the standard - 2015 november 15 - sunday

VOL. XXIX NO. 276 3 Sections 24 Pages P18 SUNDAY : NOVEMBER 15, 2015 www.thestandard.com.ph [email protected]

Next page

Next page

PH ON RED ALERTTERROR HITS PROMPT AFP,PNP TO BOOSTSECURITY FORAPEC SUMMIT

B4

I.S. OWNS UP TO ATTACKSIN PARIS

GUARDING THE SKIES. Philippine Marines check on an anti-aircraft gun deployed near the site of the Asia-Pacifi c Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit for next week. AFP PHOTO

By Francisco Tuyay and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

SECURITY forces up-graded their alert status from “blue” to “red” for the Asia-Paci� c Econom-ic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Metro Ma-nila on Nov. 17 to 20 in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, France where more than 150 peo-ple were reported killed.

“� e alert status was also raised a day ahead of schedule as a matter of procedure following any interna-tional terrorist incident such as this morning’s terrorist attack in Paris,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla.

Apec security planners are now seriously looking into the Paris in-cident to ensure security prepara-tions are appropriately upgraded, he said. Full story on Page B4

President Benigno Aquino III met with the Cabinet’s security cluster for an hour and a half on Saturday to plan for any possible disruption.

“� e President convened the se-curity cluster in light of the recent developments. President Aquino wanted to ensure that all prepara-tions are in place and all contingen-cies have been planned for,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

O� cials who attended the meet-ing were Executive Secretary Pa-quito Ochoa Jr., Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, National

MILITIA BLAMED FOR LUMAD SLAYBy John Paolo Bencito

ANOTHER lumad, or tribesman, was killed in Surigao del Sur by Magahat militiamen on suspicion that he was a supporter of the communist New People’s Army, San Miguel town mayor Alvaro Elizalde said Saturday.

� e victim was identi� ed as 23-year-old Orlando Rabuca, a watchman employed by San Miguel town to guard the Bul-ho-on Elementary School, San Miguel Mayor Alvaro Elizalde told the local newspaper Gold Star Daily.

Elizalde said CCTV footage

and witness accounts showed that around 30 armed men in military camou� age uniforms arrived in two white Starex vans at Bulho-on village around 4 a.m. � ursday.

� e gunmen warned the vil-lages they would be killed if they support the communist rebels

Next page

GROUND PATROL. Police commandos simulate a terrorist attack at the Philippine International Convention Center after the Friday the 13th attacks in Paris, France. AFP PHOTO

[email protected]

S U N d ay : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

news

aquino condemnsattacks in france

ANXIETY PITCH. Spectators wait on the pitch of the Stade de France in the Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint Denis after a series of gun attacks in several places in Paris early Saturday morning. AFP PHOTO

PH...From A1

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia and Philippine National Po-lice chief Director-Gener-al Ricardo C. Marquez.

Marquez placed all police units across the country on full alert Saturday morning to ensure availability and operational readiness of police forces to respond to any contingencies.

“Although we have not monitored any specific or direct threat in our home-front, nonetheless, target hardening measures on vital installations, par-ticularly seaports, air-ports and our rail systems have been further elevat-ed to maximize deter-rence against unforeseen events,” Marquez said.

“We have received re-ports of scare messages circulating through tele-com and social media networks warning of purported scenarios and events. These only serve to add to public anxiety that may further lead to hysteria and panic. Please disregard such messages and report immediately to authorities,” he added.

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism strategist, ex-pressing concern over the security of foreign leaders attending the Apec sum-mit amid the Paris attack, underscore the need to deploy police and military personnel in commercial establishment, particularly in places of convergence which may be an alterna-tive target of terrorist attack aside from the Apec venue.

“They should not just put their focus of se-curity in Apec summit event areas, but also in malls, entertainment sites and commercial centers which could be subjected by terrorist attack,” an in-formed source said with-out naming his identity.

The attack in Paris by suspected ISIS were launched simultaneously in six different locations mostly in densely con-verging point of people such as the Bataclan the-ater (87 killed); Stade de France where unknown number killed; the Boule-vard de Charonne restau-rant (18 reported killed) two row apartments in Rue dela Fontaine-au-Roi (5 killed) and Rue Alibert (14 killed); and the Boule-vard Voltaire (one killed).

“The PNP and AFP ex-tends its sincerest condo-lences to the families who lost their loved ones,” Pa-dilla said.

Early Saturday, Philip-pine marines deployed anti-aircraft guns around the main summit venue as police conducted full-scale rehearsal of the vis-iting leaders’ motorcades to the summit venues and their hotels.

Four days ahead of the Apec summit on Nov. 18-19, 2015, military choppers alternately hovered low overhead while naval gun-boats patrolled the waters of nearby Manila Bay.

“There is no credible threat registered at this time, but let us all be co-operative and vigilant,” President Aquino said in a statement, also express-ing solidarity with France after gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar” massacred scores of diners and con-cert-goers across Paris.

The Philippine military put all their forces on “full alert” Saturday, hours after a similar announcement by the national police.

Filipino security forces conducted a mock ter-rorist attack and response at the Apec venue Satur-day, with about a hun-dred special forces troops jumping out of a military helicopter and storming the building.

Other members of the security forces lay on the pavement outside the Philippine International Convention Center, act-ing out the role of blood-ied civilian casualties.

Asked about the impli-cations of the Paris attacks on the Apec summit, For-eign Undersecretary Lau-ra del Rosario, a member of the organizing com-mittee, told AFP by text: “Higher security.”

The Philippines has cancelled more than a thousand flights, de-ployed 18,000 police, and declared public holidays in Manila to ensure a safe and efficient summit, the organizers have said.

Major streets in the usu-ally chaotic capital are being closed to traffic to speed up the shuttling of delegates, with police ask-ing building owners to close their windows to pre-vent their use by snipers.

The Philippines has a long history of Islamic militancy in a southern region about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Manila, although ex-tremists have also carried out deadly attacks in the capital.

Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf gunmen killed more than 100 people when they fire-bombed a ferry on Manila Bay in 2004, while the group regularly kid-naps foreign tourists and bombs churches and shop-ping malls in the south. With AFP

and then shot Rabuca in the head. They left a warning letter bearing the heading “Magahat Regional Com-mand” before leaving the area.

“I pity the victim,” Gold Star Daily quoted Elizalde as saying. “The P2,000 monthly honorarium the municipal government was paying him as school watchman was not even enough for him what more to his family.”

Elizalde said he immediately called an emergency meeting with officers of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces, led by Lt. Col. Gaspar Panopio, and asked them to disarm the militia “since it is suspected that the military are the ones arming the Magahat” who are

“again creating trouble in my town.”But Panopio said the military is still

investigating the killing and no armed group has claimed responsibility de-spite the claim of witnesses, includ-ing Elizalde, that they even left a letter warning the villagers against support-ing the NPA.

“We just arrived here in Surigao del Sur from Bohol two weeks ago. We were sent here in Surigao del Sur by higher authorities to arrest three pri-mary suspects in Sitio Han-ayan, Li-anga, Surigao del Sur lumad killings, to protect the lumads, and identify and arrest the 20 armed John Does companions of Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero and Layno,” Panopio said.

But Panopio said he did not see the letter supposedly left by the Magahats. Panopio reasoned that his group has

just been deployed in Surigao del Sur, and his troops were part of the aug-mentation forces sent to Surigao del Sur.

Elizalde insisted that he saw the Magahats’ warning letter and that the town’s chief of police was in posses-sion of the letter, in addition to the sworn statements of witnesses.

Elizalde said the execution of Ra-buca convinced him that the people who armed these Magahats are “cre-ating monsters they could no longer control.”

Elizalde echoed the view of Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel who in-sisted that the military organized and armed the Magahats which has since abused their authority and committed atrocities against lumad communities over the past six years.

By Sara D. Fabunan

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris, France which French Presi-dent Francois Hollande blamed on the Islamic State.

“Terror and brutality have plunged the City of Light, Paris, into the dark-ness of horror and grief. The Philip-pines and its people stand in solidar-ity with the people of Paris and all of France, in this time of deepest sorrow and the gravest outrage against the perpetrators of these crimes,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the deaths due to the attack on the Bataclan Concert Hall, the vicinity of the Stade de France, and on restaurants in the city center were “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in condemna-

tion and grief.”“In our time of need, France and

her people stood shoulder to shoul-der with the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon ‘Haiyan’. We stand with France now, in the firm belief that the light must never dim in Paris,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of For-eign Affairs said no Filipino casualty has so far been reported in Friday’s coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris.

“So far there are no reports of Fili-pinos affected by the incident in Paris. Our embassy continues to monitor closely the situation and stands ready to extend assistance to Filipinos who may need it,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said on Saturday.

There are around 48,000 Filipinos in France, according to a 2013 data by the Commission on Filipinos Over-seas, while more than 10 million are scattered across the globe, making them vulnerable to security threats, calamities and domestic conflicts in their host countries.

Hollande declared a state of emer-

gency following what he described as an unprecedented terrorist attack that was staged days before France was to host a global climate conference.

France, on the other hand, ex-pressed gratitude to the Philippines for its expression of sympathy follow-ing last Friday’s deadly attacks that left more than 100 people killed in Paris.

“We are deeply touched by the heartfelt expressions of support in the Philippines extended by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the national and local authorities, the people of the Philippines,” the French Embassy said in a statement.

“France will always fight against extremism and stand for the values of democracy and human rights en-shrined in our national motto ‘Lib-erte, Egalite, Fraternite which was coined in Paris centuries ago,” it said. “Today we are all Parisians.”

Hollande is set to address parlia-ment on Monday and declared three days of national mourning, the em-bassy said.

MILITIA...From A1

A3s u n d ay : n O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

[email protected]

marcos eyes free college tuition

better linkages vs poverty eyed

POE HITS ‘YOLANDA’ REHAB WORK

DRY RUN. Security forces conduct a dry run of a security convoy for delegates to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at the Apec Lane on busy Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong City. EY ACASIO

CHRISTIAN SERVICE. Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (center), his wife Yedda Romualdez, also a Leyte congressional candidate, and his mother Mrs. Juliette Gomez- Romualdez join party-list candidates Jude Acidre (eighth from right) and Shan Palami (second from right) in seeking spiritual guidance from priests of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, led by Msgr. Alex Opiniano, during a prayer meeting at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City. VER NOVENO

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday proposed free college educa-tion in all the state colleges and uni-versities in the country, saying the government has the capability to pro-vide funding for the tuition of SUC students.

“My proposal is for the govern-ment to study the free education in all state colleges and universities because based on our data, the fund needed for it is not that big,” Mar-cos told reporters at the La Carmela Hotel and Convention Center in Bo-racay island on Friday.

Marcos said the data of Commission on Higher Education showed that the 547 SUCs in the country are all subsi-dized by the government, yet students still have to pay tuition fees.

CHED figures also showed that a total of 1.4 million students were en-rolled in SUCs for the school year 2013-2014.

Aside from free college education in SUCs, Marcos is also pushing for an increased support for public school

teachers whom he described as a cru-cial factor in improving the country’s educational system.

Marcos filed the following bills to improve the state of education in the country:

Senate Bill 3106 (Public School Teachers’ Salary Upgrading Act) which seeks to raise the compensation of public school teachers from Salary Grade 11 or approximately P18,000 a month to Salary Grade 15 or approxi-mately P25,000 a month.

Senate Bill 2531 (Teachers Education Act of 2010) mandating continuing edu-cation for teachers in all levels of educa-tion for both private and public schools.

Senate Bill 2532 (First Class Pub-lic Schools and Libraries Act of 2010) which seeks to continuously improve and upgrade public schools and librar-ies across the nation pursuant to the constitutional and statutory mandates of prioritizing education, and

Senate Bill 2188 (Moratorium on the Creation or Conversion of State Uni-versities and Colleges Act of 2010) an

act imposing a three-year moratorium on the creation of new state universi-ties and colleges to allow Congress and the Commission on Higher Education time to assess and upgrade existing state colleges and universities to com-petitive levels.

Marcos also continues to support numerous efforts for the improvement and expansion of educational pro-grams in various parts of the country, including the massive scholarship pro-gram that he implemented as governor of Ilocos Norte.

Marcos explained that education is one of the most important service that the government can provide to the people. He said he will work for pos-sible enactment of measures for this purpose in the remaining session days of the Senate.

However, if the current legislative agenda will not be able to accommodate these proposals, Marcos said he would continue to seek for their realization even if he is elected vice president in the 2016 elections. Joel E. Zurbano

Poe questioned whether the Aquino administration has indeed restored “nor-malcy” to the 116 towns and cities ravaged by the typhoon in six regions of the country with total damages estimated at P89.59 billion.

Poe also hit the govern-ment’s delayed response to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, doubting the gov-ernment could deliver on its promises in the remaining 8 months of the administration.

“It has been two years since the calamity and yet there is still so much to be accom-plished, so many still to be helped,” she said.

Poe noted that the National Housing Authority targeted the construction of 92,554 per-manent housing units by 2016.

But of this number, only 17,641 permanent housing units were completed, while the construction of 42,566 permanent housing units is still under way.

However, much work still needs to be done in providing permanent shelter, as many of the displaced families have returned to their homes lo-cated in areas, which no long-er considered to be safe or classified as No Build Zones.

“The NHA claims that there have been delays in scouting safe areas for suitable resettle-ment, which was compounded

by the lack of raw materials needed for construction,” Poe said in a statement.

“Both Neda and NHA la-ment that existing national laws and policies have hindered the acceleration of the rehabili-tation process,” she said.

The challenge of securing clearances and permits to con-struct, plus the tedious bidding process which requires com-plex documentation, all con-tributed in slowing down the process, she added.

Poe said accelerating re-habilitation without sacrific-ing quality is key in bringing back normalcy to the lives of those affected by the disaster.

Poe also recognized the importance of the involve-ment of civil society organi-zations in monitoring the progress of implementation of rehabilitation efforts and urged increased transparen-cy in the release and utiliza-tion of funds.

Lastly, Poe recommended the establishment of a civilian-led agency dedicated to disas-ters, which will be headed by no less than the President.

The proposed National Dis-aster and Emergency Manage-ment Authority will lead in the formulation of comprehensive plans for all phases of disaster, namely mitigation, prepared-ness, response, and rehabilita-tion and reconstruction.

By Vito Barcelo

THE drop in the poverty in-cidence in La Union is “one of the few bright spots in the country,” Vice President Je-jomar Binay said, and vowed a better coordination with local government units to address poverty and hunger and develop job-generating industries in the province.

Binay said his administra-tion will have better coordi-nation with local government units in the province to ac-celerate tourism and develop job-generating industries in La Union in order to address poverty.

“La Union is known as the surfing capital of North-ern Luzon. And in order to accelerate the tourism and business development of La Union and the Ilocos Region we will ensure better coordi-nation with regional tourism councils and hold regular meetings,” he said.

“I am glad that the com-munity in La Union have progressed. It only shows that if the government would fo-cus to address poverty, it can

be done,” Binay said.Latest records from the Na-

tional Statistical Coordination Board showed that poverty in-cidence in La Union dropped from 30.6 percent in 2012 to 18.5 percent in 2014.

The Vice President said the meetings will focus on align-ing local land use and devel-opment plans with the na-tional government’s to ensure the effective and efficient use of assets and other resources.

“We will consult tourism boards, local government of-ficials, regional department heads, and representatives from non-governmental or-ganizations,” he added. “We will align plans starting with the development of tourism and business sites that can integrate tourism plans from Baguio City and the Cordill-eras to La Union and other Ilocos Region destinations.”

Moreover, Binay said his administration will focus on improving agriculture in the region and look into the de-velopment of international markets for the products of the Ilocos and the Cordillera regions.

By Joel Zurbano

AFTER criticizing the Aquino administra-tion for its “Band-Aid” solutions to national problems, presidential candidate and Sena-tor Grace Poe urged national and local lead-ers to heed the lessons of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ which devastated many parts of the country.

OUTSIDE of the newsdesk, work sometimes takes me to places I would never otherwise think of going to, on my own. I always relish these opportunities. More than the excitement of traveling and seeing new places, it is talking to the people, asking them about their lives and then later on tell-ing their stories that assure me I am doing exactly what I was born to do.

Recently, however, the destina-tion was a place far from foreign. Regular readers of this column would know that I only moved out of my hometown this year, af-ter living there for more than 39 years. Since we moved to Quezon City in May, however, I have nev-er once returned to the old place —I had no reason to, as I had only a few relatives left there.

So at 4:30 in the morning one Monday, as the taxi I was board-ing drove through the familiar road that I used to take every day, I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia.

Suddenly, I was living no lon-ger in Quezon City but back there

in the old neighborhood. It was as if I had just come from a long and exhausting day at the office. Noth-ing had changed.

It was still dark when I passed

my usual stop. Everything was just as I had remembered it. The bank at the corner, the queue of tricycles, and even the early-bird workers who wanted to get a good start of the week were awaiting their rides on the highway.

The cab drove further un-til I reached my destination: A kitchen mass-producing lunches for more than 15,000 school chil-dren. The kitchen was managed by a representative of the Ateneo Center for Educational Develop-ment but was manned and run by dozens of volunteers—those who haul the supplies, peel and cut the vegetables, cook the rice, put in the condiments, stir the pot and

put the rice and the viands in the lunch boxes.

What do they get out of these nocturnal activities? A steaming cup of coffee, two or three pieces of pandesal—and the satisfying thought that they are helping feed kids who do not get the right nourishment at home. Some-times, they say, family members question them why they make the sacrifices they do. Imagine being at the kitchen at 2 a.m. They do it, anyway.

Two days later, I spoke again to another group of volunteers. This time, parents who are a bit more involved in their children’s school affairs more than the av-

OPINIONA4

[ EDI TORI A L ]

WARMEST WELCOME

STRANGELY FAMILIAR

FOREIGN participants to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week will soon have a taste of the famous brand of Filipino hospitality.

It’s an honor, really, to be hosting this event. This is an opportunity to show our counterparts that despite our nation’s ills that they no doubt hear or read about in the news, we are still able to put together an event of such magnitude and significance.

And cost, too—imagine, P10 billion, good money that could have been used for other purposes.

This has been decided as far back as three years ago, and now is not the time to whine about spending all that money or even holding the summit here in the first place.

What we can talk about now is how the plan is being implemented with regard to the changes in the lives of ordinary citizens. What we can emphasize is our discom-fort at how artificial all this feels.

For instance, punishing traffic along major roads in Metro Manila is a reality we confront every day. Vehicle sales have continued to climb even as there has been no corresponding improvement in road infrastructure. The public transport system has deteriorated.

This week, however, the delegates will see none of our daily woes as students and workers are kept home on vacation. The roads would be able to breathe.

What this tells us is that it is okay to not act on our transport woes because on the days that matter, we can always make our problems disappear.

Another induced disappearance is that of street dwellers who, on less important days, are left to roam our thoroughfares. We do not intend to display our poverty, too, but hiding the poor—specifically, giving them money to spend a few days at some resort on the pretext of a workshop—is hypocritical.

The poor ought to be kept off the streets, not because there are dignitaries com-ing to whom they might be an eyesore, but because nobody should live under such despicable conditions. Being homeless is not a lifestyle choice—it’s a manifestation of the government’s failure to provide opportunities for the poor to help themselves.

And now we hear that high-speed Internet is available in select places for the ben-efit of the guests, so they could do their work. Connectivity is not a luxury, even for ordinary people like you and me. Why do we not get it from our oligarch providers on regular days? We realize now, with much bitterness, that they could do so much better when there are guests around.

Does there have to be an Apec summit for the government to realize that its citi-zens deserve—and demand—to live in a less hostile place? And should we brace ourselves to go back to the gates of hell when the last of the guests have left?

A5ADELLE CHUAE D I T O R

S U N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

By Christopher Flavelle

DEVELOPED countries spend $135 bil-lion a year on foreign aid, on everything from building schools and distributing bed nets to training people how to or-ganize a political party. As Europe’s mi-gration crisis deepens, an uncomfortable question gets harder to ignore: Should rich countries use more of that money to keep people away?

That question is morally fraught. The arrival of an estimated 1 million migrants in the European Union this year—with 1.5 million more projected in 2016—has fueled populism and xenophobia. The suggestion that keeping people out is a worthwhile goal can sound like an en-dorsement of nativism.

It’s not. Europe should accept mi-grants: Many of its countries produced similar waves of people dispossessed by World War II. And the European Com-mission predicts as much as a 0.5 percent boost in gross domestic product from the flood of new arrivals.

Yet the current pace and scale of new arrivals make it hard for cities and towns to care for and integrate them. “This is not general migration,” said Glenn Den-ning, a professor of international develop-ment at Columbia University and a Unit-ed Nations adviser on food security. “This is unplanned migration, where people are saying, ‘Enough is enough, we’re desper-ate.’”

Here’s the bigger problem with chang-ing aid spending in response to what’s happening: Some countries have already begun thinking about it, but mostly in ways that aren’t likely to help. Sweden, a paragon of international assistance, has considered slashing its development bud-get by 60 percent, using the savings to pay for recent arrivals. Another approach is spending money to persuade transit countries in Africa to stop migrants, a practice that could put them into detain-ment camps.

Cutting spending on long-term devel-opment to pay for benefits upon arrival won’t improve the situation in countries migrants leave, said Greg Adams, director of aid effectiveness for Oxfam America. And funding policing in countries that migrants pass through on their journey

erage parent is. They call themselves Nanay

Teachers, but there is one Lola (grandmother) and one Tatay (father) among them. They spoke about how they had been regu-larly meeting for trainings and workshops on parenting and on helping their child cope with the pressures of school work.

The problems were univer-sal—kids were too lazy to do their homework, would not help around the house, were uncom-

municative about their school-work and their friends.

Because they had inputs from outside, even from experts, and served as each other’s support groups, the parent-teachers soon observed changes in their children and even in themselves. Their children’s study habits improved, they were opening up, and they were getting better grades.

More than this, the parents’ individual self-confidence im-proved as well. The more ac-

tive and articulate among them were hand-picked to go to other LGUs and talk to parent-teach-ers in these areas. They find that wherever you are, parents’ issues were generally the same. Everybody wants to raise good children, but our methods and temperaments are different. It’s a trial-and-error process, with each child necessitating a differ-ent approach.

It was not surprising that I chanced upon somebody I used

to know as a child. One Nanay Teacher was the daughter of my late uncle’s friend. While we caught up briefly on how her par-ents had been and how both of us had raised families of our own, it dawned on me that this was the natural course of things. We move out, we stay in, we go places— and yet we find something famil-iar, even something homey, in the strangest of places. We feel some sort of kindredness with people we have never met before, or only

very vaguely remember. In the end, it does not mat-

ter whether you are somewhere whose nooks and crannies you know so well, or in a strange new place, or a place you thought you had left behind and forgotten al-together.

There is always a common thread among people everywhere, and when you find it, it’s difficult to feel lost.

[email protected]

Continued on A6

[email protected]

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

MEMBERPhilippine Press InstituteThe National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI

can be accessed at:www.manilastandardtoday.comONLINE

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

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: [email protected]

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

Ma. Isabel “Gina” P. Verzosa Head, Advertising Solutions Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

AID CAN CURB MIGRATION.

THE QUESTION IS HOW.

There is always a common thread

among people everywhere, and

when you find it, it’s difficult to feel lost.

OPINIONS U N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

A6AID... From A5

[email protected]

to Europe—often countries with poor human-rights records—violates the spirit of development. “Helping governments crack down on the rights of people, that’s backwards,” he said.

How, then, can rich nations effec-tively rethink aid spending in a way that focuses on stemming migration? First, they can help surrounding coun-tries care for those who leave—thus making them less likely to move on to the West. That may sound obvious, but the UN said that as of the end of Au-gust, donor nations had provided just 37 percent of the $4.5 billion it needs to fund aid for Syria’s neighbors. Conflict isn’t alone in pushing people toward Europe. Denning said the next wave of migrants could be fleeing famine in Af-rica, especially as climate change wors-ens. “Sixty percent to 70 percent of the population live on farms, living from season to season,” Denning said. “If you had several years of failed crops, I think you would see a similar kind of desper-ate migration across the Mediterranean that you’re seeing now.”

There are simple steps aid agencies can take to ease the effect of potential crop failures, according to Denning: building better irrigation systems to move water during droughts, more storage facilities to hold surplus crops and roads to trans-port those crops to areas that needed them.

More acute natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes, require more than just better infrastructure. “If the inter-est is in preventing sudden mass flows of people, then pre- and post-crisis in-tervention is enormously effective,” said Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development in Wash-ington.

Clemens cited the example of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, when a huge of influx of aid prevented what could otherwise have been a wave of people fleeing. “There were a lot of people who just needed wa-ter and basic medical care,” he said. “At a very vulnerable time, that’s when you could risk everything and try to go.” The magnitude of assistance made that un-necessary.

Aid agencies won’t always have the bandwidth or money to respond to such disasters. So one way to avert future mass-scale crisis migration is to improve the ability of developing countries man-age those events on their own.

“We need to make sure we’re invest-ing more, ahead of time, in the ability of countries to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies,” Adams said. He pointed to Mexico, whose response to Hurricane Patricia last month was widely praised; El Salvador, which crumbled under Hurricane Mitch in 1998 but has fared better in recent storms; and Ban-gladesh, which has gotten far better at reducing deaths and destruction caused by cyclones.

Where should all this money come from? One possible source is redirecting spending away from building local dem-ocratic institutions. That kind of help is valuable, which is probably why funding for government and civil society is one of the leading categories of foreign aid from both the UK and the US. But it operates on long timelines, and the results aren’t always tangible.

If decisions about development spend-ing were made in the absence of self-in-terest, then building the institutions of democracy and good government would arguably be the best way to spend devel-opment money. But the migration crisis in Europe means that’s no longer the case —if it ever was. The trick will be mak-ing sure that money continues to be spent on things that make people’s lives better, rather than just keeping them from leav-ing their homes or stopping them on their way. Bloomberg

By Dessy Sagita

PALANGKARAYA—When my boss asked me if I wanted to go cover South-east Asia’s worst smog disaster in years from ground zero, I was reticent at best.

I regularly complain about the qual-ity of air in Jakarta. Why go to a place where air pollution levels were soaring to up to ten times hazardous levels? Es-pecially when I had asthma as a kid?

The smog that settled over Indonesia and neighboring countries in Septem-ber was the worst the region had seen in nearly 20 years, leaving more than half a million people sick and nearly two million hectares of forest destroyed.

The haze is caused by fires, which break out to varying degrees each year during the dry season as vast In-donesian plantation lands are illegally cleared by burning. The fires were made worse this season by the El Niño effect, which had prolonged the drought, and my bureau had been writing for weeks about the haze, with Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra seemingly the worse affected.

The assignment was to go to Palangkaraya, a city of 240,000 where the haze hit the hardest.

It was after seeing a picture from the city that I finally made up my mind to go. The photo showed an old woman selling pineapples on the side of a street, her face covered only by a thin, dirty cotton mask. Surrounding her was the thick, dark, apocalyptic glow of yellow smoke.

I wondered what forced the woman to stay outside when it was obviously dangerous and scary. Who would care about pineapples when you could not even breathe?

I knew then that I should go as there would be many stories to tell from the stricken city.

The smog had closed the Palangka-raya airport, so our team—me, a pho-tographer and a video journalist—had instead flown into Banjarmasin, a city

in the South Kalimantan province some 200 kilometers away.

As soon as the pilot announced that we would be landing in Banjarmasin, I looked outside the window and saw a thick layer of white fog floating in the air. The hot breeze of the equator and the smell of burning trees welcomed us as we stepped off the plane.

It took us five hours of driving along the potholed-covered road to get to Palangkaraya. On our way, we made a quick stop to visit some evacuees who were forced to leave their homes be-cause they could no longer endure the torment of not being able to breathe.

“This is ridiculous, I am surrounded by forests, why is breathing so difficult,” a young woman named Kartika Sari told me from a shelter in Banjarma-sin, where she shared a two-bedroom house with nine other evacuees, all sick children and women.

Kartika fled after her toddler daugh-ter started coughing ferociously. She left behind her husband and her job. She worried if there would be a job to return to, but she could no longer tol-erate the severe headaches, nausea and trouble with breathing that she felt ev-ery time she stepped outside her house.

We continued the trip but made a few other stops when we saw some des-perate locals trying to fight the peat-land fire that was getting close to their home.

About an hour before we arrived in Palangkaraya, we drove along the Tum-bang Nusa bridge, the longest bridge in Indonesia that stretches for 10.3 kilo-meters. All along the sides of the bridge were hectares and hectares of burning peat lands and charred tree stumps.

I was stunned. It was like stepping into a horror movie, with a dirty yellow thick fog covering everything and the air stale, extremely hot and humid. The visibility was probably no more than 50 meters and all cars had turned on their headlights even though it was still mid-day.

Our team had taken protective gog-gles and masks for the trip, but I wanted to feel what it would be like to breathe without them, like the people who lived here. I stepped out of the car and tried to breathe as little as possible, but my throat was still burning.

Soon my eyes were burning and I started to gasp for air and to panic. I gave up, ran inside the car, turned on the air conditioning and checked my phone to see the air pollution index. It was 1,511, almost five times higher than the hazardous level limit. A few days before my trip, the pollution level soared to nearly 3,000, paralyzing the whole town.

Unbelievable, I thought as I looked around me. How could any-one live like this for months? Imag-ine if you are inside a room with a chimney billowing smoke and you start to cough. Your first instinct would be to get out of the room and gasp, to try to suck in as much fresh air as possible.

It’s sad to think that when it was not polluted by haze, Palangkaraya was known for its clear blue sky, dense tropical forests and several endangered animals including orangutans and gib-bons.

What I had seen in Palangkaraya was frustrating. The earth was being destroyed and people were hurting. They were tired of the fires and tired of the blame. They didn’t know whether the disaster was the fault of the giant palm oil companies, greedy local farm-ers, or the government’s slow response to prevent the annual occurrence.

They were exhausted and they just wanted it to be over.

When I landed back in Jakarta, I thought to myself about how I used to complain about the capital’s heavily-polluted air, about the fumes from the old buses and the factories.

That night I did something I thought I would never do. I breathed deeply, grateful for Jakarta’s “fresh” air. AFP

People eat breakfast at a roadside stall shrouded in haze in downtown Palangkaraya. AFP

FIGHTING TO INHALE

PASAY GEARS UP FOR APEC SUMMIT

[email protected]

S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

NEWS

POWER CO-OP DEALLINKED TO 2016 POLLSBy Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Occidental Mindoro Electric Coopera-tive has prodded the National Electrification Administration to approve the power supply agreement guarantee the electric cooperative signed with a power generator.

Omeco director Rodolfo Plopinio raised fears that their province may never attain sufficient electric-ity supply if the guarantee is not approved in time, a prospect that could impact on the May 2016 elections.

“In the interest of our member consumers, we are hoping that NEA will heed our request. We hope they will approve the guarantee,”

Plopinio said.He said the guarantee is

for Omeco’s power bills to power supplier Emerging Power Corp. estimated at P69 million for 2016.

Emerging Power is putting up a 40-megawatt geothermal facility in the area to address the province’s power needs.

NEA guarantees Omeco’s payment to the supplier, which the mandate of the

RED CROSS BUILDS SHELTER FOR AKLANONSMARKING the 2nd year anniver-sary of Typhoon “Yolanda” (inter-national name Haiyan), leaders and representatives of the Philippine Red Cross and partners, headed by chairman Richard Gordon, led the ceremonial turnover of construct-ed homes in 13 barangays in New Washington, Aklan.

PRC’s shelter project under its Ty-phoon Haiyan Recovery Program was able to built 8,885 homes for af-fected families in Aklan. Red Cross and partners were also able to pro-vide livelihood assistance to 6,671 Aklanon families.

Aside from shelter and liveli-hood, Red Cross assistance in Ak-lan includes the repair and rehabil-itation of two water and sanitation facilities, six health facilities, and 18 classrooms.

“The Yolanda experience has

transformed the Philippine Red Cross into a full service Red Cross. No longer is the Philippine Red Cross just a provider of first aid and assistance in the midst of natural ca-lamities and disasters; the PRC has become a partner in providing basic services and continuing assistance in giving back not only what the people have lost but more importantly help-ing them get back their lives and dig-nity,” said chairman Gordon.

During the emergency phase of the Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan op-erations in Aklan, 14,750 families re-ceived food items; 19,217 families re-ceived non-food items which include plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, and shelter repair kits; and a total of P7.7 million were disbursed as emer-gency cash relief; for a total of P85.2 million in aid.

However, work is not over even af-ter two years as the PRC continues to move forward in achieving its com-mitment to the countless families af-fected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Aklan was one of the provinces that was hit hardest by Typhoon Yolanda, which left 33,503 people with totally damaged homes and 51,469 with partially damaged houses in the province, according to reports.

“The Philippine Red Cross under-stands that action without direction is nothing. We, the PRC, pride our-selves in being there at times when people need us most, sharing hope when there doesn’t seem to be any, and providing light when others can-not see the way,” said Gordon. “As long as the PRC lives, we will contin-ue to serve, protect and be of service to the Filipino people.”

agency to support electric co-operatives like Omeco.

NEA is mandated to imple-ment the government’s Rural Electrification Program and is yet to release its guarantee for the power supply agree-ment with Omeco.

Plopinio said that ever since the PSA agreement was signed in February 2014, they have already agreed to the NEA’s conditions and have completed submitting all documentary requirements for the guarantee.

“We may be facing brown-outs here in Occidental Min-doro this Christmas. We have long been suffering due to our power shortage. We were hop-ing that this project will be the answer to our problems and

we hope that in the coming NEA board meeting, they will heed our request,” he said.

The Omeco director said that apart from brownouts during the holidays, con-sumers have expressed fears that the lack of reliable elec-tricity may be used to ma-nipulate the conduct and results of the 2016 elections in their province.

Plopinio said that the lack of a PSA guarantee approval is the only impediment in putting an end to their elec-tricity woes.

The National Power Corp. has signed a Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification Subsidy for Omeco.

The subsidy is designed to ensure the delivery of reliable

electricity to marginalized areas, and those that are not connected to the main grid.

Occidental Mindoro’s capital town, San Jose, was once dubbed as the “Blackout Capital of the Philippines” due to power outages that last be-tween six to 12 hours a day.

The entire province has endured power outages over the past few years due to inadequate supply coupled with its disconnection from the main grid.

Omeco believes that the power shortage problem has not only affected the daily lives of its consumers, but has also suppressed local business activity thereby im-pairing economic growth in the province.

PROPPING UP. Workers install a giant Apec logo in front of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in preparation for the Apec Summit 2015. MANNY PALMERO

VALIANT EFFORT. Navotas residents try to douse water on a portion of a house on fire in Barangay Bagong Barrio, Navotas City. Their efforts prove futile as the blaze has engulfed the entire house. ANDREW RABULAN

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE city government of Pa-say has formed a composite team tasked to secure the vi-cinity of hotels and other ven-ues where heads of states par-ticipating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meet-ing this week will stay.

The team, which will com-plement the Apec National Organizing Committee, is composed of policemen, res-cue teams and members of the Pasay Disaster Risk Re-duction Management Office.

Aside from managing the smooth flow of traffic, the team will also monitor emergency situation in strategic areas in-cluding the Marriot Hotel area in Villamor; the Heritage Hotel area at the corner of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Roxas Boulevard, and the Center for International Trade Exposi-tions and Missions near the World Trade Center in Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue.

“The city government has been on 24/7 operations since last week to ensure that the event will be, indeed, a mile-stone not just for the country, but for the city which will be the focus venue of most of the activities for Apec,” said May-or Antonino Calixto.

City rescuers are composed of highly trained medics and emergency personnel working on 12-hour rotating shifts aug-mented by the Pasay Engineer-ing Office’s trucks, payloaders and other heavy equipment in case of search, rescue and re-trieval operations.

“We have set in place all necessary measures and mo-bilized all our resources to assist in the peaceful and safe conduct of this year’s conduct of the Apec,” said city admin-istrator and overall Apec co-ordinator Dennis Acorda.

Some 22,000 police person-nel coming from five districts in Metro Manila will be de-ployed for the Apec venues con-centrated mostly in Pasay.

SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 15, 2015

[email protected]

FILIPINO IN ‘BALA’ INCIDENT LOSES HK JOB

ABAD DARED: LIVE OFF WORKERS’ SALARY

MONTHLY PAY, PERKS FOR MEDALIST COPS

By Joel E. Zurbano

A FILIPINO worker overseas Gloria Ortinez has lost her job in Hong Kong after suffering the traumatic experience of having to be ques-tioned and be detained for two days by air-port officers over the so-called “tanim-bala” (planting-bullet scheme) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The 56-year-old, also known as Nanay Gloria, was supposed to report for work in Hong Kong Saturday but immigration officials there told her that she had already lost her job.

“Sa Hong Kong immigration unang nalaman ni Nanay Gloria na terminated na sya sa kanyang traba-ho. Bagong misyon nila Susan Ople: makausap ang employer o makah-

anap ng panibago within 14 days. Prayers please for Nanay Glo,” said OFW rights advocate Susan Ople in her Facebook account.

Aside from Ople, Ortinez was also accompanied by her legal counsel Spocky Farolan and Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad upon her return to Hong Kong, where she worked for 13 years.

Ortinez returned to Hong Kong three days after her case was dis-missed by the Pasay City prosecutors office in connection with the bullet allegedly found in her hand-carry bag while she was about to board a con-necting flight at the Naia.

A resolution, signed by Pros-ecutor Nolasco Fernandez Jr., dis-missed the charges filed against Ortinez for lack of probable cause.

“Based on the evidence present-ed, the undersigned notice that the attached photograph depicting one ammunition for carbine rifle and the actual ammunition presented during the inquest proceeding al-legedly seized from the respondent is distinctively different from one another, thereby casting reason-able doubt as to the identity of the subject ammunition,” a resolution signed by Fernandez stated.

The resolution also stated that “assuming for the sake of argument

that the ammunition was recovered from her possession, nowhere in the entire statements of the com-plainants will show that respondent had any intention to possess the subject ammunition.”

“Finally, it is noteworthy that the bullet is a harmless article without the corresponding gun or firearm to fire it.”

Two members of the Aviation Security Group —Careen De Padua and Rommel Ballesteros —were relieved from their post after the bullet that supposedly belonged to Ortinez did not match the one pre-sented before the prosecutors office.

Ortinez was about to take a con-necting flight from Laoag Airport to Hong Kong on Oct. 25 when she was apprehended.

Ortinez said she didn’t own the bullet and insisted she was a victim of the so-called tanim-bala scam happening at the airport.

SEAMLESS JOURNEY. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. president Jose Ma. K. Lim (second from left) leads the unveiling of the Hollywood-inspired NLEX-SCTEX sign, along with Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president Ramoncito Fernandez, Manila North Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo E. Franco, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller M. Guiao, Bases Conversion and Development Authority chairperson Ma. Aurora Geotina Garcia, BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova, and Toll Regulatory Board consultant Alberto Suansing, at the SCTEX entry ramp in Pampanga. The NLEX-SCTEX sign was mounted to signify the seamless journey that these two world-class expressways will soon offer following the recent turnover of SCTEX to MNTC by BCDA. The turnover will enable MNTC to integrate NLEX and SCTEX’s toll collection system, ensuring a faster and more convenient travel for motorists.

By Maricel V. Cruz

TWO members of the left-leaning Makabayan Bloc on Saturday chal-lenged Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and other proponents of the proposed Salary Standardization Law to live off the salary of government employees from the lowest salary grade.

“We dare Secretary Abad and the proponents of the SSL 2015 to live off the lowest salary grade. Since they are forcing our people to make do with this miniscule salary, perhaps its high time that these unfeeling bureaucrats of the Aquino administration be given a dose of their own medicine,” Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

Zarate, one of the rabid critics of the Aquino administration, described the SSL 2015 embodied in House Bill 6268 as “grossly inequitable, and a distortion of the wage hike.”

The proposed P226-billion four-year “Salary Standardization Law of 2015” was passed on second reading last Wednesday night after a single hearing by the House committee on appropriations on the same day.

Proponents of the measure said the pay hike shall be carried out in four tranches over four years starting January 2016.

As stated in the proposed mea-sure, the 14th month pay or mid-year bonus, in addition to the pres-ent year-end bonus or 13th month pay, will account for an 8-percent increase in annual salary. The PBB shall be equivalent to 1 to 2 months basic salary or an 8 to 16 percent in-crease depending on the employee’s position.

But Zarate said the Palace-backed SSL proposal embodied in House Bill 6268 is lopsided in favor of top execu-tives.

“It is the ordinary workers definitely need a wage hike, because current wages are way below the cost of living. But they are provided a marginal wage increase from the Malacañang SSL. It is not the president and other top brass who need or deserve more than their current salary,” Zarate said.

Zarate pointed out that a paltry 11.68 percent amounting to P2,068 increase will be received by govern-ment employees under Salary Grade 1, which currently receives P9,000. On the other hand, for government executives, pay increase are 76.96 per-cent, he said. For the president, in Sal-ary Grade 33, pay increase is at 233.12 percent.

XMAS PARK. Young and old alike enjoy a cool night at the Baguio Country Club whose Christmas Park formally opens in celebration of the Yuletide season. DAVE LEPROZO

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has pro-posed the granting of monthly gra-tuity and privileges to police officers on whom the Congressional Medal of Honor will be bestowed.

In filing House Bill 6069, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao stressed the need for Congress to enact a measure to grant adequate so-cial services and financial rewards for every recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and their immediate family and dependents.

“These rewards and privileges shall be more than just a mere rec-ognition of their unparalleled acts of bravery and heroism,” Pagdilao, vice chairman of the House committee on public order and safety, said.

Pagdilao, a senatorial candidate, said the measure aims to strengthen the patriotic spirit and nationalistic consciousness, as well as to uplift the

morale of our police force.Pagdilao said a Congressional

Medal of Honor awardee is entitled to a lifetime monthly gratuity of P30,000 which is separate and distinct from any salary or pension which the awardee is currently receiving or will receive from the government of the Philippines.

Under the measure, an awardee shall also have a priority status ap-proval of his or her housing applica-tion under existing housing programs of the government.

The awardee shall also be entitled to a 20-percent discount on the pur-chase of medicine anywhere in the country, as well as from all estab-lishments relative to transportation services, hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants, recreation and sport centers, the bill states.

Maricel V. Cruz

Roderick T. dela CruzEDITOR B1

SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 15, 2015

[email protected]@gmail.com

BUSINESS

CONTINUED ON B2

PRANCES Jera Fernandes, a nine-year-old student, goes to a good school and receives teddy bear, stuffed toys and pillows from her parents. Despite getting the kind of gifts she wants, Prances says she sometimes feels unloved.

WHY MOST OFWS REFUSE TO COME HOME

Philam Life director for agencies Christopher Cary Casipit (left) and chief marketing officer Jaime Jose Javier Jr. introduce the BalikBayani program to journalists in a news briefing in Makati City.

Most of the time, Prances misses her parents. “My mom is a flight attendant. I’m very happy for her because she is traveling. My father also works abroad,” she says.

Prances, in a video interview staged by Philam Life, reveals her true feelings toward her par-ents. “I am very sad because I cannot see my mother every-day. Sometimes, I feel that she doesn’t love me, but she said she loves me,” she says.

On what she desires most, Prances says: “I wish that my dad could find good work here in the Philippines, and same for my mother.”

Her father, Leopoldo Fer-nandez, is an architect who has been working in Singapore for 20 years while her mother Ar-lene has been a flight attendant for 25 years.

Leopoldo, in an interview arranged by Philam Life in Makati City while he is in the country, says he started working in Singapore, right after graduating from college. “The opportunities were there, to find a living and provide our kids a better life,” he says.

Richard Duque, a cruise ship

bartender for 10 years, says he decided to leave the country to provide his children with “the things I never had when I was young.”

“Here in the Philippines, a food server or a bartender’s salary is not enough. Even if I want to go home and work here, I can’t afford to,” he says.

Duque’s 11-year-old son Kian says he is most happy when his family is complete. “I wish that my father could stay here with us, so we are always complete,” Kian says.

Marivic Cortez, a single mother and a cabin steward for five years, says she decided to try her luck abroad, because “my wage here is not enough to raise my two children.”

Her 11-year-old son Timothy James remembers the time he was at the airport. “She was ex-cited to work abroad. She was jubilant. I wish that my mom was truly happy because she got a job,” Timothy James says. “When she entered the airport, I cried. I felt sad, very sad. I am happy when my mother comes home. I’m happy whenever she is here in the Philippines. I wish she was working here in the

Philippines, so she would not need to go far away,” Timothy James says.

Leopoldo, Arlene, Richard and Marivic are just four among more than 10 million overseas Filipinos who have been sepa-rated from their children and families, in search of better in-come and opportunities in oth-er countries. Like most OFWs, they are not ready to stay home yet.

Nearly 10.2 million Filipinos, or about a tenth of the country’s total population, live or work

in other parts of the world. In 2014, they remitted more than $24 billion to the Philippines, supporting their families and the whole economy.

Nearly 60 percent of them are migrants, especially in the Unit-ed States and Canada, while 4.2 million or 40 percent are con-sidered OFWs. Of the 4.2 mil-lion OFWs, 2.2 million were de-ployed in 2013, with 1.2 million

or 54 percent considered rehires or repeat OFWs.

An OFW research study conducted by Philam Life shows that eight of 10 OFWs are not yet ready to come back permanently to the Philippines.

“We asked them if they are ready to come home? This is the result. Eight out of 10 said no, not yet. Only 18 percent actually said yes. The ones who said yes said it is better to be with their family because they already have a business or

they have enough savings. But the majority or 82 percent said they don’t have enough savings and their kids are still study-ing,” Philam Life chief market-ing officer Jaime Jose Javier Jr. says in a news briefing in Makati City.

Philam Life tapped Taylor Nelson Sofres or TNS, a mar-ket research company, to con-duct the nationwide study on

OFWs in April 2015. The re-spondents, with a mean age of 37, were mostly on a two-year contract with an average tenure of 6.5 years working abroad and earning an average of P50,000 a month.

“We have millions of Filipi-nos out there who were not yet ready to come home. If they come home, they said they would use up whatever savings they have. They are looking at scenario of their children and spouse going to work. That is their situation currently, if they are going to come home now. The bottomline, they were saying they would stay abroad,” says Javier.

Javier says OFWs are very worried and fearful of a lot of things. “These include get-ting sick, fear of losing their jobs, non-renewal of the con-tract or having a calamity in the Philippines where their families are. About 54 per-cent are afraid of getting sick, for themselves and their fam-ily,” he says.

He says most OFWs actually save for emergency, retirement, kids’ education and to buy a house. “A big bulk of them save for emergency,” he says.

Javier says the OFW respon-dents, with average monthly income of P50,000, are saving at a rate of P13,800 a month. “Of the P50,000 a month, they remit half of that to their family. They retain the other half. If you take

Nearly 10.2 million Filipinos, or about a tenth of the country’s total population, live or work in other parts of the world. In 2014, they remitted more than $24

billion to the Philippines, supporting their families and the whole economy.


BUSINESSSUNDAY: NOVEMBER 15, 2015

B2

HOPE shines bright-est in real-life examples of individuals who re-main positive and per-severe despite challeng-ing odds.

Three individuals, who perse-vered despite the challenges and the odds, were able to earn a de-cent living and uplift their lives and those of their families, thanks to the JPMC Entrepreneurship Education for Community Devel-opment, a program of JPMorgan Chase & Co. through the JPMor-gan Chase Foundation and Bayan Academy for Social Entrepre-neurship and Human Resources Development.

Melinda Bernabe, Edwin Gialo-lo and Ronnie Boy Flores come from different backgrounds but all share the same aspirations—to help their families by providing for their needs, to get education and employment and to improve their lot.

Through their training at the JPMC EECD, they were able to gain not only education and employment but also the self-confidence and the hope to move forward in their lives and see themselves in a better light.

Becoming entrepreneurMelinda Bernabe may have

once been a shampoo girl in a hair salon, but now, she operates her own hairstyling and foot spa busi-ness at her hometown in Taytay, Palawan–the result of her train-ing with JPMC’s EECD. Born to a poor family with five children in a remote area, she was forced to stop going to high school in order to help support them.

While she married young, her husband left her and their two children, forcing her to work in a beauty parlor. “I wanted to work as a beautician when I was young. It was my dream, but I do not have the means to study,” she said.

So when the opportunity to join

the JPMC EECD came, Melinda grabbed it and decided to study. For 30 days, she acquired skills by gaining knowledge inside the classroom and experience during their class inside the salon. After her graduation, Melinda took and passed Tesda’s Beauty Care NC II assessment in 2014. She went back to her hometown to start her own small salon, Melinda’s Touch, in front of her house.

Three months after operating Melinda’s Touch, Melinda gained loyal customers and grew her business. With her initial earn-ings, she was able to purchase equipment and beauty products. By word of mouth, her number of customers increased.

Now, Melinda earns between P1,000 to P2,500 per week from around 50 regular customers. With this, she is able to help her parents and also able to provide good education for her children.

“I feel proud as I am able to do what I love doing, and at the same time, I am able to support my family,” Melinda said. Melinda’s Touch also accepts hair and make-up services for wedding events and she occasionally invites her former classmates-beauticians to work with her as her assistants.

Finding road to recoveryFor Edwin Gialolo of Taclo-

ban City, an elementary drop-out student, typhoon Yolanda was the culprit to the downfall of his family. Losing hope of finding a good life after what happened, he joined the thousands who were offered resettlement in Manila, and left his family in the ravaged city not telling them where he was going to.

Instead, he found himself be-coming a street kid, roaming major thoroughfares begging for money and looking for food scraps, almost lured by local crime syndicates into petty theft. It was the timely rescue by the Center for Community Transfor-mation in Pasay City that saved him from his quagmire. He was

GIFT OF TRAINING UPLIFTS 3 INDIVIDUALS

brought to CCT in its shelter in Magdalena, Laguna and the NGO informed his family that he was staying there.

His dorm parents noticed Ed-win’s interest in the kitchen par-ticularly on how food is being prepared. CCT, as a partner of Bayan Academy, offered him to join the Cookery NCII commu-nity-based training in its Tagaytay Retreat Center.

“I want to become a chef be-cause it is a very in-demand job here in our country and abroad. It also pays well which will help me and my family. I want to build a home for my family where we can live happily and peacefully,” he said.

Edwin said that after passing the Tesda’s Cookery NC II assess-ment in 2014, he was inspired to finish his primary education at the CCT Magdalena School while at the same time, he worked as kitchen assistant at CCT Magda-lena. “I am thankful to JPMorgan for giving me the chance to learn cooking. I will return with pride and a toque on my head, to show to my parents that something fruitful came from my journey to

Manila,” he said.Styling for a second chance

Ronnie Boy Flores of Baseco, Tondo, Manila used to see him-self as a wayward child, rebellious and always in trouble. Living in a depressed community like Baseco where clearly the struggle to lead a decent life is real, Ronnie Boy lived like most of his peers and was a source of disappointment to his family.

A friend told him about the JPMC EECD training. He joined but did not take it seriously at first. “I got encouraged mainly for the free food being given dur-ing the sessions, the free uniform and transportation allowance,” he said. “At first, I did not take the training seriously; our instructors often reprimanded me. I am also not confident about myself as I just finished Grade 3. I have dif-ficulty in reading and writing.”

In time, he had a change of heart and started to appreciate the lessons being taught. “I realized the worth of learning the skills so that I could earn money the de-cent way. I also thought I needed to change and become worthy of my family’s respect.”

Even when he finished and started working, it was an uphill climb. He was offered a job in Reyes Haircutters, one of Bayan Academy’s partner-institutions. “Though I learned how to cut, put color and perm hair, I wasn’t given immediately those jobs,” he said “At first, I only handled the dust pan and broom for sweeping the customers’ cut hair. In time, he was given more challenging jobs and now he is proud to say that he has handled them well. He also got a regular job in the salon’s branch at Anonas, Quezon City as a senior haircutter.

Ronnie Boy receives P13,000 monthly income from his salary, commissions and tip. He also re-ceived other company benefits required by the government. At present, he is the breadwinner of his family with six siblings. He was able to send his sister to school and now affords to rent a place with his mother outside Baseco.

Ronnie Boy spoke in behalf of his batchmates during their graduation and left a promise: “I promise to put to good use all the things I have learned in order to achieve for myself and my fam-ily. We are leaving this place with your dreams for us – to become successful and uplift our families from poverty. Thank you to Bayan Academy and JPMorgan for be-lieving is us when nobody seems to.”

Helping people For five years now, the JPMor-

gan Chase Foundation has been supporting the plight of disen-gaged youth and adults in high need urban communities in the Philippines.

Through the JPMC Entrepre-neurship Education for Commu-nity Development Program, Bay-an Academy is set to train 1,049 individuals by the end of 2015 with the objective of preparing them to become productive.

Roberto Panlilio, JPMorgan Chase Philippines senior coun-try officer, said a productive and financially capable workforce will continue to bring about economic development and progress for the country.

“We remain committed to our corporate responsibility agenda and support efforts to build vi-brant communities. This program has also become an opportunity for our employee volunteers to mentor our beneficiaries, share their skills and expertise and ex-tend assistance where they can,” he said.

Melinda Bernabe (fourth from left) receives a medal after the training. She now operates her own hairstyling and foot spa business in her hometown of Taytay, Palawan.

Edwin Gialolo (left) with his batch mates in a group session. He learned kitchen skills through Center for Community Transformation, Bayan Academy’s partner.


BUSINESSSUNDAY: NOVEMBER 15, 2015

B3

WHY...FROM B1

a look at total savings, about P13,800 a month is saved,” he says.

The respondents were asked how much they need to save that will enable them to come home. “On the average, they said if I am able to save P3 mil-lion, I will go home,” says Javier.

Javier says at the way they are saving money, mostly in banks, it will take them 18 years, to save up P3 million. “It is just a projection, with no inflation, no interest yet. It is a straightfor-ward calculation of how many months it will take. This is on top of six years they have been out of the country,” he says.

Javier says the results of the survey show that most OFWs are quite knowledgeable about financial instruments, but do not invest in those financial in-struments. “They know it, but they don’t avail of it. About 97 percent of them have bank sav-ings account. They are saving at a rate of 15 percent of their income, above the average sav-ings of Filipinos onshore at only 2 percent,” says Javier.

Javier says while most OFWs view properties, jewelry and cars as investments, these assets will have to be liquidated usually at a loss in times of emergencies. He advises OFWs to explore other investment instruments to ad-dress their needs and concerns.

Javier says Philam Life under-stands the needs of OFWs and can help them plan their future. “If they are able to save at a rate of P13,800 a month, they can actually do a lot. They can create a fund, whether it is for their re-tirement, for buying a house or for capital for a business. It will take them shorter than 18 years to achieve that,” he says.

“We have committed to pro-vide solutions, plans to help our OFWs achieve their dreams and their goals,” Javier says.

Philam Life director of agen-cies Christopher Cary Casipit says Philam Life advisors are “going around nationwide, in key cities and even remote ar-eas, to bring the BalikBayani program to OFWs and their families.”

Casipit says BalikBayani is a financial literacy program de-signed to help OFWs secure their financial future. “Our ad-vocacy is to educate OFWs and their families on financial plan-ning to ensure their sacrifices of working abroad will not go to waste,” he says.

Javier says Philam Life can help OFWs plan their future with their families. “They are out there, they are alone, they know that they left their family behind. Anything can happen to them and their family. So, a lot of times, they are worried. What we want to do is give them a product so that they can have peace of mind. So whatever happens, their family is secure. The real desire of an OFW is to come home, as soon as he can,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

BY 2020, it is presumed that the number of things connected to the Internet will reach more than 60 billion. In fact, more than 90 million wearable devices were shipped globally in 2014, up from 54 million the previous year.

INTERNET OF THINGSTO RULE THE FUTURE

These wearable technologies include smartwatches that mon-itor anything from a person’s heartbeat to his or her lifestyle. With this leap, innovations were found to deliver new insights which improve our health, com-munication, business and work progress.

“This is the next generation of the Internet—the Internet of Things,” said Raul Santiago III, president of Fujitsu Philippines Inc. “The world is becoming more linked, forming unparal-leled connections between peo-ple, businesses, information and processes regardless of where we stand.”

With this multi-layering of connectivity, Santiago said that innovation in a ‘hyperconnect-ed’ world means converging multiple streams of data that range from human to human, human to machine, and ma-chine to machine to create new value.

Santiago said: “Before, in-novation was stand-alone and discrete. But now that people, information and infrastructure are streamlined to form the so-called Human Centric Innova-tion, we can create the connect-ed solutions and services vital in realizing value now and in the future.

The human centric innova-tion is an approach developed by Fujitsu in creating business and social value by empowering people with the power of tech-

the Human Centric approach is no different—it leverages the advantages of digitalization through the same cyclical pro-cess,” Santiago said.

“When industry leaders fi-nally grasp how they can apply the human centric innovation to their day-to-day business opera-tions, they will find it easier to adapt to new digital trends with-out compromising their growth. We believe that these CEOs can use this approach to create their own roadmaps to a successful future,” he said.

Fujitsu Philippines, one of the largest information tech-nology systems integrators and solutions providers in the Philippines, said this journey towards an innovative road-map starts with the individuals who are empowered to collab-orate with their peers as well as those who are in outside com-munities.

With the empowerment of these individuals comes the transformation of business models through effective col-laboration among people, infor-mation and infrastructure. This happens at an enterprise level.

Moving forward, the enter-prise can co-create greater value

by shaping digital ecosystems with other organizations in the public service or industry level.

“The accomplishment of these processes forms a human centric intelligent society, which is our vision of a prosperous and sus-tainable society,” Santiago said. “Once we help our customers untie the ropes of digitalization through a human-centered ap-proach, we can encourage new ecosystems to form new shared values that the whole society can benefit from.”

Fujitsu aims to improve the technologies of different in-dustries, including healthcare, transportation, food and agri-culture, education, smart en-ergy, disaster-resilience and en-vironmental protection. For its part, the IT company will con-tinue to transform businesses while improving people’s lives.

“This is the roadmap we want our customers to take. While we continue to innovate our own technology to fit their needs, we will ensure that the Human Centric Approach will best sup-port their growth regardless of their line of business. We will continue to deliver a competi-tive platform for the future,” said Santiago.

nology. It creates innovation by putting people in the midst of information and the things around us, the infrastructure of the ‘physical world.’

This approach is linked through the convergence of three principles: human em-powerment, creative intelligence and connected infrastructure.

Human empowerment means how one organization connects, empowers and en-hances the experience of its people. Creative intelligence focuses on how an organiza-tion creates knowledge out of raw information while con-nected infrastructure puts em-phasis on how an organization merges business and social in-frastructure with technology.

“People from all walks of life process data in the same way. We sense, analyze, decide and respond based on first-hand in-formation. The concept behind

Fujitsu delves into the human centric innovation to realize business, social value.

B4

It said “eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles” conducted a “blessed attack on... Crusader France.”

The statement, published in both Arabic and French, threatened further attacks against France “as long as it continues its Crusader campaign.”

It said the targets of Friday’s at-tacks, which included the national sports stadium and the Bataclan concert hall, “were carefully chosen”.

It said France was guilty of “strik-ing Muslims in the caliphate with their aircraft.”

France is part of a US-led coali-

tion conducting an air war against IS in Syria and Iraq, where IS declared a caliphate last year after seizing swathes of both countries.

It has carried out air strikes in Iraq for more than a year but extended them to Syria in September.

French President Francois Hol-lande had already blamed IS, calling the coordinated assault an “act of war... committed by a terrorist army, Daesh, against France”, using anoth-er term for IS.

Meanwhile, European Commis-sion President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg

AN Indonesian court late on Friday sentenced a Hong Kong drug lord to death for smuggling 860 kilograms (1,900 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia earlier this year.

Wong Chi-ping was caught with several others in January as they coordinated the trafficking of the drugs from Malaysia into Indonesia.

Indonesian authori-ties had been monitor-ing Wong, believed to be the kingpin behind the deal, for three years and said that he was part of a major global drug ring.

“Indonesia must fight drugs wholeheartedly and one way to do that is by giving strong pun-ishments,” said presid-ing judge M. Arifin as he delivered the death sentence in the West Ja-karta court.

Indonesia enforces some of the world’s toughest anti-drugs laws and has been step-ping up its campaign against narcotics under President Joko Widodo, who is a strong support-er of capital punishment for traffickers.

Widodo has acceler-ated the death penalty campaign—so far 14 drug convicts have been executed during his presidency, 12 of them foreigners. AFP

THE Islamic State jihadist group claimed gun and bomb attacks that left more than 120 people dead in Paris in a statement posted online on Saturday.

ISLAMIC STATE GROUP CLAIMS PARIS ATTACKS

SUU KYI LANDSLIDE WIN LEAVES MYANMAR ETHNIC PARTIES BEHINDMYANMAR’S diverse ethnic minority parties were counting their losses on Saturday after Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democ-racy party won a landslide vic-tory in historic polls.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has so far scooped 80 percent of elected seats in polls that promise to dramatically re-draw the political landscape in a nation stifled for decades under the grip of army rule.

The party sailed past the threshold it needed to secure an absolute parliamentary majority on Friday, giving Suu Kyi and her supporters a massive popular mandate with only a few results still

trickling out on Saturday. As the results became clear,

parties representing Myanmar’s myriad ethnic minority groups emerged as major losers in the vote, taking just ten percent of seats in the combined parlia-ment and losing out to the NLD even in regional legislatures.

“Ethnic parties won very few seats. We did not want to see this but it has happened,” said Aye Maung, chairman of Arakan National Party, who lost his own seat to the NLD in violence-torn western Rakhine state.

He voiced concerns over whether “ethnic voices can be heard” now in the new parlia-ment.

Suu Kyi, 70, has said her

party supports a federal fu-ture for Myanmar, where myriad ethnic minority groups have fought decades-long wars for greater political autonomy.

But she was also criticised in the run-up to the polls for fail-ing to reach out to smaller mi-nority parties.

Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government has inked cease-fires with a clutch of ethnic armed groups, but several ma-jor conflicts continue, includ-ing in Shan state on the eastern border, where the military this week launched airstrikes against ethnic rebels even as votes were counted, according to the Unit-ed Nations. AFP

HK DRUG LORD GETS DEATH IN INDONESIA

both said they were “deeply shocked” by the attacks in Paris Friday that have left at least 120 people dead.

European Council President Donald Tusk said he will ensure the G20 summit in Turkey over the weekend will respond to the threat of terrorism as both he and Juncker prepared to represent the Euro-pean Union at the event.

On his Twitter account, Juncker said: “I am deeply shocked by the events in Paris. We stand in full soli-darity with the people of France.”

In a later message to French Presi-dent Francois Hollande, Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxem-bourg, said he was “revolted to see that France is at this same moment hit by the most odious terrorism.”

Writing in French, he added: “I think about the victims, the wound-

ed, the rescue (services). I trust the authorities and the French people to overcome this new ordeal together.”

Other members of the European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation European Union in Brus-sels, have also reacted to the attacks.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, also writing in French, tweeted that she “is in the process of following with pain and dread the events in Paris.”

Mogherini, the multi-lingual for-mer Italian foreign minister, added: “Europe is with France and the French people.”

Echoing the commission was Stol-tenberg, the NATO secretary gen-eral, who said: “I am deeply shocked by the horrific terrorist attacks across Paris tonight. AFP

WORLD

A couple shelters from the sun under an umbrella as they walk in People’s Park located in front of the Shwegadon Pagoda (center) in Yangon. Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition on November 13 secured a parliamentary majority from last weekend’s polls that will allow it to elect a president and form a government in a historic shift in power from the army. AFP

This photo shows a fl owers and candles left outside of the Carillon bar and Le Petit Cambodge restaurant in the 10th district of Paris, following a series of attacks in and around the city, leaving at least 120 people killed. Le Petit Cambodge, adjacent to the Carillon bar, was the scene of another attack, which killed at least 12 people. AFP

[email protected]

S U N D AY : N o v e m B e R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

WORLD B5

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of central seoul saturday in a massive protest against the conservative government’s drive for labour reform and state-issued history textbooks.

Seoul gripped by huge anti-government rally

Police sprayed water on the crowd, estimated to number about 50,000, as some protesters attempted to push through barricades at the rally outside City Hall in central Seoul.

Ahead of the rally, la-bour unionists scuffled with scores of plainclothes policemen to prevent the arrest of the head of the militant Korean Confed-eration of Trade Unions (KCTU), who showed up for a press conference near the protest site.

Labour activists success-fully blocked police from arresting KCTU President Han Sang-Kyun, who has been sought for leading outlawed labour strikes last year and May Day protests this year.

“Down with (President) Park Geun-Hye”, the union-ists chanted following the scuffles, calling her conser-vative government “fascist”, an AFP journalist on the scene said.

Authorities said they had mobilised 20,000 riot po-lice for fear that the protest might turn violent.

Organisers of the protest said there would be a march toward the presidential Blue House, a move which is likely to spark a clash with police.

Participants, many of

whom were bused in from across the country, chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of a government labour policy which KCTU says benefits businesses by keeping wages low and mak-ing it easier for companies to fire activists.

They also condemned the opening of protected markets for some agricul-tural goods and a plan to impose government-issued textbooks on schools start-ing in 2017.

The textbooks have be-come a bitter ideological battleground between left and right in South Korea, with critics accusing Park’s administration of seeking to deliberately manipulate and distort the narrative of how the South Korean state was created.

Conservative critics ar-gue that currently the au-thors are too left-wing, but liberal opponents accuse the government of revert-ing to a policy used by past authoritarian regimes in South Korea including that of late president Park Chung-Hee, father of the current president.

Saturday’s rally was the largest South Korea has seen since 2008 when the country was hit by waves of protest against the import of US beef. AFP

InDOneSIA will on novem-ber 25 announce the results of an investigation into the AirAsia crash last year that killed 162 people, the com-mittee probing the case said Saturday.

The Airbus A320-200 went down in the Java Sea on Decem-ber 28 in stormy weather during what was supposed to be a short trip from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

“We plan to announce the report on november 25,” Soerjanto Tjahjono, head of Indonesia’s national Trans-portation Safety Committee, told AFP.

In the preliminary report in January, investigators who went through the black boxes discovered that prior to the crash the jet had climbed fast through large storm clouds and that the stall alarms start-ed going off.

They also revealed that Flight QZ8501’s less experi-enced French co-pilot, Remi Plesel, was flying the plane be-fore it went down, rather than Captain Iriyanto, a former fighter pilot who had around 20,000 hours of flying time.

An investigator at the com-mittee said they finished the final draft of the report and distributed it to several coun-tries for feedback.

Countries which got copies included France, the manufac-turer of the aircraft, and the US, which made some of the plane’s components. AFP

AirAsiA crAsh probe

result out by nov. 25

irAQ Kurd chief Announces ‘liberAtion’ of sinjAr from isIRAQI Kurdish leader Mas-sud Barzani announced the “liberation” of the town of Sinjar from the Islamic State group on Friday, the latest in a series of setbacks for the jihadists.

The operation was led by the autonomous Kurdish re-gion’s peshmerga forces but also involved fighters from the Yazidi minority, which IS targeted in a brutal cam-paign of massacres, enslave-ment and rape.

The offensive cut a key supply line linking jihadist-held areas in Iraq with those in Syria.

Across the border, the Syr-ian Democratic Forces coali-tion said it also delivered a blow to IS logistics, an-nouncing that it had driven the jihadists out of Al-Hol, an important village on their Iraq-Syria supply route.

The gains against IS are the latest sign that the jihad-

ist group, which won a series of victories in a stunningly rapid offensive in Iraq last year, is now on the defensive.

In remarks Friday, US President Barack Obama expressed satisfaction with efforts against IS, saying the group’s expansion has been curbed.

“From the start, our goal has been first to contain, and we have contained them,” Obama said.

Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, told a news conference near the north-ern town: “I am here to an-nounce the liberation of Sinjar.”

His remarks also made clear that political conflict over Sinjar would be likely to follow the military battle for the town.

“Sinjar was liberated by the blood of the peshmerga and became part of Kurdis-tan,” Barzani said.

Flags, celebratory gunfireBaghdad, which has long opposed Kurdistan’s desire to incorporate a swathe of disputed northern terri-tory, is unlikely to welcome that idea.

earlier in the day, hundreds of Kurdish fighters, dressed in camouflage uniforms and armed with assault rifles and machineguns, moved into the town on foot, an AFP journal-ist reported.

Carrying the Kurdish re-gion’s flag, they fired into the air and shouted “Long live the peshmerga!” and “Long live Kurdistan!”

Inside Sinjar, many houses and shops, a petrol station and the local government head-quarters had been destroyed.

Burned out cars sat in the streets, while barrels appar-ently containing explosives had been left behind.

The huge task of clearing Sinjar of bombs planted by

IS remains, and there is also the possibility of holdout ji-hadists, who have kept up attacks even after other ar-eas in Iraq were said to have been retaken.

The US-led coalition car-ried out upwards of 250

strikes in support of the Sinjar operation, killing an estimated more than 200 IS fighters, Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the international operation against the jihadists, told a news conference Friday.

IS has suffered multiple setbacks in Syria in recent days, including in Al-Hol, which the Syrian Democrat-ic Forces, a coalition of Arab and Kurdish fighters, an-nounced Friday that it took the day before. AFP

A Kurdish fighter flashes the victory sign in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, in the Nineveh Province. Kurdish leader Massud Barzani announced the “liberation” of Sinjar from the Islamic State group in an assault backed by US-led strikes that cut a key jihadist supply line with Syria. The Arabic writing on the helmet reads: “Shengal” the name given to the town by the Kurds. AFP

South Korean protestors stage a large rally against the government outside the City Hall in Seoul. Tens of thousand of people took to the streets in central Seoul in a massive protest against the conservative government’s drive for labour reform and state-issued history textbooks. AFP

B6 REUEL VIDAL E D I T O R

S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

[email protected]

Republic of the PhilippinesOffice of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEEPDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay PinyahanQuezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BIDSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND COMMISSIONING OF MILITARY POLICE

EQUIPMENTBid Ref. No. 2015-14

1. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City invites registered PhilGEPS suppliers to bid for the following item;

Quantity Item/Description Approved Budget for the Contract

Price of Bidding Documents (Non-

Refundable)Delivery Period

45 units Investigative/Surveillance Kits P 5,570,500.00 P 10,000.00 30 Calendar

Days

2. A prospective bidder on each of the projects should have completed within 2010-2014 from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said project.

3. The Schedule of Bid Activities shall be as follows:

Activities Venue Date/Time

Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents

BAC Secretariatc/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 13, 2015

Pre-Bid Conference Conference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA

Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 25, 2015, 3:00 PM

Deadline of Submission and Opening of Bids

December 7, 2015, 3:00 PM

4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

5. 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.

6. Complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat (see Address Below) and upon payment of non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, in amount pursuant to the schedule, The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the

Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph.

7. For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the Pre-Bidding Conference relative to the bid project, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bidding Conference.

8. PDEA reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

9. Bidders may obtain further information from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro, at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting November 13, 2015 at Tel No. (632)920-8082/ (632)927-9702 Loc. 127. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

(Sgd.) ASEC. RENE M. ORBEChairman, Bids & Awards Committee (TS-NOV. 15, 2015)



INVITATION TO BIDACQUISITION OF JANITORIAL SERVICES

Bid Ref. No. 2015-10

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City intends to apply the sum of TWO MILLION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY ONE THOUSAND (Php 2,451,000.00) PESOS being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the acquisition of Janitorial Services covering the period of January 1 to December 31, 2016;

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the Bid opening and late bids shall not be accepted.

1. The PDEA - BAC now invites PhilGEPS registered janitorial service providers for the procurement of Janitorial Services. Posting of Janitors at the PDEA National Headquarters, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City and PDEA Academy, Silang Cavite is required within Six (6) working days upon receipt of Contract of Service.

2. A prospective bidder on each of the projects should have completed within the last Three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said projects.

3. Open competitive bidding will be conducted using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”. All particulars relative to this bidding including Eligibility Checking, Bid Security, Evaluation and Post Qualification Procedures and Award of Contract shall be governed by R.A. No. 9184 and its Revised IRR.

4. The bidding is open 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.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph. The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders upon payment of nonrefundable fee indicated below. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document.

For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the Pre-Bid Conference relative to these bid projects, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bid Conference.


NOMENCLATURE VENUE DATE/TIME

1. SALE & ISSUANCE of Bid Documents

BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del CoroPDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays, starting

November 13, 2015

Php 5,000.00

2. PRE-BID CONFERENCE(open only to parties who have acquired bid documents)

Conference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 25, 2015(11:00 AM)

3. SUBMISSION and OPENING OF BIDS

December 7, 2015(11:00 AM)

6. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting November 13, 2015 at Tel No. (632)920-8082. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.



Other horses took turns at taking second and third places. But there was never ever any serious challenge in the race after Low Profile took the lead right at the start.

Low Profile d o m i n a t e d against a strong

field of imported race-horses including Bentley, Eugenie, Oh Oh Seven, Silver Sword and Strong Champion as well as lo-cal chargers Messi, Pen-

rith, Pugad Lawin and Tap Dance.

Low Profile ex-ploded out of the starting gate tak-

seemed to be tiring. Sil-ver Sword cut the gap to just five lengths with Tap Dance and Messie moving up fast. As the horses went into the stretch and headed for home Tap Dance and Messie made their run. Tap Dance grabbed second, five lengths behind with Messie at third.

That was as close as any other horse would get. Seeing the finish line veteran jockey Mark Alvarez whipped Low Pro-file into a frenzy and the horse seemed to go into another gear while charging for-ward even faster.

Low Profile finished the race pulling away leading by eight lengths as it crossed the finish line of the 2,000 me-ter race in two min-utes and six seconds. Following far behind in order were Messie, Tap Dance, Eugenie, Penrith, Silver Sword, Oh Oh Seven, Strong Champion and Bentley.

The 2015 Ambassa-dor Eduardo Danding Cojuangco Jr. Cup of-fered a total prize mon-ey of P2 million.

Low profile added to its winnings of P2,955,220 which was good for fifth place in the top money earners as of Oct. 31. Court of Honour led the win-ners with P3,716,984. Others in the top five were Miss Brulay, P3,289,203; Skyway, P3,165,034; and Superv, P3,003,949.

The race itself was held at the beauti-ful new racecourse at the Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite. The site of the new Santa Ana Park is a bustling recreational community that has enlivened the progres-sive province of Cavite.

On race days the 65-hectare Santa Ana Park race course comes alive. When dusk falls, the brilliant lights of the track could be seen for miles around as it shines like a beacon in-viting people in.

Today, the race-course is home to about 800 horses housed in the facility consisting of 78 stable building clus-ters. The track boasts of the most modern race amenities including an equine pool near the stables where horses take a dip to complete their early morning practice regimen.

LOW PROFILE POSTSWIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY

EAT MY DUST. Low Profi le (right) with jockey Mark Alvarez on top kicks up a cloud of dust as it starts to pull away after taking the lead right from the start of the 2015 Philracom Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Cup in Naic, Cavite. JEFF VENANCIO

By Homer Vidal

ALMOST everyone predicted Low Profile to rule the 2015 Philracom Ambassador Eduardo Danding Co-juangco Jr. Cup in Naic, Cavite. But few could have seen the dominant, wire-to-wire victory where the horse led from the start and gradually in-creased its advantage until the finish.

ing the lead immediate-ly from the start. Gal-loping near the inner rail it was challenged early on by quick-start-ing Strong Champion.

Passing by the Stew-ards Stand, Low Pro-

file extended its lead to two lengths with Silver Sword now at second and Bentley at third.

After completing 3/4 mile Low Profile increased its lead to about five lengths. Sil-

ver Sword and Bentley hung on to second and third places. They were followed by Tap Dance and Eugenie,

With just half a mile distance left Low Pro-file increased its lead

to seven lengths. Silver Sword was still at sec-ond followed by Tap Dance, Strong Champi-on, Eugenie and Bent-ley.

Nearing the far turn, Low Profile finally

Veteran jockey Mark Alvarez breaks into a wide grin after riding Low Profi le to victory in the 2015 Philracom Ambassador Eduardo Danding Cojuangco Jr. Cup at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite. JEFF VENANCIO

[email protected]

ARMAN ARMEROE D I T O R

S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

SPORTS



INVITATION TO BID

ACQUISITION OF MESSING, DRINKING WATER, AND LAUNDRY SERVICESFOR PDEA DEOBC-08

Bid Ref. Nos. 2015-11, 2015-12, 2015-131. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)

with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City invites registered PhilGEPS suppliers to bid for the following items;

ITEM Item/Description Approved Budget for the Contract

Price of Bidding Documents (Non-Refundable) Delivery Period

Lot 1 Messing Services P 3,078,000.00 P 5,000.00

Six (6) monthsLot 2 Drinking Water Services P 144,000.00 P 500.00

Lot 3 Laundry Services P 306,000.00 P 500.00

2. A prospective bidder on each of the projects should have completed within 2010-2014 from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said project..


Activities Venue Date/TimeIssuance and Availability of Bid Documents

BAC Secretariatc/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 13, 2015

Pre-Bid ConferenceConference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 25, 2015, 2:00 PM

Deadline of Submission and Opening of Bids

December 7, 2015, 2:00 PM

4. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

5. 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.

6. Complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat (see Address Below) and upon payment of non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, in amount pursuant to the schedule, The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph.

7. For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the Pre-Bidding Conference relative to the bid project, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bidding Conference.


9. Bidders may obtain further information from the PDEA-BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro, at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting November 13, 2015 at Tel No. (632)920-8082/ (632)927-9702 Loc. 127. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.




INVITATION TO BID

ACQUISITION OF SECURITY GUARD SERVICES Bid Ref. No. 2015-09

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with office address at NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City intends to apply the sum of THREE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND (Php 3,900,000.00) PESOS being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the acquisition of Security Guard Services covering the period of January 1 to December 31, 2016;

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the Bid opening and late bids shall not be accepted.

1. The PDEA - BAC now invites bids from eligible bidders who are authorized Agencies for the procurement of Security Guard Services. Posting of Eleven (11) Security Guards which will be deployed at the PDEA National Headquarters, Quezon City, PDEA Academy, Silang, Cavite and PDEA K9 Facility, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan are required within Seven (7) working days upon receipt of Contract of Service.

2. A prospective bidder on each of the projects should have completed within the last Three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature amounting to at least 50% of the ABC for the said projects.

3. Open competitive bidding will be conducted using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”. All particulars relative to this bidding including Eligibility Checking, Bid Security, Evaluation and Post Qualification Procedures and Award of Contract shall be governed by R.A. No. 9184 and its Revised IRR.

4. The bidding is open 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.

The Invitation to Bid and Checklist of Requirements may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph. The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders upon payment of nonrefundable fee indicated below. The Bidding Documents shall be received personally by the prospective Bidder or his duly authorized representative upon presentation of proper identification of document.

For purpose of having a legal personality to raise or submit written queries or clarification in the Pre-Bid Conference relative to these bid projects, Bidder must first pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents on or before the date of Pre-Bid Conference.


NOMENCLATURE VENUE DATE/TIME

1. SALE & ISSUANCE of Bid Documents

BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del CoroPDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting

November 13, 2015

Php 5,000.00

2. PRE-BID CONFERENCE(open only to parties who have acquired bid documents)

Conference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, 1100 Quezon City

November 25, 2015 (10:00 AM)

3. SUBMISSION and OPENING OF BIDS

December 7, 2015(10:00 AM)

6. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Ms. Aroceli E. Sonido or Ms. Aileen B. Del Coro at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting November 13, 2015 at Tel No. (632)920-8082. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.



Consider, it was on Nov. 13 five years ago, that Pacquiao completed his historic eight-division world championship con-quest to emerge the only man in boxing history to accomplish the feat.

On that day, before a huge 50,000 plus spec-tators at the cavernous Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the then 32-year-old Pac-man beat Mexican An-tonio Margarito black and blue to capture the vacant World Boxing council super-welter-weight jewel.

The title win for Pac-quiao, then already a recipient of the “Fighter of the Decade” and three Fighter of the Year awards from the Boxing Writers Asso-ciation of America and from the Ring Maga-zine, was the latest ad-dition to the Filipino’s belt collections since crowning himself the WBC flyweight titlist in 1998.

Pacquiao took Thai Chatchai Sasakul’s 112-pound crown by knocking out the then defending champion in the eighth round.

The huge victory over the big, hard-hit-ting Margarito, which, incidentally, forced the Mexican to retire, was actually the Sarangani Congressman’s third for the month of No-vember in his rich col-lection that includes the the Ring Magazine featherweight plum and the World Boxing Organization welter-weight crowns.

It was also in this month, or November 15, 2003 to be exact, when the now sena-torial candidate took the 126-pound dia-dem from Mexican legend Marco Anto-nio Barrera.

Six years later, on Nov. 14, 2009, Pacquiao dethroned Puerto Ri-can Miguel Cotto as the WBO 147-pound kingpin via a 12-round technical knockout annihilation that, in-cidentally, remained as his last triumph via stoppage.

Rounding out Pac-quiao’s eight-division championship tri-umphs are the In-ternational Boxing Federation super-ban-tamweight on a 6th-round TKO of Lehlo Ledwaba in 2001, his first under trainer Freddie Roach, WBC super-featherweight at the expense of Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008, WBC light-weight via 9th -round TKO of David Diaz , also in 2008, and In-ternational Boxing Organizat ion/R ing junior-welterweight titles on a 2nd round KO of Ricky Hatton in 2009.

The Kibawe, Bukid-non-born’s last de-fense of his WBO welterweight title also came in the month

of November when he unanimously de-cisioned New Yorker former martial arts campaigner Chris Al-gieri two years ago at the Cottai Arena at the posh Venetian Re-sort Hotel in Macau.

He lost the title on a questionable de-cision to American Timothy Bradley in 2012, the same year he was knocked out by Marquez, but re-gained the same 22 months later.

Impressive victories over Mexican Hall of Famer to be Bar-rera, Erik Morales and Marquez earned for the father of five with Saragani Vice Gov. Jinkee the moniker “The Mexicutioner.”

An 8th-round demolition of legend-

ary and Olympic gold medalist Osca DeLa Hoya on December 6, 2008 catapulted the Filipino hero to the pound-for-pound throne.

All throughout his career that started in 1995, Pacquiao has fought 18 current and former world cham-pions—Bradley, Mar-quez, Mosley, Marga-rito, Joshua Clottey, Cotto, Hatton, DeLa Hoya, Diaz, Barrera, Jorge Solis, Morales, Oscar Larios, Jorge Ju-lio, Agapito Sanchez, Ledwaba, Medgeon Lu kc haop or ma s a k and Sasakul.

Counting the WBC International super-bantamweight and the WBC super-ban-tamweight and super-featherweight crowns

A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER FOR PACQUIAO

PADDLING TO GOLDS. Members of the Philippine Dragonboat team brought home a pair of gold medals in the 200 and 500-m race in the recent 2015 Asian Canoe Kayak-Dragonboat Championship in Palembang, Indonesia, The paddlers, who madee a courtesy call to Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia were accompanied by their mentor Len Escollante and event delegation head Jhonie Go, president of the PhilippineCanoe KayakDragonboat Federation. They are led by Patricia Ann Bustamante-drummer,steerwoman Maribeth Caranto and paddlers Alex Generalo,John Paul Selencio,Fernan Dungan,Hermie Macaranas,Reymart Nevado,Jordan de Guia,Marc John Frias,Jonathan Ruiz,Ojay Fuentes and Marvin Amposta. DANNY SIMON

By Eddie G. Alinea

THE month of November is a special month for ring idol Manny Pacquiao, because it was during this time of the year that the Pacman accomplished his most improbable feats in boxing.

he wore at one time or another, Pacquiao had actually won 10 world titles, again, the most by any fight-er in this era.

sportsB8

S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

[email protected]

RiERA U. MAllARiEDITOR

By Reuel Vidal AlAskA Aces team owner Fred Uytengsu said it may be harder but he wanted his team to win, but only with integrity.

The President and CEO of Alaska Milk explained the importance of winning the right way when the Alaska Aces celebrated three decades of excellence as a franchise competing in the Philippine Basketball Association at the Enderun College, Bonifacio Global City.

Rather than trying to win at all cost Uytengsu said the Aces would rather live up to their responsibility as being role models to the youth.

The highlight of the celebration last Thursday, Nov. 12 was the naming of the 30 greatest Alaska players led by members of the 1996 Grand Slam team which included Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and Jeff Cariaso.

Also named among the 30 Greatest Alaska play-ers were Rhoel Gomez, Kenneth Duremdes, Rodney Santos, Devin Davis, Ali Peek, Mike Cortez, Yoyoy Villamin, Willie Pearson, Biboy Ravanes, Boy Caba-hug, Bong Alvarez, Ricric Marata, Eugene Quilban, Sean Chambers, Poch Juinio, Diamon Simpson, Reynel Hugnatan, Willie Miller, Rossell Ellis, Son-ny Thoss, Tony dela Cruz, LA Tenorio, Rob Dozier, Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros, Jvee Casio and Calvin Abueva.

The Alaska team owner noted that Alaska has been loyal to its players who display the same loyalty to the team.

“Perhaps even more than our 14 PBA titles, I am

proud of the fact that our success has been achieved with just a few players. Only 154 players have worn the Alaska jersey. That means that our players stay with us for a very long time. Players that have lived up to our core values of teamwork, come in and stay,” said Uytengsu.

The team owner recalled how Alaska first joined the PBA in 1986 and how it has grown over the years to become one of the league’s most storied franchises.

“It has been an incredible journey. When we first started in 1986, our goal was simply to have a basket-ball team wear the Alaska jersey and augment our formal advertising,” he said.

Uytengsu, then 24 years old, recalled how his father entrusted him with the job of forming and running the basketball franchise that would augment the com-pany’s marketing strategy.

He also cited important numbers to remember. These included 1,606 games, with 879 wins for a 54.7 winning percentage, 154 players and 53 imports, 28 finals appearances, 14 PBA championships, nine head coaches and six jerseys retired in 30 years as one or-ganization committed to excellence.

“Over the years our goal shifted from just having a team in the league to a desire to win. Back in the ‘80s we did not have the most talented team. In order to win we had to do it with teamwork. That has been one of the hallmarks of the Alaska Aces all these years,” said Uytengsu.

“We espoused the importance of teamwork and respect for one another on the team as the basis for our success. The cliche that there is no I in team is something that resonates with us clearly. We not me.”

Alaska won its first PBA title in 1991. It would go on to win eight more PBA championships including the PBA Grand Slam. For its achievements the team was dubbed the team of the decade.

AlAskA Aces’ 30 greAtestplAyers in 30-yeAr history

Alaska Aces team owner Fred Uytengsu explains the importance of winning the right way when the Alaska Aces celebrated three decades of excellence as a franchise competing in the Philippine Basketball Association at the Enderun College, Bonifacio Global City.

Former Alaska Aces players, from left: Rhoel Gomez, LA Tenorio and Poch Juinio join Alaska VP for Marketing Blen Fernando, Alaska Aces General Manager Dicky Bachmann (center) and the Gomez brothers (Keanu Sean and Arvin Kim) during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Alaska Aces.

Past and present Alaska Aces big men, from left: Reynel Hugnatan, Sonny Thoss and John Ferriols join the celebration of 30 years of participation in the PBA. With them are front row, from left: Alaska head trainer Gus Vargas, trainer Mike Braga and wife Lyn Braga.

Fourteen PBA championship trophies won by the Alaska Aces are on display as the Aces celebrated three decades of excellence and integrity as a franchise competing in the Philippine Basketball Association at the Enderun Col-lege, Bonifacio Global City.

C1S U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

S U NDAY L IF E

TATUM ANCHETAE D I T O RBING PARELA S S O C I AT E E D I T O RBERNADETTE LUNASW R I T E R

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

LIFE

“Ilike on the table, when we’re speaking, the light of a bottle of intelligent wine.”

No truer words than Chilean poet Pablo Neruda’s Ode to Wine could, perhaps, capture the enjoyment one gets with good food, good conversation and most of all, good wine. And all these we got to experience at a wine and food pairing event at Planet Grapes (over at Shangri-La Mall along EDSA) with British winemaker Alex Dale as guest.

The founder of The Winery of Good Hope in Stellenbosch in South Africa, Alex has been instrumental in giving South African wines the international recognition they so richly deserve, with discerning wine drinkers in Manila discovering with great pleasure that a lot of South African wines go very well even with the most ordinary comfort food like squid balls, siomai, or even chicharon.

Born into a family of wine merchants and importers in Great Britain, the Oxford-educated Alex was captivated by the great wines of Burgundy while studying French literature at Dijon University in France, and this paved the way for his great fascination with wine making. “I was a young man who

didn’t know what I was doing,” he tells us, referring to his decision to move to South Africa in 1994 – following the historic win of the late Nelson Mandela as the first black president of South Africa – convinced that the diversity of the geology and the climatic conditions particularly in the Stellenbosch region (which resembled those of the Rhone Valley) offered so much potential for wine making. Along with his drinking buddy Ben Radford, Alex founded The Winery of Good Hope, eventually transforming the Radford Dale into one of the very best wine names in South Africa.

A well built man (who reminded us so much of South African actor Arnold Vosloo), it was fascinating to

hear Alex talk about the good points of the various wines produced by The Winery of Good Hope – for instance The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2012, Unoaked Chardonnay 2013, Mountainside Shiraz 2012, Vinum Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 and that “uniquely” South African wine (also known as the “angry grape”) Bush Vine Pinotage 2012 – and why they go so well with Filipino food.

It was, however, his revelation that, while The Winery of Good Hope is a business, the focus is on “wine making with a conscience” that got our attention, especially so when we discovered that many of those he employs in his winery are the “previously disadvantaged people” or what are also known as “people of color.” The employees of The Winery of Good Hope are considered stakeholders, individuals who have important roles in the company – from picking grapes to wine pressing or bottling. Alex established the Land of Hope, a trust that provides funding for education among the children of the workers. Quoting Nelson Mandela, Alex reiterates that “one cannot build a society with uneducated children.”

While apartheid may have officially ended over two decades ago, social inequality still prevails in South Africa, he lamented. The trust is the wine company’s contribution to the

social development and economic upliftment of the employees, and become a positive instrument that would help children have a brighter future. It goes without saying that a main objective is also to help improve the working conditions of those employed in the agricultural industry in South Africa.

There are several things that make our wines different, the affable man discloses. One, The Winery of Good Hope “questions everything” – meaning they don’t just do things the way they have always been done. On the contrary, they do whatever is needed to make a wine that speaks for itself and where it’s from. Two, land decides which kind of grape must be grown in a particular terrain, which is why not all the grapes are grown in the property.

For Alex, it’s not a simple matter of growing grapes and turning them into wine – it is hard work, and one that takes into account the care of the land and the people, as seen in the Land of Hope range where 50 percent of gross profit redound to the previously disadvantaged employees and their children. All wines are eco friendly, he adds.

I ask Alex to explain his statement about not entering competitions. “If I look at the wine producers in the world that I really admire, I cannot think of a single one of them who entered a competition.

If you want to be the strongest wine, enter a competition. If you want to make cerebral, elegant and sophisticated wines, don’t enter a competition because you will not win. It’s as simple as that. I don’t make wine to enter a competition and if I did, I wouldn’t work the way I did,” he says, referring to the natural process employed to make the excellent wines produced by The Winery of Good Hope – all of which are loved by consumers for their attitude and taste.

Which goes to show that one can drink wine, indeed, with a good conscience.

For good food and “wine without the drama,” log on to planetgrapes.com.ph. To know more about The Winery of Good Hope, you may visit www.thewineryofgoodhope.com.

AN ODE TO WINE, GOOD HOPES, AND A MAN NAMED ALEX DALEBY BING PAREL

Punching down the grapes, a part of the winemaking process Sorting the grapes

The Winery of Good Hope founder Alex Dale

Filipino comfort food like squid balls and siomai go well with South African wines

Vineyards in Helderberg, Stellenbosch Growing grapes while adhering to environmental sustainability

The crew take on a helicopter ride

Something bizarre happened one Halloween evening. We were on our way to the party hosted by haute couture designer Ito Curata in the grand manor he shares with partner Bob Miller when we found ourselves lost in transition in a dark road leading to the posh subdivision down South. At first, I was not conscious of our unusual state since I knew that the chauffer of my companion is very reliable (he’s hotel-trained after all) and has been to Bob and Ito’s residence on many occasions. We entered the gates of Ayala Alabang already when I noticed that he has led us to unknown territory.

“Where are we?”, this columnist anxiously inquired. I was concerned since the street was strangely shady and narrow. I felt I was in a scene from The Twilight Zone. And then, I sensed something down my spine.

To my dear readers, to set the record straight, this Sunday’s column is not a horror story. When caught in a seemingly “paranormal” situation, everything (with a sigh of relief) can be explained:• I gathered myself and took charge

of the situation. I checked Google Maps for our exact location. Indeed, we were lost and advised the driver to turn back since we entered the wrong gate.

• The car was heavily tinted and the sun visor was up on my side. In perspective, this made the road appear darker.

• The vehicle of Tina Cuevas (my “blooming” companion) is the top of the line. It has a back massage seat feature at the touch of a button.

• Lastly, to my young readers, please Google “The Twilight Zone.”

By now, I hope I got your complete attention (smile if you agree) with the subplot of this column.

Levity aside, nothing was creepy at all about the Halloween Bash organized by well-loved couturier Ito Curata on the occasion celebrating his 56th birthday. As a matter of fact, it was an absolutely happy occasion!

On a Saturday night, 60 of Itos friends joined the party and were very game as they all came in their Halloween regalia. To be honest, I felt a little underdressed with my costume compared to the noteworthy outfits (as seen in this column) donned by the guests composed of Manila’s movers and shakers.

I seldom get out of my home to attend a social gathering on the eve of All Saints’ Day. However, this occasion was something close to my heart and I am glad that I decided to go. What welcomed me was a whimsical world filled with the kindest and most beautifully dressed people! Everyone elevated their game as seen in their creative costumes. It was a (happy) sight to behold!

The ever-creative Ito Curata and his son Taj were in similar costumes – in full “dragon” battle gear. They were not waging war, though as both graciously welcomed everyone in their (lavish) lair that was transformed into a fantasy world reminiscent of a (posh) mausoleum.

Mind you, there is nothing freaky about the setting as everything was thematic and on point. From the tombstones and “Death” that welcomed us at the porte-cochère; the “Boo-ffet” of delicious food that filled everyone’s tummies; the flowing wine and bubbly that luxuriously hydrated us; to the endless helpings of hors d’oeuvres; and the giveaways in cute pumpkin containers. Ito Curata really knows how to throw the best parties in town!

If you don’t agree with me, see for yourself as evident in the images captured in this column. He even brought back to life “Heneral Luna” in the flesh!

In the meantime, I could not help but contemplate on “leveling-up” on next year’s Halloween bash.

To moments filled with fun, laughter and endless parties. Cheers to you, Ito Curata!

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @francis_deleon8.

C2SUNDAY : NOVEMBER 15, 2015

LIFE l i f e @ t h e s t a n d a r d . c o m . p h @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d @ L I F E a t S t a n d a r d

#INTHEMOMENTBY FRANCIS DE LEON

TALES OF THE PARANORMAL

A Halloween bash with the fun bunch

“Death” guards the gate and tombstones

Ann and Atty. Rene Puno as Cleopatra and Mark Anthony

French maid Malu Francisco with Rachel de Guzman

China doll Nikki Tang and Barbie doll Sheree Chua

Bob Miller and Lilibeth Campos

Happy Halloween from Glecy Mojares and Marivic Vazquez

The “Son of the Dragon” – Taj Curata

The “dragon” and Marie Antoinette at Ito Curata’s birthday bash

Sitoy de Guzman as Zorro and March Geriene as a cowboy

Czarina Ong-Camus, Helen Ong and Marian Ong-Nuguid

Little Red Riding Hood Victoria Turegun with Maleficent Tess Schoefer

Mayenne Carmona

Best in Costume awardee Suzette Hahn-Lopez aka “The Peacock”

Jon Snow is alive – Richardo Luis Puno

Jose Geffrey Candido who just graduated from the PMA and Jedi Joby Belmonte

Ladies in their full regalia- Svenja Wegfahrt, Manolyne Taylor, Gabriella Wegfahrt and Renee Puno

Edwin Medalla, Tina Jacinto, Elaine Rojas-Villar and Noy Anson Ping Sotto, John Arcilla and Valerie Mayor Sotto

The enigmatic setting of the Halloween birthday bash

C3LIFESUNDAY : NOVEMBER 15, 2015


DuPont Pioneer Lamphun Plant in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Look around. You might not know it, but DuPont is all around you – in the chair that you’re sitting on, in the clothes that you’re wearing and in the food

that you’re eating. It’s everywhere, and yet we don’t know it because those everyday items are not called DuPont, they are called Aeron, Uniqlo and Century Tuna.

Founded in 1802, DuPont is commonly identified as one of the world’s leading chemical companies. “For the first 100 years, we were a gunpowder manufacturer supplying the wars everywhere [during the 19th century],” recalls DuPont Asia-Pacific president Tony Su.

But it was only in the beginning of the 20th century that the company got into the chemical business. The business transformation led to the development of various kinds of polymers. In 1935, DuPont came out with Nylon, “probably one of the most famous DuPont products, although it no longer belongs to us,” says Su. In 1938, the company invented Teflon, while in 1962, the elastic fiber Lycra was introduced.

Responsible for body armors, bulletproof vests, helmets and industrial gloves is another DuPont high-strength raw material, Kevlar, invented in 1965. Come 1967, the company introduced Nomex, as an effective racing and firefighting suit for its excellent thermal, chemical and radiation resistance; Corian, a solid surface material used primarily to create sinks and countertops; and Tyvek, a high-density waterproof fiber often used as house wrap in the US but is also utilized as a protective one-piece garment worn by mechanics, laboratory workers and hazmat personnel who don’t need the protection of a full hazmat suit.

“You can see that in the last 80 years, we’re shaping people’s lives,” enthuses Su.

In the late ‘90s, the company went into “a very different route” which was focusing

on agriculture and nutrition, industrial bioscience and advanced materials. The switch is primarily due to the challenges the world faces today, which are the continuous swell of population, rapid depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation.

“If the population increases, we’re going to continue facing shortage of food supply and pressure for more energy when there is only too much fossil fuel we can depend upon,” laments Su.

Drawing upon the company’s 200-year-old core values that focuses on safety and health, environmental stewardship, respect for people and highest ethical behavior, DuPont shifts the steering wheel to address these global concerns.

“We chose [the three sectors] where we think we can do the best solutions to contribute to the customers and to the society,” says Su.

And in part, “these sectors will support our company’s growth.”

The last 16 years saw the creation of DuPont’s seeds and agricultural chemicals, food and nutrition products, industrial enzymes and bio based materials, performance materials, consumer electronics, printing and packaging, and safety and protection solutions for construction, military, transportation and industrial sectors.

In a bid to achieve food security, in 1999, DuPont purchased Pioneer Hi-Bred, a large producer of hybrid seed for agriculture in the US. Through hybrid seeds of different crops, DuPont Pioneer ensures profitability and productivity of farmers even when availability of land for farming decreases.

Here in the Philippines, hybrid rice and biotech (bt) corn are already planted and harvested. DuPont Philippines managing director Ramon Abadilla informs that as of 2014, there are about 350,000 Filipino farmers planting bt corn in 5,000 hectares of land.

According to Abadilla, total harvest of farmers planting bt corn doubles to 7-8

metric tons per hectare compared to four metric tons/hectare from traditional seeds.

Courtesy of bt corn and its commitment to constant innovation, DuPont was able to invent Sorona in 2001, a renewably sourced soft and stain-resistant fiber used in apparel, residential and automotive carpet, makeup brush, and more.

In 2008, they came out with Rynaxpyr, an environment-friendly insecticide. Helping farmers cope with hot and dry weather condition is Aquamax, a drought-resistant corn seed which was introduced in 2011. In 2012, they launched Plenish, a high-quality soybean oil without transfat. And in 2013, DuPont invented Howaru a probiotic used in food and beverage products and dietary supplements.

In the country, a few of the many DuPont raw materials can be found in a can of Century Tuna (soy protein), in ice cream, cheese and bread (emulsifiers, sweeteners, and fiber extracts, among others), and in Pringles, noodle cups and other packaged food (peelable lidding resin).

“We are a raw product supplier, an upstream business, not an end-user. But if you eat ice cream anywhere in the world, know that there’s a DuPont ingredient in

there,” says DuPont Thailand Innovation Center manager Suntaree Taratikun.

From gunpowder to probiotics and other food products, one can see how DuPont, with its science-based solutions, transformed itself and the world. Its agricultural and nutrition products account for 43 percent or majority of its total sales in 2014 amounting to US$35 billion.

To further drive growth, the company shifts its sights to ASEAN, which is one of the three largest sub-regions in Asia Pacific, as it recently announced the opening of its R&D and business hub in Singapore.

Expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of 2016, the research and business facility will focus on expanding the company’s food business portfolio and developing products that will address customer needs. It’s also expected to support its two other segments: bio-based industrials and advanced materials, according to DuPont ASEAN group managing director Hsing Ho.

“For over 200 years, DuPont carried the name as one of the greatest chemical companies in the world. But we don’t call ourselves chemical company anymore. We call ourselves one of the greatest science companies in the world,” ends Su.

HOW A COMPANY’S TRANSFORMATION DRIVES INNOVATION

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

Industrial gloves made with DuPont Kevlar

DuPont Asia-Pacific president Tony Su

DuPont raw materials, including soy protein, sweeteners, emulsifiers, enzymes, probiotics and fiber extracts, among others are used in manufacturing many food products sold and consumed worldwide.

Apeel lidding sealant resins are used in packaged food and non-food items

Manila Peninsula’s Rigodon Ballroom was like a film set of Pilipinas: Back to the

Future during the launch of the book Fashionable Filipinas: An Evolution of the Philippine National Dress in Photographs 1860-1960 at the Manila Peninsula last November 10. Old meets new as celebrities, designers, members of the media, socialites and different personalities walked the red carpet donned in their vintage and modern ternos. Everyone wore something borrowed, something new and something they designed themselves.

It was fun to witness one of the best events where people went out of their usual gowns and played dress up with their versions of Filipiniana. Nowadays, you’ll only get to witness events like these during Buwan ng Wika or special themed events, or the SONA (which sometimes gets to be a parade of the worst versions of ternos that ever existed, remember that yellow green parachute?).

“I think the terno always evolves but you need to do it intelligently,” says Mark Lewis Higgins (co-director of Slim’s Fashion & Arts School), as he talks about the new book he co-authored with Gino Gonzales (scenographer and lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University). “You need to understand first where it came from before you manipulate it in any particular direction,” he adds. “Gino and I both work in schools and we’re both exposed to young students and we realized they had no clue about theterno, it’s becoming forgotten, and it’s the national dress of the country. And I thought, it was time to re-educate them.”

Fashionable Filipinas is a fresh approach to the story of the terno; its modern layout appeals to the modern interest of the public, specially the younger generation. “It’s more

than just a book about the dress,” says Mark, “it’s really the story of the birth of the nation, as we like to say, because clothing is very much a mirror of history, and you’ll see this in the book.”

The book features the evolution of what became the national dress, which is

the terno, laid out with studio photographs during the 1860s until the 1960s. “It’s a fascinating trip through the Victorian era, two world wars, and past the atomic age because the book begins in 1860 and ends in 1960,” adds Mark.

The book took two years to create and it was supported by the best names in the fashion and arts industry. “Yes, the Japanese have the kimono, the Chinese have the cheongsam, and the Indian have the sari, so we Filipinos must have the same reverence for the terno. Doing so will give a sense of pride and appreciation for our own,” says Ben Chan – who published the book under his giant retail chain Bench – during the launch. “I think that every Filipino regardless of age, status, and generation have something to learn from this book. It is not just for Filipinos’ fashion in the present, but for Filipinos of the future,” he adds.

During the event, most of the Bench endorsers wore ternos and barong Tagalogmade by Slim’s Fashion & Arts School student designers. One of the crowd favorites was the tuxedo terno of SLIM’s president and director Sandy Higgins made by up and coming designer Nina Gatan. Two of the vintage ternos worthy to highlight is the one worn by editor-in-chhief of L’OfficielManila’s Pam Quinones which was used by the late First Lady Leonila Garcia, wife of the late president Carlos P. Garcia, and the terno worn by Silk Cocoon designer Katrina Goulbourn-Feist from the vintage collection of Salvacion Lim Higgins.

Fashionable Filipinas: An Evolution of the Philippine National Dress in Photographs, 1860-1960 coffee-table book is available at Bench and Dimensione stores. Copies of the book will be donated to the Ayala Foundation for school distribution and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will have the book in its library.

C4 LIFES U N D AY : N O V E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 5


CAROTID ARTERYBY TATUM ANCHETA

Of Barongs, Ternos, and Fashionable

Filipinos

Fashionable Filipinas: An Evolution of the Philippine National Dress in Photographs 1860-1960 by Gino Gonzales and Mark Lewis Higgins

The book’s authors Mark Lewis Higgins and Gino Gonzales

Ms. Pilita Corrales singing for the crowd during the event

Gretchen Baretto wearing an Inno Sotto

Liz Uy by SLIM’s Hannah Adrias

Sarah Meier in a Vania Romoff creation

Tessa Prieto-Valdes in a Pablo Mendez terno

Karylle Yuzon’s terno is designed by another SLIM’s designer Yvonne Tabanao

Isabel Daza in a vintage terno worn by her late aunt Rio Díaz-Cojuangco

Jeannie Goulborn in a Silk Cocoon dress designed by her daughter Katrina Goulbourn-Feist who is wearing a vintage terno by Salvacion Lim Higgins.

Editor-in-chief of L’Officiel Manila’s Pam Quinones in a vintage terno worn by the former first lady Leonila Garcia, L’Officiel Manila’s publisher Vicky Florendo-Montenegro in a Nina Gatan design, and this editor in an old Santi Obcena dress

Jo Ann Bitagcol wearing a Joey Samson terno

Noel Manapat in a Bea Samson bespoke barong

Borgy Manotoc in his own design

Sandy Higgins wearing a tuxedo terno by Nina Gatan

Lucy Torres-Gomez in a terno done by the late Joe Salazar

Luis Espiritu wearing a Joey Samson barong

Joey Samson in his own creation

Fashion designer Len Cabili in a vintage terno

Eddie Garcia in a Paul Cabral barong

Ching Cruz in an Albert Andrada design

Mark Nicdao wearing a barongby Mark Heyes

Sarah Lahbati wearing SLIM’s Abdul Gaffar Abdullah Dianalan terno and Richard Gutierrez in a barong designed by SLIM’s Banjo Cordero

Paolo Avelino wearing a barong designed by Mary Camille Angeline Veloso from SLIM’s and Solenn Heusaff in an Ivan Ruiz, also a student from SLIM’s

Graham Caygill wearing a Randy Ortiz barong and Dingdong Dantes by Tria

SHOWBITZi s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

C5ISAH V. REDE D I T O R

SUNDAY : NOV EMBER 15, 2015

It has been 15 years since Carousel Produc-tions, Inc. launched Miss Earth, a beauty contest that would focus not only on beauty and femininity but, equally important, on an advocacy that its candidates could identi-fy with and be actively involved in.

Recognizing the slow but increasing deterioration of the environment, Miss Earth decided, long before it became a worldwide movement, to make saving the environment its advocacy. Since then it had quickly grown and developed into the biggest and prestigious International En-vironmental Event channeled through a beauty pageant.

“We would also like the world to rec-ognize women in this pageant not only as an inspiration of beauty in face and form, but more importantly, as confident, tal-

ented and intellectual individuals who are elected to serve as ‘Environmental Ambassadors’ in their respective coun-tries to enhance environmental aware-ness and empower women all over the world to be one in this cause,” expressed Lorraine E. Schuck, founder of Miss Earth and executive vice president of Carousel Productions Inc.

This year, Miss Earth celebrates its 15th an-niversary and will hold its coronation night on Dec. 5, 8 p.m. at the Marx Halle in Vien-na, Austria. Ninety candidates- Beauties for a Cause- from all over the world will converge in Vienna starting Nov. 18 to compete for the much-coveted Miss Earth crown.

“There is no better highlight to Miss Earth’s Crystal Year than holding it in Vienna - an eco-friendly city, which we shall also showcase during the show,” ex-claimed Ramon Monzon, president and CEO of Carousel Productions Inc.

Moreover, the pre-pageant, environ-

mental activities of the delegates all around Austria shall be part of their campaign on “Climate Change” and promoting the 5’R’s – Rethink, Reduce, ReUse, Recycle and Re-spect – as the key in reducing our carbon footprint. This campaign was introduced by Austria’s hosting team headed by Sina Schmid and Andreas Siedl of Puls4.

“Every year the commitment to uphold the environmental advocacy grows stron-ger as evidently seen in the involvement of the participating delegates and this gives me great pleasure in welcoming the new batch of delegates to Vienna, Austria,” says Jamie Herrell, reigning Miss Earth 2014.

In cooperation with Herwig Ursin of Hey-U! Media Group, the pageant goes live on Starworld, Puls4 and telecast in par-ticipating countries worldwide. The two-hour television special will also feature and highlight the famous eco-tourism spots in Austria, the country’s laudable efforts in sustainable living and climate change.

Miss Earth 2015 Crystal ClEar in ViEnna

The highly anticipat-ed Kapuso Fans Day with Alden Rich-ards in Iloilo turned

out to be a record-breaking success with approximately 50,000 Kapusong Ilonggo in attendance at the Paseo de Iloilo of Robinsons Place Il-oilo on Nov. 6.

Pambansang Bae Alden Richards was left in awe after seeing the number of people who came to the show. “Totoo po bang ganito karami? I did not expect this. I’m still so overwhelmed. To each and ev-ery one of you, thank you po!”

The undeniable success of Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye” has been an inspiration to many, and with the high hopes of seeing the other half of the AlDub love team in the flesh, the Ilonggo crowd occupied the venue as early as eight in the morning and waited for their own tamang panahonwith the Kapuso star.

Despite the show being pushed a bit later in the eve-ning, the unwavering energy of the audience kept the show at its peak. And as soon as Al-den took the stage, the audi-ence’s anticipation broke into a display of excitement and celebration for the man of the hour. Alden performed some of the songs from his latest album Wish I May.

GMA’s Head for Regional Strategy and Business Devel-opment Division Oliver Am-oroso was a witness to what is now regarded as the biggest Kapuso event in the city. “The number of people present during Alden Richards’ Ka-puso Fans Day in Iloilo was really unprecedented. But it was definitely a pleasant surprise. We sincerely thank them for their love and sup-port not only to Alden but to the whole GMA Network.”

IloIlo crowd Takes Pambansang bae alden rIchards by surPrIse

Off to Austria -- Angelia Gabrena Ong during her sendoff at Resortsworld Manila given to her by Carousel Productions.

The crowd near the Robinsons Place Iloilo

Alden Richards waves to his fans in Iloilo

Richards performing

to the delight of the crowd

Some 50,000 Ilonggos crowd the street near Robinsons Place Iloilo

SHOWBITZC6i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m


ACROSS 1 Lifeboat hoist 6 Tarzan’s transport 10 Pop up 15 Beauty’s companion 20 Protein-building acid 21 Interlaced 22 Finds a tenant 23 Dragon puppet 24 Cow’s feet 25 Emmy or Oscar 26 Twitter 27 Lariat 28 Fragrant shrub 29 Martial art 30 Good seance holder (2 wds.) 32 Sturdy envelope 34 Seize forcibly 36 Tribute in verse 37 Hobgoblin 40 USN rank 41 Blond shade 42 Mineral find 44 Yawn-provoking

48 Formal vote 49 Sticky fruit 50 “Who loves ya, —” 53 Newsstand 55 Guanabar a Bay port 56 Garage squirter 58 Pay-stub acronym 59 Flakes off 61 Local movie theaters 63 Like some prospects 64 Wahine’s welcome 65 Felt grateful 66 Take back 67 Voice mail unit 69 “Tres —, monsieur!” 70 Vitality 71 Be gloomy 74 Speaker pro — 75 Robert Urich TV role 78 Longest lasting 81 Honor society letter

82 Seafood choice 83 Nth deg. 84 Refs’ cousins 86 Was in front 87 Boss 89 Utter delight 93 Grant foe 94 “Fret” and “worry” (abbr.) 95 Hearth fuel 96 Bohemian 97 Vast 100 For some time 102 Wee parasite 103 Night watchman 104 Where pews are 108 Prepare shrimp 109 Bat’s navigation system 110 Joule fractions 111 Gerbil or chipmunk 112 “Ulalume” poet 113 Light incense to 115 Pretend to be 116 Outlaw 117 Non-creepy creeper 118 Margarita rim 120 Taiga denizen 121 Hot tub 123 Links goal 124 Deep black 125 “Norma —” 127 Fishing net 129 “Amadeus” subject 131 Moves to rap 136 The best dishes 138 Down the road 142 Half diameters 143 Perch 144 Alpha opposite 145 Enter traffic 146 Model’s need 147 Gambling game 148 Solitude enjoyer 149 Extreme edge 150 No rocket scientist

151 Welles or Bean 152 To be, to Brutus 153 Davis of “Evening Shade” DOWN 1 Author Roald — 2 Pierre’s “Mine!” 3 Baroque instr. 4 Disgrace 5 Puccini opera 6 Alphabet five 7 Trump ex 8 Brain, maybe 9 Provide capital 10 Foot parts 11 Discuss some more 12 Clumsy 13 Ladder rung 14 Glimpse from afar 15 Tired of it all 16 “Forgot” a letter 17 Jai — 18 In — (as found) 19 Dogsled pullers 21 Kind of hours 31 Family members 33 Herr’s refusal 35 Starfish arm 37 TGIF party request 38 Maurice’s eye 39 Freighter hazard 42 Apply gold leaf 43 Selene’s sister 45 In a suave manner 46 Mortgage, e.g. 47 Going around in circles 49 Like some furs 50 Library sect. 51 Joint problems 52 Moo companion 53 Nancy Drew author 54 Mournful tolls 57 Checked in 58 Afire, in a restaurant

59 Sharp ends 60 Wool sources 62 Police sch. 64 Between ports 66 Examine a case again 68 Walked purposefully 69 Fasten a rope 71 Dashboard info 72 Gloating cry 73 Wind toy 76 Tinker with 77 Kings and queens 79 Upper house mem.

80 NFL scores 82 Spiny cactus 85 Beowulf’s drink 88 Mattress part 90 Mutinied ship 91 Tijuana Ms. 92 Not mine 94 A whole lot 98 Hamster’s digs 99 Barge — — 100 Deadly snakes 101 Cowboy shout 102 Mindy’s boarder 103 Earth, in combos 105 Leaf’s rib

106 Begrudge 107 Charon’s river 109 Note before la 111 — avis 114 Lockbox document 115 Poor review 116 Rummage sale 119 Teaches an animal 121 Deals with (2 wds.) 122 Engine part 123 Wild silk 124 Not us 126 Go fly — —! 127 Kilt wearers

128 Quebec school 129 Demeanors 130 Stallone role 131 Carpet nail 132 Hit the ceiling 133 First orchard? 134 Guthrie of folk music 135 Koh-i- — diamond 137 Med. plans 139 Goddess of strife 140 Hindu god of fire 141 Hockey feint

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 SUNDAY,

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

ABS-CBN becomes the first free-to-air channel to broadcast in HD as it launched ABS-CBN

HD, a channel. The audience can now watch their favorite Kapam-ilya shows in high definition, which comes exclusively with SKY Cable HD Digibox for Sky Cable and Destiny subscribers.

“Kapamilya viewers will feel the emotions and tension that their favorite characters are experienc-ing in the stories we tell through

our shows, as every little detail is more pronounced in HD. We tar-get to progressively launch all our programs on ABS-CBN in HD by 2016,” said ABS-CBN Broadcast and Free TV head Cory Vidanes.

Kapamilya fans in Metro Ma-nila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan can finally watch their ABS-CBN pro-grams in high definition format (HD) on Channel 167, while solid Kapamilya fans in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Baguio enjoy a

better viewing experience of ABS-CBN TV shows on Channel 700.

“On its 25th anniversary, Sky is honored to exclusively bring to our subscribers’ homes ABS-CBN HD, providing a superior viewing experience of their most loved te-leserye and programs,” said Ray Montinola, chief operating offi-cer of SkyCable.

“This is part of the digitalization of ABS-CBN. This will allow ABS-CBN to serve viewers on any view-ing platform. We would like to bring

our content within reach of the Fil-ipinos, wherever in the world they may be, whether they are watching it on television or on mobile devices. This milestone further cements our commitment to excellence to bring not only quality content to our view-ers but also a richer and enhanced viewing experience that they truly deserve,” said ABS-CBN’s chief tech-nology officer Mark Lopez.

Kapamilya shows that are al-ready airing in HD are It’s Show-time!, Ningning, Doble Kara, All

of Me, Nasaan ka Nang Kailangan Kita, Pasion De Amor, On The Wings of Love, ASAP20, Maalaa-la Mo Kaya, Wansapanataym, Pangako Sa’Yo, Mukha, and the widely-successful FPJ’s Ang Prob-insyano. Soon to broadcast in HD are Tonight with Boy Abunda and Gandang Gabi Vice.”

The broadcast of the first free-to-air channel to air 24/7 on HD start-ed on Oct. 3 during the “Kapamilya Thank You!” tour of It’s Showtime!and ASAP20 in Binan, Laguna.

ABS-CBN LAUNChES hD ChANNEL ON CABLE

Nature’s Weirdest Event explores the weirdly remarkable things wildlife has to offer, from bizarre family behaviors of sibling crea-tures eating one another to a frog developing its young in its mouth to 15 other species and strange takeovers. Definitely, fact can be a lot stranger than fiction. The new series Nature’s Weirdest Event airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

And, Tanked returns to dunk viewers into the rowdy, fami-ly-owned business of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM), one of the most successful build-ers of aquariums. Animal Planet airs the new season of Tanked starting 9 p.m. Fridays.

Animal Planet’s new series Dr. Dee features Dee Thornell, a hero to the animals who caters to a slew of creatures, from sled

dogs to alpacas to reindeers.Watch Dr. Dee as she pilots

planes, operates four-wheelers and sometimes drives a horse and buggy to reach her patients.

Dr. Dee and her staff handle extreme cases and even more extreme clients unique to the Alaskan frontier. Whether it is a family with a pet bear or a gold miner with a pet rat, no client is off limits at Dr. Dee’s Animal House. The saving airs 10 p.m. Mondays until Nov. 23.

ShowCaSe of ShoCking SightS and weird CreatureS

Tanked

Nature’s Wierdest

SHOWBITZ C7i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m

The Godfather of Disco and pioneer of Electronic Dance Music, Gior-gio Moroder is set to get the Manila crowd dancing to the classic EDM hits on Nov.19 at Valkyrie Nightclub at The Palace, Uptown, Bonifacio Global City. It is presented by MMI Live and Decadance.

Moroder brings us into a 70s and 80s time machine with a modern twist. If you decide to be among the crowd, come in your best retro ensemble and get a chance to win tickets to Madonna’s RebelHeart Tour in Manila in February. Or if you chose to steal the most iconic look of the Queen of Pop channeling that “Material Girl” outfit, then be among the first 20 patrons to enter Valkyrie for free!

The legendary producer and songwriter helped invent disco in the 1970s with Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”, “Love To Love You, Baby” and “Bad Girls” before conjuring the ’80s synth sound of film scores including Scarface, “Meet Me Half Way,” Top Gun”and “Reach Out” featuring the vocals of Paul Engermann. The song was written as a message of encouragement to the athletes of the 1984 Summer Olym-pics. “Together In Electric Dreams” sung by the British singer Philip Oakey went on to be more successful than the film of the same title. “What A Feeling”, sung by Irene Cara from the movie Flashdance, was Moroder’s massive hit that went to no.1 1 on charts worldwide.

Moroder is officially the most veteran DJ in the world and a collabo-rator of the new Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories with three Os-cars, three Golden Globes and four Grammys in addition to recently remixing Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s “I Can’t Give You Anything

but Love” and Coldplay’s “Midnight.”Recently, Moroder released his first solo effort in over 30 years with

Sony/RCA with contributors like Sia, Charli XCX, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and more. His first single, the title track from the al-bum, is bluntly titled “74 Is the New 24”.

Experience what one of the world’s most illustrious musical talents has to offer on Nov. 19, as he will be making this event, The Biggest Disco Party in Manila featuring performances by DJ Boyet Almazan.

Tickets are now available at Valkyrie Nightclub or at SM Tickets (sm-tickets.com or 470-2222). Doors open at 9:00 pm and tickets will also be available at the venue. For VIP tables and other inquiries, please call Valkyrie Nightclub at (+63)917 6808888.


Together with the greatest inventor of all time, kids will find out how fun science can be. Unknown to the world, Thomas Edison had a secret lab where he invented a vir-tual version of himself and a nearlycompleted robot to guide and inspire future gen-erations of young scientists.

The secret lab, Edison’s vir-tual ego, and his prototype ro-bot remained hidden until a 12-year-old prodigy cracked the secret-coded message that Edison left behind. The young genius and her science club move into the lab and the fun begins, including kids everywhere through a virtual link into their wacky world of discovery.

Thomas Edison’s Secret Labairs 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Prepare to enter a world of micro proportions with mac-ro adventures when Grand-pa’s invention accidentally shrinks both Zak and Grand-pa down to the size of insects. With the aid of one bionic arm and three ‘enhanced’ insect friends Syd, Chowser and Willow, they are the In-sectibles, finding themselves facing challenges beyond their wildest dreams. They bravely trek through grass blade forests and fight the evil mecha-mosquito, Adilla, with her daughter, Lidia, her faithful servant, Gnat, and a whole platoon of body-build-ing cockroaches.

Can Zak and Grandpa find a way to un-shrink themselves before Adilla gets to them? Find out on Discovery Kids’ newest show, The Insectibles, premiering on Nov. 23 and airing 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

New adveNtures oN disCovery Kids

Reigning Miss Gay Manila Trixie Maristela best-ed 26 transvestites from around the world to win

the Miss International Queen 2015 title in the finals held at Tiffany Show Theater in Pattaya, Thailand, Nov. 6. Maristela, a 29-year-old Euro-pean Languages graduate of the University of the Philippines and a Viva Artist, made the Filipino gay and trans community proud with her conquest of the biggest transgender beauty pageant in the world after winning the title in GMA-7’s Eat Bulaga’s “Super Sireyna Philippines 2015” contest. Maristela, looking like a real woman in elegant red gown, broke down in tears after her name was announced winner of the 11th Miss International Queen pageant. Miss Brazil Valesca Dominik Ferraz and Miss Thailand So-pida Siriwattananukoon were

first and second runners up, re-spectively. Two other Filipinas, Michelle Binas and Francine Garcia, Super Sireyna Queen of Queens 2013, were also in the Top 10 finalists. Maristela, who plays the violin, is the second Filipina trans to win the title after Kevin Balot in 2012. “I am grateful of the opportu-nity to compete in the Miss Inter-national Queen pageant because I believe in its vision to uplift the trans community cause to be ac-cepted without discrimination throughout the world. I want to share this victory (sic) to the Phil-ippine trans community,” said the Viva Artists contract star who was crowned by outgoing Miss Inter-national Queen Isabella Santiago of Venezuela. Winners of the Miss International Queen transvestite pageant take home a cash prize of not less than $10,000 plus the op-tion to undergo plastic surgery.

GiorGio Moroder iN MaNila

Hillarie Danielle Parungao is the country’s representative to the Miss World pageant in Sanya, China on Dec. 19.

A native of Nueva Vizcaya, Hillarie bested 25 candidates and is the first pure Filipina who has ever won the title. She succeeded last year’s winner.

Aside from winning the crown, Hillarie also bagged a number of special awards, in-cluding best in swimsuit, best in long gown, best in fashion runway, best in sports chal-lenge and Ms. Zen Institute among others.

Hillarie now joins the long-list of successful beauty queens and other celebrity endorsers who have achieved the results desired in beauty and wellness at The Zen Institute. According to Dr. Mary Jane “MJ” Torres, medical director at The Zen Institute, “We continue to introduce breakthrough products and services, following a protocol-based approach, within the concept

of holistic wellness. Here at The Zen Institute, licensed doctors and wellness consultants per-form the medical procedures. Treatments are mostly non-surgical and non-invasive which how Zen is known for- in the industry and the market.”

Miss World Philippines is the national franchise of the Miss World pageant in the Philippines and selects the country’s repre-sentative to the said pageant.

The pageant is inspired by the Miss World Ltd.’s slogan “Beauty with a Purpose” and henceforth adopted the theme “Beauty in Giving.” The winner and her court work with charities that benefit children in need and also join movements of supporting women and children’s rights and many more advocacies.

The Zen Institute is located at 69 Scout Ral-los St., Tomas Morato, Quezon City (02-441-1712/02-412-2528); Ground Floor, Bonifacio Technology Center, 31st St., Corner 2nd Av-

enue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (02-856-2027); and at the St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center, Maharlika Highway, Bgy. 2, Sto.Tomas, Batangas (+43-778-4811). For more informa-tion about The Zen Institute visit www.thezen-institute.com and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ZenMedicalSpa

Miss world PhiliPPiNes 2015 the ZeN iNstitute’s aMbassador

TRixie MaRisTela is Miss inTeRnaTional Queen 2015

From C8

Trixie Maristela of the Philippines won Miss International Queen 2015 in Pattaya, Thailand. She is joined by 1st Runner up - Valesca Dominik Ferraz of Brazil and 2nd runner up- Sopida Siriwattananukoon of Thailand.

Hillarie Danielle Parungao, Miss World Philippines 2015, is also The Zen Institute's brand ambassador

Poster of Giorgio Moroder gig in Manila

The Insectibles

Thomas Edison's Secret Lab

C8 ISAH V. REDE D I T O R

SHOWBITZ


TV5 brings to Pinoy viewers the country’s first world-class Obsta-cle Course Racing (OCR) series that those hungering for real live action will surely enjoy. A part-nership between TV5 network and Tough X Rough Asia made possible the launching of Tough X Rough (TxR), the first interna-tional OCR series in the country and the only OCR World Cham-pionship Qualifier in Asia.

Tough X Rough is patterned after military-type commando training and includes eight race events – threee short course and four long course, four boot camps and a National Championship, with the over-all winner for male and female individual, as well as top male and female teams, earn-ing a free trip to the coveted OCR World Championships at the Blue Mountain Resort, the largest mountain resort in Ontario, Can-ada on Oct. 15 and 16.

Being the Philippines’ top sports channel and home of the best sporting events, TV5 is pio-neering this newest competitive sport that is taking the world of sports by storm. With its local breakthrough here, Obstacle Race Series (OCR) promises Pi-noy sports fans and participants an entirely new level of sports action that will see individuals pushed to their limits and the value of teamwork and sports-manship in achieving one’s goals no matter how difficult the obstacles may be.

It is more than just a race… it’s about experience, hard work, perseverance, teamwork and the sense of community. Tough and Rough (TxR) will feature a select group of contestants go-ing through grueling tests of individual courage and endur-ance. The international rules for OCR require competitors to race across various physical challeng-

es along the route such as climb-ing over walls, lifting heavy ob-jects, traversing bodies of water, crawling under barbed wire, and jumping through blazing hoops, etc., that are similar to those used in military training. Races vary both in distance and chal-lenge levels; combining the skills for trail running, road running, and cross country running.

David Voth, the man behind Tough and Rough Asia has 30 years of proven track record in the international sports in-dustry. Among several sports leagues and events to his credit are: Challenge Family Triath-lons in the Philippines, F1 Night Race, 1st Youth Olympic Games, iRB Rugby, Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, Net Ball World Championships, WTA, NBA and FINA World Champi-onships in Singapore, and Iron-man Triathlon, among others.

Tough X Rough is set to start its exciting and action packed race in January 2016 and will be ex-clusive to your Kapatid network, with TV5’s very own hunk actor, Derek Ramsay as host.

“I am very excited about Tough X Rough. I’m sure it’s going to be an adventure that sports fans and enthusiasts like me would enjoy,” said Ramsay during the press presentation of the show at the NBA Café Manila at SM Auria.

A sportsman, Ramsay has competed for the Philippines’ National Ultimate Frisbee team and is currently the head am-bassador of the Philippine Na-tional Beach Football team.

HHHHH

TV5 AwArded BesT News ProgrAmThis year’s 37th Catholic Mass Me-dia Awards (CMMA), one of the most prestigious award giving bod-ies in the country, gave its highest honors for broadcast journalism to News5, TV5’s news and informa-tion arm, citing its Aksyon Primeas Best News Program for 2015, hosted by multiple award-winning journalist, Luchi Cruz-Valdez and veteran reporter Erwin Tulfo. It airs at 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.

CMMA was established by the Archdiocese of Manila, through His Eminence Archbishop Jaime L. Car-dinal Sin, in 1978, in observance of the International Social Communi-cation Day and its first awards given out in 1978 and every year thereafter.

In 1980, Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul II) graced the awarding ceremonies. Handing out personally the trophies to the win-ners, he cited the significant place of mass media in today’s society, and its pervasive influence in the lives of the people.

Aside from the top prize in broadcast journalism, TV5 was also cited for its program Reaksyonas Best Talk Show and Kaya (epi-sode on SAF 44) as Best Special Feature. Aksyon Prime news pro-gram airs weeknight. It carries the theme “Higit sa Balita Aksyon”,” a motto for its mission to provide viewers with the news and infor-mation that they need wherever they may be in the country.

Kaya, on the other hand, is a Sat-urday evening program that offers in-depth look on stories that affect the lives of Filipinos. It features the gutsy and intrepid reportorial work of veteran journalists Luchi Cruz-Valdes together with DJ Sta. Ana, Patrick Paez, Roby Alampayand Twink Macaraig.

Reaksyon consists of news com-mentaries aired daily in 30-min-ute episodes and hosted by News5 head Cruz-Valdes whose 30-year experience in the country’s broad-cast journalism field has been rec-ognized both here and abroad.

ISAH V. RED

derek rAmsAy hosts world-Class aCtion on tV5

➜ Continued on C7

Luchie Cruz-Vadez is the most awarded news personality at the CMMAwards

A sportsman, Derek Ramsay hosts ToughXRough a military-in-spired racing series on TV5

David Voth brings the ToughXRough franchise to the Philippines

i s a h r e d @ g m a i l . c o m