Manila Standard Today - May 23, 2012 Issue

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TODAY
Standard
Manila
Vol. XXVI No. 82 16 Pages, 3 Sections
P18.00 WEDNESDAY, May 23, 2012
www.manilastandardtoday.com [email protected]
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Signs waiver but dares accusers to do same
A matter of tradition. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (in barong) leads the blessing of a multi-purpose
attack craft as part of celebrations marking the 114 th anniversary of the Navy.
Next page
By Florante S. Solmerin
THE government is committed to
speeding up the purchase of new
equipment for the military in the
138 contracts it will sign to mod-
ernize it and to boost the coun-
trys territorial defense, Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said
Tuesday.
The deadline that weve set for
ourselves for the approval of all
these contracts is on July 31, 2012,
Gazmin said in a speech to toast the
Navys 114th anniversary.
These projects would surely
afford the Philippine Navy with
brand new and ready-for-sea ves-
sels and air assets for its surface,
sub-surface and air operations,
along with the operational re-
quirements of the Philippine Air
Force and the Philippine Army.
Gazmin said 58 of the projects
had already been approved, and
that the Aquino administration
had earmarked P70 billion for it.
Mr. Aquino has talked about
buying naval assets from other
countries after dropping the idea
of buying used F-16 jet ghters
from the United States.
Gazmin on Tuesday cited the
transfer of the P450-million sec-
ond Hamilton-class high endur-
ance cutter USS Dallas to the Phil-
ippines from the United States,
although the vessel had been gov-
ernment stripped of its weapons.
The rst Hamilton delivered to
the Philippines, the BRP Grego-
rio del Pilar, was acquired from
the US Coast Guard last year, and
CHIEF Justice Renato Coronas
testimony at his impeachment trial
Tuesday drew mixed reactions, with
the Palace saying he showed a lack
of understanding of public account-
ability and the administrations crit-
ics saying he acquitted himself well.
Having been given his day in
court, he has demonstrated how
lacking he is in understanding the
institutions that have been called to
hold him to account to the people,
deputy presidential spokeswoman
Abigail Valte said in a statement.
She said it in response to Coro-
nas charges that the administration
had mobilized the entire government
machinery to pin him down.
The Chief Justice does not un-
derstand that the quest for account-
ability is not a personal attack against
him, but rather the proper exercise
of the obligation to punish offenses
against the people, Valte said
She said what united all the
branches of government was justice
for all.
Accountability escapes no one,
Valte said.
This is what is meant by the rule
of law and a regime of truth and jus-
tice. From the humblest citizen to
the highest holder of a position, to
betray public trust demands the full-
est measure of accountability.
Senator Franklin Drilon rejected
Coronas challenge to sign the same
waiver that the prosecution wanted the
chief justice to sign to make public the
extent of his bank deposits.
MANILA and Beijing on
Tuesday made progress in
resolving a quarantine issue
that has stopped the exporta-
tion of Philippine Cavendish
bananas into the mainland af-
ter Beijing allowed 30 to 40
containers to enter China, an
ofcial said.
We received word today
[Tuesday] that 30 to 40 con-
tainers have been allowed to
pass in China, so thats a little
bit of good news for us, presi-
dential spokeswoman Abigail
Valte said.
She said Manila and
Beijing agreed on
two quarantine mea-
sures for Philippine
THE results of a survey by the
private Social Weather Sta-
tions claiming the unemploy-
ment rate kicked up in the last
three months contradicted the
results of government survey
claiming otherwise, Labor
Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz
said Tuesday.
She said the labor market
performed better as the Nation-
al Statistics Ofce said its sur-
vey in January showed that the
employment rate grew by 3.0
percent. The agency said the
total number of employed peo-
ple increased to 37.39 million
from 36.29 million in 2011.
But the SWS said the sur-
vey it took on March 10 to 13
showed that the number of un-
employed Filipinos had risen
to 13.8 million from 9.7 mil-
lion in December last year.
While it is true that unem-
ployment is high among the 15
to 24 age bracket, the fact is that
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona took the wit-
ness stand on Tuesday to hit back at his enemies
and said the root of the impeachment complaint
against him was the hacienderong pangulo.
He said President Benigno Aquino III hated
him so much he was willing to break the laws of
the land and the Constitution to kick him out of
the Supreme Court.
He made a mockery of the Constitution to
trample upon my rights, the foreign deposits and
due process, Corona said.
His much-awaited testimony started on a somber
mood and the tension that built up was palpable as
he revealed family secrets. A few feet behind him
were his wife Cristina and daughter Carla.
A few people in the gallery wept as Corona be-
came emotional because of what he described as
state-sanctioned harassment and persecution. He
denied all the charges against him and explained
his income and how he and his family lived a
simple life.
You and me are all on trial here.
Let us stop the posturing, Corona
told the court on Day 40 of the im-
peachment trial.
This is an invitation for trans-
parency and public accountability. I
am no thief, I am no criminal, I have
done no wrong. I am also no fool,
Corona said he would release his
waiver to the authorities once the 188
congressmen and Drilon signed simi-
lar documents.
For close to three hours, and break-
ing into tears at some points, Corona
took the witness stand and addressed
the nation to show he had nothing to
hide, and to hit back at President Be-
nigno Aquino III and his critics for
what he described
as a campaign of ha-
tred against him.
In a long opening
statement that formed part
of his testimony, Corona declared that
his conscience was clear and that he
had not stolen a single centavo from
By Joel E. Zurbano
and Vito Barcelo
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona
threw his impeachment trial
at the Senate into chaos Tues-
day by leaving the session hall
without permission after sav-
aging his accusers.
And now, may I be ex-
cused? he said after wrap-
ping up his opening statement.
He then stood up and briskly
walked out.
Later reports said he was
brought to The Medical City
at 8 p.m.
The senator-judges ap-
peared taken by surprise by
the turn of events, but Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile,
the presiding judge, quickly
banged the gavel and ordered
the guards to close all doors to
prevent Corona from leaving
the premises.
Isara nyo yung pinto
[Close the doors], Enrile said.
Nobody can get out of the
Senate. I order all the doors
closed. I dont want any de-
ance of the powers of this im-
peachment court.
Walkout, walkout. The
Chief justice walked out,
someone in the gallery was
heard saying as Corona took
a side door.
Reporters, photogra-
phers, Coronas wife and
children, his lawyers and
aides scrambled after
him as an enraged
Enrile scolded chief
Corona allows
opening of his
bank deposits
WALKOUT MARS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
CJs testimony draws mixed reactions
Hacienderong
Pangulo behind
my persecution
China eases
PH bananas
entry, allows
40 containers
Govt survey
nixes higher
unemployed
rate by SWS
Defense chief bares 138 projects to modernize military
Jessica Philip photos
Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page
Holding up against pressure. Supreme Court Chief Jus-
tice Renato Corona tries to hold his emotions in check during
a three-hour testimony at the impeachment court.
Finalists. Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez wear
big smiles that hide their rivalry in the nal episode
of the American Idol today.
Hes back. After a lull in the
impeachment trial, Chief Justice Re-
nato Corona returns to the session
hall on a wheelchair. LINO SANTOS
By Christine F. Herrera, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona on Tuesday signed a waiver
authorizing the opening of all his peso and dollar accounts and
dared the 188 lawmakers who led the impeachment com-
plaint against him and Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon to sign a
similar document to subject their bank accounts to scrutiny in
the interest of transparency and public accountability.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
News
ManilaStandardToday [email protected] MAY 23, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A2
Gucci-crazed Hong Kong raises rents
Soundwill Holdings was forced to sell
many of its properties as it battled to
survive Hong Kongs real estate crash
in the late 1990s. Even after its stock
plunged 99 percent and its debt obliga-
tions loomed, it held on to a 40-story
tower on a tucked-away street that to-
day is the second-most expensive retail
strip in the world.
Russell Street in the Cause-
way Bay district trails only New
Yorks Fifth Avenue in terms
of average retail rents, fueled
by mainland Chinese shoppers
seeking tax-free Gucci handbags
and Rolex watches. Shares of
Soundwill are up more than six-
fold since the beginning of 2009,
the most among the 50 biggest
developers listed in Hong Kong.
Weve always believed in the
potential of Russell Street, Victor
Chan, a director of the company his
parents founded three decades ago,
said in an interview at its headquar-
ters in Soundwill Plaza, the build-
ing with almost 20,000 square foot
(1,860 square meters) of shopping
space that the company refused to
give up. Were in the right place at
the right time. This place has helped
us enormously.
Hong Kong landlords such as
Soundwill and Wharf Holdings Ltd.
are benetting as shoppers from oth-
er parts of China drive up retail sales,
intensifying competition for stores.
Average retail rents in the city may
rise as much as 15 percent in 2012,
according to broker Savills Plc.
Average rents on Russell Street are
$2,472 a square foot compared with
$2,500 a square foot on New Yorks
Fifth Avenue, according to Cushman
& Wakeeld Inc.
Soundwill advanced 2.6 per-
cent to HK$11.96 at the close of
trading in Hong Kong. Wharf,
which runs the 1 million-square-
foot Times Square shopping
mall opposite Soundwill Plaza,
climbed 2.5 percent to HK$41.40,
while Emperor International
Holdings (163) Ltd., another Rus-
sell Street landlord, rose 3.9 per-
cent to HK$1.34. Hysan Develop-
ment Co., the biggest landlord in
Causeway Bay, fell 0.5 percent af-
ter rising as much as 1.3 percent.
Wharf has gained 90 percent
since early 2009. Hysan has risen
about 150 percent in the period,
while Emperor has jumped 116
percent. The Hang Seng Property
Index, which tracks the perfor-
mance of the citys seven-biggest
developers and doesnt include
the landlords, has risen 28 per-
cent in that time. The index ad-
vanced 1.6 percent today, com-
pared with a 0.6 percent gain in
the benchmark Hang Seng Index.
Hong Kong is a rst-class
shopping mecca, said Sigrid Zi-
alcita, Singapore-based head of re-
search for the Asia-Pacic region
at broker Cushman. I wont be
surprised if by the end of this year
we see Causeway Bay exceeding
the Fifth Avenue as a retail hub.
Across Hong Kong, average
retail rents have climbed for
seven of the past eight years as
fashion and luxury brands bet
Chinese shoppers will keep up
their consumption in the city,
according to London-based
Savills. Hong Kong and neigh-
bor Macau are the only places
in the country with no con-
sumption taxes. Bloomberg
Walkout...
defense lawyer Seran Cue-
vas over what he called an
insult on the institution.
Corona was later seen in
a wheelchair being escorted
to the Senate clinic from the
senators lounge. His son-in-
law Constantion Castillo III, a
doctor, said Coronas sugar lev-
el had dropped precipitously.
Corona is a diabetic.
Malacaang said Corona
squandered the opportunity
to disprove the allegations
against him as it accused him
of resorting to such an obvi-
ous atttempt to stage-manage
judicial proceedings.
Presidential spokesman
Edwin Lacierda insisted that
Corona had walked out on the
impeachment court.
The prosecutors from the
House of Representatives
slammed Corona for disrespect-
ing the impeachment court.
What the chief justice did
was a blatant insult and disre-
spect to the impeachment court,
prosecution spokesman and Au-
rora Rep. Sonny Angara said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy
Casio said Coronas walkout
was premeditated.
Defense lawyer Jose Reyes
disagreed.
The chief justice does not
really feel well, he said.
Enrile raved about the
need to uphold the dignity of
the proceedings.
For as long as I am presiding
ofcer I will not allow anyone to
show any form of disrespect to
our institution, he said.
He warned Cuevas that if
Corona failed to return, he
would order his testimony
stricken out and the case sub-
mitted for resolution.
It took about two hours for
lawyers to sort out the confu-
sion. Corona later returned to
the session hall without his
coat and his tie loosened. He
looked tired.
Cuevas told the court that
Corona was in pain because his
blood sugar had plummeted
and he had to take medication.
Roy told reporters that Co-
rona had actually asked to be
excused, but his voice was
so weak that very few people
heard what he said.
Cuevas, pleading for under-
standing, asked that Corona be
allowed to return the following
day for cross-examination.
Outside the session hall,
about 2,000 Corona support-
ers, including Supreme Court
employees wearing red T-shirts
and farmers from Hacienda
Luisita, waved placards calling
for Coronas acquittal. But riot
police prevented them from
going near the Senate building.
With Joyce Pangco Paares
and Maricel Cruz
CJs...
I will not fall into his trap, Drilon
said. I will not go down to his level. He
is pathetic.
But opposition lawmakers said Corona
did well in his three-hour opening state-
ment Tuesday.
Minority Leader and Quezon Rep.
Danilo Suarez said Corona managed to
unmask the grand deception foisted on
the impeachment court and the Filipino
people by President Aquino and his allies
in the House of Representatives.
He said public opinion would favor
Corona following his testimony.
Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua said Co-
ronas testimony was compelling and
his offer to sign a waiver on his right to
the confidentiality of his bank accounts
showed he was not lying about his finan-
cial condition.
The chief justice was a bit emotional,
and probably because his wife and his
family were dragged into the controver-
sy, Fua said, noting that nobody wanted
to be called a thief.
He said Corona was able to dispute
downright lies, and the fabricated evi-
dence presented by the prosecution.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Citi-
zens Battle against Corruption Rep. Sher-
win Tugna said the chief justices denials
were favorable to the prosecution.
The business community expressed
hope for a quick end to a fair trial.
The business sector always has faith
and confidence in our country. We have
strong confidence that our honorable
senator-judges will come out with a fair
and just trial, said Francis Chua of the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
The European Chamber of Commerce
of the Philippines said the impeachment
trial should be finished as soon as pos-
sible so that the government could focus
on a more important task, which was de-
veloping the countrys economy.
Let us close the book on the im-
peachment trial at the soonest possible
time. Focus on growing and developing
the Philippine economy, group presi-
dent Hubert dAboville said.
Joyce Pangco Paares, Maricel V.
Cruz, Julito G. Rada
Defense...
that had also been stripped
of its weapons. The second
Hamilton will be renamed
BRP Ramon Alcaraz, and its
expected to arrive in Novem-
ber for commissioning the
following month.
Ive been very well aware
of our Navys continuous
surface patrol operations, es-
pecially over the long stretch
of the West Philippine Sea,
Gazmin said.
And it did not surprise me
to learn that last month, our
man of war, the BRP Grego-
rio del Pilar, was the rst to
arrive at Panatag Shoal and
reported the developments on
the activities of the intruders
therein.
Still, two of Chinas ships
stopped the BRP del Pilar
from arresting the Chinese
shermen in eight shing
boats full of giant clams, cor-
als and different kinds of ma-
rine species.
Three days later, the BRP
del Pilar withdrew to Poro
Point in La Union because,
according to military sources,
it would have been embar-
rassing if China had deployed
its own gunboat to the shoal
to confront a weaponless pa-
trol boat of the Philippine
Navy.
China claims the whole of
the Spratly Island as its own.
The Philippines, Taiwan,
Vietnam, Malaysia and Bru-
nei also claim all or parts of
the Spratlys.
China...
bananas. Firstly, the Philippines
Agriculture Department will
double check all banana exports
before those leave the country.
Secondly, Philippine bananas
will be jointly inspected by Chi-
nese and Filipino experts once
those reach China.
Valte said the government was
studying the grant of some as-
sistance to banana growers and
exporters, but did not elaborate.
Earlier, the Pilipino Banana
Growers and Exporters Asso-
ciation said it might not meet its
growth target this year due to the
restrictions imposed by China.
The groups members said
they had lost at least P1.44
billion since China imposed
tighter restrictions on Philip-
pine bananas more than two
months ago after it claimed
having found pests in those.
President Benigno Aquino
III has already ordered the Ag-
riculture Department to look
for other export markets for
Philippine bananas.
We have to look for other ex-
port markets... Mr. Aquino said.
It is important to diversify to
ensure our hands are not tied to
the decision of just one country.
China is the biggest export
market for Philippine bananas af-
ter Japan. Joyce Pangco Paares
Govt...
youth unemployment [went
down] from 17.2 percent last
year to 16.6 percent or 1.43
million.
The employment rate of
men remained unchanged at
63.5 percent or 1.855 million,
while the rate for women de-
clined to 6.8 percent or 1.067
million from 7.2 percent or
1.089 million in 2011, Baldoz
said.
We again emphasize that
the March 10 to 13 SWS sur-
vey on employment and its
results are not comparable
with the quarterly [Labor
Force Survey of the Nation-
al Statistics Office], which
is the official reference of
the government and by the
World Bank, [Asian Devel-
opment Bank, International
Monetary Fund, Internation-
al Labor Organization] and
other Philippine develop-
ment partners.
Baldoz made her statement
even as House Deputy Minor-
ity Leader and Zambales Rep.
Milagros Magsaysay said
the SWS survey showed that
about three out of every 10
Filipinos were jobless in the
first quarter this year.
She said the results of that
survey showed the administra-
tions lack of leadership.
The gures do not lie,
Magsaysay said.
How can the people sur-
vive with the President and an
administration that is so in-
ept, so unimaginative and so
lazy and has nothing in mind
but political vendetta.
Maguindanao Rep. Simeon
Datumanong said the SWS
survey made necessary the
review of the governments
program.
There should be more focus
on the socio-economic program
and solution to the other urgent
problems, he said.
Vito Barcelo
and Maricel V. Cruz
Hacienderong..
Corona warned the sena-
tor-judges that if Mr. Aquino
could do a dastardly to the
highest justice ofcial of the
government, he can easily
do it to ordinary citizens and
even the senators and other
ofcials of the land.
In my own view, there
are three reasons why I was
charged with an impeachment
complaint. The hacienderong
pangulo hates me so much for
losing Hacienda Luisita, he
said.
What right did the President
have to be mad about the dis-
tribution of Hacienda Luisita
to the farmers? This land was
lent to them. They grabbed it
from the ancestors of the farm-
ers who are currently tilling the
land. For almost 60 years, they
have been beneting and earn-
ing from the land.
A prosecution lawyer tried
to stop Corona from criticiz-
ing Mr. Aquino some more,
but Enrile denied him and
ordered Corona to continue.
Im talking to the Filipino
people, Corona said. He said
another reason for his im-
peachment was Mr. Aquinos
plan to control the judiciary
and the legislative.
The third reason, he said,
was the maneuver of leftists
associated with Mr. Aquino
to take over the government,
adding that Ronald Llamas
and his allies are holding the
Presidents neck.
He said the fake pieces of
evidence against him were g-
ments of the imagination and the
result of grave machinations.
They went to this court
with no evidence, with no
accusations of corruption
against me. They broke all
laws ... to pin me down, Co-
rona said.
Corona...
public funds. He said his
assets were the result of
decades of honest and
hard work.
Private prosecution law-
yer Mario Bautista tried
several times to stop Coro-
na from hurling accusations
at his critics, particularly at
President Aquino and Om-
budsman Conchita Carpio-
Morales, who accuse him
of having 82 dollar ac-
counts with $10 million to
$12 million in deposits.
Using a slide show in the
same way that Morales did
last week, Corona said he
did not have 82 dollar ac-
counts but only four. He
also did not have 31 peso
accounts but only three.
The analysis of the Anti-
Money Laundering Coun-
cil report shows many ac-
counts were already closed
and the funds transferred to
settlement accounts, Co-
rona told the court.
Each time a time deposit
would mature and be rolled
over, a new account would
be created or consolidated
to make a new one to earn
higher interest.
I do not have 82 dollar
accounts as charged by the
Ombudsman. The alleged
AMLC report itself, con-
trary to the Ombudsmans
misleading representations,
will show that there were
only four dollar accounts
by December 2011. Four,
and not 82.
Corona said Morales in-
vented the baseless accusa-
tions in the same way that
the prosecution panel had
accused him of owning 45
pieces of property, when he
only had five.
He detailed the long-
standing dispute in his
wifes family over the land
owned by the family-owned
Basa-Guidote Enterprises
Inc. He said the case was
still in court after several
decadesa situation that
would not have existed if
he had used his influence
as chief justice, as his ac-
cusers have said he did.
Signing his waiver at
the witness stand, Coro-
na authorized the Bureau
of Internal Revenue, the
Anti-Money Laundering
Council, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and
the Land Registration Au-
thority to disclose to the
public all information that
might show his assets, lia-
bilities, net worth, business
interests and financial con-
nections, including those of
his wife.
But his emotional open-
ing statement came to an
abrupt end when he ex-
cused himself and left the
plenary hall without being
discharged by the court.
After a 30-minute break,
Corona was brought back
to the court in a wheelchair.
His lawyer said the chief
justice had suffered a dia-
betic attack. S e n a t e
President Juan Ponce En-
rile, who appeared irritat-
ed, told the defense lawyers
they would have to bring
their client back today to
face cross examination, or
his entire testimony would
be struck from the record.
Corona listened to the ex-
change without comment.
In his opening statement,
Corona said he did not de-
clare his foreign currency
deposits in his statement
of assets, liabilities and
net worth because he was
strictly following the law,
which grants absolute con-
fidentiality to foreign cur-
rency accounts.
The situation is not my
doing, he said.
It has been in place for
a very long time. It is a
common view that RA 6714
does not amend the secrecy
of foreign currency depos-
its. In fact there is no ju-
risprudence or ruling on
the matter. On the contrary,
[Supreme Court] decisions
confirm that the secrecy af-
forded by RA 6426 is abso-
lute. Certainly, I should not
and cannot be penalized for
abiding and relying on the
letter of the law.
Corona told the court that
he and his wife had kept
their savings in dollar ac-
counts for years because
the US currency was stable.
He did not say how much
he had in his accounts, but
said it was well below the
$10 million to $12 million
that Morales claimed he
had.
He said his multi-million-
peso deposits were also not
declared because the money
was held in trust and came
from the sale of a BGEI lot
in Manila for P34 million.
He insisted that nothing in
what he had done or omit-
ted to do amounted to an
impeachable offense.
The inaccuracies in my
SALN do not constitute an
impeachable offense. Not
every omission, not every
inaccuracy is an impeach-
able offense, he said.
In this case, the pros-
ecution itself in fact ad-
mitted in open court, right
here, that an omission or
inaccurate declaration in
the SALN, while it may
constitute perjury, is not a
high crime,
My accusers talked
about my moral fitness to
remain as chief justice.
What moral fitness, I ask?
This has never been alleged
in the complaint.
Corona said the people
accusing him of being un-
fit were the same ones who
broke every law to de-
stroy him and his family.
At the end of his opening
statement, Corona signed
his conditional waiver and
read it to the court:
I, Renato C. Corona,
hereby waive my right of
confidentiality and se-
crecy of bank deposits un-
der R.A. 1405 as amended
and authorize all banking
institutions to disclose to
the public any and all bank
documents pertaining to all
peso and foreign currency
accounts under my name.
I hereby authorize the
Bureau of Internal Revenue,
the Anti-Money Launder-
ing Council, the Securities
and Exchange Commission
and the Land Registration
Authority to disclose to the
public any and all informa-
tion that may show my as-
sets, liabilities net worth,
business interests and fi-
nancial connections, to in-
clude those of my spouse.
I am likewise authoriz-
ing the clerk of court of the
Supreme Court, with per-
mission from the [Supreme
Court] en banc, to imme-
diately release to the pub-
lic my SALN for the years
2002 to 2011. Wherefore,
with God and the Filipino
people as my witness, I af-
fix my signature this 22nd
day of May 2012 at Pasay
City, Philippines. Signed,
Renato C. Corona, chief
justice, Supreme Court,
Philippines.
Coronas challenge found
no takers, however.
Lead prosecutor Niel
Tupas Jr. refused to sign
a waiver, saying the chal-
lenge was a diversionary
tactic, while another pros-
ecution panel member said
it was a sign of Coronas
desperation.
Drilon, who has been
accused of being biased
against the chief justice,
also refused to accept the
challenge.
I will not fall to his
trap, he said.
I will not go down to his
level. He is pathetic.
MAY 23, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday [email protected]
Probe sought on tax ruling
Ex-PCGG man
to Ombudsman
Immigration
revamped
Republic of the Philippines
ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City
IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF
THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT
(PSA) BETWEEN MANILA ELECTRIC
COMPANY (MERALCO) AND SOUTH
PREMIERE POWER CORPORATION
(SPPC)
ERC CASE NO. 2012-034 RC
MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY
(MERALCO),
Applicant
x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x
NOTI CE OF PUBLI C HEARI NG
TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:
Notice is hereby given that on March 9, 2012, the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) fled an application for
the approval of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) it entered into with South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC).
In the said application, MERALCO alleged, among others, the following:
1. It is a private corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with
principal offce located at Lopez Building, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City;
2. It has a legislative franchise to operate and maintain a distribution system in the Cities and Municipalities of
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal, and certain Cities/Municipalities/Barangays in Batangas, Laguna,
Quezon and Pampanga pursuant to Republic Act No. 9209, including the economic zones located therein, and
is authorized to charge all its customers for their electric consumption at the rates approved by the Commission;
3. On December 12, 2011, it executed a PSAwith SPPC for the purchase of 1,180 MW capacity of the lIijan Power
Plant, a natural gas-fred combined cycle power generating facility in Ilijan, Batangas;
4. SPPC is a private corporation engaged in the generation of power and is the IPP Administrator of the lIijan
Power Plant;
5. Its PSA with SPPC, a copy of which was attached to the Application as Annex B and made an integral part
thereof, contains the following salient features:
2.2 Term of Agreement
2.2.1 Subject to Article 3, this Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date.
2.2.2 The term of this Agreement (the Term) shall commence on the Effective Date and shall expire
on December 25, 2019, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
or extended by the application of Section 2.2.3 or Section 14.5.2.
2.2.3 After the ffth (5
th
) anniversary, but no later than the sixth (6th), anniversary date of the Effective
Date, the Parties shall enter into good faith negotiations to decide on whether to extend the Term;
provided that any extension of the Term shall be for an additional three (3) years or until the
expiration of the term of the IPPAAgreement, whichever is earlier; provided further that, except
for the Term, the same terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern the extension. The
duration of the negotiations for extension shall not exceed ninety (90) Days from the start thereof.
If the Parties fail to agree to an extension within the ninety (90) Day period, this Agreement will
be non-extendible and expire on December 25,2019.
xxx
3.3 Effective Date
3.3.1 If the ERC Final Approval is issued within the frst twenty fve (25) Days of a month, the date of
effectiveness of this Agreement shall be on the twenty sixth (26th) Day of such month in which
the ERC Final Approval was issued. If the ERC Final Approval is issued after the twenty ffth
(25th) Day of a month, the date of effectiveness of this Agreement shall be on the twenty sixth
(26th) Day of the month immediately succeeding such month in which the ERC Final Approval
was issued. MERALCO shall immediately notify Power Supplier of the ERC Final Approval as
soon as it receives said ERC Final Approval.
3.3.2 Prior to and until Effective Date, the TSC will govern the supply to MERALCO of power from the
Plant in an amount up to the Contract Capacity at the TSC Rate. For this purpose, MERALCO, with
the consent and cooperation of Power Supplier, undertakes to initiate negotiations and perform
any and all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectivity of the TSC up to Effective
Date, including but not limited to the extension of the term of the TSC and the application with
the ERC for the approval of such extension. Upon Effective Date, the rights and obligations of
the Parties in respect of each other under or arising from the TSC shall forthwith be superseded
by this Agreement
xxx
4.1 Supply of Power
4.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement:
4.1.1 From the Effective Date until the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Power
Supplier shall:
(a) make available to MERALCO, and MERALCO shall purchase from Power Supplier,
at the Price determined in accordance with Appendix D, the Contract Capacity of the
Plant; and
(b) sell to MERALCO, and MERALCO shall purchase from Power Supplier, at the Price
determined in accordance with Appendix D, the Associated Energy of the Plant, to
the extent of MERALCOs relevant day-ahead nominations.
4.1.2 The Contract Capacity and Associated Energy shall be dedicated exclusively to MERALCO
for so long as this Agreement is in force and effect. Notwithstanding this, MERALCO
acknowledges that the Power Supplier is required to offer any portion of the Plants capacity
not nominated by MERALCO pursuant to the must offer rule under the WESM Rules.
4.1.3 Unless otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, Power Supplier shall provide
MERALCO with capacity and/or electrical energy exclusively from the Plant
xxx
7.1 Outage Allowances
7.1.1 Power Supplier is allowed Scheduled Outages not to exceed twenty six (26) Days for
each Contract Year (Full Load Equivalent Scheduled Outage Allowance Days) during
the Term, during which times reduced or no supply of Contract Capacity or Associated
Energy will be available to MERALCO. A maximum of eighteen (18) unutilized Full Load
Equivalent Scheduled Outage Allowance Days per Contract Year can be carried forward
to the immediately succeeding Contract Year.
7.1.2 Power Supplier is allowed Forced Outages not to exceed eleven (11) Days for each
Contract Year (Full Load Equivalent Forced Outage Allowance Days) during the Term
during which times reduced or no supply will be available to MERALCO. Unutilized Full
Load Equivalent Forced Outage Allowance Days shall not be carried forward to any
subsequent Contract Year.
7.1.3 Any reduction in capacity from the Plant, whether due to Scheduled Outages, Forced
Outages, Events of Force Majeure or otherwise, shall be allocated pro rata among
MERALCO and its assignees, based on their Contract Capacity at the time of such
reduction.
7.1.4 If the Scheduled Outage for a Block occurs within a Fuel Supply Force Majeure Event,
such number of maintenance, inspection and testing hours used during the Scheduled
Outage for such Block shall be counted towards the Full Load Equivalent Scheduled
Outage Allowance. The Block not under a Scheduled Outage shall be considered under
a Fuel Supply Force Majeure Event.
7.2 Replacement Electrical Output During Outages
7.2.1 During (i) Scheduled Outages within the Full Load Equivalent Scheduled Outage Allowance
Days, and (ii) Forced Outages within the Full Load Equivalent Forced Outage Allowance
Days, Power Supplier shall not be required to supply MERALCO with replacement capacity
and electrical output. In such circumstances, MERALCO shall source the replacement
power from the WESM.
7.2.2 If during any Contract Year, (i) the actual outages for maintenance, inspection and testing
of the Plant exceed the Full Load Equivalent Scheduled Outage Allowance Days, and/or
(ii) the actual Forced Outages that have occurred exceed the Full Load Equivalent Forced
Outage Allowance Days, Power Supplier shall procure such quantities of electrical energy
from the WESM to satisfy the relevant day ahead nominations of MERALCO. MERALCO
shall pay Power Supplier the price for such replacement power, which shall be equivalent
to the Fuel Payment computed in accordance with Appendix D. Power Supplier shall
indemnify and hold MERALCO harmless from any loss, cost, expense or penalty incurred
or paid by MERALCO as a result of Power Suppliers failure to so procure such quantities
of electrical energy for MERALCO.
7.3 Scheduling Outages
By no later than October 31 of every year, Power Supplier shall inform MERALCO of the Scheduled
Outages of the Plant for the succeeding calendar year as submitted to the System Operator.
Power Supplier shall keep MERALCO informed of any revisions thereby approved or initiated by
the System Operator at least thirty (30) Days prior to the start of such revised Scheduled Outage.
xxx
Article 8 Implementation of Open Access and Retail Competition
8.1 Commencement of Open Access and Retail Competition
The Parties acknowledge that Open Access and Retail Competition shall be implemented in phases
in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the ERC, and upon implementation, the amount
of Contract Capacity and Associated Energy may be adjusted for each phase in accordance with
the terms hereof.
xxx
8.3 Assignment or Transfer of Contract Capacity Due to Open Access and Retail Competition
Upon the implementation by the ERC of Open Access and Retail Competition, MERALCO shall
also be entitled to assign, transfer, designate, delegate or allocate (as determined by MERALCO)
to any of its Affliates, or to any of its business segments, to the extent allowed by Law, or to any
third party acceptable to Power Supplier (which express written consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), its right to purchase such portion of Contract Capacity and Associated Energy reduced
as a result of Open Access and Retail Competition.
For the avoidance of doubt, in no case shall the reduction contemplated in Article 8.2 or the
assignment or transfer contemplated in Article 8.3 relieve or otherwise excuse MERALCO from
payment for the full Contract Capacity and Associated Energy except as otherwise assumed by
the assignee or transferee. MERALCO shall then be relieved from paying for, and from any liability
pertaining to, such portion of the Contract Capacity and Associated Energy assigned, transferred,
designated, delegated or allocated.
8.4 Any capacity that the Power Supplier reacquires from any Affliate or business segment of
MERALCO shall be taken by MERALCO under the same terms and conditions (including the Price)
as contained in this Agreement for the unexpired portion of the Term. This portion of capacity that
MERALCO takes shall be added to, and treated as Contract Capacity for the purposes of this
Agreement.
Article 9 Billing and Payment
xxx
9.2 Payments
9.2.1 MERALCO shall pay the entire amount indicated in the Final Invoice (subject to Section 6
of Appendix G) when due and payable, provided that MERALCO shall not be required to
make payment on any Invoice that is manifestly in error or apparently invalid.
9.2.2 If MERALCO disputes all or any portion of a Final Invoice for a reason other than a manifest
error in, or the apparent invalidity of, such Final Invoice, MERALCO shall nonetheless
pay the full amount of such Invoice (subject to Section 6 of Appendix G). Any payment
by MERALCO under this Section 9.2.2 is without prejudice to MERALCOs right at a later
date to dispute, protest or question any amount so paid.
xxx
Article 12 Covenants
12.2 ERC Approval
12.2.1 MERALCO shall use reasonable best efforts to secure ERC Final Approval in form and
substance satisfactory to the Parties on or before the Longstop Date.
12.2.2 If the ERCs Final Approval requires an amendment of any provision herein, including
provisions on amounts payable under this Agreement, or subjects such approval to any
material term or condition that is not acceptable to either Party, acting reasonably (ERC
Conditional Approval), the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to resolve the required
ERC amendment(s) or to address the material term or condition. The Parties may:
(a) Within ffteen (15) Days after the receipt by the Parties of the ERC Conditional Approval,
seek a reconsideration of the ERC Conditional Approval; or
(b) Within sixty (60) Days after receipt by the Parties of the ERC Conditional Approval,
revise and fle an amended Agreement for approval by the ERC, or if the Parties fail
to agree on the amendment of this Agreement within the period prescribed in this
Section 12.2.2, terminate this Agreement;
provided that if the motion for reconsideration is denied by the ERC, or the amended
Agreement is disapproved by the ERC, or approved by the ERC but still with any material
term or condition that is not acceptable to either Party, acting reasonably, either Party may
terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) Days prior written notice to the other Party.
6. The Payment Structure, as provided in Appendix D of the PSA, shall be as follows:
2 PAYMENT STRUCTURE
The payment to be made in each Billing Period during the Term for Contract Capacity and
Associated Energy shall consist of a Capacity Payment and Energy Payment. The Capacity
Payment consists of Component A1 (MCP
USD
), Component A2 MCP
PHP
), Component B
(MFOM), and Component C (Administration Fee), and the Energy Payment consists of
Component D (FP). Thus, the payment for Contract Capacity and Associated Energy for
each Billing Period shall consist of:
MCP
USD
+ MCP
PHP
+ MFOM + MAF
USD
+ MAF
PHP-a
+ MAF
PHP-b
+ FP
6.1 The Capacity Payment (Components Ato C) consists of the Capacity Payments in Philippine
Peso and US Dollars, the Fixed Operations and Maintenance Cost (MFOM) and the
Administration Fee;
6.2 The Energy Payment (Component D) shall be based on the cost of the fuel utilized by SPPC
to generate the energy provided to it during the relevant period;
7. As such, a sample calculation of the contract price under the PSA, under given assumptions,
is shown below:
Sample Calculation of Contract Price per kWh under the PSA between MERALCQ and SPPC
(February 2012 Supply Month)
BILLING COMPONENT UNIT BILLING RATE CPI Adj Factor BILLING DETERMINANT AMOUNT (PHP)
A. Capacity Fees

US Dollar Portion (USD/kW-yr)
Philippine Peso Portion (Php/kW-yr)
B Fixed O&M Fees (Php/kW-yr)
C. Administration Fee
USD Portion (C1) (USD/kW-yr)
Peso Portion - Fixed Portion (C2a) (Php/kW-yr)
Peso Portion - Escalating (C2b) (Php/kW-yr)
D. Energy Payment (Php/kWh)3
59.7894
2,858.4350
423.7288
11.9579
966.7282
84.7458
4730
1.0000
1.0000
1,180,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
1,180,000
702,336,000
(kW)
(kW)
(kW)
(kW)
(kW)
(kW)
(kWh)
285,851,533.63
317,816,271.06
41,666,666.71
57,170,306.73
107,486,066.93
8,333,333.36
2,439,227,425.14
TOTAL PAYMENT (Php)
Effective Rate at Plant Gate (Php/kWh)
3,257,551,603.56
4.6382
Effective line Rental Rate (Php/kWh) 0.0806
Effective Delivered Rate (Php/kWh) 4.7188
Effective Rate at NPC TSC* (Php/kWh) 5.3909
Savings over NPC TSC (Php/kWh) 0.6721
Savings / (Increase) in Generation Cost, PHP 472,055,922.20
Meraleo Energy Requirement, kWh 2,844,643,192.10
Generation Cost Reduction, PHP/kWh 0.1659
Assumptions:
(1) Gas Price as of February 2012
(2) Contract Capacity of 1,180 MW
(3) Effective Line Rental rates based on actual Feb 2012 WESM Preliminary bill.
(4) *NPC TOU rates Inclusive of DAA, FPPCA, FxA and FBHC Adjustments based on Feb 2012.
(5) 80% Plant Capacity factor
(6) Forex rate at PHP43.0/USD
8. The resulting average rate under the PSA is PhP4.6382 per kWh;
9. For the simulated month of February 2012, the effective rate under the Transition Supply Contract (TSC) would be
PhP5.3909 per kWh. Should its PSAwith SPPC be approved, resulting in the corresponding reduction of the contracted
energy under its TSC with the National Power Corporation (NPC),
1
its generation charge for said simulated month
is expected to be reduced by about PhP0.1659 per kWh. Thus, it is essential and urgent that the instant application
be approved in order to immediately afford end-users the benefts resulting from implementation of the PSA;
10. lt bears emphasis that the PSA provides for a longstop date of December 25,2012, within which the fnal approval
of the Commission should be secured; otherwise, the PSA may be terminated;
11. There is a paramount relevance and necessity to implement the subject PSA in time for the termination of the TSC
on December 25, 2012 in order to ensure continuous and reliable electricity for its customers. The implementation
of the subject PSA will clearly redound to the beneft of the end-users as it will shield them from the detrimental
impact of the expiration of the TSC;
12. ln support of the instant application, the Judicial Affdavit of Mr. Ciprinilo C. Meneses, its Senior Manager and Head
of Energy Sourcing Offce, was attached to the Application as Annex C; and
13. lt prays that, after hearing on the merits, a Decision be rendered approving its PSA with SPPC.
The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and
evidentiary hearing on June 7, 2012 (Thursday) at two oclock in the afternoon (2:00 PM) at the ERC Hearing
Room, 15th Floor, Pacifc Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.
All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by fling, at least
fve (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERCs Rules of Practice and Procedure, a
verifed petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioners
name and address; (2) the nature of petitioners interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner
in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.
All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the
proceeding may fle their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the
applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the
document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition
or comment and the grounds relied upon.
All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of
the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all
those making a request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable
photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records fled with the
Commission during the usual offce hours.
WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson, ZENAIDAG. CRUZ-DUCUT, and the Honorable Commissioners, MARIA
TERESAA.R. CASTAEDA, JOSE C. REYES, ALFREDO J. NON, and GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, Energy
Regulatory Commission, this 11th day of May, 2012 at Pasig City.
ATTY. NOEL J. SALVANERA
Director III
__________________________
1
The 10th Whereas clause in the Memorandum of Agreement (for the Extension of NPC/PSALM-MERALCO Transition Supply Contract (TSC)
and Memorandum of Agreement for the Customer Choice Program) provides that the volume of contracted energy under this extension will be
reduced by the volume allocated to a SGC upon the effective date of the PSA between MERALCO and such SGC
(MST-May 17 & 23, 2012)
In House Resolution 2292, Tarlac Rep.
Jeci Lapus and Pampanga Rep. Carmelo
Lazatin said that legal questions should
be claried and addressed with the BIRs
issuance of the Revenue Regulations No.
2-2012, and determine if the issuance of
runs contrary to provisions of RA 7227
and other pertinent decisions of the
Supreme Court.
The resolution noted that BIR issued
the regulation on February 17, 2012
to combat alleged oil smuggling and
ensure that taxes are collected from
petroleum and petroleum products
imported into the Philippines, including
those coming through the freeport
THE Bureau of Immigration has reshufed
its eld ofcials including those assigned
to the international airport in Clark Field,
Pampanga.
Commissioner Ricardo David Jr.
reassigned several employees to various
posts after carrying out a revamp of key
ofcials at the bureaus main ofce in
Intramuros last week.
These personnel changes are part of our
continuing efforts to re-energize and inject
dynamism in our organization as well to
professionalize and harness the potentials of
our employees, David said in a statement.
Among the employees who were
reassigned were Ma. Rhodora Abrazaldo,
who was named head immigration
supervisor of the Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport in Angeles City.
Three immigration ofcers assigned to
the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
were transferred to the DMIA in lieu of
three of their colleagues who were recalled
to their mother units in Manila.
Roseo Isabelo Manguiat and Jhoann Catalla
were named acting alien control ofcer of
Batangas and Lucena cities, respectively.
The port of Boac, Marinduque is now
headed by acting ACO Carlos de Peralta
and Jocelyn Barleta was named acting
ACO of San Jose, Mindoro. Thelma
Guiritan was named head of the BI satellite
ofce in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Vito Barcelo
zones and eEconomic zones.
But Lapus said that the revenue
regulation trampled upon provisions
of the law which created the Subic
Special Economic and Freeport Zone
and the Clark Freeport Zone.
Lazatin warned that if RR 2-2012 was
upheld, it would set a dangerous precedent
since only the BIR could impose taxes on
other and all importations by free port and
economic zone locators.
Revenue Regulations 2-2012 authorized
the BIR to introduce amendments to RA
7227 which would be a clear violation
of the 1987 Constitution, said Lazatin,
a member of the House Committee on
Bases Conversion.
Lapus, vice chairman of the House
Committee on Accounts, said the
question of whether a department
regulation can override a law passed by
the Philippine Congress and pertinent
decisions by the Supreme Court may
arise from RR 2-2012.
For one, Lapus said RR 2-2012
contradicted Section 12 of RA 7227,
which said that the Subic Special
Economic Zone should be operated and
managed as a separate customs territory
ensuring free ow or movement of goods
and capital within, into and exported out
of the Subic Special Economic Zone,
as well as provide incentives such as
tax and duty-free importations of raw
materials, capital and equipment.
He said RA 7227 provides that in
lieu of all taxes, a ve percent tax on
gross income should be be paid by all
registered business enterprises within
the Freeport Zone.
The law also provided that if an import-
er was located inside the Freeport Zone,
such importation should not be subject to
value-added tax and excise tax.
By Maricel V. Cruz
TWO lawmakers have sought a congressional
probe of the issuance of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue Regulation No. 2-2012 because the
directive contradicts certain provisions of the
Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.
The revenue regulation requires oil companies to
apply for tax refunds and register all their storage
facilities within free ports and economic zones.
PRESIDENT Aquino has appointed former
commissioner Gerard A. Mosquera of
the Presidential Commission on Good
Government as the new Deputy Ombudsman
for Luzon. His constitutional mandate of
seven years formally starts on June 1.
Aquino said he chose Mosquera from
a short list submitted by the Judicial and
Bar Council that included Commission
on Elections Director Ferdinand Rafanan,
Ombudsman Graft Investigation and
Prosecution Ofcer II Roque Dator, and
Ombudsman consultant Melchor Arthur
Carandang.
Mosquera, who served as Graft Investigation
Ofcer III of the anti-graft agency in 2003,
replaced Francis Jardeleza who was earlier
appointed as Solicitor General.
His curriculum vitae indicated he has
worked in various United Nations (UN)
and United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) funded projects
from 2003 to 2010. John Concepcion
INCOMING pre-schoolers have more
reasons to be happy with the opening
of classes this June. The Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation
has funded the construction of 50 new
classrooms in selected public elementary
schools nationwide.
Based on the;latest progress report,
total of 25 Sibol classrooms have already
been turned over to their respective public
schools, and about 11 are ready for turnover.
The other are due for completion prior to the
start of classes on June 4, Pagcor chairman
and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. said.
The construction of the Sibol Kindergarten
classrooms which began in February is
was in partnership with the Department of
Education and Gawad Kalinga Community
Development Foundation.
According to Naguiat, PAGCOR allocated
P65 million for the construction of 100
learning centers in communities nationwide
where GK serves. The Gawag Kalinga
volunteers help build the classrooms while
the DepEd will manage the schools upon
completion of the construction.
Apart from the 50 Sibol Kindergarten
classrooms in public schools, the
second phase of the project will cover
the construction of another 25 Sibol
classrooms and 25 Tambayani Centers for
out-of-school youths in GK communities
or sites, Naguiat added.
The Sibol Kindergarten classrooms are
part of the agencys Matuwid na Daan sa
Silid-Aralan project. We have initially
allocated P1 billion for this project. It intends
to address the education sectors perennial
problem on classrooms shortage by building
1,000 classrooms nationwide, Naguiat said.
Each 63-square-meter Sibol classroom,
which costs approximately P650,000,
adopts the green architecture, making
use of vertically extended roof spaces for
natural lighting and adequate ventilation,
and has its own comfort room and lavatory.
Eric Jason Salvino, Gawad Kalinga Area
Coordinator in the Bicol Region, noted that
there are a lot of public elementary schools
in the Philippines such as those in Bicol
which direly need additional classrooms.
Salvino added that since the Bicol region
is a typhoon-stricken area, classes are
often suspended since the schools either
get ooded or used as evacuation centers
for affected residents.
Education, Pagcor
build Sibol schools
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
[email protected] MAY 23, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A4
THE long-awaited testimony of Chief
Justice Renato Corona at his own
impeachment trial on Tuesday ended with
an intriguing and dramatic challenge.
On national TV and at the witness stand,
the chief justice signed a waiver to his right
to the condentiality of his bank accounts,
and authorized the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, the Anti-Money Laundering
Council, the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and the Land Registration
Authority to disclose to the public all
information about his assets, liabilities,
net worth, business interests and nancial
connections.
There was a twist, however, to the chief
justices waiver as he challenged the 188
legislators who led the complaint against
him and a senator-judge who has time and
again exhibited his bias to do the same.
Corona, who used his opening
statement to highlight the prosecutions
penchant for exaggeration and deception
throughout his trial, said he would
submit his waiver to the authorities only
if all the 188 complainantsincluding
the House prosecutorsand Senator
Franklin Drilon would sign a similar
document that would reveal all their
assets to the public.
The chief justice also had a response to
the standard excuse that the prosecutors
have used when they have been asked to
apply the same measure of transparency
that they have demanded of the chief
justice.
I beg you not to engage me on who
is on trial here?, the chief justice said,
looking straight at the prosecution team.
We are all on trial here.
I am humbly asking all 188
representatives led by the prosecutors,
and Senator Drilon to join me in a moment
of truth as a gesture of transparency
and reconciliation, Corona said. This
is what the nation wants. Let us face
the people together. The nation is at a
standstill. Our people are watching all of
us.
Sadly for the nation, it seems, the 188
courageous legislators who rushed to do
Malacaangs bidding when they rammed
the impeachment charges against the chief
justice through Congress turned yellow at
the prospect of revealing the true extent of
their own wealth to the public.
Lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. refused to
sign a similar waiver, calling the challenge
a diversionary tactic, while his other
colleagues said it was a sign of the chief
justices desperation.
Still, the simple truth remains. If they
all sign a waiver today, the prosecutors
and complainants will nally get what
they claim that they wantthe truth
regarding the chief justices nancial
condition. So what is stopping them?
After all, they have made it a point to
say that those who have nothing to hide
should have no fear.
We also reserve some contempt for the
hecklers at the trial who derided the chief
justice for making his offer of a waiver
conditional. Why, we wonder, would these
hecklers object so violently to a move that
would guarantee more transparency from
all public ofcials? Wasnt that, after all,
their battle cry?
The chief justice was astute when he
observed that all public ofcials were
on trial at his impeachment hearings.
On Tuesday, the prosecution and at least
one senator-judge were weighed in the
balances and were found wanting.
189 cowards
Real life happens
WHY doesnt the man just quit
already so we can all get on with our
lives? Well, whoever said he would,
except the people who wanted him
to do just that, so that real life may
t neatly into their pre-arranged
schedules and scenarios?
Yesterday, the knives were out and
the knife-wielders were getting ready
to move in for the kill. But, amazingly,
the intended victim wanted to say
somethingand even, egad, to testify
in his own defenseand in a bid
to delay or to even avert his own
execution.
This was
unprecedented,
the impatient
mob lusting for
their preys blood
wailed. Kill him,
kill him now!
But perhaps
all those
demanding to
see impeached
Chief Justice
Renato Coronas
blood on the
Senate oor should have exercised
some patience. After all, as Corona
explained to Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile, the chief magistrate had
been the victim of a 24/7 vilication
campaign for ve consecutive
monthswhy deprive him now of
his chance to reply to the charges so
cavalierly hurled against him?
Coronas accusers had come to
the trial to watch an execution, the
bloodier, the better. But Enrile and
the other senators have apparently
understood that a man who has been
attacked so relentlessly using all
the resources of the government, its
agencies, palace-allied civil society
groups and their friendly media
confederates, should be allowed to
say his piece.
After all, Corona was not willing
to roll over and die just yet. The fact
that he has gotten as far as the witness
stand to speak in his defense clearly
signies that he still believes that he
is not only ready for execution, he
probably thinks he is not guilty as
President Noynoy Aquino and his
camp followers think.
Of course, Corona has been
allowed to speak at length, thanks to
the wisdom of Enrile and the Senate.
But that does not change the fact that
the Aquino allies were disappointed
that the televised lynching they had
expected did not take place.
The Yellow hordes had nally been
convinced by their own propaganda,
which they had initially conceived
as a means to convert those still
unconvinced of Coronas supposed
guilt. And they were the most let
down when the execution that they
had predicted was coming did not
take place.
Unfortunately for them, Corona
never said he would just meekly
accept all the charges leveled against
him and resign just to meet the self-
imposed deadlines of the people who
want him out.
Real life is different from the linear
projections made inside the controlled
connes where the people who
plot the downfall of their political
enemies do their dastardly work.
And sometimes, the target of the
most ham-sted bullying and intense
vilication will ght back, especially
when he believes in his heart that he is
being unjustly attacked.
Real life, as opposed to virtual,
scenario-driven projections, is not as
easily predicted. Thank God for that.
* * *
While Coronas narrative
testimony may have been lengthy
and interrupted
by spontaneous
bursts of teary
emotion, the
chief justice
saved the best for
last: he signed
a waiver on the
confi dent i al i t y
of his foreign
currency deposits
h e r e t o f o r e
protected from
disclosure by
law as his
detractors have long demanded.
But Corona did not sign the waiver
without a condition. He had copies of
similar unsigned papers distributed
to the 188 congressmen and Senator
Franklin Drilon, who initiated the
complaint, to do the same.
The dramatic gesture, according
to Corona, was not open to debates
about who is on trial in the Senate.
The chief justice and all his accusers,
he said, are all similarly situated and
charged.
And abruptly, Corona left the
witness stand and leftor tried to.
The chief justice had apparently
suffered a diabetic attack and just
wanted to leave the Senate right after
making his long statement.
This did not sit well with Enrile,
who instructed the Senate sergeant-
at-arms to bar the chief justice from
leaving until he had been properly
discharged by the court. Corona had
apparently not told his own lawyers
about why he wanted to leave,
allegedly because his blood sugar
level had gone down dangerously.
As this is being written, it is still
not clear if Corona would return to
the witness stand to continue his
direct testimony or even allow cross-
examination by the prosecution panel.
How the drama will play out is still
unknown.
What seems clear, however, is
that Corona will probably continue
his appearance in the Senate,
regardless of his reluctance. Having
opened the gate by appearing, he
seems to have no choice but to go
the whole hog.
All of which just proves that
the Senate trial is not sticking to
anyones schedulenot even the
chief justices. Real life has a way
of doing that.
EDITORIAL
Going gaga, bananas
EVIL triumphed.
Despite protest rallies outside the
spanking new Mall of Asia Arena, the
Lady Gaga sellout show went on. She
even sang the much-demonized Judas
in her repertoire. If she did not sing it,
it would have been out of character,
so unlike Lady Gaga. She thrives on
controversy and going against the
conventional. The outrageous costume
and hair-raising hairdo are part of the
act.
Failing to sway fans into boycotting
the show, the not-too-dynamic duo
of Lito Atienza and Romy Macalintal
will have to look for another headline
elsewhere. The former Mayor and his
election protest lawyer against Mayor
Alfredo Lim were marginalized when
former President Joseph Estrada decided
to make a run for the Manila mayoralty.
From the dizzying heights of the
presidency, Erap has taken a great leap
into the abyss to save a dying, decaying
city. He promises to turn it over to
defector Vice Mayor Isko Moreno after
just one term.
Wah? Erap is so sure of victory hes
all ready to hand over Manila to Isko
after four years? Going by Eraps track
record as San Juan mayor, the only ones
he turned over power to were family
members, JV Ejercito and Guia Gomez.
Poor Isko Moreno, also known as
Francisco Domagoso. Hes the new
better-looking Danny Lacuna who was
Manilas perennial vice mayor but who
never became mayor. Will Isko follow
the always a bridesmaid, never a bride
syndrome?
In another four years, when Erap
is nally ready to ride into the Manila
sunset, Isko Moreno might not have his
matinee-idol looks anymore. Thats a
lot of swooning womens votes lost.
Going bananas
Meanwhile, our exporters of
Cavendish bananas are going bananas
over what looks a sagging (sorry, I
could not resist the pun) market after
the Chinese stopped a boatload of the
Philippine fruit.
Our local exporters insist it has
nothing to do with the Scarborough
Shoal standoff. They say it is a sanitary
issue that can be threshed out. The
Department of Agriculture sent a team of
experts to China to look at the problem.
Its like having forensic experts autopsy
the cadavers of Cavendish bananas left
by the Chinese to rot at the pier
Another shipment of Philippine
bananas has been rejected and sent
back by Chinese customs and health
inspectors who claim it failed to pass
stringent phytosanitary requirements.
I dont know why it has to take
President Noynoy Aquino to tell the
exporters to look for other markets.
Dont they know how to diversify their
market? Presently China, Japan, Taiwan
and Australia are the major buyers of
our bananas.
I can understand the Filipino
exporters concern. The nearby Asia-
Pacic countries mentioned above give
them a bigger margin of prot because
the shorter distance to these destinations
is more economical in terms of shipping
and freight costs, not to mention the
concern for spoilage of the perishable
product.
But then, how do the exporters from
South America bring their bananas
all the way to Eastern Europe? Ive
seen big, golden yellow bananas
from Ecuador and Costa Rica in the
supermarkets of Warsaw and Budapest.
I dont how the South Americans do
it, but maybe our local exporters can
borrow a page from them and nd a new
market for our own bananas. Because of
the distance, the shipping cost would be
higher and the margin of prot for the
banana growers wont be as big. But
perhaps they can offset this drawback
by getting a big slice of the market.
Having the Chinese clamp a tighter
sanitary inspection of our bananas
and stopping their travel agents from
booking package tours to the Philippines
may not have the ofcial seal of policy
yet. The Palace and the Departments of
Foreign Affairs, National Defense and
Agriculture are all downplaying the
latest Chinese muscle-exing.
Its probably only the Department
of Education which has the foresight
to propose including Mandarin as a
required subject in our high schools.
No one is saying we are about to
host an invasion, but learning Mandarin
could be good mindset to prepare for
Chinese occupation.
Lest I get a lot of ak on Lady Gaga
and evil prevailing, plus my comment
about Chinese occupation...I would like
you know I was just in a light mood and
was just being ippant.
ALEJANDRO
DEL ROSARIO
BACK CHANNEL
Real life, as
opposed to virtual,
scenario-driven
projections, is not as
easily predicted.
JOJO
A. ROBLES
LOWDOWN
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN Managing Editor
CHIN WONG/ RAY S. EANO Associate Editors
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A5 Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
[email protected]
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona has
testied in his own defense. Will the
senator-judges convict or acquit him?
There is talk that 13 senator-judges
are sure to vote for convictionand not
necessarily based on evidence. These 13
are indisputably the allies of President
Aquino and those with interests to
protect under this administration.
But political analysts surmise that
there are also seven senator-judges who
are convinced of the innocence of the
chief justice. This
leaves three senator-
judges undecided.
They could provide
the swing votes. It
takes 16 votes to
convict and eight to
acquit.
Nonetheless, it is
only until after the
cross-examination of
the prosecution, and
after the re-direct of
the defense, that we
can guess the outcome of the trial.
Dont forget that there will still be the
summation of evidence and arguments
by both sides.
***
So after all these, what happens next?
If the chief justice is acquitted, we
can be sure that the administration
lapdogs at the House of Representatives
would le another impeachment case in
December. Do we really think President
Aquino will give up just like that? He has
staked his reputation on ousting Corona
in the name of ghting corruption.
Malacaang will throw everything at
Corona. Damn the rule of law.
The Palace has mobilized several
government agencies against Corona:
The Bureau of Immigration, the Land
Registration Authority, the Bureau of
Internal Revenue, the Department of
Justice, the Ofce of the Ombudsman,
and the Anti-Money Laundering
Council, among others. Whats to stop
Malacaang from doing it again?
Just how Filipinos will take yet
another impeachment trial is another
thing.
***
There is no doubt that President
Aquino is trying to prove to the world
that his administration can bring
down Corona, in an effort to promote
accountability and transparency. He is
portraying himself as a white knight who
will bring about change as he promised
when he was campaigning in 2010.
He will then tell foreign investors
that the rule of law exists in this
administration and thus there will be a
level playing eld for businesses here.
But is it really fair to use the entire
government machinery just to oust a
perceived enemy? The end can never
justify the means. And does he think
foreign investors are clueless about what
is really happening?
As a result, the said government
agencies which have allowed themselves
to be used have been damaged beyond
repair.
It may be true that the conviction
of Corona would send a message that
reforms are under way in the Judiciary, a
branch of government that has suffered
from perceptions of being corrupt.
But in his effort to savage Corona,
the President is
also savaging the
Supreme Court.
This is a
prescription for
anarchy.
***
A perfect example
of an entity which
is defying the rule
of law is the case
of the state-owned
Bases Conversion
D e v e l o p m e n t
Authority, which terminated the contract
it entered into with the Camp John Hay
Development Corp. The latter is a
private entity that entered into a 50-year
contract with government to develop the
full potentials of the 247-hectare Camp
John Hay in Baguio City, which used
to be a summer camp of the American
military.
Santa Banana, despite an existing
contract and an order from the Baguio
Regional Trial Court order, BCDA has
terminated the contract with the private
lessee. IN fact, it has threatened to take
over Camp John Hayby force.
The unilateral termination of the
contract is illegal. Worse, the threat of
a forcible takeover is a clear example of
utter disrespect for the rule of law.
Yes, CJHDevco has back rentals
amounting to over P3 billion. But
the lessee claims that it was BCDA
that committed all the breaches in the
agreement that would have developed
Camp John Hay into a tourist destination.
CJHDevco in fact, led an arbitration
case against BCDA to resolve the case.
Such a resort is specically provided for
in the twice-restructured Memorandum
of Agreement. BCDA refused this
option.
The reason is simple. It really wants
to take over John Hay so that the Ayala
Group can come in.
Is this the kind of public-private
partnership program the Aquino
administration is talking about?
What
happens next?
The nation on trial
SUPREME Court Chief Justice Renato
Corona came to the Senate impeachment
court yesterday to speak in his own
defense, but he unexpectedly turned the
tables on Malacaang and his accusers
by asking them what evil he has done to
deserve not only the present trial but also
the sustained vilication against him and
his family the past ve months.
The senator-judges listened in
reverential silence as the chief justice
gave his statement to the court. The
crowd, which had melted away after the
rst few days of the trial, had returned,
lling the gallery to the rafters. All eyes
were on the chief justice. As far as they
could see, Corona was the only one who
stood accused. But after listening to him,
it became clear he had shifted the burden
on the Aquino government.
Corona gave three reasons for
Malacaangs determined campaign
to convict and destroy him. He said
President Benigno Aquino III could
not forgive him for the Supreme Court
decision awarding Hacienda Luisita to
the farmers whose ancestors had owned
it from the very beginning. Second, the
President wanted to gain full control of
the three branches of government. Third,
Mr. Aquino appears to have fallen captive
to the communist Left, whose designs on
the government could only be facilitated
if the Judiciary were destroyed.
Coronas appearance brought the trial
to its highest, or next highest point. But
it was not yet the moment of truth,
contrary to what one banner headline
said. The moment of truth is when the
bullghter and the bull face each other
inside the bullring for the kill. That will
come when the senator judges nally
decide: Guilty, or Not Guilty, orin
the words of Pennsylvanias Sen. Arlen
Specter at the Clinton trialNot
Proven. However, it may have turned
the tide of public opinion, and that of the
court.
Until yesterday, Corona seemed to be
facing a terribly uphill ght. That was
partly because matters that had nothing
to do with the Articles of Impeachment
had been permitted to enter the domain
of the court. Malacaang has exerted
no effort to make its intervention in the
case discreet; the big stories attacking
Corona were coming not necessarily from
the prosecution but many times from
Malacaang spokesmen, and from the
President himself. Corona could not even
get legal relief from the Supreme Court.
After Corona was impeached by
188 congressmen who signed the
impeachment complaint at Malacaangs
bidding without reading the eight Articles
of Impeachment, ve petitions were
led with the Supreme Court seeking
to restrain the Senate from hearing the
complaint for lack of jurisdiction. This
became six when Coronas lawyers
added their own petition.
But led by Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile, the Senate said it was
not answerable to the Supreme Court
for its decisions, and warned the High
Court against intervening. And the court
apparently took the Senates word for it.
But hardly any trial day passed
without the senator-judges lecturing
the prosecution. After 26 trial days,
the prosecution rested its case after
dropping ve of the eight articles. Of the
remaining three, Article II appeared to be
the strongest; it alleged Coronas failure
to disclose all his assets in his Statements
of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. But
the court could not say if violation of the
SALN law was an impeachable crime.
Article II also failed to allege ill-gotten
wealth or graft and corruption, so the
court enjoined the panel not to try to
raise that charge nor to dig into Coronas
alleged dollar bank accounts, whose
secrecy is absolute.
Still, on February 17, some party-list
and civil society politicians asked the
Ombudsman to investigate Corona for
his alleged failure to include certain bank
deposits in his SALN. The Ombudsman
readily obliged, even though the same
charge was already being heard at the
trial. Then on April 20, while the trial
was on recess, the Ombudsman ordered
Corona to explain within 72 hours
alleged bank accounts in his name and
dollar deposits purportedly amounting to
$10 million.
Corona challenged his accusers and
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to
substantiate their accusations. Thereafter
he would take the stand himself, he said.
Thus, on May 7, Morales astounded
the trial with a Powerpoint presentation
of Coronas alleged dollar banking
transactions from 82 accounts, admittedly
obtained illegally from the Anti-Money
Laundering Council, without a court
order, as required by law, and without
verifying the information herself.
Yesterday was Coronas turn to
make his own Powerpoint presentation
and to expose Morales presentation as
deceptive and false.
Having heard both sides, the senator-
judges must now decide whether the
charges against Corona are impeachable,
and have been proven, and whether he is
to be judged on the basis of those charges,
or on the basis of something else. Should
he be acquitted because he has done no
manifest harm to the nation, or should he
be convicted because he has offended and
continues to offend the President?
[email protected]
EVERYMAN
President
Aquino has staked
his reputation on
ousting Corona.
Intolerance and blind faith
BONG C.
AUSTERO
ARE WE THERE YET?
MANNY Pacquiao has apologized to the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community for the intolerant remarks
he made in response to an American
reporters question about same-sex
marriage. Pacquiao expressed his
disapproval of United States President
Barack Obamas endorsement of same-
sex marriages. He insisted, however,
that he did not make that damning
reference to a passage in the Bible that
many religious zealots interpret literally
as justication for violence directed at
members of the LGBT community.
Ang Ladlad, the LGBT political party
that aspires for seats in Congress through
the party-list system, has reportedly
accepted Pacquiaos apology. Alls well
that ends well? I dont think so. Not just
because I know members of the LGBT
community that continue to rile against
Pacquiaos display of prejudice and even
against Ang Ladlads acceptance of an
apology that many consider half-hearted
and issued mainly to deect massive
fallout. I think it is important to draw
lessons from what happened.
First, people in position of power and
inuence should be more careful about
public statements made on controversial
issues, particularly those involving
minorities. Because of the growing
popularity and accessibility of social
media, minority groups now have a
powerful platform for their advocacies.
The vehement reaction to Pacquiaos
bigotry was immediate and far-reaching.
Several online petitions were swiftly put
up urging, for instance, Nike to cancel
Pacquiaos endorsement contracts.
Second, minority groups are not
anymore the pushovers that they used
to be. They are now organized and
are in a position to ght back through
creative means. Afuent and inuential
members of the LGBT community are
now lending their celebrity or their
various resources to the communitys
advocacies. Economic power is just as
powerful today and there is no doubt
of the existence of pink money in this
country. Its just a matter of time before
members of the LGBT community as
well as other minority groups are able to
collectively harness economic power to
advance their causes. What is required
is a major trigger that can galvanize
support for such a movement. Can you
imagine what will happen if members
of the LGBT community decide not to
patronize a certain brand or to boycott a
certain product or service.
Third, cultural norms are changing.
Obamas categorical support of same-
sex marriage is borne out of empirical
data that say Americans, in general,
are now more supportive of the cause
compared to, say, three years ago. It
will be foolhardy for people who aspire
for political greatness to deliberately
place themselves on the wrong side of
history.
It really boils down to basic
humaneness. In the words of George
Washington Carver, how far we go in
life depends on our ability to be tender
with the young, compassionate with the
aged, sympathetic with the striving, and
tolerant of the weak and strong. Because
someday in life, each one us will become
one of these.
And nally, Pacquiao justied his
intolerant remarks in the context of his
newfound faith. Pacquiao has clung to
his newfound religiosity like an anchor.
Someone should teach him that the strength
and value of ones faith is not measured by
his devout expression of piety but in the
way he uses his faith to propagate mutual
understanding and respect.
In this context, Pacquiao is no different
from those who picketed Lady Gagas
concert last Monday night. They use the
Bible as an instrument of hate. They use
blind faith as a catchall justication for
excluding others. They attack even without
full understanding of the issues.
I salute people who are able to
renew themselves through religious
conversion. I will support anytime the
efforts of anyone to change for the
better because he has gotten to know
a higher being. I know people who
have succeeded in giving up drugs,
alcohol, gambling, womanizing, etc.,
because of their newfound faith. What I
nd objectionable is when they begin to
insist on the absoluteness of their belief
to the exclusion of others and when they
begin insisting that their beliefs and
practices make them superior to others.
The way I say it, every man is entitled to
practice his own faith but has absolutely
no right to impose the same on others.
So yes, I applauded Pacquiaos
conversion from being a womanizing,
gambling, drinking troublemaker into a
Bible-thumping, chest-beating person.
But I hold the belief that intolerance and
bigoted statements betray the strength of
ones faith. Intolerance and bigotry are
borne out of ignorance and fear. Truly,
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
And blind faith is simply submitting to
herd mentality.
It does NOT belong to China
By Jim Austria
A CONTRIBUTOR to this space, one
Mr. Victor Arches, says that Scarborough
Shoal belongs to China in his article
published on April 28.
He maintains that the Chinese were
the rst to discover and map the Shoal
and its surrounding waters. Mr. Arches
also invokes the Treaty of Paris (1898)
and the Treaty of 1900 between Spain
and the United States and the 1930
Treaty (also known as the Convention
of 1930 between the United States
and Great Britain) which all limited
the Philippines territory to the 118th
degrees meridian of longitude east of
Greenwich. This line of argument,
however, bears serious weaknesses. The
discovery of the shoal and the said treaties
do not warrant rights to the disputed
territory. Heres why.
For now, let us agree that Chinas
argument is adequate to claim sovereignty
over Scarborough Shoal. China drew a
map of South China Sea in c. 1279 AD
during the Yuan Dynasty. The oldest
map that the Philippines can produce, in
contrast, is a Spanish colonial map drawn
up a good 541 years after astronomer Gou
Shoujing surveyed the area. Accordingly,
lets also consider that Chinas argument
has enough clout to claim not just the
Shoal, but also the entire South China
Sea per Chinas nine-dash line. However,
to accept the prerogatives above is to
overlook the following points:
1. The map that China speaks of in its
claim also shows the island of Luzon and
parts of Palawan.
2. The map named the island of Luzon,
Lu Song.
3. Lu Song was considered a tributary
of China.
4. The natives of Lu Song also shed
in the area for centuries. It took Lu Song
shermen only hours to reach the shoal
and days for Chinese shermen coming
from Hainan Island.
China argues that the entire South
Chi na Sea and t he Scar bor ough
Shoal are its territories because they
appear in their 730-year-old map.
But, if we are to follow the same line
of reasoning, we must also declare
the island of Lu Song and Palawan
part of China because these islands
appear on the very same map that is
core to Chinas argument. However,
we know for a certain fact that Luzon
and Palawan do not belong to China.
Therefore, their case and that of Mr.
Arches lead to a contradiction.
By reduction ad absurdum, Chinas
argument is insufficient to claim
Scarborough Shoal. Reduction ad
absurdum follows the idea that if the
premises of someones argument are
accepted true, then it will lead to absurd
conclusions. For that reason, the Chinese
cannot claim the shoal on the basis of
discovery because they also discovered
Luzon and parts of Palawan which they
have no stake on. It would be absurd to
claim Island A and not have Island B if
the argument for the former ts nicely
with the latter.
Likewise, the treaties that Mr. Arches
spoke of do not support the claim that the
shoal belongs to China. The agreements
between the three colonial powers
simply delineated the limits of Philippine
sovereignty. Nowhere in the treaties did the
authors proclaim China as the sovereign of
the Shoal. Just because the treaties limited
the Philippines area of responsibility
does not mean that the shoal and Spratly
Islands belong to China. Besides, one of
the limiting agreements that Mr. Arches
mentioned, the Convention of 1930, is just
a convention. As Mr. Arches pointed out, a
convention cannot overturn or supersede
a treaty. The UNCLOS, on the other
hand, is not a mere convention; it is also
a treaty which a total of 162 governments
signed or ratied. It is for this reason that
UNCLOS is often referred to as the Law
of the Sea Treaty.
More importantly, however, UNCLOS
requires its signatories to relinquish the
majority of their maritime territorial
claims based on historical grounds in
exchange for a definitive Economic
Exclusive Zone. China, of course, refused
to comply with this proviso, instead
favoring the ambiguous nine-dash line
(based on the 730 years old map) which
international law does not recognize.
In other words, China expects to have
its cake and eat it too. But, as has been
discussed above, that is not legally
possible. Scarborough Shoal does not
belong to China.
Jim Austria is an expatriate living
in Virginia, United States. He is a
businessman and a proud father of a son
and a daughter majoring in chemistry
and psychology, respectively. He is from
Intramuros, Manila.
EMIL
P. JURADO
TO THE POINT
FRANCISCO S.
TATAD
FIRST THINGS FIRST
ADELLE
CHUA
CHASING HAPPY
Ms. Chuas column will resume this
week.
This is in reference to recent news reports regarding the robbery inci-
dent that took place in Amb. Philippe Lhuilliers apartment in Paris. The
incident has been reported to the French police and the family is closely
coordinating with the authorities.
The amount of loss as published in the foreign newspapers is inac-
curate, misleading and grossly overstated. The family approximates the
amount of loss to be at 3 million euro, not 30 million euro as previously
reported.
Investigation is ongoing and the family continues to cooperate with the
French police authorities.
EILEEN BARTOLOME
in behalf of the Lhuillier family
Three million euro, not 30 million
MAIL MATTERS
News
ManilaStandardToday
[email protected] MAY 23, 2012 WEDNESDAY
A6

IN BRIEF
Metro czar proposes
merger of bus rms
Solar-powered lighting
planned for Ayala Tunnel
Lawmaker wants
courses for inmates
(MST-May 23, 2012)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
Regional Offce No. IV-A
EDSA, Quezon City
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Regional Offce
No.IV-A, through the GAA RA 10155, FY 2012, intends to apply the sum of Fourty
Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 48,500,000.00) to payments
under the contract for Contract ID No. 12-D0-0030: Widening Manila-Cavite Road
(Kawit-Noveleta Diversion Road/CEZ Diversion Road) including RROW, Cavite
(Loading/Unloading Bay for holding raw materials). Bids received in excess of
the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Regional Offce No.
IV-A now invites bids for the Contract ID No. 12-D0-0030: Widening Manila-Cavite
Road (Kawit-Noveleta Diversion Road/CEZ Diversion Road) including RROW,
Cavite (Loading/Unloading Bay for holding raw materials). The scope of work
involves earthworks, subbase course, concreting (028m. thk, 14 days concrete),
drainage and other related activities. Completion of the Work is required in 180
calendar days. Bidders should have completed within ten (10) years from the date
of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description
of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section
II. Instruction to Bidders.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using
non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing Rules
and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the
Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or
organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital
stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH, Regional Offce
No. IV-A, BAC Secretariat Offce, EDSA, Quezon City, and inspect the Bidding
Documents at the address below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Interested bidders are also required to present the originals of their Contractors
Registration Certifcate to the DPWH, Region IV-A BAC for authentication. Submission
of Letter of Intent is from May 23-June 6, 2012.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders
from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding
Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00).
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine
Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of
the DPWH, if available, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding
Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
The DPWH, Regional Offce No. IV-A will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 31,
2012 at 10:00 A.M. in the DPWH Region IV-A Conference Room, which shall be
open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on June 13, 2012 on or before
2:00P.M. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable
forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to
attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.
The DPWH 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.
DPWH Region IV-A likewise assumes no obligation whatsoever to compensate or
indemnify any bidder or winning bidders, as the case may be, for any expense or
loss that said party(ies) may incur in its participation in the pre-bidding and bidding
process nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.
For further information, please refer to:
ELVIN I. CARINGAL
BAC Chairman
Attention:
Head, BAC Secretariat
DPWH, Region IV-A
EDSA, Quezon City
Tel. No. 4810-277
Approved by:
(Sgd.) ELVIN I. CARINGAL
Engineer V
Chief Construction Division
Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee
Noted By:
(Sgd.)LUIS A. MAMITAG, JR.
Director IV
OIC, Regional Director
The City Government of Makati, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/
contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:
NO. NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LOCATION APPROVED BUDGET
1 Printing of Makati Citizens Guidebook for the use of Information
and Community Relations Department
ICRD P3,499,985.00
2 Printing of Annual Report 2011 for the use of Urban Development
Department
UDD P2,550,000.00
Prospective Bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the
proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examinations of Bids shall use non-
discretionary pass/fail criteria. Post-Qualifcation of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall be conducted.
All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s),
Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualifcation and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and
its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
1. Pre-Bidding Conference at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor May 31, 2012 (02:00 P.M.)
2. Opening of Bids at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor June 14, 2012 (02:00 P.M.)
Bidding Documents will be available only to Prospective Bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of
______________________to the City Government of Makati Cashier.
(fee for Bid Documents) (Procuring Entity)
The City Government of Makati assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify
(Procuring Entity)
bidders for any Expenses Incurred in the preparation of the bid.
The City of Makati reserves the right to disqualify any or all proposal, to waive any defects or informalities therein and to
accept such proposal as may be considered most advantageous to the Government.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) MARJORIE A. DE VEYRA
Chairperson

Bids and Awards Committee
J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City
Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988
www.makati.gov.ph
INVITATION TO BID
REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS
LUNGSOD NG MAKATI
(MST-May 23, 2012)
NOTI CE TO THE PUBLI C
Please be informed that the following accountable forms of INVESTORS ASSURANCE
CORPORATION (IAC) have been lost:

TYPE OF POLICY SERIES FROM SERIES TO

(GPPA) Voluntary Group PA
11901 12000
74801 74922
77001 78000
94001 94009
111001 112000
122190 122289
127991 128000
129001 130000
137001 137076
145701 146000
148901 149100
155001 155025
163636 164010
167501 168000
176201 176761
176895 177000
178001 179000
179223 179495
179575 180000
184802 186000
191441 193901
198001 198147

Should you have any of the foregoing IAC forms in your possession, please
coordinate with our offce immediately and bring the said form/s to our offce within
thirty (30) days from the date of this publication, for possible replacement of the
form/s or reimbursement of payments, if warranted. IAC reserves the right to require
presentation of other adequate proof of issuance and/or payment in addition to the
presentation of the original form/s.

INVESTORS ASSURANCE CORPORATION
Unit 1/20th Floor, BDO Plaza, Paseo de Roxas near cor. Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200
Tel Nos.: (632) 822-4000 / 822-5000 / 891-0994 / 891-0996 / 891-0976
(MST-May 23, 2012)
NOTI CE OF LOSS
Notice is hereby given that I,
CONSUELO SIY SAY have lost
the BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE
ISLAND Stock Certifcate no.
SD258343 f or 144 shar es
issued on June 16, 2006 as
per Doc. No. 305; Page No.62;
Book No. 296; Series of 2012
before Notary Public Atty. Lope
M. Velasco.
This notice is being posted to
comply with the requirements
and to secure replacement of
the above menti oned stock
certifcate.
(MST-May 16,23 & 30, 2012)
For f as t ad r es ul t s ,
pl eas e c al l
659-48-30
l oc al 303
or
659-4803
Bus companies must become
one if they could not earn well
because they continue to com-
pete with one another, Tolentino
said, stressing that competition
among public utility vehicles has
aggravated the problems caused
by the increasing number of cars
on Metro Manila streets and has
caused fatal accidents several
times in the past.
He said he directed MMDA
assistant general manager Ma.
Cristina Velasco to conduct a
comprehensive study of the pos-
sibility of merging bus compa-
nies based on the status of their
franchises, income, history of
trafc violations, viability and
passenger ridership.
I see buses with only four to
ve passengers. Why cant these
buses come together and operate
as one bus network? he asked.
Why not unite and operate as
one?
In the United States, he noted,
public transportation is usually
operated by a transit authority
which has substantial powers in
dealing with public transportation
within a designated transit
district.
Some of the more famous
transit authorities in the US are
the New York City Transit Au-
thority, which operates New York
Citys subway trains and munici-
pal buses; the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey, which
operates New York Citys Port
Authority Bus Terminal and the
PATH trains; Washington Met-
ropolitan Area Transit Author-
ity, which operates the bus and
Metrorail system in Washington
DC and suburban Maryland and
Virginia; the Los Angeles Coun-
ty Metropolitan Transportation
Authority; and the Chicago Tran-
sit Authority, which operates all
bus routes which run within the
boundaries of Chicago.
In the United Kingdom, the
London Underground, London
Overground and the Docklands
Light Railway, an extensive bus
network, tram services, riverboat
services, the Public Carriage Of-
ce (responsible for black cabs),
London Dial-a-Ride is operated by
the Transport for London (TfL).
In another development,
Tolentino said he took advantage
of the trafc monitoring exercise
at the area of the SM Mall of
Asia Arena during the two-day
Lady Gaga concert to determine
the number of vehicles that pass
through the area every day.
We saw the need to know
how many vehicles pass through
the SM Mall of Asia so we could
draw, prepare and apply trafc
measures when former National
Basketball Association star Yao
Ming joins a friendly game at the
arena in June, he said.
By Rio N. Araja

METRO Manila Development
Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino
has proposed the merger of bus
companies plying major thoroughfares
in Metro Manila and directed his
agencys planning ofce to study the
matter for possible discussion with
stakeholders.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Energy Department is planning to
install solar-powered lights at the Ayala
Tunnel similar to what was done with the
Boni Tunnel where sub-standard lights
were replaced with solar light emitting
diodes (LEDs).
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras
said the department together with the Public
Works and Highways Department and the
Metro Manila Development Authority
is looking at the Ayala Tunnel because it
is costing government a lot in terms of
electricity cost.
Theyre thinking they also want to do
Ayala Tunnel. Thats one of the longest tun-
nels we have. Its costing a lot so we want to
address that. When I was looking at this proj-
ect, I said its so practical. The tunnel is dark
during the day and theres so much sunlight so
we might as well build solar-powered lights,
solar panels, Almendras said.
He said they are looking at the Asian
Development Bank to partially nance the
project but he expressed condence that
a good project will have no shortage of
funders.
Almendras said that aside from Ayala, he
is hoping that the Boni Tunnel lighting proj-
ect will be replicated in other areas as well
because it will be more cost effective.
The idea is to convince everyone, espe-
cially the other LGUs, that since they really
provide this service, then [they shouldnt]
go with traditional lighting. Lets go with
the newer technology lighting, he said.
The new lighting system of the Boni
Tunnel was replaced by 94 22-watt LED
tubes from Philips generating 30,000 burn-
ing hours. It is partially powered by solar
panels installed in a 59-square meter park
on top of one of the tunnel entrances.
The solar panels can generate 6,648 kilo-
watt hours per year and cover 19 percent of
the total tunnel power demand, resulting in
51 percent energy savings compared with
the old system.
Flayed tempers. Irritable plane passengers gather at the immigration area of the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 after a computer glitch hit the document
processing system and affected passengers from 25 ights over nine hours.
ERIC APOLONIO
Airport computer glitch
causes passenger pile-up
THE Bureau of Immigration computer
system at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport Terminal 1 encountered a
system failure Monday interrupting the
computerized services of immigration
formalities for both arriving and departing
passengers.
The computer glitch caused arriving
and departing passengers from 25 ights
to pile up at the immigration area from 2
p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Bureau of Immigration had to put
up additional counters to accommodate
the volume of passenger who were being
processed manually. Er ic B. Apolonio
Marikina prohibits use
of plastics, Styrofoam
MARIKINA City has banned the use of
plastics as storage and packaging for dry
and wet goods sold in the city, according
to Mayor Del De Guzman.
De Guzman said Ordinance No. 18,
Series of 2012 aims to lessen accumulated
plastic garbage in sanitary landlls and
bans the use of plastics and disposable
utensils made of styrofoam like plates,
cups, and containers for commercial and
personal purposes.
Individuals who violate the ordinance
will be ned P500 per offense, or
eight hours of community service, or a
minimum of 200cc blood donation.
As for establishments, violators will
be ned P1,000 for the rst offense;
P3,000 and temporary revocation of
business permit, for the second offense;
and P5,000 permanent closure of the
establishment for the third offense.
Gigi Muoz David
Manila Bay Clean-Up
Run listup opens May 28
REGISTRATION for the Manila Bay
Clean-Up Run, scheduled on July 15, will
begin on May 28 at Manila Broadcasting
Co. and Chris Sports outlets at the
Glorietta, Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia, SM
Megamall, SM Bicutan, SM Southmall,
and SM North EDSA. Deadline for
registration is on July 2.
The event will feature races in the 3K,
5K, 10K, and 15K divisions for both men
and women. Trophies and cash prizes will
be given to the top three winners in each
race division, with a special award for the
biggest delegation or group that submits a
minimum of 25 paying entries.
The Manila Bay Clean-Up Run is a
project of MBC and Star City in coopera-
tion with the City of Manila The race will
also coincide with the 72nd anniversary
celebration of MBCs agship radio station
DZRH, the Philippines oldest surviving
radio network. For enquiries, please con-
tact Race Mechanics at (0921)592-7956 or
email [email protected]
By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Educa-
tion was urged to come up with
a curriculum for the countrys
thousands of inmates who are in-
terested in pursuing their studies
while serving their prison terms.
In House Resolution 2342,
Quezon City Rep. Winston
Castelo, member of the House
Committee on Basis Education
and Culture, noted that half of
the 12,000 inmates in the Nation-
al Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa
City did not nish grade school.
HR 2342 cited the state policy
of giving priority to education, sci-
ence and technology, arts, culture,
and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism accelerate social prog-
ress and promote total human lib-
eration and development.
The resolution also cited sev-
eral case studies in the United
States that proved that prison
education plays an important role
in reducing recidivism among in-
mates attending classes or train-
ing while in prison.
At present, under BuCors re-
habilitation program, inmates are
given an opportunity to experi-
ence formal education classes
from intermediate, secondary to
collegiate courses.
Under the program, the in-
mates are also provided with
vocational and livelihood skills
training, like basic electronics
and automotive repair, practical
electricity, handicraft making, art
paintings, clothing designs, basic
welding, and computer literacy
courses for juvenile offenders.
The seven operating units under
the Bureau of Correction are the
New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa
City, the Correctional Institution
for Women in Mandaluyong City,
the CIW in Panabo, Davao, the
Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the
Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm
in Occidental Mindoro, the San
Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in
Zamboanga City, the Leyte Re-
gional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte
and the Davao Prison and Penal
Farm in Panabo, Davao.
Hopes of nding pilots dim
HOPES of nding the two pilots who are missing after the trainer
plane crash last week was getting dimmer but the Air Force is not
giving up just yet, according to Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Catalino dela
Cruz.
Weve no good news yet. What the sonar identied yesterday was
a wreckage of an old boat from the 150 feet deeps, dela Cruz said.
So far, we are still searching. What is important is to recover them,
including the plane wreckage so that we will be able to know the
cause of the crash.
The Italy-made SF260 trainer plane crashed last Friday some 3
nautical miles off Mariveles, Bataan.
While the Air Force declined to reveal the identities of the two
pilots, reliable sources said them as Maj. Tumaning, a member of the
Masikhay Class of 1999 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA),
and Lt. Arugay. Sources said the two pilots were from Cagayan.
Were praying that they will be found as soon as possible. The
Masikhay class will be gathering this evening at the Villamor Air base
for a mass to offer prayers, one member of the class said.
Flor ante S. Solmer in

THE advent of May showers failed to
quench the sizzling racing action that took
place last weekend at Santa Ana Park.
Three ery battles tore up the Philippine
Racing Club track in Naic, Cavite
two backed by the Philippine Racing
Commission and one by the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Ofce.
Saturday, May 19, showcased a double
feature: the Philracom 1st leg Hopeful Stakes
andthe PCSOSpecial MaidenRace, whichwere
set back-to-backasraces3and4onthecard.
It rained heavily just before race 3, a
wall of water turning the track sloppy but
rm and reducing visibility to almost zero.
Consequently, the races were delayed
until the rain eased just before the
Hopeful Stakes ran.
The Hopeful Stakes is open to 3YO local-
bred runners that opted not to compete
in the stiffer Triple Crown competition.
Thirteen runners nearly lled the gate to
race over 1,600 meters.
After hard-fought hostilities in front by
Yes Yes Yes and Ikel, off-the-pace runner
Golden Empire, the second favorite,
stormed home to win by 1.5 lengths over
Chevrome. Sea Princess checked in third,
and sixth choice Spring Collection fourth.
The time for the race was 1:41.8 with
quarters of 26-23-24-28.
Golden Empire (Minx x Golden Ballet),
owned by Anton Almeda and bred by his
father Lamberto Jun Almeda Jr., was
ridden by Kelvin Abobo and is trained
by Quirino Rayat. The win gave them
P600,000 and a breeders purse of P30,000.
The Philracom Special Maiden Race, also
for local 3YO, was run over a less stressful
1,200 meters, with Aristeo Puyats
powerhouse lly Water Shed (Master
Class x Wooded) running wire-to-wire to
beat third pick Miss Malapia by a nose.
Heavy favorite Heart Summer showed
no speed and settled for third, while
A7 Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
[email protected]
Westbrook scored 28 points, Durant
added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and
the two All-Stars skipped their usual
rest periods to power the Thunder
ahead in the second half for a 106-
90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers
in Game 5 of the West seminals on
Monday night.
We know thats the most important
time of the game, especially in a tight
game, Durant said. I think that we
kept our composure throughout the
fourth, and our poise and we made
plays.
Kobe Bryant scored 42 points for
the Lakers and took the briefest of
rest - less than 2 minutes - in the
second half. It didnt even take that
Track on re
Thunder set duel with Spurs
OKLAHOMA CITYWith the Oklahoma
City Thunder just starting to come to life,
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant didnt
need to take a break.They will have enough
time to rest as they get ready for a second
straight trip to the Western Conference nals.
IN BRIEF
Canizares nails 2 crowns
YOUTHFUL Argil Lance Canizares
gained two crowns in the ninth leg of
14th Smart Presents the HEAD 2012
junior national Tennis Age-Group
Satellite Circuit in Baguio City.
No. 3 Canizares, 15, whacked
Mindanaos Allian Abdulqoahar, 6-3, 6-2,
to take home the boys 18-under singles
crown of the 64-day junior tournament
supported by Smart, Chris Sports, HEAD,
Meralco, Maynilad and Toalson.
Canizares and Julian Dayrit registered
a 6-4, 6-1 win over Allian Abdulqoahar
and Mikko Ringia to grab the boys
18-under crown of the event sanctioned
by the Philippine Tennis Association.
But Marcen Gonzales denied Canizares
third title when he posted a 6-3, 1-6, 10-8
victory for the boys 16 title.
Smart jins join World University tilt
THE Philippines quest
for more international
taekwondo honors continues
with the participation of the
SMART team in the 2012
World University Taekwondo
Championships on May 25 to
30 in Pocheon, Korea.
The event will showcase
the best university athletes
in the world. It serves as a
timely exposure and stepping
stone for our jins, who are
preparing for the World Cup
Championships slated in
November this year in Santa
Cruz, Aruba.
The Philippines Samuel
Thomas Morrison captured a
silver medal in this competition
last year in Shenzen, China.
Veteran internationalist Japoy
Lizardo is also one of the
regular contributors to the
countrys medal production in
prestigious world events.
The SMART squad to
Korea will be composed of
male and female kyorugi
(sparring) and poomsae
(forms) athletes. They are:
Kyorugi (male)Ralph
Erick Bunda, n; Justin
Benedict Medina, y; Paul
Romero, bantam; Samuel
Thomas Morrison, feather;
Ron Servito, light; Christian
Al dela Cruz, welter; and
Kristopher Robert Uy, middle.
Kyorugi (female)Mary
Anjelay Pelaez, n; Ma.
Isabella Erika Mora, y;
Karla Jane Alava, bantam;
Jade Zafra, feather; Jane
Rafaelle Narra, welter; and
Kristie Elaine Alora, middle.
PoomsaeVidal Marvin
Gabriel, Shaneen Ched Sia,
Patricia Mae Sembrano and
Leonarda Nicole Landrito.
Anna Dominique Coseteng
is head of the delegation with
Victor Emmanuel Veneracion
as team leader. Roberto Cruz
and Dindo Simpao are the
coaches while Jesus Morales
III is the international referee.
The team is supported by
MVP Sports Foundation/
SMART Communications,
Inc., Philippine Long Distance
Telephone (PLDT) and
Philippine Sports Commission.
PHs greatest
golfers clash
THE countrys top players from Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao slug it out in a
dream Ryder Cup-style showdown dubbed
The DuelNorth vs South on May 30
to June 1 at the posh Alabang Golf and
Country Club in Muntinlupa.
The novel event features the top 24
players from last years Order of Merit
ranking of the International Container
Terminal Services Inc. Philippine Golf
Tour, ghting it with Angelo Que, Miguel
Tabuena and Artemio Murakami heading
the North squad and ace Davaoeno
shotmakers Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron
and Tony Lascuna bannering the South
team.
Play will be foursomes (alternate shot)
and fourball (best ball)ve matches each
in the rst two days with the singles
12 matchesslated in the nal day. The
rst team to win 16 points clinches the
Duel, according to Colo Ventosa, general
manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf
Tournaments Inc.
Cookie LaO will skipper the North
squad that includes Mars Pucay, Gerald
Rosales, Jun Bernis, Benjie Magada, Gene
Bondoc, Michael Bibat, Randy Garalde,
Carl Santos-Ocampo and Joenard Rates.
Joining Salvador, Bayron and Lascuna
in the South squad, skippered by Charles
Hong, are Jhonnel Ababa, Cassius Casas,
Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando,
Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban, Richard
Sinfuego, Ferdie Aunzo and Runo
Bayron.
A pro-am tournament will precede the
Duel on May 29 featuring the leading
pros and amateurs from the sponsoring
International Container Terminal Services,
Inc. and backers Titleist, FootJoy,
Callaway, Nike Golf, TaylorMade, Sharp,
Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno and Srixon
and Alabang Golf Club.
Meanwhile, Salvador guns for a second
straight win on the ICTSI-PGT as he heads
Henares settles for 2 silvers
THREE-TIME shooting champion Daniel
Danby Henares went home with two
silver medals in the recent Philippine
National Shooting Associations National
benchrest 50 competition at the Marine
Range in Taguig City.
Henares shot 463 out of a possible
500 in the benchrest 50 competition, but
failed to surpass the record of Philippine
Amusement Gaming Corporation director
Gene Manalastas, who edged him out for
the gold with a score of 467 points.
The competition is getting tougher
because the equipment and the shooters
are moving to a new level, said Henares.
I think I was so lucky to take the silver
medal, but we would make adjustments
to improve on that performance in July,
said Henares, who will be leaving in
June for some commitments abroad.
Henares also won the silver medal in the
light varmint class when he scored another
463 points, but he was clipped by Noni
Alvero (473) for the gold medal trophy.
Winning in the light varmint class
is always the icing on the cake for me
because they use ries that are superior
to mine and yet I always come home
with a medal. Again, I feel so lucky,
said Henares being the only shooter to
take two medals in this month.
long for the game, and their season,
to slip away.
After getting eliminated by Los
Angeles in 2010 and Dallas in 2011
before both of those teams went on to
win it all, the Thunder knocked both
out on their way to the West nals for
the second straight year.
The only other time the franchise
made consecutive conference nals
was from 1978-80, including Seattles
only NBA title in 1979.
CELTICS 101, SIXERS 85
BOSTONThey started as a Big
Three and grew to a Big Four when
Rajon Rondo earned the right to be
mentioned along with the other Boston
Celtics All-Stars.
At no point, however, did Brandon
Bass merit marquee billing in his rst
season in Boston.
The fth, newest and least-heralded
member of the Celtics starting lineup,
Bass erupted for a career playoff-high
27 points on Monday night, scoring 18
in the third quarter as Boston pulled
away from the Philadelphia 76ers to
win 101-85 and take a 3-2 lead in the
Eastern Conference seminals.
Weve got a few good players
on the team that they had to focus
on, said Bass, who left the game to
a standing ovation with 2 minutes
left and Boston leading by 18. That
left me open, and I was able to take
advantage of my opportunity. AP
JENNY
ORTUOSTE
THE HOARSE WHISPERER
Reyes stuns Patrombon
FIL-ITALIAN Marc Reyes and Thai
partner Pruchiya Isarow pulled off a 6-4,
3-6 12-10 stopping of Jeson Patrombon
and Chinese netter Bowen Ouyang in
the rst round of the $10,000 Thailand
F3 Futures Mens Tennis Tournament
in Bangkok.
This allowed Reyes and Isarow to
reach the quarternal round and arrange
a showdown with second seed Taiwanese
netters Hsin Han Le and Hsien Ying Peng.
Patrombon is in contention in the
mens singles and is set to face Perakiat
Siriluethaiwanattan in the rst round.
Peter Atencio
longshot Machine Gun Mama came in
fourth to cause havoc in the quartet.
With a total time of 1:12.8 from splits
of 24-22-26, Water Shed, ridden by Rodeo
Fernandez and trained by Johnny Sordan,
marks herself as one to watch.
Present that day at the awarding
ceremonies were, from PCSO, general
manager lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas
II and other PCSO ofcials; and from the
Philracom, chairman Angel L. Castao Jr.,
executive director and commissioner Jesus
Cantos, and commissioners lawyer Victor
Tantoco, veterinarian Reynaldo Fernando,
and former star jockey Lyndon Guce.
On Sunday, May 20, racing fans turned
out bright and early to witness the
Philracom 1st leg Triple Crown stakes. The
mile-long race featured six elite 3YO.
The hotly-contested race was narrowly
won by Mayor Benhur Abaloss 3YO colt
Hagdang Bato, who edged the hard-
charging Steel Creation by a mere nose
and an impressive time of 1:39.
Fleet lly Humble Riches wore herself
out in the early stages of the race, coming
in third, with Patron taking fourth.
The win was worth P1.8 million for Hagdang
Batos connections, including jockey Jonathan
Hernandez and trainer Ruben Tupas.
Reviewing the race, Hagdang Batos
jockey could have lost as he stood before
he hit the wire, an absolute no-no in the
sport. The premature grandstanding might
have cost the win. Had the race been a bit
longer, Steel Creation, guided by Jeffril
Zarate, could have won.
Is this a premonition of what it might be
like in the second leg of the Triple Crown,
which is 1,800 meters long and also set at
Santa Ana Park on June 24?
Meanwhile, this weekend, again at
Santa Ana Park, is extra-special with the
staging of the annual Jockeys Day races.
The highlight Jockeys Cup is set for
Sunday, May 27, said New Philippine Jockeys
Association president Antonio Alcasid Jr.,
who also expressed his thanks to the events
sponsors, which include PCSO, Philracom,
PRC, MARHO (Metropolitan Association of
Race Horse Owners), Philippine Race Horse
Trainers Association, and Manila Horsepower
Organization,as well as individual donors.
There will be ten other special races on
that day and twelve on Saturday, May 26.
* * *
Email: [email protected], Blog: http://
jennyo.net, Twitter: @gogirlracing
Former UST
Tiger wins
Grand Prix
FORMER University of Santo
Tomas standout Greg Vincent
Osario took the top spot last
Sunday in mens 10-kilometer
run of the Philippine Road
Running Grand Prix.
Osario crossed the Rajah
Sulayman Park nish in
Malate clocking 35 minutes
and 40.2 seconds, some ve
minutes and 16.7 seconds
ahead of Aris Suaverdez.
Cesar de la Rosa settled for
third 45:35.4.
Reigning national Milo
Marathon 42-kilometer winner
Mary Grace de los Santos took
the womens crown in 4:21.2.
Multi-titled Melbert
Mabua-ab crowned himself
the mens 5-kilometer
champion in 17:45.8, with
Fernando Parcon nishing
second and Janet Lumidaw
taking the womens plum in
20:59.1.
Newcomer Bryan Pumicpic
ruled the mens 3-kilometer
action in 9:15.5, beating
Michael Torchiva (11:15.7)
while Marie Alison took the
womens crown.
Danilo Sealiza ruled the
mens 1.6-kilometer event,
while Unesea Pilapilas
dominated the distaff side.
The races, organized by the
Philippine Amateur Track and
Field Association, were held in
observance of the International
Association of Athletic
Federations Centennary Year.
Peter Atencio

Ateneo vs AMA Computer in nals
IT will be Ateneo versus AMA Computer University for
the Seaoil-NBTC Junior Elite League crown.
The two teams arranged the titular
showdown after pulling off similar hard-
earned victories over their respective rivals
in the Final Four recently at the Xavier
School wooden court.
Ateneo nipped La Salle-Greenhills,
60-57, while AMA Computer University
turned back Chang Kai Shek, 74-72, in the seminals
of this tournament backed by Seaoil, and San Miguel
Corporations Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog, Star
Margarine and Magnolia Spinner Ice Cream. Molten
is the ofcial basketball.
James Gotladera led the way for the Eaglets as he
nished with 22 points followed by Xavier
Jorvina with 19 in this event supervised by
the National Basketball Training Center, in
partnership with the International Basketball
Academy for grade school kids (12-under) in
the National Capital Region.
AMA Computer, handled by Mark
Herrera, had four players scoring in double gures,
headed by Christian Tanedos 29. Lorenzo Buncayo
added 13 markers, while JC Baltazar and Clint
Escamis contributed 10 each.
PH bikers get boost. The Philippine Cycling Team graced
the recently concluded sales rally of the Asiawide Refreshments
Corporation. Its head coach and members came in full gear to inspire
ARCs Luzon sales force towards achieving victory, as the athletes
convincingly did at last years Southeast Asian Games. The team is
gearing up for its next grueling challenge, the Ronda Pilipinas. The cola
firm is sponsoring the team, which will go as Team RC Cola to compete
against other elite cyclists through 15 stages.
Fun run backed. Victoria Court showed its commitment not only to tness and health, but also to its social
responsibility to the community by participating in the recent "FEET2RUN: A Run for the Poor Needy-Barefoot Children
of Manila" that took place in Camp Crame . The event was held in partnership with the Philippine National Police
Academy Alumni Association, Inc., BJMP-NCR Lakan Chapter and the local government. This advocacy campaign aims
to distribute rubber slippers and food items to needy street children. Photo shows VC employees who joined the run.
Game on Friday
(Jacinto Tiu Gym,
Xavier School)
2 p.m. AMA Computer
vs Ateneo
(Game 1 of best-of-three)
Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
WEDNESDAY
A8
NBA RESULTS
Gadi rolls to badminton nals; Alcala shocks eld
TOBY Gadi dominated Peter Gabriel
Magnaye in straight sets to arrange a duel
with Ralph Ian Mendez for the Open
singles crown even as young Mark Alcala
stunned No. 2 Carlos Cayanan to barge
into the Under-19 nals of the MVP Sports
Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking
System circuit at the Metro Sports Center in
Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.
The top-seeded Gadi, seeking to extend
his reign in the premier class of the event he
dominated last year, overwhelmed the third-
ranked Magnaye in the opener then hung
tough to fashion out a 21-3, 21-7 triumph
and arrange a title clash with No. 13 Mendez,
who stopped Andrei Babad, 16-21, 21-7, 21-
13, in the other semis clash.
Golden Shuttle Foundation teammates
Gelita Castilo and Bianca Carlos forged an
expected title showdown in the ladies Open
singles by thumping their respective rivals
with the former holding off Jen Cayetano,
21-14, 21-19, and the latter disposing of
Bianca Legaspi, 21-6, 21-11.
But the day belonged to the 13-year-old
Alcala, winner of four U-15 titles last year and
vying in the tougher division this year, who
grounded the second-seeded Cayanan, 21-18,
21-12, to reach the U-19 nals of the event
sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas and organized
by the Philippine Badminton Association.
But Alcala will have to double his effort as
he slugs it out with third seed John Kenneth
Monterubio, also of Phl team-Victor, who foiled
JC Clarito, 21-17, 21-17, in the other semis
clash in the event backed by ofcial equipment
sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the
Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.
Like Gadi, Alcala is tipped to run away
with his fth crown in the U-15 class of the
tournament backed by Gatorade, Krav Maga
Phils., Sincere Construction and Development
Corp., Vineza Industrial Sales, TV5 and
Badminton Extreme Magazine. He bundled out
Alexis Geverjuan of Whackers, 21-7, 21-13, to
seal a title duel with No. 2 Patrick Gecosala of
ETC Space Shuttle Kidapawan, who trounced
Emilio Mangubat Jr., 21-18, 21-6.
LOTTO RESULTS
6/49 000000000000
6/42 000000000000
6 DIGITS 000000000000
3 DIGITS 000000
2 EZ2 0000
P0.0M+
P0.0M+
Lady Stags
clinch last
semis slot
Tough
grind for
Pacman
Gabuco incentive: P1m
JOSIE Gabuco will receive P1
million in cash as incentive for
her gold-medal nish in the
recent AIBA Womens World
Boxing Championships in
Qinhuangdao, China.
Amateur Boxing Association
of the Philippines secretary
general Pato Gregorio
announced the granting of
the cash bonanza during the
Philippine Sportswriters
Association Forum at Shakeys
UN Avenue.
Were very happy with
her victory, so this is the good
time to announce that ABAP-
PLDT is giving her P1 million
as a reward, said Gregorio as
Gabuco sat beside him.
Businessman Manny V.
Pangilinan of Smart/PLDT, who
is also ABAP chairman, and
ABAP president Ricky Vargas
are expected to hand the cash
incentive to Gabuco.
Im very happy with this.
This will take care of the
education of my son, said the
25-year-old Gabuco, a two-time
SEA Games gold medalist who
has a ve-year-old son.
To win the gold in
Qinhuangdao, the 25-year-old
Gabuco went through the eye
of the needle, beating opponents
from Venezuela, Mongolia,
Canada, Russia and China.
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
FIGHTER of the Decade
Manny Pacquiao is ready for a
grueling grind in his last week
of heavy sparring at the Wild
Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao, who will wind
down his training this week
with sparring sessions on
Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday, told Dyan Castillejo
of ABS-CBN, that he is ready
for a furious nal week of
sparring against four ghters
handpicked by trainer Freddie
Roach.
Aside from the two Russians,
headed by welterweight Ruslan
Provodnikov, who ghts very
much like Pacquiaos June 9
foe Timothy Bradley, Roach
has also enlisted the support
of Roger Speedy Gonzales,
a Mexican-American ghter
with a record of 27-5, with 18
knockouts.
Roach said all Pacquiaos
sparring partners are between
135 to 155 pounds and he is
looking forward to a week
of hard sparring before Team
Pacquiao leaves for Las Vegas
on June 3 after the usual, nal
four-round sparring sessions at
the Wild Card Gym.
Meantime, lightweight con-
tender Marvin Quintero, who
serves as one of Bradleys
sparring partners at his train-
ing camp in California, told
boxingscene.com that the un-
defeated boxer has a chance
against Pacquiao.
I assure you he (Bradley)
will give Pacquiao a lot more
trouble in their ght than
people think, said Quintero.
Quintero (25-3, 21 KOs)
added: I think he (Bradley)
can win and make history.
SAN Sebastian College
rebounded from a rst-set
s e t b a c k
with a
sweep of
the next
three to
f r us t r a t e
Na t i o n a l
University,
22-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21, and
clinch the last seminal berth
in the ninth Shakeys V-League
Presented by Smart at The Arena
in San Juan yesterday.
Jeng Bualee took charge
again for the Lady Stags, ring
30 attacks and nishing with 33
hits, while Rubie de Leon and
Joy Benito combined for 27
markers for the Recoletos-based
squad, which improved to 4-2
and joined Ateneo (7-0), UST
(4-1) and Perpetual Help (4-1) in
the Final Four of the tournament
sponsored by Shakeys Pizza.
NU bowed out with a 1-5 mark.
With Ara Mallare scoring six
hits, only four players scored
for SSC, but the Lady Stags got
the job done just the same as
Bualee continued to dominate
with her power game.
Din-Din Santiago led NU
with 18 hits, including 16 kills,
while Maricar Nepomuceno and
Myla Pablo tossed in 14 and 13
points, respectively. But the Lady
Bulldogs failed to completely
neutralize Bualee after an inspiring
opening set victory.
NU actually led at 18-16 in the
fourth set after scoring the last
seven points but SSC struck back
by winning nine of the next 11
points, aided by Ivy Perezservice
error to wrap up the one-hour,
34-minute encounter in the league
backed by Mikasa and Accel.
By Peter Atencio
THE Philippine Youth Team, led
by pitcher Paco Tantuico with eight
strikeouts, demolished the Titans, 10-0, to
pick their rst win in two games yesterday
in the ongoing baseball competitions
of the Philippine Olympic Committee-
Philippine Sports Commission National
Games at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.
For six innings, Tantuico held the Titans
scoreless and allowed just one hit, enabling
the national under-18 batters to bounce
back from a 2-3 loss to the National seniors
team the other day.
They are set to meet Rizal Technological
University at 3 p.m. today, seeking their
second consecutive victory.
In other games, Angeles University
Foundation whipped ILLAM, 3-2, to catch
up in the lead with RP Youth.
At the University of Santo Tomas grounds,
UST blasted the Korean Students team, 7-0,
for its second consecutive triumph, while
the University of the Philippines Maroons
escaped with an 11-10 beating of the RP
juniors.
Team Smokey Mountain came off with a
7-0 rout of another Korean squad.
Ferdinand Liguayan, who fanned out two
runners, had two RBs apiece with Pelos
Remollo.
Franco Hashimoto scored the rst
run for the PH Youth squad in the rst
inning following a elding error at
second base.
PH Youth Team demolish Titans, 10-0, in national games
Donaire
takes on
African
Arum earlier indicated that
Mijares had been picked over
Mathebula, but apparently had
a change of heart because of the
opportunity for a unication bout.
Mathebula is handled by South
African promoter Branco Milenko-
vic, who for some time has been
talking to Top Ranks Carl Moretti
about a possible unication title
ght against Donaire.
Donaire, who began training last
week at the Top Rank Gym in Las
Vegas and felt so good that he even
sparred four rounds, earlier told the
Manila Standard he doesnt care
who they put in front of him.
Ill take them down one by
one, said Donaire.
Milenkovic told the Manila
Standard that Mathebula is one
of his four IBF champions and
they are keenly looking forward
to ghting Donaire.
He noted that Mathebula will be
his second fighter to face Donaire
after current IBF flyweight champion
Moruti Mthalane lost to the Filipino
by a sixth-round technical knockout
when the referee stopped the fight
and the African suffered a bad cut and
a bloodied nose.
Based on Morutis performance
against Donaire, without doubt Jef-
frey will have a better chance as he
is bigger and stronger than Mtha-
lane, said Milenkovic.
He said this will be Mathebulas
second attempt to unify the title,
having dropped a split decision
in an unication title bout against
Celestino Caballero in Panama,
which he claimed was a rob-
bery and the media in Panama
crucied the ofcials.
At the same time, Milenkovic
downplayed the value of a title
defense by Donaire against former
world champion Cristian Mijares.
No disrespect to Mijares, but in
my opinion, his best days are past.
While he (Mijares) is the Silver
champion, Jeffrey is a legitimate
IBF champion, he said.
By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WORLD Boxing Organization super
bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire
will finally face newly crowned International
Boxing Federation super bantamweight
champion Jeffrey Mathebula at the Home
Depot Center in Los Angeles, according to
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
MAY 23, 2012
[email protected] [email protected] Riera U. Mallari, Editor
TNT Texters
battle Bolts
By Jeric Lopez

THE road to redemption begins
today for powerhouse Talk N Text.
After falling short last confer-
ence, the Tropang Texters start an-
other chapter when they play sister
team Meralco Bolts at 7:30 p.m.
in the 2012 Philippine Basketball
Association Governors Cup at the
Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
TNT, which wants to do
everything in its power to help
Coach Chot Reyes win a title in his
last tour of duty with the Texters,
lost Game 7 of the Commissioners
Cup nals at the hands of B-MEG.
In the curtain-raiser, crowd darling
Barangay Ginebra and Air21 clash at
5:15 p.m. Ginebra will have Cedric
Bozeman as its reinforcement, while
Air21 will lean on Zach Graham.
He (Bozeman) plays the shooting
guard and small forward positions and
I think thats what we need right now.
So far, hes doing good and fits our
team well, but of course, well see if
it works in the games, said Ginebra
coach Siot Tanquincen.
While the Kings and Express
will parade new faces, the Tropang
Texters and the Bolts will rest their
fates on old reliables, bringing in
their respective imports from last
seasons Commissioners Cup.
Filipino boxers (from left) Genesis Servania, Donnie Nietes and
Milan Melindo put up a fighting stance during their PSA Forum
appearance Tuesday. The three will headline the Pinoy Pride
14: Night of Champions on June 2 at the Resorts World Hotel
against foreign foes. SONNY ESPIRITU
Games tomorrow
2 p.m. Adamson
vs FEU
4 p.m. National
vs UST
6 p.m. SSC vs
Perpetual
Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum):
5:15 p.m. Barangay Ginebra
vs. Air21
7:30 p.m. Talk N Text
vs. Meralco
THUNDER 106, LAKERS 90
CELTICS 101, SIXERS 85
Twice-to-beat edge. Gio Ciriacruz (right)
of Blackwater Sports towers with a one-
handed shot against the defense of Caf
Frances Jason Deutchman in the Philippine
Basketball Association D-League Foundation
Cup at the Treston gym in Taguig City. The Elite
capitalized on a strong rst half to dominate
the Bakers, 96-65, and earn a twice-to-beat
advantage in the quarternals.
Mirage comeback. CHONBURI, Thailand--Thai employees work at the state-of-the-art production plant of Mitsubishi Motors
(Thailand) Company Ltd. in the port city of Laem Chabang in Chonburi province, Thailand. The Japanese car maker began production
of the all-new Mitsubishi Mirage, its rst entry in the small car segment. The plant has an annual production capacity of 130,000
Mirage units, with 35,000 aimed for the Thai market and the rest for other Asian countries, including the Philippines, where it will
be introduced in October this year. The small car, powered by a 1.2-liter engine, runs more than 20 kilometers on a liter of gasoline.
Mitsubishi, which began full production of Mirage in April, has received more than 20,000 bookings in Thailand alone, where it is
sold for 390,000 Thai Baht, or about P550,000. RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ
Business
B1
Ray S. Eano, Editor [email protected]
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor [email protected]
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX
Closing May 22, 2012
4,958.43
4.43
OIL
PRICES
TODAY
P780-P895.00
LPG/11-kg tank
P54.55-P61.02
Unleaded Gasoline
P46.10-P49.90
Diesel
P52.34-P57.85
Kerosene
P38.50-P39.20
Auto LPG
FOREI GN EXCHANGE RATE
Currency Unit US Dollar Peso
United States Dollar 1.000000 43.1540
Japan Yen 0.012609 0.5441
UK Pound 1.583700 68.3430
Hong Kong Dollar 0.128798 5.5581
Switzerland Franc 1.066780 46.0358
Canada Dollar 0.983284 42.4326
Singapore Dollar 0.787836 33.9983
Australia Dollar 0.984931 42.5037
Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 114.4729
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266660 11.5074
Brunei Dollar 0.784745 33.8649
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000108 0.0047
Thailand Baht 0.031928 1.3778
UAE Dirham 0.272264 11.7493
Euro Euro 1.281500 55.3019
Korea Won 0.000856 0.0369
China Yuan 0.158030 6.8196
India Rupee 0.018192 0.7851
Malaysia Ringgit 0.319285 13.7784
NewZealand Dollar 0.072994 32.7371
Taiwan Dollar 0.033847 1.4606
Source: PDS Bridge
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
40
42
44
46
48
P43.130
CLOSE
Closing MAY 22, 2012
5200
4460
3720
2980
2240
1500
1200
VOLUME 752.860M
HIGH P43.050 LOW P43.150 AVERAGE P43.123
IN BRIEF
Big hotel
to rise on
racetrack
property
Facebook needs help of friends as stock plunges after IPO
PH eyes Vietnam,
Thai rice imports
Govt tigthens up
on airline promos
By Othel V. Campos
THE Philippines will invite
Thailand and Vietnam to join
a tender for 100,000 tons of
rice under a government-to-
government deal, the National
Food Authority said Tuesday
Were sending out letters
to Vietnam and Thailand for
offers. We need to nd out
which of these two countries
will give the best price,
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
Alcala said in an interview
after the NFA Council meeting
Monday night.
Cambodia may join a separate
bidding for the supply of 20,000
tons of rice if an agreement
allowing the country to be a
Philippine supplier is signed by
May 30.
The Agriculture Department
has set aside 120,000 MT rice for
importation by the government
after putting 380,000 MT of
rice on the auction block for the
private sector.
The government maintained
that rice importation in 2012
would be within the threshold
of 500,000 MT set by the
department.
Rice production in the country,
meanwhile, could reach reach
11.25 million metric tons in the
rst nine months of the year, up
4.7 percent from 10.74 million
MT year-on-year, the Bureau
of Agricultural Statistics said
Tuesday.
The bureau said the projected
8.7 percent and 7.7 percent
production increase for the
second and third quarters of the
year would offset the 1.1 percent
decline in output in the rst
quarter.
First-quarter rice production
stood at 3.99 million MT while
second-quarter output based on
standing crop is projected to
reach 3.85 million MT. Third-
quarter output may reach 3.41
million MT.
Palay, or unmilled rice, output
is expected to increase in major
palay producing regions such as
Cagayan and Central Luzon.
Rice output in the Cagayan
Valley is expected to increase
177,600 MT to 772,000 MT this
year.
By Lailany P. Gomez
THE Civil Aeronautics Board
has asked local airlines to be more
transparent in their promotional fares and
advertisements, after ordering them earlier
to refund and rebook all tickets.
CAB executive director
Carmelo Arcilla said in an order
all domestic carriers should
ensure that promotional fare
advertisements were in readable
font for public convenience and
transparency.
In addition to the same, the
advertisement should state the
amount of travel tax, the range
of fuel surcharge for the routes
covered, and other applicable
fees and charges, Arcilla said.
The CAB order directed
airlines applying for promotional
fares to le a letter-request stating
the restrictions, duration and
other conditions of the promotion
at least three days before the
effectivity or publication of the
offer.
It said the contents of the
advertisement of the promotional
fares should contain basic
information, including refund
and rebooking conditions and
other information to appraise
the passengers of the actual
or full price of the tickets
purchased.
The order added that airlines
should provide only the range
and not the actual surcharge for
each route if there are differing
conditions such as fuel surcharge
in relation to the points of
destination or origin.
The said restriction, conditions,
duration and other information
relating to the total price, as well
as rebooking and refund policies,
should also be readable and easily
noticeable, the agency said.
The advertisement must contain
details such as phone numbers or
Web site, where the passengers
can obtain complete information,
including the number of seats
offered, destinations, schedules,
rebooking and refund policies
elative to the promotional fares
offered.
The regulator said it would
impose penalities and other
sanctions for violation of the
order.
The agency earlier temporarily
suspended the right of local
airlines to deny rebooking
and refund of tickets on both
promotional and regular ights
following complaints against
them.
The regulator in a memorandum
ordered all airline companies
to suspend until nal action of
the board the non-rebookability
or refundability as a condition
attached to any tickets.
It issued the notice to Zest
Airways Inc., South East Asian
Airlines, Airphil Express Inc.,
Air Asia, Philippine Airlines
Inc., and Cebu Pacic Air.
Consequently, all tickets,
regular or promo shall be re-
bookable and refundable. The
general conditions of carriage
shall be amended accordingly,
Arcilla said in the order.
The global standard calls for
airlines to overbook up to 10
percent in anticipation of no-
show passengers.
By Jenniffer B. Austria

RACETRACK operator Manila
Jockey Club Inc. is pushing
through with a plan to put up
a world-class hotel within its
former racetrack property in Sta.
Cruz, Manila.
Manila Jockey Club said in a
disclosure to the stock exchange
it gave the go-signal to transfer a
portion of the San Lazaro Tourism
and Business Park, consisting
of 75,000 square meters, to
investment arm MJC Investments
Corp.
The company will make the
transfer through a property-for-
share swap agreement.
A world class hotel will be
constructed by MJC Investments
in the 7,500 square meters
property within the [economic
zone]. The hotel complements the
governments tourism program
of the City of Manila, Manila
Jockey Club said.
The company said its board
also agreed to consider a strategic
investor in the development of
the economkic zone.
MJC Investments emerged as
the top gainer Tuesday as share
price rose 49.7 percent to P2.47
while stock price of Manila
Jockey Club was the second top
gainer after rising 33.7 percent to
P2.50.
Manila Jockey Club earlier
expressed interest to put up 250-
room hotel worth P1 billion.
The planned hotel project is
seen complementing the ongoing
joint venture projects of Manila
Jockey Club with Ayala Land Inc.
in developing a residential and
commercial complex in a 6.47-
hectare portion of the Sta. Cruz
property.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. earlier
put up SM San Lazaro at a four-
hectare portion of the property.
Manila Jockey Club is
conducting racing operations
in its horse racing facility in
Carmona, Cavite. It operates
off-track betting stations and is
expanding its OTB network in
Metro Manila as well as in the
provincial areas.
The company has a total of 255
OTB stations as of December
2011. OTB sales account for
93.5 percent of the total revenue
generated from the races.
Manila Jockey Club also
operates a casino with 242 slot
machines and eight gaming tables
in its property in Cavite.
By Elaine Ramos Alanguilan
EASTWEST Banking Corp., the lending
arm of the Gotianun group, posted a net
income of P464 million in the rst quarter,
up 4.9 percent year-on-year, due to higher
trading gains and interest income.
The prot translated into an annual
return on average equity of 16.45 percent
and return on average assets of 2.05
percent.
First-quarter revenues hit P2.12 billion,
up P544 million or 34 percent from P1.58
billion registered in the same period last
year due to higher net interest and trading
incomes, fees and commissions.
EastWest president and chief executive
Antonio Moncupa Jr. said the bank
planned to expand branches and increase
the coverage of consumer and mid-sized
corporate lending businesses and further
improve customer service to build the
revenue base.
While competition is getting stiffer
and the global economic prospects
remain uncertain, we remain guardedly
positive on the local economic prospects
and we will continue with our expansion
plans for the year, said Moncupa.
Net interest income, fees and
commissions amounted to P272.9
million, or 50 percent of the increase
in revenues, while trading income from
xed income securities and foreign
exchange accounted for 49.8 percent of
the increase in revenues.
NEW YORKFacebook was
supposed to soar. Instead, it
plunged.
After the social networks stock
zzled on Friday in its long-
awaited debut, its stock fell 11
percent on Monday, even as the
rest of the stock market rallied.
The downward spiral has left
some people sitting on big losses,
and others scratching their heads.
After all, nothing fundamental has
changed at Facebook in the days
since the much-hyped company
came to the stock market--
Facebook still has more than
900 million users, its 28-year-
old founder Mark Zuckerberg
controls the company, and it is
still one of the few protable
Internet companies to go public.
Facebooks IPO--like Netscapes
in 1995 and Googles in 2004--
was billed as a milestone moment.
Netscapes offering ushered in
the era of the Internet browser.
The companys stock more than
doubled in its rst day of trading.
Googles IPO heralded the age of
search. It posted an 18 percent gain
in its stock market debut. Facebook
was supposed to offer proof that
social media is a viable business
and more than a passing fad.
But investors dont seem
convinced. Facebooks stock
closed Monday at $34.03, down
11 percent from Fridays closing
price of $38.23. The investment
banks that arranged Facebooks
offering set a price of $38 on
Thursday. Although many
investors had hoped for a big
rst-day pop, Facebooks stock
opened Friday at $42.05 and
uctuated between $45 and $38
throughout the day.
For a host reasons, Facebooks
falling share price shouldnt have
been a surprise.
Its IPO occurred the same
week that the markets posted
their worse performance so far in
2012. The Standard & Poors 500
index fell 4 percent. AP
Oriental posts losses
ORIENTAL Petroleum and Minerals Corp.
reported a net loss of $690,000 in the rst
quarter of the year, a reversal from a prot of
$856,780 on year, due to the shutdown of the
Galoc oil eld from November to March.
The company disclosed to the Philippine
Stock Exchange it booked revenues of $440,000
during the period from $3.71 milion on year. The
rst quarter revenues represent the companys
share from the Nido and Matinloc oil eld
operations in Palawan.
This amount was $3.27 million lower than last
years $3.71 million mainly due to no revenues
were recorded from Galoc operations, it said.
Oriental Petroleum said the Galoc consortium
repaired the oating, production, storage and
ofoading facility, which required shutting-in
of production at the Galoc eld in November.
The upgrade of the FPSO mooring system
increased the reliability and uptime and is
considered a crucial infrastructure to enable
the Galoc consortium to move ahead with a
potential second phase of development.
Alena Mae S. Flores
T-bonds rejected
THE government rejected all tenders for the
15-year treasury bond on low volume for the
long tenor security in Tuesdays auction.
National Treasurer Roberto Tan said in an
interview the undersubscription of bids signaled
investors were fence-sitting amid concerns on
Europes debt problems.
We rejected as we dont want to send signals
that were in need of cash. We would like to nd
adequate supply but with the right price, Tan said.
The Bureau of Treasury offered P9 billion
in the re-issued T-bond, while demands for the
paper were undersubscribed at P7.56 billion.
Had the auction committee partially awarded
the said government security at P3.7 billion, the
15-year T-bond would have fetched a coupon of
5.97 percent, or 59.2 basis points higher against
the rate of the debt paper of the same tenor when
it was previously auctioned.
The government in February raised P44.137
billion from the sale of 15-year retail Treasury
bonds at 5.375 percent.
Maria Bernadette Lunas
EastWest registers net income of P464m
TRADI NG SUMMARY
SHARES VALUE
FINANCIAL 10,960,770 560,395,013.10
INDUSTRIAL 103,111,901 964,359,967.36
HOLDING FIRMS 50,517,092 769,887,425.02
PROPERTY 201,640,492 750,399,685.09
SERVICES 971,356,032 637,003,182.85
MINING & OIL 1,389,341,519 619,785,454.09
GRAND TOTAL 1,852,727,806 4,301,830,727.51
FINANCIAL 1,212.65 (UP) 1.13
INDUSTRIAL 7,643.66 (UP) 50.81
HOLDING FIRMS 4,306.35 (UP) 16.74
PROPERTY 1,791.91 (DOWN) 20.23
SERVICES 1,628.84 (UP) 4.56
MINING & OIL 24,285.01 (UP) 39.51
PSEI 4,958.43 (UP) 4.43
All Shares Index 3,314.49 (UP) 6.45
Gainers: 79; Losers: 78; Unchanged: 36; Total: 183
Mart ends flat; Atlas,
ICTSI lead advancers
Business
ManilaStandardToday
[email protected] [email protected]
B2
52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign
High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
M
S
T
FINANCIAL
70.00 46.00 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 62.05 63.70 61.20 62.25 0.32 756,560 19,958,387.00
76.80 50.00 Bank of PI 67.20 69.00 66.05 66.80 (0.60) 1,966,810 1,717,965.00
512.00 370.00 China Bank 570.00 570.00 550.00 550.00 (3.51) 6,970 147,445.00
23.90 12.50 COL Financial 22.80 23.00 22.15 22.20 (2.63) 124,700 21,565.00
Eastwest Bank 18.58 18.68 18.52 18.52 (0.32) 4,595,800 (3,912,154.00)
22.00 7.56 Filipino Fund Inc. 9.58 10.98 9.12 9.12 (4.80) 1,600
3.26 1.91 I-Remit Inc. 2.22 2.30 2.22 2.22 0.00 16,000
29.00 3.00 Maybank ATR KE 33.00 36.95 33.05 33.05 0.15 124,300 1,231,570.00
93.50 60.00 Metrobank 86.30 88.00 85.15 85.15 (1.33) 2,098,930 31,269,319.00
3.06 1.30 Natl Reinsurance Corp. 2.04 2.06 2.04 2.04 0.00 310,000
16.85 41.00 Phil. National Bank 70.00 71.40 69.50 70.50 0.71 83,790 2,069,638.00
539.00 204.80 PSE Inc. 350.00 352.00 350.00 352.00 0.57 1,460 10,500.00
44.40 25.45 RCBC À 42.75 43.00 42.10 42.55 (0.47) 79,400.00 16,795.00
151.50 77.00 Security Bank 127.50 133.00 130.00 131.00 2.75 686,500 13,950,633.00
1390.00 950.00 Sun Life Financial 950.00 950.00 950.00 950.00 0.00 90
140.00 58.00 Union Bank 100.00 101.00 99.00 101.00 1.00 23,560
2.06 1.43 Vantage Equities 1.80 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.11 83,000
INDUSTRIAL
35.50 26.50 Aboitiz Power Corp. 33.80 34.30 33.60 33.65 (0.44) 2,284,900 (14,414,800.00)
13.58 7.32 Agrinurture Inc. 11.14 11.32 11.00 11.14 0.00 63,200 30,140.00
23.50 11.98 Alaska Milk Corp. 23.50 23.50 23.50 23.50 0.00 2,000
1.86 0.97 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.45 1.45 1.35 1.44 (0.69) 507,000 (454,030.00)
54.90 26.00 Alphaland Corp. 30.90 30.80 29.50 30.80 (0.32) 700
1.65 1.08 Alsons Cons. 1.26 1.30 1.29 1.30 3.17 1,062,000 469,570.00
Asiabest Group 27.00 29.45 27.00 27.00 0.00 201,500 (23,160.00)
102.80 3.02 Bloomberry 8.24 8.74 8.30 8.42 2.18 14,732,000 (21,369,998.00)
26.55 12.50 C. Azuc De Tarlac 15.50 13.00 13.00 13.00 (16.13) 500
2.88 2.24 Calapan Venture 2.28 2.30 2.30 2.30 0.88 30,000 (69,000.00)
3.07 2.30 Chemrez Technologies Inc. 2.45 2.46 2.45 2.46 0.41 192,000 122,500.00
8.33 7.41 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 8.10 8.14 8.04 8.10 0.00 151,300
7.06 4.83 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.80 5.93 5.82 5.84 0.69 8,778,200 (3,710,430.00)
6.28 2.80 EEI 6.04 6.14 6.00 6.00 (0.66) 2,293,700 2,569,890.00
25.00 5.80 Federal Chemicals 10.84 10.84 10.52 10.60 (2.21) 2,000
15.58 12.50 First Gen Corp. 14.12 14.70 14.12 14.54 2.97 4,467,500 (2,048,886.00)
67.20 51.50 First Holdings A 63.40 64.00 63.35 63.50 0.16 771,000 (5,998,101.50)
31.50 22.50 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 21.05 21.00 20.50 20.50 (2.61) 27,000 (369,675.00)
0.10 0.0095 Greenergy 0.0140 0.0140 0.0130 0.0140 0.00 22,700,000
13.50 7.80 Holcim Philippines Inc. 11.98 11.98 11.80 11.80 (1.50) 1,200 (4,792.00)
9.00 4.71 Integ. Micro-Electronics 4.36 4.40 4.36 4.37 0.23 30,000
2.35 0.95 Ionics Inc 1.720 1.760 1.650 1.650 (4.07) 457,000 (70,000.00)
120.00 80.00 Jollibee Foods Corp. 109.00 111.00 110.00 110.00 0.92 132,090 9,583,325.00
91.25 25.00 Liberty Flour 53.30 53.00 53.00 53.00 (0.56) 1,500
8.40 1.04 LMG Chemicals 1.99 1.99 1.89 1.91 (4.02) 1,101,000
24.70 17.94 Manila Water Co. Inc. 23.75 24.70 23.80 24.15 1.68 5,032,600 8,252,950.00
15.30 8.12 Megawide 16.70 17.00 16.60 16.90 1.20 4,159,100 (8,400.00)
295.00 215.00 Mla. Elect. Co À 230.00 236.40 232.80 235.00 2.17 257,920 35,655,080.00
11.00 7.00 Pancake House Inc. 9.25 9.50 9.00 9.50 2.70 5,900
3.00 1.96 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 2.78 2.84 2.82 2.82 1.44 8,414,000 3,245,400.00
17.40 9.70 Petron Corporation 10.30 10.34 10.16 10.34 0.39 919,500 2,156,770.00
15.24 9.01 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 8.70 8.70 8.50 8.70 0.00 291,400 87,000.00
2.55 1.01 RFM Corporation 2.58 2.71 2.59 2.69 4.26 2,207,000 1,828,490.00
3.49 2.01 Roxas Holdings 2.46 2.50 2.50 2.50 1.63 4,000
33.00 27.70 San Miguel Brewery Inc. 29.60 29.60 29.50 29.50 (0.34) 15,100
132.60 105.70 San Miguel Corp À 112.80 113.60 112.70 113.60 0.71 319,470 20,989,668.00
1.90 1.25 Seacem 1.68 1.69 1.65 1.67 (0.60) 11,422,000 16,500,000.00
2.50 1.85 Splash Corporation 1.92 1.89 1.82 1.89 (1.56) 28,000
0.250 0.112 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.00 1,530,000 66,250.00
5.46 2.92 Tanduay Holdings 3.90 3.91 3.87 3.91 0.26 248,000
3.62 1.99 TKC Steel Corp. 2.10 2.30 2.22 2.22 5.71 20,000
1.41 0.90 Trans-Asia Oil 1.24 1.23 1.22 1.23 (0.81) 223,000 (24,600.00)
68.00 36.20 Universal Robina 61.10 62.00 60.50 60.60 (0.82) 2,664,350 (74,376,409.00)
Victorias Milling 2.99 3.01 1.50 2.30 (23.08) 2,889,000 22,000.00
1.12 0.285 Vitarich Corp. 0.700 0.730 0.660 0.690 (1.43) 1,964,000
18.00 2.55 Vivant Corp. 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 0.00 700
1.22 0.68 Vulcan Indl. 0.96 0.94 0.93 0.93 (3.12) 190,000
HOLDING FIRMS
1.18 0.65 Abacus Cons. À 0.69 0.70 0.67 0.67 (2.90) 411,000
59.90 35.50 Aboitiz Equity 50.10 51.00 49.00 50.00 (0.20) 1,133,500 7,214,653.00
0.019 0.014 Alcorn Gold Res. 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.00 10,700,000
13.48 8.00 Alliance Global Inc. 12.78 13.00 12.64 12.68 (0.78) 8,217,900 31,122,914.00
4.60 3.00 Anscor À 4.35 4.65 4.40 4.40 1.15 18,000 4,650.00
6.98 0.260 Asia Amalgamated A 4.00 4.10 4.10 4.10 2.50 2,000
3.15 1.49 ATN Holdings A 1.92 1.93 1.69 1.93 0.52 10,000
4.16 2.30 ATN Holdings B 2.40 2.29 2.00 2.29 (4.58) 114,000 (147,250.00)
437.00 272.00 Ayala Corp À 401.00 416.00 410.00 413.20 3.04 241,410 (29,249,812.00)
59.45 30.50 DMCI Holdings 57.00 58.50 57.50 58.10 1.93 4,421,930 27,126,246.50
5.25 3.30 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.18 4.21 4.18 4.20 0.48 211,000 151,000.00
GT Capital 472.00 490.00 472.20 472.20 0.04 139,720 9,668,138.00
5.22 2.90 House of Inv. 4.34 4.50 4.36 4.36 0.46 25,000
34.80 19.00 JG Summit Holdings 32.00 32.90 31.70 31.70 (0.94) 967,100 (5,504,280.00)
6.95 4.00 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.50 5.50 5.14 5.40 (1.82) 397,800 1,324,389.00
1.54 0.61 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 1.12 1.14 1.10 1.12 0.00 296,000
0.91 0.300 Mabuhay Holdings À 0.520 0.520 0.500 0.520 0.00 163,000
3.82 1.500 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 2.650 2.700 2.610 2.630 (0.75) 1,146,000 (875,500.00)
4.45 2.56 Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. 4.02 4.11 3.99 4.00 (0.50) 11,156,000 11,645,940.00
6.24 2.10 Minerales Industrias Corp. 4.80 4.88 4.78 4.88 1.67 26,000
4.72 1.22 MJCI Investments Inc. 1.65 2.47 2.38 2.47 49.70 81,000
0.0770 0.054 Pacica À 0.0510 0.0520 0.0510 0.0520 1.96 2,320,000
2.40 0.91 Seafront À 1.32 1.35 1.35 1.35 2.27 6,000
0.490 0.285 Sinophil Corp. 0.320 0.325 0.325 0.325 1.56 100,000 (32,500.00)
699.00 450.00 SM Investments Inc. 675.00 678.50 675.00 677.50 0.37 143,200 2,120,180.00
1.78 1.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.38 1.43 1.40 1.40 1.45 558,000
1.57 1.14 South China Res. Inc. 1.25 1.25 1.22 1.22 (2.40) 52,000
0.620 0.056 Wellex Industries 0.3850 0.3950 0.3750 0.3800 (1.30) 5,820,000
1.370 0.178 Zeus Holdings 0.520 0.530 0.490 0.520 0.00 1,639,000 (5,160.00)
P R O P E R T Y
2.82 1.70 A. Brown Co., Inc. 2.50 2.55 2.53 2.53 1.20 36,000
0.75 0.31 Araneta Prop À 0.770 0.710 0.690 0.690 (10.39) 394,000
22.40 13.36 Ayala Land `B 19.56 19.90 19.02 19.06 (2.56) 8,922,000 (48,169,128.00)
6.12 3.08 Belle Corp. À 4.80 4.88 4.75 4.75 (1.04) 794,000 (104,230.00)
9.00 2.26 Cebu Holdings 6.37 6.40 6.18 6.18 (2.98) 2,569,400
5.20 2.20 Cebu Prop. `B 5.00 5.10 5.10 5.10 2.00 12,000
5.66 0.26 Century Property 1.41 1.48 1.44 1.46 3.55 5,110,000 (2,741,690.00)
2.85 1.20 City & Land Dev. 2.35 2.35 2.20 2.35 0.00 6,000
1.65 1.07 Cityland Dev. À 1.19 1.27 1.25 1.25 5.04 15,000 (12,500.00)
0.127 0.060 Crown Equities Inc. 0.079 0.080 0.080 0.080 1.27 10,000
1.16 0.67 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.80 0.81 0.81 0.81 1.25 113,000
0.90 0.54 Empire East Land 0.690 0.700 0.680 0.680 (1.45) 3,392,000
0.310 0.10 Ever Gotesco 0.160 0.199 0.156 0.161 0.63 2,390,000
3.06 1.76 Global-Estate 1.86 1.86 1.85 1.85 (0.54) 3,040,000 (4,870,820.00)
1.35 0.98 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.29 1.29 1.26 1.27 (1.55) 4,161,000 (100,320.00)
3.80 1.21 Highlands Prime 1.80 1.75 1.68 1.75 (2.78) 31,000
2.14 0.65 Interport À 1.14 1.18 1.14 1.17 2.63 274,000
2.48 1.51 Megaworld Corp. 2.04 2.07 2.00 2.03 (0.49) 88,559,000 22,920,700.00
0.80 0.215 MRC Allied Ind. 0.1760 0.1850 0.1760 0.1780 1.14 1,910,000
0.990 0.072 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.7500 0.8000 0.7300 0.7300 (2.67) 50,849,000 15,010.00
0.71 0.41 Phil. Realty À 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.00 190,000
4.77 1.80 Polar Property Holdings 3.34 3.95 3.48 3.93 17.66 3,722,000 304,340.00
18.86 10.00 Robinsons Land `B 16.10 16.48 16.18 16.26 0.99 5,165,400 11,390,108.00
Rockwell 3.70 3.89 3.50 3.55 (4.05) 847,000
2.70 1.74 Shang Properties Inc. 2.55 2.60 2.54 2.54 (0.39) 45,000
9.47 6.50 SM Development À 6.90 6.50 6.25 6.25 (9.42) 2,129,600 (6,259,269.00)
18.20 10.90 SM Prime Holdings 12.88 13.12 12.60 12.88 0.00 15,247,900 (39,317,028.00)
1.14 0.64 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.68 1.49 469,000 (34,000.00)
0.80 0.45 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.520 0.520 0.520 0.520 0.00 12,000
4.30 2.60 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.180 4.200 4.160 4.180 0.00 801,000 (623,610.00)
S E R V I C E S
43.00 28.60 ABS-CBN 33.70 37.00 34.00 37.00 9.79 3,900
14.76 1.60 Acesite Hotel 9.38 9.80 9.37 9.80 4.48 32,600
0.80 0.45 APC Group, Inc. 0.680 0.670 0.650 0.670 (1.47) 257,000 (26,000.00)
0.5300 0.0660 Boulevard Holdings 0.1530 0.1580 0.1530 0.1550 1.31 10,310,000 (8,300.00)
98.15 62.50 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 68.00 68.30 67.30 67.30 (1.03) 170,760 1,871,416.00
9.70 5.40 DFNN Inc. 6.04 6.00 5.85 5.85 (3.15) 12,600
5.90 1.45 Easy Call Common 3.40 3.35 3.25 3.25 (4.41) 13,000
1270.00 825.00 Globe Telecom 1074.00 1080.00 1068.00 1070.00 (0.37) 27,245 12,793,815.00
10.34 6.18 GMA Network Inc. 9.60 9.85 9.60 9.78 1.88 1,659,500
69.00 43.40 I.C.T.S.I. 69.60 72.00 70.00 70.00 0.57 128,610 (1,151,587.50)
0.98 0.34 Information Capital Tech. 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.00 50,000
6.00 4.00 IPeople Inc. À 5.35 5.35 5.30 5.30 (0.93) 8,900
4.29 2.20 IP Converge 4.05 4.14 4.04 4.14 2.22 653,000 (615,000.00)
34.50 0.123 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.048 0.049 0.046 0.046 (4.17) 64,800,000 9,200.00
3.87 1.16 IPVG Corp. 1.05 1.09 1.05 1.05 0.00 682,000 (128,350.00)
0.0760 0.040 Island Info 0.0520 0.0550 0.0550 0.0550 5.77 10,000
5.1900 2.900 ISM Communications 2.6300 2.7800 2.7800 2.7800 5.70 1,000
3.79 1.58 JTH Davies Holdings Inc. 2.35 2.48 2.40 2.48 5.53 67,000
11.68 5.90 Leisure & Resorts 6.95 7.00 6.95 6.95 0.00 199,100
4.28 2.65 Liberty Telecom 2.85 2.90 2.72 2.73 (4.21) 201,000
2.35 0.92 Lorenzo Shipping 1.70 1.60 1.60 1.60 (5.88) 10,000
3.96 2.70 Macroasia Corp. 2.80 2.80 2.80 2.80 0.00 26,000
0.84 0.57 Manila Bulletin 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.00 157,000
3.00 1.00 Manila Jockey 1.87 2.70 1.91 2.50 33.69 6,406,000 (16,000.00)
21.00 17.20 Pacic Online Sys. Corp. 20.60 21.00 20.50 20.60 0.00 146,400
8.58 4.50 PAL Holdings Inc. 7.39 7.39 7.25 7.35 (0.54) 7,900
3.32 1.05 Paxys Inc. 2.90 2.93 2.87 2.87 (1.03) 870,000
60.00 17.02 Phil. Seven Corp. 44.00 44.00 43.60 43.90 (0.23) 152,900 4,087,700.00
17.18 14.50 Philweb.Com Inc. 16.52 16.56 16.50 16.52 0.00 366,000 (576,116.00)
2886.00 2096.00 PLDT Common 2394.00 2400.00 2388.00 2392.00 (0.08) 176,140 124,550.00
0.48 0.23 PremiereHorizon 0.325 0.335 0.325 0.330 1.54 310,000
23.75 10.68 Puregold 22.30 22.90 21.95 22.00 (1.35) 1,466,500 (21,716,560.00)
Touch Solutions 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 0.00 5,000
0.79 0.26 Waterfront Phils. 0.410 0.420 0.410 0.410 0.00 160,000
MINING & OIL
0.0083 0.0036 Abra Mining 0.0048 0.0048 0.0046 0.0046 (4.17) 37,000,000
6.20 3.01 Apex À 4.90 4.91 4.90 4.91 0.20 65,000
25.20 14.50 Atlas Cons. À 18.10 18.62 18.30 18.58 2.65 1,051,700 2,723,594.00
31.00 20.00 Atok-Big Wedge À 33.00 33.50 30.05 33.00 0.00 7,100 (166,250.00)
0.380 0.148 Basic Energy Corp. 0.260 0.255 0.250 0.255 (1.92) 410,000
30.35 15.00 Benguet Corp À 23.50 24.00 23.80 24.00 2.13 4,100
34.00 14.50 Benguet Corp `B 23.90 24.10 24.00 24.10 0.84 26,800 (487,730.00)
2.51 1.62 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.51 1.59 1.49 1.52 0.66 322,000
50.85 4.35 Dizon 38.10 39.10 35.80 36.85 (3.28) 549,500 2,398,945.00
1.21 0.50 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.74 0.77 0.74 0.75 1.35 1,159,000
1.82 0.5900 Lepanto À 1.250 1.280 1.230 1.260 0.80 39,013,000
2.070 0.6700 Lepanto `B 1.270 1.330 1.270 1.300 2.36 28,618,000 6,087,340.00
0.085 0.035 Manila Mining À 0.0630 0.0630 0.0610 0.0630 0.00 150,510,000
0.087 0.035 Manila Mining `B 0.0640 0.0630 0.0630 0.0630 (1.56) 10,910,000
34.80 15.04 Nickelasia 28.60 29.00 28.00 28.50 (0.35) 168,100 1,106,200.00
12.76 2.08 Nihao Mineral Resources 9.62 9.88 9.55 9.55 (0.73) 215,800 (4,935.00)
1.100 0.008 Omico 0.7400 0.7400 0.7200 0.7200 (2.70) 154,000 20,160.00
8.40 2.12 Oriental Peninsula Res. 5.330 5.510 5.300 5.330 0.00 3,171,600 (458,746.00)
0.032 0.012 Oriental Pet. À 0.0190 0.0200 0.0190 0.0200 5.26 79,800,000
0.033 0.013 Oriental Pet. `B 0.0200 0.0200 0.0190 0.0200 0.00 13,100,000 200,000.00
7.14 5.10 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 5.94 6.40 6.00 6.10 2.69 15,200
28.95 17.08 Philex À 25.00 26.10 24.80 24.85 (0.60) 7,326,800 9,799,655.00
14.18 3.00 PhilexPetroleum 34.00 35.90 33.00 34.90 2.65 3,091,000 14,415,745.00
0.058 0.013 Philodrill Corp. À 0.047 0.049 0.046 0.047 0.00 986,500,000 481,200.00
69.00 46.00 PNOC Expls `B 48.00 50.00 49.95 50.00 4.17 1,300
252.00 161.10 Semirara Corp. 246.00 249.00 240.60 241.00 (2.03) 464,660 (40,178,178.00)
0.029 0.013 United Paragon 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 0.00 24,700,000
PREFERRED
47.90 27.30 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 34.60 34.60 34.60 34.60 0.00 200
First Gen G 100.60 100.40 100.20 100.20 (0.40) 87,350 30,120.00
11.02 6.00 GMA Holdings Inc. 9.60 9.75 9.50 9.70 1.04 7,508,100 (51,136,346.00)
116.70 106.20 PCOR-Preferred 113.10 113.10 113.00 113.00 (0.09) 109,670
80.00 74.50 SMC Preferred 1 75.10 75.10 75.00 75.00 (0.13) 104,030
1050.00 990.00 SMPFC Preferred 1024.00 1024.00 1023.00 1023.00 (0.10) 2,170
6.00 0.87 Swift Pref 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.03 0.98 5,000
WARRANTS & BONDS
1.35 0.62 Megaworld Corp. Warrants 1.06 1.07 1.03 1.03 (2.83) 416,000 185,400.00
0.210 0.00 Omico Corp. Warrant 0.0710 0.0700 0.0610 0.0700 (1.41) 610,000
GERRY GERONIMO
THE TRUST GURU
Jurisprudence on the Amla
BECAUSE of the current interest on what the Anti-
Money Laundering Law is all about, I asked two
students from the the Ateneo School of Law, Dan
Abraham Guinigundo and Ma. Lourdes Colinares, to
gather for me the resolutions issued and cases decided
to date by the Supreme Court relating to the Anti-
Money Laundering Law from the time it was enacted
to the present. The original version was enacted into
law on Sept. 29, 2001; it was subsequently amended
on March 7, 2003 by R.A. No. 9194.
The rst group (Republic v. Cabrini Green & Ross,
GR No. 154522, promulgated May 5, 2006) was
the Supreme Courts resolution on the consolidated
petitions brought by the Republic of the Philippines
on the common issue of which court had jurisdiction
to extend the effectivity of freeze orders on bank
deposits and similar accounts that were issued by the
Anti-Money Laundering Council under Section 10
of the original law, R.A. No. 9160.
The question arose because of an imperfection in
drafting the text of the said law, tell tale of the rush
and confusion that attended its birth here. While
R.A. No. 9160 permitted the extension of the
AMLCs freeze order upon order of the court, it
failed to identify which court was to give the order
of extension. The AMLC thought it was the Court
of Appeals; the CA did not agree. Hence, the issue
went up to the Supreme Court.
Before the Supreme Court could resolve the
question, Congress took it upon itself to clarify the
mess of its own doing. It passed R.A. No. 9194 that
took away the power to freeze bank deposits from the
AMLC and gave it to the CA. It also clearly vested
the power to extend freeze orders to the same court.
Then Associate Justice Renato Corona, writing
for the 2
nd
Division, restated the rule: As the
law now stands, it is solely the CA which has the
authority to issue as freeze order as well as to
extend its effectivity.
The Cabrini Green & Ross resolution was
followed by Republic v. Glassgow Credit, G.R.
No. 170281, promulgated on Jan. 18, 2008. Like
Cabrini Green & Ross, it was penned by then
Associate Justice Renato Corona. This time,
the subject involved was civil forfeiture of bank
deposits involved in money laundering.
Civil forfeiture is authorized under Section 12(a)
of R.A. No. 9160. It provided that the law to be
followed for civil forfeiture is the Rules of Court.
The Court saw the need to issue a special rule of
court on among other matters, civil forfeitures under
the Amla. Hence the issuance on Nov. 15, 2005 of
A.M. (abbreviation for Administrative Matter)
No. 05-11-04-SC known as the Rule of Procedure
in Cases of Civil Forfeiture, Asset Preservation and
Freezing of Money Instrument, Property, or Proceeds
Representing, Involving, or Relating to an Unlawful
Activity or Money Laundering Offense under RA
9160, as amended. It is known by its short name,
Rule in Cases of Civil Forfeiture.
Glassgow Credit reiterated the venue rule in
Section 3, Title II, of A.M. 05-11-04, which says that
a civil forfeiture case is to be led in the regional
trial court of the judicial region where the monetary
instrument, property or proceeds representing,
involving, or relating to an unlawful activity or to
a money laundering offense is located. If located
abroad, the case for civil forfeiture may be led in
the judicial region of Manila or where any portion of
the instrument, property or proceeds is located, at the
option of the petitioner.
More signicant than the venue rule, however, was
the afrmation of the process of civil forfeiture as an
independent civil action. Glassgow Credit stressed
that regardless of the absence, pendency or outcome
of a criminal prosecution for the unlawful activity or
for money laundering, an action for civil forfeiture
may be separately and independently prosecuted and
resolved.
After less than a month, Glassgow Credit was
followed by Republic v. Hon. Antonio M. Eugenio,
Jr., G.R. No. 174629. Promulgated on February
14, 2008, this decision was written for the Second
Division by Associate Justice Dante Tinga. It dealt
with the power of AMLC to get court authority to
inquire into bank deposits.
Specically, the issue before the Supreme
Court was, may a court order to inquire into a
bank deposit be secured in a proceeding that was
ex parte, i.e. without notice to the person whose
bank deposit the AMLC wants to look into? The
Supreme Court, citing several grounds, answered
in the negative. It ruled that notice must be given
to the depositor of AMLCs request for a court
authority to look into his deposit.
One ground that was invoked exhibited, in my
view, a surprising measure of judicial naivet. In
its disquisition, the Supreme Court pointed out that
whereas Section 10 of R.A. No. 9160, as amended,
on seeking a freeze order, permits the proceeding
ex parte, Section 11 on bank deposits does not. The
court began its justication of the different treatment
by noting that to make such freeze order anteceded
by a judicial proceeding with notice to the account
holder would allow for or lead to the dissipation of
such funds even before the order could be issued.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court continued,
when a bank deposit is sought to be inquired into,
as authorized under Section 11, the records to be
inspected... cannot be physically seized or hidden by
the account holder. Said records are in the possession
of the bank and therefore cannot be destroyed at the
instance of the account holder alone as that would
require the extraordinary cooperation and devotion
of the bank. This, to the Supreme Court, justied
the requirements to notify the depositor.
Apparently, the Supreme Court had overlooked the
fact that, insofar as a money launderer, or any other
criminal, is concerned, any notice of any ofcial or
government interest in his bank account, regardless
of purpose, is not to be taken lightly. It is in fact a
strong signal for him and his money to take ight.
True his records are left behind, but what does it
prot the AMLC to know the information contained
in the records of a deposit, if, as early as the very
beginning of such inquiry, the money in the deposit
account is able to ee the coup?
The fourth, and most recent case, that mentions the
AMLC does involve money-laundering at all. The
Amla is mentioned in GSIS v, The Hon. 15th Division
of the Court of Appeals, et al, G.R. No. 189206
promulgated June 8, 2011 simply as a fth exception
to the rule on bank secrecy that is in addition to the
four instances articulated in R.A. No. 1405 itself. In
itself the ruling is innocuous; but subliminally, does it
open the door to argue that the law creating the Amla
can, by the same token, to be also recognized as an
exception to the R.A. No. 6426, known as the Foreign
Currency Deposit Act? Both R.A. No. 1405 and R.A.
No. 6426 anteceded the Amla. If it is an exception to
the rst, is it not also an exception to the other?
For feedback, e-mail [email protected].
STOCKS erased their early gains Tuesday
to close nearly at, bucking the regional
rally and optimism that Europe will tackle
its debt crisis.
The Philippine Stock Exchange
Index gained 4.43 points, or 0.1
percent, to 4,958.43. Gainers and
losers were almost even, 79 to
78, with 36 issues unchanged.
Atlas Consolidated Mining &
Development Corp. advanced
2.7 percent to P18.58, the high-
est close since May 9. SM In-
vestments Corp. bought Atlass
P5.34-billion convertible loan
from BDO Unibank Inc., a stock
exchange ling showed.
SM plans to convert the debt
into 273.1 million shares in Atlas,
raising SMs stake in the miner
to 28.4 percent, it said. BDO rose
3.3 percent to P62.25, the highest
close since May 8.
International Container Termi-
nal Services Inc., the largest port
operator, added 0.6 percent to P70.
PT Karwell Indonesia Tbk, a unit
of the largest port operator, signed
a preliminary agreement to buy
PT PBM Olah Jasa Andal, a stock
exchange ling showed. Olah Jasa
provides loading and unloading
services at Tanjung Priok Port in
Jakarta, according to the ling.
Alsons Consolidated Resourc-
es Inc., which has investments in
power and energy, rose 3.2 per-
cent to P1.30. The company may
expand its Indonesian business
by building a natural gas or coal-
red power plant there, president
Tomas Alcantara said.
RFM Corp. rose 4.3 percent
to P2.69. The company and part-
ner Unilever Plc are considering
building a plant to meet demand
for Magnum ice cream bars, a
newspaper reported.
Hopes China will announce new
measures to boost economic growth,
meanwhile helped push Asian stock
markets higher early Tuesday.
Investors were encouraged by
weekend statements from Chi-
nese Premier Wen Jiabao, who
promised to spur growth in the
worlds second-largest economy,
a shift from previous rhetoric
about curbing ination. Gains on
Wall Street after a week in the
doldrums also lifted sentiment.
Japans Nikkei 225 index rose
1 percent to 8,716.27 by midday
and Hong Kongs Hang Seng
added 0.8 percent to 19,075.36.
South Koreas Kospi climbed 1.4
percent to 1,824.23.
Renewed efforts to prevent near-
ly bankrupt Greece from sliding
into default and exiting the euro
currency union have also provided
a slight relief to traders.
A weekend summit in Wash-
ington of leaders of the worlds
major advanced economies pro-
vided little in the way of tangible
results. But the G-8 countries is-
sued a statement afrming their
desire for Greece to remain in
the euro, raising hopes of deci-
sive action to prevent an exit.
Bloomberg, AP
Business
ManilaStandardToday [email protected]@gmail.com MAY 23, 2012 WEDNESDAY
B3
FedEx bags awards for community works
Dutch firm extends
Alaska offer period
Dassault Falcon 2000LX:
$30-million toy for the big boys
PHILIPPINE business must really be booming. At the recent cocktails hosted
by Eurocopter Philippines, there was a lot of interest for the Dassault Falcon
2000LX jet displayed at the Subic Air hangar in Pasay City. More and more
businessmen in Asia Pacic and the Middle East are looking at business jets not
as extravagant toys but as powerful and cost effective business tools that provide
convenient access to almost anywhere.
But of course, the really big boys who could afford the French-made aircraft
(roughly $30 million) had their own private viewing, not wanting to have their
photographs taken, much less have their names mentioned, as expressing interest
in the executive jet whose roomy cabins and efcient fuel burn has made it a
favorite in its category.
Lucky Number 2
This relatively young business tycoon will most likely leapfrog into the number
two spot (after numero uno Henr y Sy) when Forbes releases its Top 40 Richest
People in the Philippines list for 2012. Thats because his stocks have been going
nowhere but up, posting double-digit revenues with several overseas acquisitions
all the way to South America, Middle East and Africa in the pipeline.
In fact, the tycoon has allotted over half a billion dollars for capital spending
this yearmore than double the capex last year, proof that his businesses are
blooming very well. The tycoons spot in the current Forbes list is considered a
very lucky number by high rollers. But of course, number two is always better
since its just a step away from the top.
Love in the time of impeachment
They say that theres nothing like a common enemy to bring allies closer. At
least, this seems to be the case between a lady lawyer and a male colleague helping
one of the teams (Happy Hour is not saying which side) whose relationship in the
course of the Corona impeachment trial has escalated into something more than
just friendshipor so whispers allege. According to regulars in Happy Hour
watering holes, compaero y compaera found themselves frequently thrown
together during strategy sessions, resulting in the proverbial situation succinctly
described in local parlance as nagka-developan. Lets see if the more-than-
friendly relations will thrive when the impeachment smoke clears and a verdict
is nally passed.
For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may
e-mail to [email protected].
By Jenniffer B. Austria
DUTCH dairy giant Royal FrieslandCampina has
extended by another 10 days its tender offer period
to give minority shareholders of Alaska Milk Corp.
more time to participate.
Alaska said in a disclosure to the stock
exchange the Securities and Exchange
Commission approved the request
of FrieslandCampina Investment
Holdings Co. Philippines Inc. to extend
the deadline for the tender offer from
May 23 to June 6.
With the approval of the request,
stockholders of AMC who wish to
participate in the tender offer will now
have until 12:00 noon of June 6, 2012
to tender their AMC shares to FC
Philippines, Alaska said.
The tendered shares will be crossed
at the stock exchange on June 14 and
paid on June 19.
FC Philippines plans to acquire
the remaining issued and outstanding
common shares of Alaska, equivalent
to 278,794 million common shares,
representing approximately 31.28 percent
of the milk producers outstanding capital
stock and up to 237,000 common shares.
FC Philippines offered to buy the
shares for P24 apiece.
The Uytengsu family of Alaska Milk
in March completed the sale of 535.7
million shares to Campina, or 60.8
percent of the companys outstanding
shares, for P24 apiece. The sale was
valued at P12.86 billion.
Alaska is encouraging minority
shareholders to tender their shares
as the company plans to delist the
stocks from the Philippine Stock
Exchange.
Alaska chairman and president
Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said during
the recent stockholders meeting
the capital market had not been that
responsive to Alaska Milk as it was
17 years ago and that it was sensible
enough to become a privately-held
company again.
The company expects the delisting
process to be completed between
August and September this year.
Uytengsu said Alaska had planned
expanding into the region, including
Vietnam, Cambodia and the
Philippines.
The emerging strong middle class
and the growth of population [in
these countries] bode well for us. The
Philippines has strong fundamentals
and prospects in the region looks
good, Uytengsu said.
The company posted net earnings of
P1.1 billion in the rst quarter of 2012,
down 64 percent from P1.8 billion
year-on-year.
The company attributed the decline
to increases in the prices of local milk
and raw materials.
Alaska is one of two major players
in the local dairy industry with 40
years of strong growth, consistent
brand leadership in the liquid canned
milk category and a strong and
growing position in powdered milk. It
recently expanded into higher value-
added milk products, especially in
the ready-to-drink milk category.
FEDEX Express has received multiple accolades for creating
an excellent workplace for its employees and improving lives
in the communities.
FedEx took the Gold Award for Best Workplace Practices
and Silver Award for Best Community Program at the 4th
Global CSR Awards, one of the most prestigious recognition
award programs for Corporate Social responsibility in Asia
Pacic. FedEx was also awarded by the American Chamber
of Commerce in the Philippines for photographs documenting
the companys CSR initiatives.
The Global CSR Awards ceremony 2012, recently held in
Boracay Island, Aklan, honored companies demonstrating
leadership and commitment to ethical values and respect for
individuals, communities and the environment. For the fourth
consecutive year, FedEx was recognized for its unwavering
focus on maintaining a safe and rewarding environment
where employees have opportunities to grow and succeed.
The companys culture of volunteerism is a hallmark of
what makes FedEx a great place to work. FedEx encourages
employees to give their own time and energy to a myriad
of causes, including the annual global FedEx Cares Week,
FedEx/ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital program, Safe Kids
Walk This Way child pedestrian safety program, Junior
Achievement International Trade Challenge, and other local
initiatives. Of these, the FedEx/ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital
program was named a Silver Award winner under the Best
Community Program category.
At the 4th AmCham CSR Photo Exhibit, a FedEx
photograph featuring the FedEx/ORBIS Flying Hospital visit
in Iloilo was named Best Photo under the Health category.
An additional photograph from FedEx Cares Week, in which
FedEx volunteers cared for pediatric patients of the Kythe
Foundation, was also on display.
The 4th AmCham CSR Photo Exhibit, with the theme
Business for Better Life!, showcased photographs that
best exemplify the active role of American businesses and
volunteer employees in supporting community development
in the Philippines. Categories included education,
environment protection, healthcare, livelihood and disaster
risk management.
(MST-May 23, 2012)
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Albay 1
st
Engineering District
Airport Site, Legazpi City
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH- Albay 1
st

Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City, invites contractors to bid for
the aforementioned project(s):
Contract ID #12-F-A-0021
Contract Name Cluster 5- Const./Rehab./Upgrading of
Farm to Market Rd.
Contract Location 1
st
District of Albay
Scope of Work Const./Rehab./Upgrading of Farm to
Market Rd.
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) P21,163,649.13
Contract Duration 140 CD
Cost of Tender Documents P20,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with
the Revised IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be
automatically rejected at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI),
purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with DPWH , (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable
to the type and cost of this contract, (d) Completion of a similar contract
costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years and, (e) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for
at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail
criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for
registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the
receipt of LO. The DPWH-POCW Central Offce will only process contractors'
applications for registration, with complete requirements and issue the
Contractor's Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be
downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown
below:
Issuance of Bidding Documents May 22-28, 2012
Pre-Bid Conference May 30, 2012 at 10:00am
Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders June 6, 2012
Receipt & Opening of Bids June 11, 2012 at 2:00pm
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at DWPH- BAC
Offce, DPWH-Albay 1
st
Engineering District Airport Site, Legazpi City, upon
payment of a non-refundable fee as stated above. Prospective bidders
may also download the Bidding Documents, from the DPWH Website, if
available. Prospective bidders that will download the Bidding Documents from
the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of
their bid documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested
parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must accompanied
by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2
of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as
specifed in the Bidding Documents (BD's) in two (2) separate sealed bid
envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical
component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second
envelope shall contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be
awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid
evaluation and the post-qualifcation.
The DPWH- Albay 1
st
Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City
reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding
process anytime prior Contract Award, without thereby incurring any liability
to the affected bidder/s.

(Sgd.) RAFAEL B. PRESBITERO
OIC, Assistant District Engineer
Chairman, BAC
Noted:
(Sgd.) ROBERTO M. RITO
OIC, District Engineer
(MST-May 23, 2012)
Albay 1
st
Engineering District
Airport Site, Legazpi City
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH- Albay 1
st

Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City, invites contractors to bid for
the aforementioned project (s):
Contract ID #12-F-A-0020
Contract Name Const. of Cagbulacao-Cawayan Road
Contract Location Bacacay Albay
Scope of Work Const. of Roads @1
st
District of Albay
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) P1,929,999.00
Contract Duration 60 CD
Cost of Tender Documents P5,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with
the Revised IRR of RA 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be
automatically rejected at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) ,
purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with DPWH , (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable
to the type and cost of this contract, (d) Completion of a similar contract
costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years and, (e) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for
at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail
registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the
receipt of LO. The DPWH-POCW-Central Offce will only process contractors'
applications for registration, with complete requirements and issue the
Contractor's Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be
downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown
below:
Issuance of Bidding Documents May 22-28, 2012
Pre-Bid Conference May 30, 2012 at 10:00am
Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders June 6, 2012
Receipt & Opening of Bids June 11, 2012 at 2:00pm
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at DWPH- BAC
Offce, DPWH-Albay 1
st
Engineering District Airport Site, Legazpi City, upon
payment of a non-refundable fee as stated above. Prospective bidders
may also download the Bidding Documents, from the DPWH Website, if
available. Prospective bidders that will download the Bidding Documents from
the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of
their bid documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested
parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must accompanied
by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2
of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as
specifed in the Bidding Documents (BD's) in two (2) separate sealed bid
envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical
component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second
envelope shall contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be
awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid
evaluation and the post-qualifcation.
The DPWH- Albay 1
st
Engineering District, Airport Site, Legazpi City
reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding
process anytime prior Contract Award, without thereby incurring any liability
to the affected bidder/s.

(Sgd.) RAFAEL B. PRESBITERO
OIC, Assistant District Engineer
Chairman, BAC
Noted:
(Sgd.) ROBERTO M. RITO
OIC, District Engineer
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Regional Offce No. V
Government Center, Baras, Palo, Leyte
Telephone Nos. : (053) 323-5553 / 1067
Email Add: [email protected]
MAY 21, 2012
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH, RegionaI Ofce No. VIII,
Baras, Palo, Leyte, through the SARO BMB-A-11-0001076, invites contractors to
bid for the following project:
Contract ID : 12IO0029
Contract Name : Upgrading of Bagahupi-Babatngon-Sta. Cruz-
Barugo-Carigara Road, Sta. 0+316.20 Sta.
1+503.90 (with exceptions), San Miguel, Leyte
Contract Location : San Miguel, Leyte
Scope of Work : Concrete Paving of Gravel Road (Length=1,187.70
m.; Thi ckness=0.23 m.; Wi dth=6.70 m.);
Aggregate Surface Course for Shoulder and
Construction of 663.00 cu. m. Stone Masonry.
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php 18,935,383.94
Contract Duration : 120 Calendar Days
Cost of Bidding Documents : Php 10,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR
of R.A. 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at
the opening of bid. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a standard form
DPWH-INFR-15 Letter of Intent (LOI), purchased bid documents and must meet the
following major criteria: a) prior registration with DPWH, b) Filipino citizen or 75%
Filipino - owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, c) with PCAB
license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, d) completion of a similar
contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and e) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal
to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility
Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will only accept/process LOIs
signed by the person authorized in the Contractors License issued by PCAB
and shaII be submitted onIy by the Authorized Liaison Ofcer as specied in
the Contractors Information (CI). Letter of Intent (LOI) sent thru mail or fax and
submission by persons with a Special Power of Attorney shall not be accepted.
Bidders shaII submit their bids through their duIy authorized Iiaison ofcers.

Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration
to the DPWH-BAC, Central Procurement Offce before the deadline for the receipt
of LO. The DPWH-BAC Central Procurement Offce will only process contractors'
application for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractor's
Registration Certifcate (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH
website www.dpwh.gov.ph.

The signihcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents MAY 22-28, 2012
2. Pre-Bid Conference
MAY 29, 2012
(2:00 PM)
3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective
Bidders
JUNE 7, 2012
(Until 5:00 PM)
4. Receipt of Bids
JUNE 13, 2012
(Until 1:30 PM)
5. Opening of Bids
JUNE 13, 2012
(2:00 PM)
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD's) at the BAC Secretariat,
DPWH, Regional Offce No. V, Baras, Palo, Leyte, upon payment of a non-refundable
fee as stated above. Prospective bidders may also download the BD's from the DPWH
website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BD's from the DPWH
website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their Bid Documents.
The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased
the BD's. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable
form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished form as specifed in the BD's
in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope
shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of CRC.
The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be
awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation
and post-qualifcation.
The DPWH, RegionaI Ofce No. VIII, Baras, PaIo, Leyte, reserves the right to accept
or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process at any time prior contract award, without
thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.

Approved By:
(Sgd.) EDGAR B. TABACON, CEO VI, CESE
Assistant Regional Director
(BAC Chairman)
NOTED:

(Sgd.) ROLANDO M. ASIS, CESO III
Regional Director
(MST-May 23, 2012)
(MST-May 23, 2012)
Department of Public Works and Highways
Camarines Sur 2
nd
District Engineering Offce
Baras, Canaman, Camarines Sur
The DPWH Camarines Sur 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, through its Bids
and Awards Committee ( BAC ) invites contractors to apply to bid for the
following projects;
1. a. Contract ID : 12FE0030
b. Contract Name : Const ruct i on of Mul t i -Purpose
Building,
c. Contract Location : Brgy. Balatas, Naga City
d. Scope of Work : Const ruct i on of Mul t i -Purpose
Building,
e. Approved Budget for the Contract: P 4,999,994.59
f. Contract Duration : 120 CD
g. Cost of Bidding Documents : P 5,000.00
Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding
procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing
Rules and Regulations.
To bid for this project, a contractor must submit a letter of intent ( LOI),
purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: ( a)
prior registration with DPWH, (b)Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino owned
partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture,(c) with PCAB license
to the type and cost of this, (d) completion of a similar contract costing
at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial
Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at
least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail
registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for
the receipt of LO. The DPWH POCW-Central Offce will only process
contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and
issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration ( CRC). Registration Forms
may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The Signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown
below:
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents May 21 -June 14 2012
2. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective bidders June 7, 2012 until 10:00 a.m.
3. Pre-Bid Conference June 1, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
4. Receipts of Bids June 14, 2012 until 10:00 a.m.
5. Opening Of Bids June 14,2012 after 10:00 a.m.
The BAC will issue hard copies of ( BDS) Bidding Documents at the BAC
Offce, DPWH Camarines Sur 2nd District Engineering Offce, Baras
Canaman, Camarines Sur, upon payment of non-refundable fee as stated
above for Bid Documents. Prospective bidders may also download the BDS
if available from DPWH website. Prospective bidders that will download
the BDSs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before
the submission of their Bid Documents. The Pre-Bid conference shall be
open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDS. Bid must
be accompanied by a Bid Security, in the amount and acceptable form, as
stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective Bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed
in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed envelopes to the BAC Chairman .
The frst envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which
shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the
fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest
Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the
post-qualifcation .
The DPWH Camarines Sur 2
nd
District Engineering Offce reserves the right
to accept or reject any or all bid, to annul the bidding process at anytime prior
contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s
APPROVED:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO A. ALEJO JR.
BAC-Chairman
(MST-May 23, 2012)
RE-I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
Cordillera Administrative Region
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Engineer's Hill, Baguio City
The Department of Public Works and Highways, Cordillera Administrative Region
(DPWH-CAR) through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to
to bid for the aforementioned project(s):
1. Contract ID : 12P00026
Contract Name : Upgrading (gravel and paved) of Rizal National
Road, Rizal, Kalinga
Contract Location : K0522+327-K0528+928
Scope of Works : PCCP Grouted Riprap, Roadway Excavation,
Aggregate Subbase Coarse, Pipe Culverts &
Storm Drains, etc.
Approved Budget Cost : Php9,814,425.60
Contract Duration : 90 calendar days
Cost of Bidding Documents : 10,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised
IRR of R.A. 9184, Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected
at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI),
purchased bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the
type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least
50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity
at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The
BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary
examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration
to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOI.
The DPWH-POCW Central Offce will only process contractors applications for
registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractor's Certifcate of
Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website
www.dpwh.gov.ph. Letter of Intent submitted thru mail will not be accepted. Only
Authorized Liaison Offcer as refected in the Contractor's Registration Certifcate
(CRC) will be allowed to transact with the BAC.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1. Pre-procurement Conference May 16, 2012
2. Issuance of Bidding Documents From May 23, 2012 June 13, 2012
3. Pre-Bid Conference 06/01/12 10:00 AM
4. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective
Bidders
Deadline: June 8, 2012, 5:00pm
5. Submission/Receipt of Bid Until 10:00am June 13, 2012
6. Opening of Bids June 13, 2012 10:00 AM
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH-CAR,
BAC-Secretariat upon payment of a non-refundable fee for Bidding Documents as
stated above. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs, if available from the
DPWH web site. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH
website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their Bid Documents.
The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased
the BDs. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the amount and acceptable
form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in
the BD's in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst
envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy
of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component of the bid.
Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in
the bid evaluation and post-qualifcation.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Cordillera Administrative
Region (DPWH-CAR), reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid, to annul
the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability to
the affected bidder/s.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) CONSTANTE R. SARMIENTO
Chief, Maintenance Division
BAC Chairman
DPWH-CAR, Regional Offce
Engineers Hill, Baguio City, 2600
Fax/Tel. No. (074)-444-88-38
B4
Police visibility stepped up at John Hay
Provinces
Edited by Leo A. Estonilo [email protected]
Geohazard
guidebook
launched
Zubiri has solution
to copra price woes
Mayor wants science high
school to stay in Bacolor
Mediation to cover
consumer complaints
By Jess Malabanan
BACOLORMayor
Jose Maria Hizon is
setting aside a space in
the municipalityfor the
Philippine Science High
School.
We have lots of areas to be offer, one
is Barangay Cabalantian along McArthur
Highway, he said.
The campus was opened inside Clark
Freeport but the school administration
wanted to extend its stay beyond 2013 as set
in the agreement with Clark Development
Corp.
Theres no clear indication that contract
will be renewed, so we are scouting another
site which will permanently host PSHS
campus, the school said in a statement.
Earlier, the Pampanga provincial
government said it wanted to keep the
PSHS and relocate it at the Philippine
Agricultural College in Magalang town.
At least 540 scholars are enrolled in the
Central Luzon campus even as other local
governments also have opened their doors
to the leading institution for secondary
education.
The list is composed of Bataan, Bulacan,
Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac which
nd the school to be an asset and invaluable
investment in learning.
The PSHS has 11 campuses nationwide,
with the 12th to rise in Mindanao next
year.
Hizon said Bacolor could start becoming
an educational hub in the region with the
addition of a science high school.
We already have Don Honorio Ventura
State University, he said.
MALAYBALAY CITYWith
copra prices plummeting, former
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has
urged government to help coconut
farmers diversify and form viable
cooperatives.
Diversication is key to
the economic survival of small
growers facing severe hardship,
with the farm-gate price of copra
now down to as low as P15 per
kilo from P40 a year ago, he
said.
Zubiri called on state-run
Philippine Coconut Authority
to help planters expand their
sources of farm income through
intercropping.
Short-season and high-value
crops in between coconut trees
will surely help, he said, adding
that corn, peanut, banana, cacao,
coffee or pineapple may be
cultivated in coconut plantations.
The PCA should also encourage
farmers to put up cooperatives to
help them sell copra wholesale at
superior prices, he said.
Cooperatives can eliminate
traders who take advantage of
cash-strapped farmers.
With 3.5 million families
dependent on coconut farming
for their livelihood, Zubiri earlier
warned that the copra price crash
could aggravate hunger in the
months ahead.
We have to help coconut
farmers become self-reliant and
highly competitive entrepreneurs.
Otherwise, they will forever
be at the mercy of middlemen
and volatile prices in the global
markets, he said.
A University of the Philippines-
educated agriculturist, Zubiris
legislative credits include the
Cooperative Code, Organic
Farming Act and the Agri-Agra
Reform Credit Act.
The Philippines is the worlds
largest producer of copra, the
kernel from which coconut oil
is extracted for use in food,
detergents and biofuels.
CNO exports dipped 41.5 percent
due to the economic slowdown in
the US and Europe. The country
shipped out only 209,256 metric
tons of CNO from January to April
versus 357,622 MTs over the same
period in 2011.
By Florencio P. Narito
LEGAZPI CITYThe Albay
provincial capitol, Chevron
Geothermal Philippines Holding
Inc. and Manila Observatory have
launched the Albay Sustainable
Development Guidebook,
a scientic study on natural
disaster risk hazards and climate
change in the municipalities of
Tiwi and Malinao.
Financed with P5 million from
Chevron which is operating a
geothermal project in Tiwi, the
scientic study was made by
the Manila Observatory.
Albay Gov. Joey Sarte
Salceda said the book would be
useful for investors in locating
factories, ofces, schools
and other establishments in
areas not vulnerable to natural
calamities.
I congratulate the scientists
of the Ateneo de Manila
University and Manila
Observatorys Institute of
Climate Change for undertaking
the study, he said.
Dr. Gemma Narisma, regional
manager on climate change
systems of the observatory,
discussed geohazards, sea level
rise and malnutrition in the
communities.
Wilson Clemente, Chevron
asset manager, said residents in
their host community along with
Malinao would benet from
the book in terms of planning
their livelihood activities and
infrastructure.
Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva
and Malinao Mayor Avelino
Ceriola expressed their gratitude
to Salceda, Clemente and
observatory executive director
Antonia Loyzaga.
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITYSenior Supt. David
Lacdan, police chief, assured business
locators of maximum visibility inside the
247-hectare John Hay Special Economic
Zone amid talks of an impending takeover
by Bases Conversion and Development
Authority of the leased property of Camp
John Hay Development Corp. after its 50-
year lease contract was allegedly ended
due to alleged non-payment of over P3
billion in accumulated lessee rentals.
Lacdan met with representatives
from the War Bird Security Agency,
CJHDevcos security provider, and
John Hay Management Corp., BCDAs
subsidiary, and said Baguio was no place
for troublemakers.
We reminded the security ofcers that
there are thousands of visitors inside John
Hay daily, thus, both parties should not just
make any action that will provoke the other
to retaliate and create trouble which might
compromise the safety of the public, he told
Manila Standard.
We learned that both camps have
already beefed up their respective security
force inside the leased area over the past
several days, Lacdan said. We have
told them to observe lawful means in the
exercise of their respective rights that they
want to protect so that no violent incident
may happen that will again put the image
of the city in a bad light, he added
We will not allow any violent
incident to happen inside the citys main
tourist attraction so we will constantly
conduct routine foot and mobile patrols
inside the John Hay premises to show
both parties that we deserve the respect
as peace ofcers.
By Lailany P. Gomez
THE Department of Trade and Industry concluded last May 18 its
mediation week to tackle consumer complaints.
Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said 20 mediators
from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga
Peninsula, Caraga, Cordillera Administrative Region and National
Capital Region joined the Alternative Dispute Resolution Training-
Workshop on how to streamline proceedings.
The department takes up cases on deceptive, unfair and
unconscionable sales acts and practices, liability for products and
services, product quality and safety, consumer product and service
warranties, advertising and sales promotion, labeling and fair
packaging, price tag law and other related issues.
This is part of the Departments streamlining of its procedures to
provide faster and improved quality service to Filipino consumers,
Maglaya said.
The DTI aims to assist more consumers who are now better aware
of their rights, and fast track the resolution of consumer complaints.
Mediation facilitates negotiation between disputing parties to reach
a voluntary and mutually satisfactory outcome.
Providential
visit. House
Assistant
Minority Leader
and Leyte 1st
district Rep.
Ferdinand
Martin FM
Romualdez
assisted by San
Juan Rep. JV
Ejercito hands
out relief to
families in
Barangay San
Jose, Tacloban
City.
VER S. NOVENO
Gianna Maniego, Editor [email protected]
home work relationship
sha.re/
Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
AIRLINE HELPS
UNESCO
AsianaAirlines, Koreas
most awardedairline,
is extendingassistance
for thepreservationof
UnescoWorldHeritage
sites.
TAKING a cue from the slew
of very active party organizers
hereabouts, hotel events have
also leveled up and compete
with those of commercial brands,
giving us, party chroniclers, a
difcult time choosing which
ones to attend, especially
because, oftentimes, they take
place at the same time. Here
are a few that drew in the towns
partyphiles recently.
An evening of music
Marco Polo Plaza Cebus
(MPPC) Grand Ballroom was
the venue for an evening of pure
and enchanting music by world-
renowned classical pianist Cecile
Licad, a fund-raiser to benet
the victims of Typhoon Sendong
and the Negros earthquake.
Hotel general manager Hans
Hauri and his efcient team of
executives made sure the event
took the Queen City of the South
to greater musical heights, as
Licads renditions of Chopin and
Liszt masterpieces made for a
spell binding concert.
Among the music
acionadaos spotted in the crowd
were Peoples Republic of China
consul general Zhang Weigou
who came with his wife Chen
Liangning, and honorary consul
of the United Kingdom Moya
Jackson.
Breathtaking art
The Bellevue Hotel, the
only luxury hotel south of
metro Manila, recently hosted
Dimension, another fund-
raising art exhibit to benet the
New Life Christian Center in Sta.
Rosa, Laguna. Art acionados
trooped to the hotels ballroom
which had on display, the works
of featured artists Bumbo
Villanueva, Jik Villanueva,
Melvin John Ante, Rey Bocar,
Carlos Alferez Castro, Nate
Florendo, Jose Hombrobueno,
Tony Oning, and Genalyn
BOB
ZOZOBRADO
For Party
Animals Only
WEDNESDAY
C1
MAY 23, 2012
Beforetechnologytook
over our lives, family
gatherings wereusually
heldinbeaches, farms,
gardens, or anyshady
areawheretheentire
familycanenjoythegifts
of nature.
PICNIC TIME
W
H
A
T
S
I
N
S
I
D
E
Tribdino-Bocar.
Managing director Patrick
Chan and corporate director for
marketing and communications
Ryan Chan made sure that the
delicious spread of culinary
delights, the hotels sophisticated
ambience and topnotch service
from the staff would make
the evening conducive to art
appreciation.
Filipino cuisine
The famous Boracay
Regency Beach Resort and Spa,
the rst triple-A resort in the
island paradise, opened Mesa
Restaurant, their high-end venue
for modern Filipino cuisine.
Henann Resorts chairman Henry
Chusuey, Mesa Restaurant
franchise owners, Sen. Francis
Pangilinan and restaurateur
Rikki Dee, and Boracay Garden
Resort assistant to the president
Alfons Chusuey cut the
ceremonial ribbon.
The restos cozy, native,
earth-toned interiors made it easy
for the guests to enjoy the variety
of sumptuous Filipino dishes
presented in a unique manner,
like Crispchon, Crispy Laing,
Pomelo Salad (pomelo segments
tossed with toasted grated
coconut and served in a banana
leaf cone), and Tofu Salad (with
century eggs and shrimps).
Bulletin Board
House Blessing. At the
blessing of the new house of
Wilcon Depot executive vice-
president and chief operating
Hotel fun
AS SONY introduces Sony
Mobile Communications
as its newest subsidiary,
it also unveils four new
smartphones that are more
than just gadgets for texting
or calling but provide
mobile entertainment at
your ngertips.
Takao Kuroda, president
and managing director of Sony
Philippines, said during Sony
Mobile Communications event
at the Mind Museum to launch
its new single status that the
subsidiary is in a strong position
to deliver connected
entertainment experiences
to its users worldwide.
Our combination of
smartphone know-how,
consumer electronics and
entertainment heritage will
held us create desirable
products that are uniquely
Sony, he said.
Patrick Larraga, head,
mobile division, Sony
Philippines, said Sony
Mobile also offers access to
content like games, music and
movies that can be enjoyed
across a wide range of Sony
devices, from mobile phones to
the PSP to the Sony Bravia.
He said the brands iconic
Xperia phones are not just made
of alloys and silicon.
We are bringing smartphones
made of imagination. Xperia
smartphones are made of
curiosity, of the belief that
dreams can become reality.
Forged with imagination to
unlock imagination, added
Larraga.
Three of the four new phones
introduced during the event
has the transparent element,
which is not just a design but
also serves to emphasize the
large display and hide the
More than
a phone
phones antenna component.
The Xperia S, Xperia P and
Xperia U all have this element.
The Xperia S, Xperia P and
the fourth phone Xperia sola
come with Xperia SmartTags.
These small tokens use NFC
(near eld communication)
technology to switch smartphone
settings with just a swipe. Users
can prescribe tasks on the phone,
such as switching on the alarm
clock by the bed, muting the
phone in time for a business
meeting or even turning on the
GPS app when entering the car.
The user simply swipes the phone
by the Xperia SmartTag and the
prescribed actions are set, instead
of having to go through each task
and setting.
In terms of design, the new
phones bear the companys
Human Centric design
philosophy. This considers the
natural feel of a device in use by
the hand, along with its overall
look and functionality.
The Xperia S is a very good
looking phone with a 4.3-
inch display with a 1280 x 720
resolution. The camera features
a 12-megapixel Exmor R sensor,
and beating inside is a dual-core
Snapdragon heart clocked at
1.5GHz.
The Xperia S, the agship
of the series, is a Playstation-
certied smartphone with a
4.3-inch Reality Display with
Mobile BRAVIA Engine. It has
an HD (1280 x 720) resolution
screen, as well as front (720p)
and back (1080p) cameras for
HD recording. The camera can
take pictures in just 1.5 seconds
from standby mode.
HD sharing is enabled through
a wireless DLNA connection, or
use the HDMI cable to link the
Xperia S to the TV.
The Xperia S ships with two
Xperia SmartTags. This allows
consumers to share content with
each other as well as enjoying
an increasing number of NFC
applications and services.
The slightly smaller Xperia P
is much easier to hold, and the
brushed metal feels good in our
hands. The 4-inch display also
makes the P usable with just one
hand.
The handset sports a 4-inch
qHD (960 x 540 pixels) display,
and comes with Sonys new
WhiteMagic display. Sony
claims the display is bright
enough that you can view the
screen comfortably even in direct
sunlight.
The Xperia U 1GHz dual-core
processor, 512MB of RAM, a 3.5
inch display, Android 2.3, 8GB
of internal storage, a 5-megapixel
rear camera, a VGA front camera
and more.
The Xperia U also has a
transparent strip that changes
colour based on the color of the
photos being viewed by users in a
gallery, or the album art of tracks
being played. It comes with pink
and yellow exchangeable caps for
the base of the smartphone in the
box. The phone has HD recording
and 2D and 3D panoramic photo
imaging and a 3.5-inch Reality
Display powered by Mobile
BRAVIA Engine.
Xperia sola is also the rst
to feature Sonys innovative
oating touch technology for Web
browsing. Users navigate the web
by hovering their nger above
the screen so it acts like a moving
cursor, without actually having to
touch the screen. Once the desired
link is found it can be highlighted
and a simple tap will load the page.
The Xperia sola has a 3.7-
inch Reality Display with Mobile
BRAVIA Engine, 5MP camera
with HD video recording, and
xLOUD and 3D surround sound
audio technology
Just tap Xperia sola with one
of the included NFC SmartTags
and it will instantly launch apps
and change all the settings you
like to the situation you want.
Turn on Wi-Fi and turn up the
ring volume at home and set your
alarm and turn off GPS at night.
All with one easy touch.
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
ofcer Rosemarie Bosch-Ong,
everybody was delighted to see
the interiors completely made
of materials, furnishings and
accessories from, where else but,
her popular store. The occasion
also showcased the wearable
sculptures of Hoseki founder
Faico and his wife Zabeth Cos
one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces
designed by Knoi Esmane.
----------O----------
YOUR WEEKEND
CHUCKLE:
Whisky is a brilliant invention.
One double and you start feeling
single again!
----------O----------
For feedback, Im at
[email protected]
(From left) Hans Hauri with Chen Liangning and husband
Peoples Republic of China consul general Zhang Weigou
Amparito Lhuillier
Honorary consul of
United Kingdom
to the Philippines
Moya Jackson
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu general
manager Hans Hauri and
internationally-renowned Filipina
virtuoso, classic al pianist Cecile Licad
(From left) Alvin Gonzales with featured artists Melvin Jose Ante, Jose
Hombrobueno and Nate Florendo
Bellevue
Hotels and
Resorts man-
aging direc-
tor Patrick
Chan and
corporate
director for
marketing
and com-
munications
Ryan Chan
Jim and Rowena Manalang with artists Gina Tribdino-
Bocar and Rey Bocar
Jopine Store
Owner Runa
Villaroman, Bo-
racay Regency
front ofce
manager Rhea
Mones, Mila
Yap and Bora-
cay Regency
assistant to the
president Errol
Ledesma.
Assistant to the Mayor Wilson Enriquez, Boracay Re-
gency banquet and events manager Michelle Molano,
NigiNigi Resort manager Bolle Bolton and resort man-
ager Dindo Salazar
Charlie Alin-
dada, Hoseki
founder Faico
with Stefan Co,
Hoseki cor-
porate affairs
director Zabeth
Co, Wilcon
executive vice
president and
chief operating
ofcer Rosema-
rie Bosch-Ong,
Tessie Perez and
Ron de Vera
Henann Resorts chairman Henry Chusuey, Mesa
Restaurant franchise owners- restaurateur Rikki Dee
and senator Kiko Pangilinan, and Boracay Garden
Resort assistant to the president Alfons Chusuey
C
Y
A
N

M
A
G
E
N
T
A

Y
E
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B
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C
K
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ANSWER TOMORROW
63 Connector with a slash
65 Cry evoked by the
rst parts of the answers
to 17-, 24-, 41- and
52-Across?
68 Trafc problem
69 Wife of Osiris
70 Racings Grand __
71 Fruit-lled treats
72 Deck chair wood
73 Deck chair piece
Down
1 Sound heard around
the clock
2 Sarcastic joke response
3 ... three men in __
4 Tap idly with ones
ngers
5 Im not eating that!
6 Dental care sufx
7 Double Stuf stuff
8 On the q.t.
9 Comparative words
10 Citrus-avored
refresher
11 Change the subject,
perhaps
12 Lagoon surrounder
13 Oater omen
ANSWER
TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
Across
1 Pointers pronoun
5 Supermarket stripes:
Abbr.
9 Poes middle name
14 Hand-on-the-Bible
utterance
15 Lassie
16 Take care of
17 Old-style bottle
LOS ANGELES
TIMES
CROSSWORD
opener
19 Are not! retort
20 Afghanistans capital
21 Honoree of a D.C.
monument at 1964
Independence Ave.
23 Treats, as squeaks
24 Yankee with a record 18
World Series home runs
28 Pen point
31 Bullght shout
32 Puzzle (out), in slang
33 Idle of Life of Brian
35 Preschool basics
38 Charges at some booths
41 1995 Woody Allen lm
with a Greek chorus
44 Actor Davis
45 Vim and vigor
46 __ dash of ...: recipe
words
47 Courtroom entry
49 Top-row PC key
51 Approximate g.
52 Highest British military
rank
57 Both Chaneys
58 Beverage cooler
59 Lindsay of Herbie: Fully
Loaded
18 Ad-writing award
22 Canada hwy. distances
25 Modeling material
26 Skewered fare
27 Garage occupant
28 Animated clownsh
29 Van Gogh ower
30 Spare-no-cost type
34 Hangs loose
36 EMTs procedure
37 Draws back, as in fear
39 Former Fords
40 Airplane assignment
42 Ready for a drive
43 __ Hashanah
48 Friend from France
50 Unrufed
52 Scruggss partner
53 Ancient Aegean region
54 Nail the test
55 Della of Touched By
an Angel
56 Aerobatic maneuvers
60 Throw
61 Sri Lanka locale
62 First in line
64 Rotation meas.
66 Korean 27-Down
manufacturer
67 Look for answers
home work relationships
C3
WEDNESDAY
C2
sha.re/
on the shelf
MAY 23, 2012
Gianna Maniego, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
By Ed Biado
MOST people who are upgrading
to a new smartphone model have
a couple of things on their mind:
Am I gonna give the old one to
my kid brother? Or should I sell
it, and for how much? Very few
of them actually keep their rst-
gen devices. Do you someone
who has all incarnations of the
iPhone? I didn't think so.
Manufacturers are constantly
coming up with new designs
with better features and we keep
on buying the latest gadgets in
the market. And by today's stan-
dards, latest only means outdated
in less than a year's time. (That,
and the fact that the number of
people interested in pre-loved
devices is decreasing.)
So, one of these
days, you might
have to stash your
current phone in
the drawer. But
experts are saying
that there are a lot of
uses for an old smartphone.
Lifehacker.com suggests '[mak-
ing it] a media remote control.
You simply have to look for an
app that can use infrared signals to
control the TV and the home the-
ater system. The Web site also says
that it can moonlight as a portable
gaming device, a dedicated elec-
tronic device for a specic location
(for music, recipes, alarms, notes,
etc.) and a home VOIP or video
phone. And if you're looking to
run a new ROM or OS on your
new phone, your old one can be
your guinea pig.
Meanwhile, PCWorld.com
thinks that a used smartphone
will do great as a back-up or
emergency phone. And instead of
buying a new ash drive, you can
take full advantage of your old
phone's storage capacity for your
on-the-go les. Plus, it instantly
becomes an e-reader if you load
it up with e-books. Another fan-
tastic idea, according to the Web
site, is GPS, a service that uses a
lot of battery power. To prevent
your new phone's battery from
draining, run GPS on the old one.
If you don't want to do any
of these, an old smartphone can
always be a really fancy digital
picture frame.
New uses
for old
smartphones
Have fun planning your K-inspired trip
Welcome Spring with the countrys hippest local K-lifestyle magazine, Sparkling! The issue features
ZE:A and IU in the hottest ip covers of the season and bursts with all the K-essentials you need to pack
for the prettiest trip to Seoul!
Since spring is the best time to hit Seoul, let Sparkling be your travel guide! Know everything
about the K-Pop motherland with the issues list of ve cozy and affordable hostels to stay in and
the essential items to bring along when traversing to other popular tourist destinations in the Korean
Peninsula such as Busan, Daegu, or Jeju. This edition of Sparkling features ZE:A on the cover, the
latest idol group to land on Philippine shores. Learn more about the nine-member boyband as they share
their idol journey in a very exclusive interview!
Live life in K-Pop color! Sparkling, now published quarterly by Summit Books, is available in
newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P150.
WORLD renowned and
award winning conductor
Mark Anthony Carpio
of the Philippine Madrigal
Singer delivers yet another
choral feat with "Flare," a
concert debut of his very own
Voces Aurorae Girls Choir
on Friday, May 25, 8 p.m. at
the Philam Life Auditorium,
United Nations Avenue, Ma-
nila. The concert highlights
the talents of young girls ages
eight to 18 under the tutelge
of the Madrigal choirmaster
with various pieces from
classical, liturgical, contem-
porary and pop. The event is
for the benet of the Servants
of Charity. Tickets may be
purchased at the lobby prior
to the performance.
Formed in August 2007,
the Voces Aurorae Girls Choir
under the aegis of the Kilyawan
Boys Choirs (KBC) of Quezon
City was established to respond
to the call for the youths active
participation in the communi-
ties through choiral groups. The
choir regularly sings with the
music ministry of two parishes:
Our Lady of Annunciation Par-
ish in Mindanao Avenue and
the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish in TeachersVillage. The
girls also performed in various
concerts, recitals, and outreach
programs, notably with the
Philippine Madrigal Singers
during the inauguration of Pres-
ident Aquino and with several
other choirs in the celebration
of the World Youth Day, with
performances recorded in the
recently launched CD Angels
on High by the Jesuit Commu-
nication (JESCOM) Ministry.
Now on its fth generation,
the winery is still run by the
Smith family, direct descendant
of Samuel Smith, originally from
Wareham, Dorset, England, and
founder of Yalumba Wine Com-
pany. Samuel Smith named his
winery Yalumba an aboriginal
word meaning all the land
around. The head of the win-
ery now is in the able hands of
Robert Hill Smith, the managing
director since 1985.
Constant trendsetter
Yalumba has always been an
innovator in the Australian wine
industry. The company embraced
the idea of screwcap closure as
early as 1970, over three decades
ahead of its time. It was also the
first winery to go with French
brand Stelvin screwcap closure
the rst brand to perfect the clo-
sure because of the creation of the
PVDC (Polyvinylidene chloride)
wadded material that effectively
coats the cap and protect the wine
as early as the late 1970s. Though,
then this change to screwcap was
not very acceptable by the wine
consuming public, Yalumba al-
ready took a stand, and has in fact
taught the world that good wines
can be enclosed in screwcaps.
Yalumba also has an in-house full
function cooperage (wine bar-
rel making), complete with four
coopers and a Master Cooper,
probably the only winery in the
entire Northern Hemisphere wine
countries to have one. Then there
are the wine varietals and blends
that have captivated the taste
buds of Australian wine drinkers
enroute to the world. The Viognier,
the Bush Vine Grenache, named
as such because of Barossas old
gnarly Bush Vines, the Cote Rotie
blend of Shiraz with Viognier, and
Australias proud blend of Caber-
net Sauvignon and Shiraz, which
Yalumba turned into art form with
their Yalumba Signature wine,
and more recently, the Vermen-
tino varietal that is popularized
in Sardinia Italy these are just
among the over 50 different quality
wines Yalumba makes (under the
Yalumba label).
Tasting galore
Tim Herrmann, Yalumbas
amiable regional sales manager
for the Asia-Pacific region was
in town recently and hosted an
incredible Wine Tasting eve-
ning at the Wine Museum. I
tried 17 wines all-in-all includ-
ing some debuting wines like
the Y Series Vermentino and the
Strapper GSM, and Yalumbas
most iconic wines the Signature
and Octavius.
The rst vintage STRAPPER
made from Grenache, Shiraz
and Mataro
Present duringtheJollibeeDriveThruCrossCountryChallengepresslaunchare(fromleft): Ford
GroupPhilippinesAVPforMarketingPrudzCastillo, AVPforSalesDinoObias, AVPforMarketing
andSalesVinayPiparsania, andpresident RandyKrieger; JollibeePhilippinespresident Jose
Miana,VPforMarketingandRegional BusinessUnit HeadforMetroSouthAlbert Cuadrante;
AVPandRegional BusinessUnit HeadforNorthLuzonJoanAquino,VPandNational Business
ChannelsheadManjieYap,VPandRegional BusinessUnit headforSouthLuzonRoseCaalam
andVPandRegional BusinessUnit headforVisayas-MindanaoBengHuyong.
JOLLIBEE partnered with Ford
Group Philippines for the Jollibee
Drive-Thru Cross-Country Challenge,
the ultimate road trip adventure that
showcases Jollibees widest network
of Drive-Thru stores alongside the
countrys top tourist destinations.
From April 29 to May 8, ten teams
of two went on an exciting quest to
conquer the regions of North Luzon,
Metro Manila, South Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao onboard their Ford
Fiesta Sport Plus AT hatchbacks. The
teams made their way to as many of
the 171 Jollibee Drive-Thru stores
and accomplished fun tasks and chal-
lenges to gain points. A cash prize of
P1 million and two new Ford Fiesta
1.4L AT Hatchbacks await the team
who will gather the most number of
points. The winning team in the Jol-
libee Drive-Thru Cross Country Chal-
lenge will be announced during the
closing ceremony slated on May 31.
The Jollibee Drive-Thru Chal-
lengers are:
Nio Duran and Anthony Gaas
(Team 1)
Ulysses Ang and Neil Pagu-
layan (Team 2)
Robert Real and Quinito Vil-
larosa (Team 3)
Francis Lim and Joaquin Puyat
(Team 4)
10 teams in cross-country challenge
Mina Esguerra returns with new novel
Mina Esguerra, author of My Imaginary Ex and No
Strings Attached, returns this year with That Kind of Guy,
the latest offering of Summit Books under its roster of
chick-lit novels.
Good girl Julie falls in love with hot former-player
Anton, the guy who everyone thinks is the wrong kind
guy for her. But did Anton really change for her or is he
just a delicious distraction?
Fans of Esguerra would recognize the characters, Julie and Anton in her last book,
No Strings Attached where they were rst introduced. That Kind of Guy tells readers
how Julie gures out her feelings for the guy who turns her life upside down, confuses
the hell out of her and makes her deliriously happy.
Will Julie be able to nip her inhibitions in the bud and learn to truly trust
Anton with her heart? Or will she follow her friends and choose someone nice
and safe?
Esguerra, says of her protagonist, Julie's a nice girlshe's a good daughter,
a loyal friend, and a responsible adult. She's not into drama, and tends to speak
her mind. This makes some friends avoid her, because she'll call them out on their
drama. So she's like the last person who would be getting into a relationship with
a "player"and yet she does fall for him [Anton].
Find out if theres true love for a good girl like Julie and a hotshot player like Anton.
Grab a copy of That Kind of Guy, available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets
nationwide for only P175.
YALUMBA is the oldest family owned
winery in Australia and has been a xture of
Australias ascension in the world of qual-
ity wines. Though not the oldest commercial
winery, as that distinction belongs to the
Wyndham Estate, but Yalumba certainly is
one of the pioneers in the industry having
started in 1849, over 160 years ago.
Old reliables
and new collectibles
Here are my tasting notes of
the select wines I enjoyed:
Y Series Vermentino 2011
this looks like another varietal
Yalumba wants to champion
in, ala the Yalumba Viognier of
the 1980s, `light and delicate,
lemon peel nose, with nice crisp
nish, low in alcohol and easy
to imbibe; only around 96,000
bottles made on this rst com-
mercial vintage
Y Series Viognier 2011 the
entry level Viognier of Yalumba,
and already quite delicious,
`perfumed, smell like cake ic-
ing, semi-sweet and crusty, with
white pepper nish
Y Series Riesling 2010 -
`lovely nose with longan and
mandarin orange, very tangy,
dry with good avor depth, and
a Sprite like nish
Pewsey Vale Vineyard Se-
lection Eden Valley Riesling
2011 this is a bonus wine
under the
Pewsey Vale label, still a
Yalumba owned brand, `sweet
aromatic nose, more intense,
very ripe tangy taste revealing
dried berries at the end; Eden
Valley really makes very good
distinctively Aussie Rieslings
The Scribbler 2009 one
of the 4 Cabernet Sauvignon-
Shiraz blends in the Yalumba
portfolio, `black currant, old
spice, vanilla, a tad acidic- sign
of its young age, and some
lovely minty notes at the end
The Strapper GSM 2010
another new wine from Ya-
lumba but certainly already a
popular southern Rhone blend
of Grenache, Syrah (Shiraz)
and Mataro (or more com-
monly known as Mourvedre),
`leathery nose, gamey, with
ripe plums, a far more com-
plex wine, with earthy ele-
ments and a peppery finish
The Signature 2005 this
Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
blend Yalumba made as early
as 1962 would eventually be the
signature wine (a Yalumba fore-
sight when naming the wine?)
of uniquely Aussie crafted wine
style,`luscious nose of prunes
and raisins, licorice, a very hearty
wine, silky tannins, creamy tex-
ture, and lots of seductive fruits
from rst sip to nish
The Octavius 2005 since
its rst vintage in 1990, Octa-
vious has been considered as
one of Australias best wines,
the Shiraz come from some of
Barossas oldest vines, and are
barreled in exclusive octaves
(small 80 liter barrels) designed
by the Yalumba in-house coo-
perage, Ìntense vanilla nose,
hawthorn berry, semi-sweet,
so much crustiness and sweet
chewy tannins, and a deli-
ciously rich avored nish that
seems to linger forever
The tasting was done on
a weekday, and while I have
important meetings to attend
the next morning, the wonder-
ful wines kept me at the Wine
Museum enjoying every bit of
Yalumba wines being poured.
Thank you to Tim Herrmann,
Ronnie and Raymond Joseph
for a great night of superb wines
and equally amazing company!
Yalumba incidentally also
happens to be the oldest wine
principal of Philippine Wine Mer-
chants, having been in business
with them since 1991. You can
reach Philippine Wine Merchants
to order your favorite Yalumba
wines, both the old reliables and
the new collectibles at tel. #s
(02)853-0940 or (02)832-2523.
For comments, inquiries,
wine event coverage, wine
consultancy and other wine
related concerns, please e-mail
me at [email protected].
I am a proud member of the
Federation Internationale des
Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin
et des Spiritueux or FIJEV
since 2010.n also follow me on
twitter at www.twitter.
com/sherwinlao.
ASIANA Airlines, Koreas most awarded airline, is
extending assistance for the preservation of Unesco
World Heritage sites. It has recently become the
rst Korean company to sign a memorandum of
understanding with Unesco for this purpose.
Following its preservation project with Angkor
Wat in Cambodia and housing projects for the
Aeta in the Philippines, the airline has set its sight
on central Vietnam. Asiana has unveiled a grand
entrance guidepost at Hoi An Center for Cultural
Heritage Management and Preservation in Da
Nang, Vietnam. The center preserves the Hoi An
Ancient Town, a well-preserved town representing
a Southeast Asian trading post of the 19th century;
and the My Son Sanctuary, tower temple ruins
that embody the religious center of the Champa
Kingdom in what is now Vietnam.
Aside from the grand entrance guidepost,
Asiana will remodel the Hoi An Tourist Infor-
mation Center, print information brochures and
leaets in Vietnamese, Korean, and English, and
erect 30 solar-powered street lamps. The project
aims to develop tourism infrastructure near the
sites and help boost the local economy.
On the 20th anniversary of Korea-Vietnam
diplomatic relations, we hope that our initiative
contributes to better relations between our two
countries, and we plan to continue to expand our
preservation efforts as all of humanity must pro-
tect our world heritage, said Young-doo Yoon,
Asiana Airlines president and chief executive. He
was joined at the event by Taeck-Soo Chun, the
Secretary General of the Korean National Com-
mission for Unesco, Nguyen The Hung, the Head
of the World Heritage Site Management Center,
and Pham Cao Phong, the Secretary General of
the Viet Nam National Commission for Unesco.
Asiana Airlines ies three times a week from
Incheon International Airport in Korea to Da Nang,
Vietnam. The airline ies to Incheon from three
points in the Philippines: Manila, Clark and Cebu.
From left: Taeck-Soo Chun, secretary general of the
Korean National Commission of Unesco and Young-
Doo Yoon, president and chief executive of Asiana
Airlines, at the Hoi An Center in Da Nang, Vietnam
with ight attendants and guests.
The aftermath: Lifestyle and food writers from different publications pose for a souvenir photo at Rosa Farms after a fullling day full of food,
fun and laughter.
Girls choir in concert
with award-winning conductor
I REMEMBER the last picnic we had like
it was yesterday, when in fact, it happened
four years ago. On the eve of Mothers
Day, our whole family on my mothers
side left our ancestral house in La Union
and went to the beach and stayed there
until nightfall. It was the perfect oppor-
tunity for me and my siblings to know
our cousins who lived in La Union, and
for our younger cousins who came from
abroad to familiarize themselves with the
beauty of the beaches in the Philippines.
There was laughter, music, and more
importantly, the bond we had as a family
was there. Our grandmother was the one
who brought everyone together with her
superb cooking skills and her wish to see
everyone together in a beautiful place
was denitely something her children
wanted to grant.
The idea of a family gathering nowa-
days is that everyone goes to a restaurant,
eats and stays for probably an hour or
two, and then leaves. Before technology
took over our lives, family gatherings
were usually held in beaches, farms,
gardens, or any shady area where the
entire family can enjoy the gifts of nature.
Yes, there was such a time when children
and parents would not tune out on each
other and prefer enjoying each others
company than bury themselves in work.
Fortunately, the nieces of Teresita
Mama Sita Reyes, together with the
owners of Rosa Farms in San Marcelino,
Zambales, decided to relive the Reyes
classic family tradition of picnicking and
made their guests realize that nothing
beats an afternoon under the sun, picking
mangoes and lling your rumbling stom-
achs with the best Filipino dishes in town.
According to Nancy Reyes, one of the
nieces of Mama Sita, the idea of family
picnics they grew up on is eating for the
sake of eating, bringing the whole clan to
a place far from the city and have food for
everyone to savor. It was also a chance
for them to get together and enjoy nature
and each others company.
Nancy shares that it was their grand-
mother, Lola Asiang, the founder of
Aristocrat Restaurant who introduced
and imbibed the importance of picnics
in building and strengthening the bond
of their family.
Lola Asiang was very fond of picnics
because she had a big family, and she
loved eating and being around with her
grandchildren. She would really take us
on a long picnic, bringing the whole group.
Kapag sinabing kami, ibig sabihin her 10 to
12 children with their children, she said.
Upon reaching Rosa Farms, the
guests were immediately welcomed by
the rondalla band and were given their
special green mango shake. A brief tour
of the 13 hectare farm was given by the
owners, Ding and Zulueta.
Eventually, the guests were divided
in to two groups and the mango picking
game commenced. The groups were
tasked to pick and gather at least 90 kilos
of mangoes and were asked to complete
the message tied on the tree. After the ex-
hausting game, the guests gathered under
the shade of the mango trees to enjoy their
lunch dubbed Piknikan sa Manggahan
ala Mama Sita. Among the dishes they
enjoyed were the kinilaw na puso ng sag-
ing, kare kareng gulay, chicken inasal, da-
ing na bangus, sinigang na gulay. To top
it off, they had mango and buko sherbet
and fresh fruits for dessert.
Of course a picnic would not be com-
plete without merienda. The guests were
in for a real treat when they were served
with banana ruma, nilagang mais and
arroz caldo.
At the end of the day, Nancy Reyes
reminded the guests that picnics are about
communing with nature and the family;
all while enjoying the food that also came
from nature itself.
After all, the elements of picnic are
fresh air, bonding, good food, resting, and
laughter, she said.
Whats important is it brought memo-
ries, kasi ganyang talaga kapag mayroon
tayong experiences that we havent had in a
long, long time and then all of a sudden, we
take a day off from our deadlines, laptops,
telephone, iPod, appointments, diet, exer-
cise, and talking to the usual people. Its a
break, its taking you away from the cement
and bringing you out in the country."
Bond with your friends while pulling strings together!
Are you and your friends getting tired of doing the same things over and over again when youre all to-
gether? Then start something new and keep your hands busy this summer by making your very own friendship
bracelets with your friends!
Get over 30 fun and creative pattern ideas from The Friendship Bracelet Book, the rst offering of Berry
Books under Summit Media in its do-it-yourself series. Divided in beginner, intermediate, and advance lev-
els, The Friendship Bracelet Book is a complete all-in-one guide on how to begin weaving strings together.
Featuring a step by step instruction on how to go about each knot and hitches, the book will give you a
complete overview of bracelet making 101 right from the toolkit needed to fun projects that will teach you
how to make braided headbands, shoelaces, and even camera slings!
Best of all, each book comes with a set of thread in 7 vibrant colors so that you can start making your friendship bracelets straight away!
Grab a copy of The Friendship Bracelet Book available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P150.
Airline helps
World Heritage
Site preservation
[email protected]
PICNICS:
More fun
in Zambales
By Arian Vina Sarmiento
Yalumba Y Series
Red Wine Range
Michelle Estuar and Prince Baltazar
(Team 5)
Andre Co and Cerah Hernandez
(Team 6)
Paul Jake Castillo and Jan Seer-
pida (Team 7)
JM Oloris and Irene Oloris (Team 8)
Jon Hall and Maria Persson (Team 9)
Charlie Sutcliffe and Angelo Cac-
ciatore (Team 10)
Follow their exciting adventures on the
road and nd out which team will become
the new millionaires and proud owners
of the two brand new Ford Fiestas. Catch
the exciting blow-by-blow TV coverage
of the Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross-Country
Challenge on ABS CBN, Lifestyle Net-
work and ETC.
The Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross-Coun-
try Challenge is also made possible with
the support of Bratpack and Jansport, the
ofcial outtter, and Samsung Galaxy
Note, the ofcial mobile device of the
10 teams.
Tim Herrmann, the Asia Pacic
regional manager of Yalumba
C
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ANSWER TOMORROW
63 Connector with a slash
65 Cry evoked by the
rst parts of the answers
to 17-, 24-, 41- and
52-Across?
68 Trafc problem
69 Wife of Osiris
70 Racings Grand __
71 Fruit-lled treats
72 Deck chair wood
73 Deck chair piece
Down
1 Sound heard around
the clock
2 Sarcastic joke response
3 ... three men in __
4 Tap idly with ones
ngers
5 Im not eating that!
6 Dental care sufx
7 Double Stuf stuff
8 On the q.t.
9 Comparative words
10 Citrus-avored
refresher
11 Change the subject,
perhaps
12 Lagoon surrounder
13 Oater omen
ANSWER
TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
Across
1 Pointers pronoun
5 Supermarket stripes:
Abbr.
9 Poes middle name
14 Hand-on-the-Bible
utterance
15 Lassie
16 Take care of
17 Old-style bottle
LOS ANGELES
TIMES
CROSSWORD
opener
19 Are not! retort
20 Afghanistans capital
21 Honoree of a D.C.
monument at 1964
Independence Ave.
23 Treats, as squeaks
24 Yankee with a record 18
World Series home runs
28 Pen point
31 Bullght shout
32 Puzzle (out), in slang
33 Idle of Life of Brian
35 Preschool basics
38 Charges at some booths
41 1995 Woody Allen lm
with a Greek chorus
44 Actor Davis
45 Vim and vigor
46 __ dash of ...: recipe
words
47 Courtroom entry
49 Top-row PC key
51 Approximate g.
52 Highest British military
rank
57 Both Chaneys
58 Beverage cooler
59 Lindsay of Herbie: Fully
Loaded
18 Ad-writing award
22 Canada hwy. distances
25 Modeling material
26 Skewered fare
27 Garage occupant
28 Animated clownsh
29 Van Gogh ower
30 Spare-no-cost type
34 Hangs loose
36 EMTs procedure
37 Draws back, as in fear
39 Former Fords
40 Airplane assignment
42 Ready for a drive
43 __ Hashanah
48 Friend from France
50 Unrufed
52 Scruggss partner
53 Ancient Aegean region
54 Nail the test
55 Della of Touched By
an Angel
56 Aerobatic maneuvers
60 Throw
61 Sri Lanka locale
62 First in line
64 Rotation meas.
66 Korean 27-Down
manufacturer
67 Look for answers
home work relationships
C3
WEDNESDAY
C2
sha.re/
on the shelf
MAY 23, 2012
Gianna Maniego, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
By Ed Biado
MOST people who are upgrading
to a new smartphone model have
a couple of things on their mind:
Am I gonna give the old one to
my kid brother? Or should I sell
it, and for how much? Very few
of them actually keep their rst-
gen devices. Do you someone
who has all incarnations of the
iPhone? I didn't think so.
Manufacturers are constantly
coming up with new designs
with better features and we keep
on buying the latest gadgets in
the market. And by today's stan-
dards, latest only means outdated
in less than a year's time. (That,
and the fact that the number of
people interested in pre-loved
devices is decreasing.)
So, one of these
days, you might
have to stash your
current phone in
the drawer. But
experts are saying
that there are a lot of
uses for an old smartphone.
Lifehacker.com suggests '[mak-
ing it] a media remote control.
You simply have to look for an
app that can use infrared signals to
control the TV and the home the-
ater system. The Web site also says
that it can moonlight as a portable
gaming device, a dedicated elec-
tronic device for a specic location
(for music, recipes, alarms, notes,
etc.) and a home VOIP or video
phone. And if you're looking to
run a new ROM or OS on your
new phone, your old one can be
your guinea pig.
Meanwhile, PCWorld.com
thinks that a used smartphone
will do great as a back-up or
emergency phone. And instead of
buying a new ash drive, you can
take full advantage of your old
phone's storage capacity for your
on-the-go les. Plus, it instantly
becomes an e-reader if you load
it up with e-books. Another fan-
tastic idea, according to the Web
site, is GPS, a service that uses a
lot of battery power. To prevent
your new phone's battery from
draining, run GPS on the old one.
If you don't want to do any
of these, an old smartphone can
always be a really fancy digital
picture frame.
New uses
for old
smartphones
Have fun planning your K-inspired trip
Welcome Spring with the countrys hippest local K-lifestyle magazine, Sparkling! The issue features
ZE:A and IU in the hottest ip covers of the season and bursts with all the K-essentials you need to pack
for the prettiest trip to Seoul!
Since spring is the best time to hit Seoul, let Sparkling be your travel guide! Know everything
about the K-Pop motherland with the issues list of ve cozy and affordable hostels to stay in and
the essential items to bring along when traversing to other popular tourist destinations in the Korean
Peninsula such as Busan, Daegu, or Jeju. This edition of Sparkling features ZE:A on the cover, the
latest idol group to land on Philippine shores. Learn more about the nine-member boyband as they share
their idol journey in a very exclusive interview!
Live life in K-Pop color! Sparkling, now published quarterly by Summit Books, is available in
newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P150.
WORLD renowned and
award winning conductor
Mark Anthony Carpio
of the Philippine Madrigal
Singer delivers yet another
choral feat with "Flare," a
concert debut of his very own
Voces Aurorae Girls Choir
on Friday, May 25, 8 p.m. at
the Philam Life Auditorium,
United Nations Avenue, Ma-
nila. The concert highlights
the talents of young girls ages
eight to 18 under the tutelge
of the Madrigal choirmaster
with various pieces from
classical, liturgical, contem-
porary and pop. The event is
for the benet of the Servants
of Charity. Tickets may be
purchased at the lobby prior
to the performance.
Formed in August 2007,
the Voces Aurorae Girls Choir
under the aegis of the Kilyawan
Boys Choirs (KBC) of Quezon
City was established to respond
to the call for the youthsactive
participation in the communi-
ties through choiral groups. The
choir regularly sings with the
music ministry of two parishes:
Our Lady of Annunciation Par-
ish in Mindanao Avenue and
the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish in TeachersVillage. The
girls also performed in various
concerts, recitals, and outreach
programs, notably with the
Philippine Madrigal Singers
during the inauguration of Pres-
ident Aquino and with several
other choirs in the celebration
of the World Youth Day, with
performances recorded in the
recently launched CD Angels
on High by the Jesuit Commu-
nication (JESCOM) Ministry.
Now on its fth generation,
the winery is still run by the
Smith family, direct descendant
of Samuel Smith, originally from
Wareham, Dorset, England, and
founder of Yalumba Wine Com-
pany. Samuel Smith named his
winery Yalumba an aboriginal
word meaning all the land
around. The head of the win-
ery now is in the able hands of
Robert Hill Smith, the managing
director since 1985.
Constant trendsetter
Yalumba has always been an
innovator in the Australian wine
industry. The company embraced
the idea of screwcap closure as
early as 1970, over three decades
ahead of its time. It was also the
first winery to go with French
brand Stelvin screwcap closure
the rst brand to perfect the clo-
sure because of the creation of the
PVDC (Polyvinylidene chloride)
wadded material that effectively
coats the cap and protect the wine
as early as the late 1970s. Though,
then this change to screwcap was
not very acceptable by the wine
consuming public, Yalumba al-
ready took a stand, and has in fact
taught the world that good wines
can be enclosed in screwcaps.
Yalumba also has an in-house full
function cooperage (wine bar-
rel making), complete with four
coopers and a Master Cooper,
probably the only winery in the
entire Northern Hemisphere wine
countries to have one. Then there
are the wine varietals and blends
that have captivated the taste
buds of Australian wine drinkers
enroute to the world. The Viognier,
the Bush Vine Grenache, named
as such because of Barossas old
gnarly Bush Vines, the Cote Rotie
blend of Shiraz with Viognier, and
Australias proud blend of Caber-
net Sauvignon and Shiraz, which
Yalumba turned into art form with
their Yalumba Signature wine,
and more recently, the Vermen-
tino varietal that is popularized
in Sardinia Italy these are just
among the over 50 different quality
wines Yalumba makes (under the
Yalumba label).
Tasting galore
Tim Herrmann, Yalumbas
amiable regional sales manager
for the Asia-Pacific region was
in town recently and hosted an
incredible Wine Tasting eve-
ning at the Wine Museum. I
tried 17 wines all-in-all includ-
ing some debuting wines like
the Y Series Vermentino and the
Strapper GSM, and Yalumbas
most iconic wines the Signature
and Octavius.
The rst vintage STRAPPER
made from Grenache, Shiraz
and Mataro
Present duringtheJollibeeDriveThruCrossCountryChallengepresslaunchare(fromleft): Ford
GroupPhilippinesAVPforMarketingPrudzCastillo, AVPforSalesDinoObias, AVPforMarketing
andSalesVinayPiparsania, andpresident RandyKrieger; JollibeePhilippinespresident Jose
Miana,VPforMarketingandRegional BusinessUnit HeadforMetroSouthAlbert Cuadrante;
AVPandRegional BusinessUnit HeadforNorthLuzonJoanAquino,VPandNational Business
ChannelsheadManjieYap,VPandRegional BusinessUnit headforSouthLuzonRoseCaalam
andVPandRegional BusinessUnit headforVisayas-MindanaoBengHuyong.
JOLLIBEE partnered with Ford
Group Philippines for the Jollibee
Drive-Thru Cross-Country Challenge,
the ultimate road trip adventure that
showcases Jollibees widest network
of Drive-Thru stores alongside the
countrys top tourist destinations.
From April 29 to May 8, ten teams
of two went on an exciting quest to
conquer the regions of North Luzon,
Metro Manila, South Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao onboard their Ford
Fiesta Sport Plus AT hatchbacks. The
teams made their way to as many of
the 171 Jollibee Drive-Thru stores
and accomplished fun tasks and chal-
lenges to gain points. A cash prize of
P1 million and two new Ford Fiesta
1.4L AT Hatchbacks await the team
who will gather the most number of
points. The winning team in the Jol-
libee Drive-Thru Cross Country Chal-
lenge will be announced during the
closing ceremony slated on May 31.
The Jollibee Drive-Thru Chal-
lengers are:
Nio Duran and Anthony Gaas
(Team 1)
Ulysses Ang and Neil Pagu-
layan (Team 2)
Robert Real and Quinito Vil-
larosa (Team 3)
Francis Lim and Joaquin Puyat
(Team 4)
10 teams in cross-country challenge
Mina Esguerra returns with new novel
Mina Esguerra, author of My Imaginary Ex and No
Strings Attached, returns this year with That Kind of Guy,
the latest offering of Summit Books under its roster of
chick-lit novels.
Good girl Julie falls in love with hot former-player
Anton, the guy who everyone thinks is the wrong kind
guy for her. But did Anton really change for her or is he
just a delicious distraction?
Fans of Esguerra would recognize the characters, Julie and Anton in her last book,
No Strings Attached where they were rst introduced. That Kind of Guy tells readers
how Julie gures out her feelings for the guy who turns her life upside down, confuses
the hell out of her and makes her deliriously happy.
Will Julie be able to nip her inhibitions in the bud and learn to truly trust
Anton with her heart? Or will she follow her friends and choose someone nice
and safe?
Esguerra, says of her protagonist, Julie's a nice girlshe's a good daughter,
a loyal friend, and a responsible adult. She's not into drama, and tends to speak
her mind. This makes some friends avoid her, because she'll call them out on their
drama. So she's like the last person who would be getting into a relationship with
a "player"and yet she does fall for him [Anton].
Find out if theres true love for a good girl like Julie and a hotshot player like Anton.
Grab a copy of That Kind of Guy, available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets
nationwide for only P175.
YALUMBA is the oldest family owned
winery in Australia and has been a xture of
Australias ascension in the world of qual-
ity wines. Though not the oldest commercial
winery, as that distinction belongs to the
Wyndham Estate, but Yalumba certainly is
one of the pioneers in the industry having
started in 1849, over 160 years ago.
Old reliables
and new collectibles
Here are my tasting notes of
the select wines I enjoyed:
Y Series Vermentino 2011
this looks like another varietal
Yalumba wants to champion
in, ala the Yalumba Viognier of
the 1980s, `light and delicate,
lemon peel nose, with nice crisp
nish, low in alcohol and easy
to imbibe; only around 96,000
bottles made on this rst com-
mercial vintage
Y Series Viognier 2011 the
entry level Viognier of Yalumba,
and already quite delicious,
`perfumed, smell like cake ic-
ing, semi-sweet and crusty, with
white pepper nish
Y Series Riesling 2010 -
`lovely nose with longan and
mandarin orange, very tangy,
dry with good avor depth, and
a Sprite like nish
Pewsey Vale Vineyard Se-
lection Eden Valley Riesling
2011 this is a bonus wine
under the
Pewsey Vale label, still a
Yalumba owned brand, `sweet
aromatic nose, more intense,
very ripe tangy taste revealing
dried berries at the end; Eden
Valley really makes very good
distinctively Aussie Rieslings
The Scribbler 2009 one
of the 4 Cabernet Sauvignon-
Shiraz blends in the Yalumba
portfolio, `black currant, old
spice, vanilla, a tad acidic- sign
of its young age, and some
lovely minty notes at the end
The Strapper GSM 2010
another new wine from Ya-
lumba but certainly already a
popular southern Rhone blend
of Grenache, Syrah (Shiraz)
and Mataro (or more com-
monly known as Mourvedre),
`leathery nose, gamey, with
ripe plums, a far more com-
plex wine, with earthy ele-
ments and a peppery finish
The Signature 2005 this
Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
blend Yalumba made as early
as 1962 would eventually be the
signature wine (a Yalumba fore-
sight when naming the wine?)
of uniquely Aussie crafted wine
style,`luscious nose of prunes
and raisins, licorice, a very hearty
wine, silky tannins, creamy tex-
ture, and lots of seductive fruits
from rst sip to nish
The Octavius 2005 since
its rst vintage in 1990, Octa-
vious has been considered as
one of Australias best wines,
the Shiraz come from some of
Barossas oldest vines, and are
barreled in exclusive octaves
(small 80 liter barrels) designed
by the Yalumba in-house coo-
perage, Ìntense vanilla nose,
hawthorn berry, semi-sweet,
so much crustiness and sweet
chewy tannins, and a deli-
ciously rich avored nish that
seems to linger forever
The tasting was done on
a weekday, and while I have
important meetings to attend
the next morning, the wonder-
ful wines kept me at the Wine
Museum enjoying every bit of
Yalumba wines being poured.
Thank you to Tim Herrmann,
Ronnie and Raymond Joseph
for a great night of superb wines
and equally amazing company!
Yalumba incidentally also
happens to be the oldest wine
principal of Philippine Wine Mer-
chants, having been in business
with them since 1991. You can
reach Philippine Wine Merchants
to order your favorite Yalumba
wines, both the old reliables and
the new collectibles at tel. #s
(02)853-0940 or (02)832-2523.
For comments, inquiries,
wine event coverage, wine
consultancy and other wine
related concerns, please e-mail
me at [email protected].
I am a proud member of the
Federation Internationale des
Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin
et des Spiritueux or FIJEV
since 2010.n also follow me on
twitter at www.twitter.
com/sherwinlao.
ASIANA Airlines, Koreas most awarded airline, is
extending assistance for the preservation of Unesco
World Heritage sites. It has recently become the
rst Korean company to sign a memorandum of
understanding with Unesco for this purpose.
Following its preservation project with Angkor
Wat in Cambodia and housing projects for the
Aeta in the Philippines, the airline has set its sight
on central Vietnam. Asiana has unveiled a grand
entrance guidepost at Hoi An Center for Cultural
Heritage Management and Preservation in Da
Nang, Vietnam. The center preserves the Hoi An
Ancient Town, a well-preserved town representing
a Southeast Asian trading post of the 19th century;
and the My Son Sanctuary, tower temple ruins
that embody the religious center of the Champa
Kingdom in what is now Vietnam.
Aside from the grand entrance guidepost,
Asiana will remodel the Hoi An Tourist Infor-
mation Center, print information brochures and
leaets in Vietnamese, Korean, and English, and
erect 30 solar-powered street lamps. The project
aims to develop tourism infrastructure near the
sites and help boost the local economy.
On the 20th anniversary of Korea-Vietnam
diplomatic relations, we hope that our initiative
contributes to better relations between our two
countries, and we plan to continue to expand our
preservation efforts as all of humanity must pro-
tect our world heritage, said Young-doo Yoon,
Asiana Airlines president and chief executive. He
was joined at the event by Taeck-Soo Chun, the
Secretary General of the Korean National Com-
mission for Unesco, Nguyen The Hung, the Head
of the World Heritage Site Management Center,
and Pham Cao Phong, the Secretary General of
the Viet Nam National Commission for Unesco.
Asiana Airlines ies three times a week from
Incheon International Airport in Korea to Da Nang,
Vietnam. The airline ies to Incheon from three
points in the Philippines: Manila, Clark and Cebu.
From left: Taeck-Soo Chun, secretary general of the
Korean National Commission of Unesco and Young-
Doo Yoon, president and chief executive of Asiana
Airlines, at the Hoi An Center in Da Nang, Vietnam
with ight attendants and guests.
The aftermath: Lifestyle and food writers from different publications pose for a souvenir photo at Rosa Farms after a fullling day full of food,
fun and laughter.
Girls choir in concert
with award-winning conductor
I REMEMBER the last picnic we had like
it was yesterday, when in fact, it happened
four years ago. On the eve of Mothers
Day, our whole family on my mothers
side left our ancestral house in La Union
and went to the beach and stayed there
until nightfall. It was the perfect oppor-
tunity for me and my siblings to know
our cousins who lived in La Union, and
for our younger cousins who came from
abroad to familiarize themselves with the
beauty of the beaches in the Philippines.
There was laughter, music, and more
importantly, the bond we had as a family
was there. Our grandmother was the one
who brought everyone together with her
superb cooking skills and her wish to see
everyone together in a beautiful place
was denitely something her children
wanted to grant.
The idea of a family gathering nowa-
days is that everyone goes to a restaurant,
eats and stays for probably an hour or
two, and then leaves. Before technology
took over our lives, family gatherings
were usually held in beaches, farms,
gardens, or any shady area where the
entire family can enjoy the gifts of nature.
Yes, there was such a time when children
and parents would not tune out on each
other and prefer enjoying each others
company than bury themselves in work.
Fortunately, the nieces of Teresita
Mama Sita Reyes, together with the
owners of Rosa Farms in San Marcelino,
Zambales, decided to relive the Reyes
classic family tradition of picnicking and
made their guests realize that nothing
beats an afternoon under the sun, picking
mangoes and lling your rumbling stom-
achs with the best Filipino dishes in town.
According to Nancy Reyes, one of the
nieces of Mama Sita, the idea of family
picnics they grew up on is eating for the
sake of eating, bringing the whole clan to
a place far from the city and have food for
everyone to savor. It was also a chance
for them to get together and enjoy nature
and each others company.
Nancy shares that it was their grand-
mother, Lola Asiang, the founder of
Aristocrat Restaurant who introduced
and imbibed the importance of picnics
in building and strengthening the bond
of their family.
Lola Asiang was very fond of picnics
because she had a big family, and she
loved eating and being around with her
grandchildren. She would really take us
on a long picnic, bringing the whole group.
Kapag sinabing kami, ibig sabihin her 10 to
12 children with their children, she said.
Upon reaching Rosa Farms, the
guests were immediately welcomed by
the rondalla band and were given their
special green mango shake. A brief tour
of the 13 hectare farm was given by the
owners, Ding and Zulueta.
Eventually, the guests were divided
in to two groups and the mango picking
game commenced. The groups were
tasked to pick and gather at least 90 kilos
of mangoes and were asked to complete
the message tied on the tree. After the ex-
hausting game, the guests gathered under
the shade of the mango trees to enjoy their
lunch dubbed Piknikan sa Manggahan
ala Mama Sita. Among the dishes they
enjoyed were the kinilaw na puso ng sag-
ing, kare kareng gulay, chicken inasal, da-
ing na bangus, sinigang na gulay. To top
it off, they had mango and buko sherbet
and fresh fruits for dessert.
Of course a picnic would not be com-
plete without merienda. The guests were
in for a real treat when they were served
with banana ruma, nilagang mais and
arroz caldo.
At the end of the day, Nancy Reyes
reminded the guests that picnics are about
communing with nature and the family;
all while enjoying the food that also came
from nature itself.
After all, the elements of picnic are
fresh air, bonding, good food, resting, and
laughter, she said.
Whats important is it brought memo-
ries, kasi ganyang talaga kapag mayroon
tayong experiences that we havent had in a
long, long time and then all of a sudden, we
take a day off from our deadlines, laptops,
telephone, iPod, appointments, diet, exer-
cise, and talking to the usual people. Its a
break, its taking you away from the cement
and bringing you out in the country."
Bond with your friends while pulling strings together!
Are you and your friends getting tired of doing the same things over and over again when youre all to-
gether? Then start something new and keep your hands busy this summer by making your very own friendship
bracelets with your friends!
Get over 30 fun and creative pattern ideas from The Friendship Bracelet Book, the rst offering of Berry
Books under Summit Media in its do-it-yourself series. Divided in beginner, intermediate, and advance lev-
els, The Friendship Bracelet Book is a complete all-in-one guide on how to begin weaving strings together.
Featuring a step by step instruction on how to go about each knot and hitches, the book will give you a
complete overview of bracelet making 101 right from the toolkit needed to fun projects that will teach you
how to make braided headbands, shoelaces, and even camera slings!
Best of all, each book comes with a set of thread in 7 vibrant colors so that you can start making your friendship bracelets straight away!
Grab a copy of The Friendship Bracelet Book available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P150.
Airline helps
World Heritage
Site preservation
[email protected]
PICNICS:
More fun
in Zambales
By Arian Vina Sarmiento
Yalumba Y Series
Red Wine Range
Michelle Estuar and Prince Baltazar
(Team 5)
Andre Co and Cerah Hernandez
(Team 6)
Paul Jake Castillo and Jan Seer-
pida (Team 7)
JM Oloris and Irene Oloris (Team 8)
Jon Hall and Maria Persson (Team 9)
Charlie Sutcliffe and Angelo Cac-
ciatore (Team 10)
Follow their exciting adventures on the
road and nd out which team will become
the new millionaires and proud owners
of the two brand new Ford Fiestas. Catch
the exciting blow-by-blow TV coverage
of the Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross-Country
Challenge on ABS CBN, Lifestyle Net-
work and ETC.
The Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross-Coun-
try Challenge is also made possible with
the support of Bratpack and Jansport, the
ofcial outtter, and Samsung Galaxy
Note, the ofcial mobile device of the
10 teams.
Tim Herrmann, the Asia Pacic
regional manager of Yalumba
C4
Isah V. Red, Editor [email protected]
showbitz
ISAH V.
RED
SIMPLY RED
NICKIE
WANG
WITHOUT WANG
2
WHERE there is
food, there is love.
Add to this mix the
exciting element of
dating and one gets a
unique concoction of
a dating game with a
gastronomic twist.
GMA New TVs Sarap To Heart pre-
miered on April 28. It is a one of a kind
cooking show that features delectable dishes
paired with an opportunity to nd true love.
In each episode, the show introduces a
celebrity searcher together with two non-
celebrity searchees. Here comes the shows
gastronomic twist whereunlike the typi-
cal dating gamesthe celebrity searcher
will be asked to choose his (or her) pre-
ferred searchee based not on physical at-
tribute or intelligence, but based on the
searchees creative, lip-smacking meals!
We are very excited to bring some-
thing new for the sarap series. From
Sarap At Home now with Sarap To Heart.
Its a new kind of program. This dating-
plus-cooking show is designed to be fun;
giving a chance for people to meet their
favorite Kapuso stars and with an added
bonus of sharing recipes and cooking tech-
niques, says Gigi Santiago-Lar a, GMA
Networks AVP for Entertainment TV.
Sarap To Heart program manager
Charles Koo invites viewers to join the
show saying Sarap To Heart is still open
for anyone who wants to have a special mo-
ment with your Kapuso celebrity crush. So
we invite single men or women, 18 to 30
years old to send us basic information and
recent photos of yourself to saraptoheart@
yahoo.com so we can schedule you for an
audition. Who knows, you just might end
up as a searchee in our dating show with a
delicious twist.
Serving as program host is Sam Oh,
who has already appeared in a number of
cooking shows including Sarap At Home,
True Confections, and Delicioso.
Joining her is Chef Sau Del Rosar io
whose name is already synonymous to
world-class cuisine.
A graduate of the University of the
Philippines, Chef Sau is the genius behind
the restaurants that provides unforgettable
dining experience like Museum Caf in
Makati City, Chelsea Market and Caf in
Taguig City and even Kindgom in Ange-
les City, Pampanga.
Sarap To Heart, sponsored by San Ma-
rino Corned Tuna, is served three times
daily: 10 a.m., 11:20 a.m., and 5:50 p.m. on
weekdays; 11 a.m., 12:45p.m. and 6 p.m.
on Saturdays; and 9:20 a.m., 12:45 p.m.
and 6:15 p.m. on Sundays. Sarap To Heart
airs on GMA News TV Channel 11.
Bee Gees Robin Gibb
passes on
What a sad week to begin with the
news that Robin Gibb, one-third of the
Bee Gees, died Sunday after a long battle
with cancer. He was 62 years old.
Gibb was born in Manchester, England, in
1949. His twin brother Maurice died in 2003
IN January, Ameri-
can Idol gave out
more than 300 gold-
en tickets to Holly-
wood to those who
successfully passed
the scrutiny of Jennifer Lopez,
Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler .
Now after four months of perfor-
mances and eliminations the compe-
tition in the highly successful talent
show is down to two singers.
Its a faceoff between Jessica
Sanchez and Phillip Phillips today
on American Idol. Tomorrow, the
11
th
winner who would follow in
the footsteps of Car r ie Under wood,
Kelly Clar kson and Chr is Daughtr y
will be announced. Will it be Jessica
or Phillip?
If you were to ask most of the
fans of AI in the Philippines, youd
get a unanimous answer. But lets not
preempt her victory, its an American
show after all and in its history no
contestant of Asian lineage has ever
walked home with the title. Or this
time we could expect one.
Critics predicted the singers whod
be in the nal two. Joshua Ledet
unfortunately, didnt win the approval
of the voting Americans, who probably
have gone tired of him screaming his
lungs out all the time. While JLo and
the rest of the judges loved it, that style
didnt sit well with the voters.
Twenty-two year old Phillip has
never found himself at the bottom
of the three since the show started.
The blue-eyed singer-guitarist makes
every girl scream every time he hits the
stage. Though JLo thinks Weve Got
Tonight was his best performance
ever on the show, many remember
Phillip for tweaking Ushers monster
hit You Got It Bad during the top
seven redux show. And that song
sealed his place in the nal 2.
Phillips strongest weapon in the
competition is his personal style
his ability and his boldness to breathe
new life into a song, owning it in other
words. Some people think Phillips
weakness is his stage presence. He
barely moves when
onstage, but when he
does its like hes feet
are being pulled by
lunar gravity.
M e a n w h i l e ,
Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica,
who was due to be eliminated during
the nals sixth round but reinstated
by the AI judges in what most people
call a dramatic episode on Idol to
ploy publicity. Jessica is the rst
nalist to receive the judges one-
time-only power to save and made
the top 2. But then again she is too
good a singer to be dropped from
American Idol. And she has just
proved that shes worth to be saved.
Jessicas rendition of I Will
Always Love You and And Im
telling You Im not Goingdifcult
songs that requires excellent vocal
ability and clear enunciationare
so far her best performances on
Idol show. The teenage singer can
be boring at times but thats what
viewers see on TV. Seeing a singer
sing live has got a different feel.
Both Jessica and Phillip would
be easy to market. Both can be
packaged as pop artists for a wide
range of audience, especially Jessica
as she can belt out ballads then shift
to RnB or Pop. Phillip, we must say,
appeals to older audience. But their
fate in music business lies on how
they will be managed after their AI
stint. Phillip cannot be packaged
as the next Dave Matthews or
Jessica cannot be the next Beyonc
or Jennifer Hudson. They should
be mentored in a way that they can
nd their own voices and not just a
copycat of another popular music
star.Although its still important to
win the title of American Idol, given
that Jessica and Phillip already have
the amount of exposure they need to
be introduced to music consumers,
what is imperative is to sustain their
popularity and then create better
records. There are Idol wannabes
that succeeded in music business
even without winning the title.
ITS time to say goodbye
today in Glee 3 nale via
satellite at 4 p.m. on Jack TV
and ETC. The school year has
come to an end and it is time
for McKinley Highs class of
2012 to put on their togas and
caps for graduation.
The seniors look to the
future and begin making plans
for life after high school.
Quinn has been accepted in
Yale, Mercedes wants to chase
her vision of being a pop star,
Santana has been accepted in
University of Louisville on a
full cheerleading scholarship,
Mike wants to continue
dancing and Finn, Rachel and
Kurt want to move to New
York to pursue their dreams
of acting on Broadway. But as
they anticipate what adventures
their new lives may hold, they
also take time to reect on the
past and the good times they
have shared with their fellow
glee club members.
Whos staying in Lima
and whos moving on? What
will Glee Season 4 be like
and whos journey after high
school will we continue to
follow? Which cast members
are staying on and which are
leaving the show for good? All
will be revealed in the Glee
Season 3 nale as seen rst on
Jack TV and ETC.
Glee stars Matthew
Mor r ison, Jane Lynch, Lea
Michele, Cor y Monteith,
Amber Riley, Chr is Colfer ,
Kevin McHale, Jenna
Ushkowitz, Mar k Salling,
Dianna Agron, Heather
Mor r is, Naya River a, Har r y
Shum Jr . and Dar ren Cr iss.
Prime time replay at 9 p.m.
on Jack TV and ETC.
LIONS Club International, in coop-
eration with Miss World Philippines,
Miss Earth Philippines and Mutya ng
Pilipinas, Inc., will hold the corona-
tion night of the Miss Lions Club In-
ternational Philippines 2012 on May
24, at the Centennial Hall of the Ma-
nila Hotel. Nineteen lovely contes-
tants will vie for the title as well as
cash, other prizes and the chance to
represent the esteemed organization,
making people aware of its many hu-
manitarian endeavors.
The Miss Lions Club Interna-
tional Philippines was conceived by
the Lions of Multiple District 301
Philippines, through the incumbent
Council of Governors, under the
chairmanship of First Lady Mar lan
S. Manguba, multi-awarded Lions
leader and wife of District Governor
Alexander L. Manguba of District
301-A2 among many others. This is
to promote and develop the youth,
nurture their talents, and to leave a
mark in the history of the Philippine
Lions not only through community
services but also through this fun
activity that involves people from
all walks of life working together
to achieve a common goal. This
activity will generate awareness of
the Multiple District Tree Planting
Project dubbed as the Lions Sanc-
tuary in Taal Volcano Island, San
Nicolas, Batangas, an on-going re-
forestation project.
Contestants include Amanda Ar-
bitrario, Pristine Joy Cunanan,
Merocel Loreta, Ge Ann Pilapil, Zoj
Daphne Usita, Kumi Miyamae, Dar-
lene Hipolito, Jaymarose Marasigan,
Maretony Baldoza, Mikki Sachiko
S. Flores, Gabrielle Tilokani, Mae
Angeline Cajucom, Jessica Arque-
za, Jennyline Malpaya, Ethel Jane
Catchuela, Paula Camille E. Mar-
ciano, Ria Delos Santos, Rufaida
Babudin and Larah Grace Lacap.
For inquiries and ticket sales for
the Grand Coronation Night in Ma-
nila Hotel, call 436-1500, 300-0327,
or (0915) 583-2890, (0923) 850-
5649 and (0921) 565- 0918, or email
[email protected] or alist-
[email protected].
Who will be the
next Idol?
Lions Clubs
beauty queens
Graduation marks goodbyes in Glee 3 nale
Glee says goodbye to its seniors
AI nalist
Phillip
Phillips
and Jessica
Sanchez
FINDING TRUE LOVE IN
SARAP TO
HERT
Sam Oh with Chef Sau Del Rosario (inset)
of complications from a twisted intestine.
Robin had surgery for the same medical
issue in 2010.
Along with their older brother Bar r y,
the sang as a trio in Australia, where the
family moved in 1958. They didnt truly
arrive until they returned to England and
signed with manager Rober t Stigwood.
Robins voice was featured on several
of the groups hits, including New York
Mining Disaster 1941, I Started a Joke,
Massachusetts, and Ive Gotta Get a
Message to You.
The Bee Gees massive second wind
arrived with their proto disco hit, Jive
Talkin, in 1975; two years later, their
contributions to Saturday Night Fever
made them bigger stars than ever. The last
Bee Gees album, This Is Where I Came
In, was released in 2001. Two years later,
Maurice died, and with his passing the
Bee Gees ended. (Their other, younger
brother Andy died in 1988.)
Robin and Barry reunited periodicallyin
2010, they made an appearance on American
Idol and inducted Abba into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fameand talked about a duo
tour, but nothing materialized.
We, who in our youth enjoyed the mu-
sic of the Bee Gees, mourn Robins death
and will surely miss him.
Summer dies
Another sad news to our generation is
the passing of Donna Summer , whom
millions of fans revered as the Queen of
Disco.
She was 63 when died in Florida after
a battle with cancer.
The news comes as a surprise to those
who were not aware that she was ill. The
legendary superstar was publicly active as
recently as last June, when she appeared
as a guest panelist on Bravos music real-
ity show Platinum Hit.
A source said that Summer did not seem
to be in that bad of shape two weeks ago.
She is survived by her adult daughters
Mimi (by her rst husband, actor Helmuth
Sommer ), Brooklyn and Amanda (by
second husband Br uce Sudano).
In addition to her status as a pioneer
in the dance music genre, Summer was a
ve-time Grammy Award winner, the rst
artist ever to score three back-to-back no.
1 double albums, and was nominated
but not chosenfor induction into the
Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. She
is credited with inuencing stars ranging
from Madonna and Michael Jackson, to
Beyonc and Rihanna. Her last album,
Crayons, was released in 2008.
Hair and Make Up
Trends 2012
Ricky Reyes, founder and president
of Filipino Hairdressers Cooperative
(Filhair) invites all beauticians and cos-
metologists to join the Hair and Make Up
Trends 2012 at the Elements of Centris,
Edsa corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon
City today.
QC Mayor Her ber t Bautista and
guests and ofcers of the APHCA (Asia
Pacic Hair and Coemetologiests Asso-
ciation) will grace the ribbon-cutting at
10 a.m.
There will be exhibitions on the latest
hair styles and make up. The competition
proper is divided into haircut and blow
dry, hair color, bridal make up and fan-
tasy make up.
Winners will win cash prizes and salon
equipment and supplies.
The grand champion will be the coun-
trys delegate to the annual APHCA com-
petition in November in Indonesia.
Interested parties may call Bong So-
r iano or Chit Balanquit at the Filhair
Secretariat at 726-1154 and 726-8218.

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