever (Sa Malacañang)Ceremonial Hall, Marriott Grand Ballroom, Resorts World ManilaFebruary 17-20, 24-27, March 3-5; 8:00 p.m.

Feng Shui and AstrologyGrand Ballroom B, Marriott Hotel, Pasay CityJanuary 28; 8:30 a.m.

ARTS AND CULTURE ROUNDUPWhat’s on in theaters and galleries this week

EXHIBITS THEATER PLAYS

WORKSHOPS

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T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

Music aficionados are in for an enthralling performance by internationally acclaimed Filipina pianist Cecile Licad at the

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Thursday, January 28.

The one-night only special concert dubbed as Cecile Licad Encore! will also have the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Olivier Ochanine, with a scintillating repertoire that includes Rossini’s Overture to Italian Girl in Algiers, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff ’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Licad rose to international prominence in 1981 when she was awarded the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal – making her the first Asian to bag the award. The pianist has since played in the great concert halls of the world, performing with famous orchestras and distinguished conductors.

For the concert, Licad will perform on a Hamburg Steinway Grand Piano that was shipped all the way from New York and used for her concert at the Santuario de San Antonio Church concert in October last year, and also at the state dinner in honor of the 15 heads of state who attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit last November.

Co-produced by the Philippine Italian Association with the CCP, the concert has the Rustan Group of Companies, Calata Corporation, The Peninsula Manila, Starbucks, Royal Duty Free Shops, Inc., and San Miguel Corporation as main sponsors, with Bvlgari, Megaworld Corporation, Mercedes-Benz, Philippine Tatler, SSI Group, Inc., Amanpulo and Anflocor Group of Companies as supporters.

Proceeds of the concert will go to the Philippine Italian Association Endowment Fund and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra United States of America Tour in June 2016. Incidentally, the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto that Cecile will perform at the CCP will be repeated at the Carnegie Hall when she joins the PPO in concert.

The Philippine Italian Association (PIA) Endowment Fund was created in 2002 under the leadership of PIA president Zenaida Tantoco to respond to the growing needs of the underprivileged, as well as nurture the human spirit through arts and culture. Outstanding beneficiaries of the PIA Endowment Fund are major charities organized by Italian missionaries who provide educational, medical, food and housing facilities. The welfare projects initiated by PIA are supervised by the Missionaries of the Servants of Charity, the Sisters Handmaids of Charity and the Canossian Sons of Charity.

Tickets are available at P5,000, P3,000, P1,000 and P500. Please call CCP Box Office 832-3704 or TicketWorld 891-9999. You may also call the Secretariat and look for Maricar Alamodin at 8952109; 8773412/07; 09175384508; or email ESAlamodin@rgoc.com.ph for tickets or those who may wish to make a tax-deductible donation.

Exciting things are in store for theatergoers this year with the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Black Box Theater at

the sunken parking area of the CCP complex. The construction effort is spearheaded by theater arts patron Ignacio Gimenez and brother Roberto Olanday along with the support and administrative assistance of the Locsin Partners, with a ground breaking ceremony held on January 19.

On hand during the ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of the venue’s construction are (from left) CCP vice president-artistic director Chris Millado, CCP board members Florangel Rosario Braid, Cristina Turalba, Nestor Jardin (former CCP president), Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) administrator Andy Locsin, CCP chairperson Emily Abrera, theater arts patron Ignacio Gimenez, CCP president Raul Sunico, Eurotowers Group director Roberto Olanday, CCP vice president for administration Rodolfo del Rosario, LVLP partner architect Locsin, Maree Barbara Tan-Tiongco (technical theater consultant), and CCP board trustee Danny Dolor. (Photos by Kiko Cabuena and Orly Daquipil)

CECILE LICAD ENCORE! AT THE CCP

GROUND BREAKING SET FOR CCP’S NEW BLACK BOX THEATER

Standing from left: Chris Millado, VP and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines representing its president Dr. Raul Sunico; music director and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra principal conductor Olivier Ochanine; James Freney, Philippine Italian Association director; Ricard dela Rosa, manager of Cecile Licad. Seated from left: Rustan Commercial Corporation chairman and CEO Nedy R. Tantoco, Cecile Licad and Philippine Italian Association director Gabriella Wegfahrt

World-renowned pianist Cecile Licad

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

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T U E S D AY : J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

Sh e l l B u s i n e s s Operations-Manila is Shell’s largest Business Operations center out of

only six across the globe. From a staff of less than 50 in 2004, the office has currently grown to more than 3,000 workers. To celebrate the employees’ achievements and provide a

better work environment through art, SBO-Manila commissioned the budding artists of the Shell NSAC to create paintings that showcase company values that are of relevance to the everyday lives of employees.

“Art can make a difference in peoples’ quality of life,” says Edralin Payongayong, general

manager of SBO-Manila. “At Shell, our people are our primary asset. This artwork display helps recognize and further drive employees’ efforts to bring world-class processing services to Shell companies around the world.”

The commissioned paintings, which are currently on display at SBO-Manila, have specific themes on health, safety, security and the environment, as well as ethics and compliance, diversity and inclusion. The paintings also highlight the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project and the company’s milestones through the years.

“We ensure quality standards and cost-effectiveness in providing critical support services to various Shell businesses in Europe, North America and Asia,” explains Payongayong. “SBO-Manila has become the Philippine-

made brand of excellence that is benchmarked worldwide today.”

He adds, “SBO-Manila has thousands of employees. Thus, it is essential that we are always reminded of the values that are the backbone of our culture of integrity and excellence that have helped us sustain our successes through the years.”

Commissioning the artists is also a great support for Shell’s social investment program for art and nation building. “These commissioned artists can be the next BenCab, Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok or Federico Alcuaz,” says Payongayong. “They have potential so we’re proud to be nurturing their craft. The paintings not only liven up the workplace, they also inspire a sense of connectedness and encourage employees to continue working with the company’s principles and goals.”

Romulus D’ Grayt: An ‘Unhistorical historical play’ Ateneo ENTABLADO stages an adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s opus

SHELL BUSINESS OPERATIONS CENTER PROMOTES WORK-LIFE BALANCE THROUGH ART

The works of the Shell Art Competition artists are displayed at the Shell Business Operations-Manila office at Solaris One in Makati City

The themed paintings are expected to inspire connectedness among employees and help increase productivity

The artworks showcase Shell’s company values, depicting themes like health, safety, security and the environment, as well as ethics and compliance, diversity and inclusion

In keeping with its advocacy of good governance and engaged citizenship, Ateneo ENTABLADO will be staging a Western play for its

33rd season. Translated to Filipino by Dr. Jerry Respeto, Romulus D’ Grayt becomes a comedic retelling of Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s unhistorical historical play.

Romulus D’ Grayt tells the story of the Roman Empire on its demise due to the neglect of an emperor who is preoccupied by his beloved chickens. The play depicts the character of Emperor Romulus who comes across as an unusual kind of leader who, despite appearing irrational to his constituents, still carries the courage and conviction to deliver what is truly needed by society.

Not long before the infamous Ides of March, the subjects of the Emperor, in urgent succession, warn their sovereign of the threat that is the Teutons encroaching upon Rome. To the shock of the Romans,

Romulus does not seem the least bit worried, deliberately leaving his empire in the hands of fate, busying himself with his chicken farm. On the eve of the occupation, the subjects plot to assassinate the emperor, but Romulus soon discovers the conspiracy and thwarts this plan. Abandoned by his subjects, Romulus is left alone to face Odoakro, the leader of the Teutons, in order to relinquish his empire. In their meeting, the two leaders discover that they have the same goal: to give up the nests of violence and greed that are their nations.

Directed by Jethro Tenorio, the show will run on February 3-5, and 9-12 at 7:00 p.m. and on and February 6 and 13 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Rizal Mini Theater, Faber Hall, Ateneo de Manila University. For tickets and inquiries, visit the Ateneo ENTABLADO Facebook page or contact Riczel Venegas at 0915 573 3175.

SHOWBITZi s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

C5ISAH V. REDE D I T O R

T UES DAY : JA NUA RY 26, 2016

In search of a new life, the heart warming movie Brooklyn trails the life of Eilis, played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, a

young luminous Irish woman who has lived her whole life in tiny Enniscorthy, Ireland – who is swept away to America through the prodding of her thoughtful sister into becoming a confident woman in a foreign land.   As Eilis arrives into the diverse tumult of Brooklyn, New York a sudden burst of homesickness overwhelms her, feeling like an exile. But as Eilis dexterously learns to adapt to life as a New Yorker, she meets an Italian immigrant, Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen), a funny, sweet, charismatic suitor determined to win her devotion. Just as she seems on the verge of beginning a new life, a family tragedy brings her back to Ireland where she is pulled back into the life she left behind and meets an Irish gentleman, Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson) whom she eventually falls in love with too. Caught between two countries, two men and a decision that could affect her future forever,  Eilis confronts one of the most breathtakingly difficult dilemmas of our fluid modern world: figuring out how to merge where you have come from with where you dream of going.   The entirety of Brooklyn builds to the life-altering decisions Eilis must make:  between Tony and Jim, between Brooklyn and Ireland, between her past and what she wants for her future.  Everyone involved knew from the start that the story hinged on the uncertainty of her ultimate choice.  While casting Eilis was vital, it was equally important that her two suitors – one American, the other unexpectedly found when she returns to Ireland – be as alluring and true-to-life.  To play the boyish plumber Tony Fiorello, who woos Eilis with bravado and tenacity despite her uncertainty, the filmmakers chose rising star Emory Cohen.  Known for his roles on NBC’s Smash and Derek

Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines, this is his first major romantic lead. Cohen, who is a New York native, was drawn to the character as both a timeless symbol of youthful passion but also as a very real Italian immigrant who believes in the 1950s ideal that the measure of man is doing the best by the woman he loves.  “Ultimately, I think this is a story that makes you think about a lot of things in life then and now,” he says.  “What does it mean to love whole heartedly?  What does it mean to be a good man? What does it mean to enjoy the simple things in life?”   If Tony Fiorello is sweetly seductive, his more provincial but gentlemanly Irish counterpart, Jim Farrell, had to be both an opposite attraction and a legitimate threat.  That led to the choice of Domhnall Gleeson, who has been coming to the fore as one of the most versatile actors of a new generation with roles in About Time, Calvary, Unbroken, Ex Machina and in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.    Gleeson knew he, too, had to find a subtle but visceral chemistry with Saoirse Ronan, to put the question mark in the audience’s mind.  “Life in Brooklyn may offer Eilis more, but it was my job to make Jim seem worth staying in Ireland for,“ he says. “I really wanted to create a connection with Saoirse that you would feel is worth fighting for.” Like his cast mates, Gleeson related to Eilis’ experience in his own way.  “I think everybody’s known a sense of displacement at one time or another, of not having a clear home,” he says.  “I’ve certainly been familiar with that at various times in my life -- and I thought it was captured brilliantly in this story. Then there’s a lot of romance and fun to the story, which is very appealing.”  Brooklyn opens tomorrow exclusively at select Ayala Malls Cinemas – Glorietta 4, Trinoma, Market!Market! and Fairview Terraces from 20th Century Fox thru Warner Bros.  Log on to www.sureseats.com for schedule.

Torn beTween Two loves

Love triangle: Saoirse Ronan’s character is torn between Jim Farrel played by Domhnall Gleeson (left) and Tony Fiorello played by Emory Cohen (right)

Emory Cohen as Tony Fiorello, a funny, sweet and charismatic young man

Jim Farrel is an Irish gentleman played by Domhnall Gleeson

A scene from the film

directed by John Crowley

and written by Nick Hornby

Domhnall Gleeson and Saoirse Ronan in historical period

drama Brooklyn

SHOWBITZC6i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

T UES DAY : JA NUA RY 26, 2016

ACROSS 1 It has a crust 6 Propeller-head 11 Recess game 14 The ones here 15 Gung-ho 16 Estuary 17 Narrow down 18 Resumed the hike (2 wds.) 20 “Honest” prez 21 Lesage hero Gil — 23 Cheyenne abode

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 TUESDAY,

JANUARY 26, 2016

24 Following 26 Fell softly 28 Counted on 30 Gets heavier 31 Noted soap vixen 32 Fall colors 33 Can. neighbor 36 Mongkut’s nanny 37 Deadly mosquito 38 Volt or watt 39 Golf gadget 40 Snow shelter 41 Process ore 42 NASA rig (hyph.)

43 With complete attention 44 Attributed 47 Cattail site 48 Scroll in an ark 49 Alligator on a shirt 50 Unlucky gambler’s note 53 Went silent (2 wds.) 56 Bottle tops 58 Make bales 59 Cousin’s dad 60 Watch innards 61 Cen. fractions 62 Growing mediums 63 Cheap heat

DOWN 1 Jazz’s — James 2 Obsessed whaler 3 Backpedaling 4 Mao — -tung 5 Chamomile infusion (2 wds.) 6 Blackball 7 “Star —” 8 Narcissus’ flaw 9 Comic scream 10 Norman’s neighbors 11 “The Sound of Music” name 12 Film’s Anouk —

13 Yawned 19 Mushrooms 22 Took in tow 25 Pay-stub abbr. 26 Old, in combos 27 Jar tops 28 Enjoy, as benefits 29 Urn homophone 30 Beckett’s “Waiting for —” 32 Nearly frozen 33 Crooked 34 Housecat’s perch 35 LL.D. holder 37 The chills 38 Ballpark figures 40 Continent connector 41 What Lamour wore 42 Magellan discovery 43 Dust cloth 44 Like dandruff 45 Grinding tooth 46 Implores 47 Has the blues 49 Breathing spell 51 Creole veggie 52 Soyuz launcher 54 Brian of Roxy Music 55 601, to Caesar 57 Want-ad abbr.

Alfonso’s wife Michelle (Dimples Romana) with his daughters Trixie (Julia Barretto)

and Joanna (Miles Ocampo) face new trial in their lives as he is declared dead in the afternoon series And I Love You So.

After Dexter shot him, Alfonso was rushed to the hospital in an attempt to rescue him but unfortunately, the doctors were not able to save his life.

Meanwhile, with his death, Katrina makes sure she gets all the assets Alfonso left by keeping

mum on Trixie’s true identity. How can Michelle protect her

family from Katrina now that Alfonso’s gone? Will Katrina successfully put all her plans to work?

Don’t miss the thrilling scenes in And I Love You So, weekdays on ABS-CBN. 

For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/DreamscapePH, Twitter.com/DreamscapePH, and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

Trixie and Joanna mourn alfonso’s deaTh

It was a star-studded weekend in Iloilo as stars of Kapuso high-rating shows Little Nanay and Wish I May celebrated

Dinagyang Festival last Friday and Saturday.

Kapuso love team Bianca Umaliand Miguel Tanfelix or “BiGuel” spread love in the air as the stars of the newest primetime afternoon series Wish I May met with their fans on Friday in the Kapuso Mall Show in Robinsons Iloilo.

The following day, the cast of Little Nanay entertained their fans in SM City Iloilo. Joining Kris Bernal, Hiro Peralta, and Juancho Trivinowas Superstar Nora Aunor.

This was the Superstar’s first-ever regional trip with the Kapuso Network. In the series, Nora plays the role of Lola Annie Batongbuhay—the hip grandma of Tinay (Kris). Tinay is a 25-year-old mother with a mind of a nine-year-old.

Last Friday, Kris was joined by her Little Nanay co-star Mark Herras in Cebu for the Kapuso Mall Show during the Sinulog Festival celebration. With them were Buena Familia stars Kylie Padilla and Kenneth Earl Medrano. The next day, Because of You leading men Gabby Concepcion and Rafael Rosell and Destiny Rose’s Ken Chanand Katrina Halili entertained their Cebuano fans.

“The Kapuso Network is always looking forward to connect with its loyal viewers across the country. We are happy and proud to bring the stars of our top-rating programs close to the fans that make our programs successful. This is just one of the Network’s many ways of recognizing their invaluable support. We are always happy to join our Kapusong Ilonggos in celebrating the annual Dinagyang Festival,” says Oliver Amoroso, GMA’s senior assistant vice president and head of Regional Business Development Division.

KAPUSO StARS ADD fUn tO DInAgyAng fEStIvAL

Superstar Nora Aunor

Juancho Trivino

Bianca Umali Miguel Tanfelix

Hiro Peralta Kris Bernal

Dimples Romana and Miles Ocampo

Angel Aquino and Julia Barretto

SHOWBITZ C7i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

T UES DAY : JA NUA RY 26, 2016

Boyce Avenue, with millions of followers on social media that have made it the biggest band

on YouTube, is returning to Manila after a year for a headline tour that will open with a major concert on Feb. 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.Ovation Productions brings the

five-city concert series billed as Boyce Avenue Philippine Tour 2016to Waterfront Hotel & Casino Cebu on Feb. 18, Limketkai Mall Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 19, St. La Salle Coliseum Bacolod City on Feb. 20 and University of Baguio on Feb. 22.Special guests at the Big Dome

are American singer, songwriter-musician Savannah Outen and the fast-rising Australian band, At Sunset, both enjoy a huge following on YouTube.The tour, which is part of Boyce

Avenue’s ongoing Be Somebodyworld tour, comes one year after its last performances before thousands of ecstatic fans at the Big Dome and at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City.Composed of Puerto Rican-

American brothers Alejandro Manzano (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Fabian Manzano (guitar, vocals) and Daniel Manzano(bass, percussion, vocals), Boyce Avenue gained attention for its distinct vocal mastery and instrumental wizardry that it developed during its early years and which served it well in creating original music and performing local shows.Boyce Avenue is also known for

its killer covers for hits of other big-name music stars, such as Ed Sheeran, Wiz Khalifa, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith and Bruno Mars, among many others..

The band was recently named by Spotify as the no. 1 most streamed international artist in the country and its 2016 Philippine Tour has long been awaited with much excitement and enthusiasm by its multitude of Filipino fans.Ticket are available for the Smart

Araneta Coliseum concert on Feb. 16 at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call Ticketnet at 911-5555 with the following prices – P5,280, P4,755, P4,225 , P3,700, P2,115 and P785. For Feb. 18 show, call (032) 232-

6888/0917-622-8705; Limketkai Mall,Cagayan de Oro City show on Feb. 19 -- +63 88 856 8881; St. La Salle Coliseum Bacolod City show on Feb. 20 -- (033) 514-0199/0928-691-6661; University of Baguio show on Feb. 22 -- (074) 423 3912/0923 216 8038).

BoyCe Avenue BACk for 5-City tour

Double your dose of fun and laughter every weekend by watching ABS-CBN’s talk-comedy-game show

Celebrity Playtime, which airs Saturdays (4:45 p.m.) and Sundays (5 p.m.) since Jan. 23. “I’m very thankful that people appreciate the show. I’m used to doing Deal or No Deal and Minute to Win Itwhere there is a bit of tension and I need to make the player nervous. InPlaytime, it’s very light and all fun,” said host Luis Manzano.As the happiest hour on TV continues,

the competition between its teams intensifies. Team Ka-Familiar composed of Karla Estrada, Nyoy Volante, EA Guzman, and Melai Cantiveros remains the defending champion with a total of P1.6 million in earnings.Their rival – K Brosas, Pooh,

Chokoleit, and Pokwang of Team Building –vows to do their best and defeat the other team.

HHHHH

Heart a visual artist since cHilDHooDIf Heart Evangelista were not an actress, she would have been an artist of the visual arts.According to the wife of Senator

Chiz Escudero, Heart’s mother used to scold her because she made the walls of their house as her canvas.Her daddy, Rey Ongpauco, would,

naturally take Heart’s side.         “Let her do what she wants, she is

going to be an artist someday,” Heart recalls with amusement what her father would tell her mom.Adds Heart that every summer her

father would enroll her in short courses at Ayala Museum for her to learn further the arts. She was 13 years old when Ivan Roxas tutored her formally on the arts, particularly painting.Now, Heart is more known in the art

circle as Love Marie, her real name. On Jan. 30, she will have another

exhibit at Ayala Museum titled Oceans Apart. It will run until Feb. 10.

Chiz’s influence on Heart can’t be denied as her talent in painting flourished even further after they got married. “I think, as a woman, I blossomed more when I got married,” Heart said in an interview for a magazine where she is featured on the cover. Good Housekeeping magazine has the actress/painter in its January-February issue.Apart from the art exhibit, Heart was

busy too for the Jan. 18 Fashion Show Gala with designer Mark Bumgarnerat Dusit Thani Ballroom. Some 40 elegant dresses, 15 of which were hand-painted by the actress, were shown to guests who also participated in an auction.

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PaGcor usHers in 2016 witH celeBrity sHowsPagcor starts the year right with exciting celebrity shows in various Casino Filipino branches nationwide.Allan K joined forces with Ate Gay as they unleashed their comic power and made the crowds holler in their shows at Casino Filipino Mimosa (Jan. 20) and Casino Filipino Talisay Cebu (Jan. 23).Randy Santiago will prove once

more his undying charisma as he performs at Casino Filipino Crown Regency Cebu on Jan. 29. Randy promises that casino habitués will have a great time with his engaging performances.   Catch Marion Aunor and DJ

Durano as they take center stage on Jan. 29 at Casino Filipino Malabon.Get ready to laugh till you drop with

K Brosas at Casino Filipino Davao on Jan. 30.  There is never be a dull moment when you’re with K. Aside from being a good singer, she will make you wide awake with her side-splitting punch lines and hilarious antics.For inquiries, call the PAGCOR

Entertainment Department at  (02) 708-2046, 526-0337 loc 2401 or 2403. Check and ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pagcor.artists 

‘celeBrity Playtime’ DouBles tHe fun on saturDays anD sunDays

Celebrity Playtime is Luis Manzano’s new hosting assignment

Team Ka-Familiar - (from left) Melai Cantiveros , EA Guzman, Nyoy Volante, and Karla Estrada

Team Building - (from left) Pokwang , Chokoleit, K Brosas and Pooh

Alejandro Manzano (center) with his brothers Fabian and Daniel are collectively known as Boyce Avenue

American singer Savannah Outen Australian band At Sunset

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SHOWBITZ

T UES DAY : JA NUA RY 26, 2016

There will be great music performed by artists at the first Wish 107.5 Music Awards: The Coolest Mu-sical Experience

tonight at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.Some of today’s finest acts such as Leah Patricio,

The Voysing, Jason Fernandez, Daryl Ong, Jek Manuel, Brad Go, and Maki Ricafort will conquer the Big Dome as they bring the music of Wish 107.5 through a spectacular line-up of performances.

Wish 107.5 is one of the fast-rising FM stations in the Metro, which launched the first-of-its kind Mobile FM station, the Wish 107.5 Bus.

Through the Wish 107.5 Music Awards, the station aims to show its strong commitment to promote the Filipino musicality.

Wishers, the loyal listeners of Wish 107.5, can cast their votes online (www.wish1075.com/wishawards) for their favorite artists, songs and WISHclusive performances nominated in the 19 categories.

The online votes will compose 50 percent of a nominee’s total score. The other half will come from the votes of a select panel of judges.

Online voting ends at noontime today.Prior to the much-awaited awards night, some of

the nominees performed at Fisher Mall in Quezon City on Jan. 24 wherein winners of on-air and online promos claimed their tickets to watch the Wish 107.5 Music Awards.

Winners of the first Wish 107.5 Music Awards will receive a trophy and a cash prize, part of which will go to their chosen charitable institution.

The musical spectacle is supported by Clara Ole and OLX Philippines.

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’OK GO!’ in Chiba, Japan ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel (TFC) opened 2016 with a powerhouse ensemble of Kapamilya stars welcoming the year in what could be a preview of what’s in store for Filipinos in Japan at the successful “One Kapamilya Go! Japan” (OK Go! Japan) at the Chibaken Bunka Kaikan in Chiba Prefecture on Jan. 10.

“OKGO!” set the tone for a good year ahead as it brought the world-class performances, the stellar line-up and community spirit for which “OKGO!” has been known for across the world, for the third time in Japan and for the first time at the Chiba prefecture.  

With the thrilling performances from blockbuster tandem John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo and powerhouse song and dance mixes from Maja Salvador, Enchong Dee and Shaina Magdayao, and with comic interjections from Pooh, Filipinos in Japan can look forward to an exciting year with “OKGO!” as a preview of things to come.

ABS-CBN Asia-Pacific Managing Director Ailene Averion was amazed by the warm welcome of the Kapamilyas in Japan for the first TFC event of the year.  “This is the third time that we held an ‘OKGO! event in Japan but every installment has its own merit.”   Averion explained, “This is the first time OKGO! is kicking off the year and is giving a preview of good things to come for our Kapamilyas in Japan.”  

Averion ends, “I’m beyond happy that whichever way we bring a TFC event, Filipinos in Japan are always there to greatly support. This is really a great way to start off 2016.”

1st Wish 107.5 MusiC aWards at sMart araneta

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➜ Continued on C7

1 Balladeer Christian Bautista 2 Multi awarded rapper Gloc-9 3 Jazz and pop singer Paolo Onesa 4 Kapamilya singer Yeng Constantino 5 The Voice Kids’Juan Karlos Labajo 6 Boss nova artist Sitti 7 Actor and singer Marlo Mortel 8 Rising recording star Janella Salvador 9 Soul and RnB band Jensen and the Flips 10 Yael Yuzon (extreme right) with his band Spongecola

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