Manila Standard Today - June 2, 2012 Issue

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Privacy Bill
changes nixed
Shoal issue up in Aquinos US trip
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Manila
Vol. XXVI No. 91 12 Pages, 2 Sections
P18.00 SATURDAY, June 2, 2012
De Lima to accept
CJ post if offered
Coronas woes far
from over despite
appeals for mercy
Media find revised version still restrictive
PNoy wont sign bank waiver, not at any time
Aquino to bring up
shoal issue in talks
Iconic photo of Napalm Girl turns 40
House removes
Ecleo from rolls
By Rey E. Requejo
and Joyce Pangco Paares
JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima
on Friday said she was open to be-
ing the next chief justice, but her
name has not been put forward
as a possible replacement for the
ousted Renato Corona.
I actually defer to the wish-
es of the President. If he wants
me to accept the position, I will
accept. If the President will con-
sider me, then I respect that, De
Lima said.
I dont rule out anything. I
dont want to say that if someone
nominates me, I will decline.
De Lima, who had just ar-
rived from the UN Human Rights
Convention in Geneva, said she
would cross the bridge when she
got there, just as she did when
President Aquino appointed her
Justice secretary in 2010.
Its que sera sera. I will get
whatever is meant for me, De
Lima said.
She said the next chief jus-
tice should have competence,
integrity and a high sense of in-
dependence.
Reports indicate that Presi-
dent Aquino is considering
Senator Franklin Drilon, Solici-
tor General Francis Jardeleza,
and Bureau of Internal Revenue
Commission Kim Henares as
possible choices for chief jus-
tice. But Drilon and Henares
have reportedly begged off.
De Lima earlier said she was
also open to seeking an elective
post, including a run for the Sen-
ate next year.
Earlier, Finance Secretary
Cesar Purisima said he would be
honored to nominate Henares
as the next chief justice.
President Aquino said Friday
he might appoint an outsider to
the high court. The Judicial and
Bar Council will select the can-
didates from whom Mr. Aquino
will choose from.
I have such high regard for
her and if given the opportunity,
I have no doubt shell do a good
job, Purima said of Henares,
who was at the same brieng.

By Maricel Cruz
THE House of Representatives on Friday
sacked Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo, the
spiritual leader of a religious cult who went into
hiding after he was convicted of graft and mur-
der charges, a senior ofcial said.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte or-
dered the secretary-general to remove
Ecleos name from the rolls of the 15th
Congress despite Ecleos pending appeal in
the Supreme Court over the graft charges
against him.
The appeal looks pro forma and has scant
chance of being granted, Belmonte said.
JARO, IloiloPresident Benigno Aquino III said Fri-
day he will bring up the countrys territorial dispute
with China during his bilateral meetings with United
States President Barack Obama and British Prime Min-
ister David Cameron next week.
We will discuss the West Philippine Sea [with both
Obama and Cameron], Mr. Aquino.
This is a body of water where a substantial amount
of trade pass through, so it is a concern for everyone.
Mr. Aquino will be in London for a three-day ofcial
visit before ying to Washington to meet with Obama.
Ahead of his trip to Washington, US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said China exceeded the 200-
nautical-mile exclusive economic zone provided under
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
when it claimed the entire West Philippine Sea.
Mr. Aquino also expressed condence that his new-
ly-appointed ambassador to China, Sonia Brady, would
be able to hit the ground running and improve bilateral
relations between Manila and Beijing.
Shes been there, Mr. Aquino said.
By Maria Bernadette Lunas
and Joel E. Zurbano
INTERNAL Revenue
said Friday it will in-
vestigate former chief
justice Renato Corona
for possible tax evasion
following his admission
of undeclared peso and
dollar bank deposits.
Commissioner Kim
Henares told reporters
the bureau was now in-
vestigating to nd out if
Corona paid the correct
taxes on his assets. It
had also issued letters of
authority to look into the accounts of Corona, his wife,
their children and their son-in-law.
It is my obligation to seek legal action to make sure
the proper taxes are paid, Henares said.
Corona had testied before the impeachment court that
he had not declared $2.4 million and P80.7 million in bank
deposits in his statement of assets and liabilities.
The Senate voted 20-3 on Tuesday declaring Corona
of violating the Constitution by not declaring all his as-
sets. He was the rst high ofcial to be removed from
ofce by impeachment.
Henares said she had already received a copy of
Coronas unconditional bank waiver, which allows the
government to look into his dollar and peso accounts.
Internal Revenue aside, the Ofce of the Ombudsman
will also investigate Coronas undeclared assets.
By Margie Mason
TRANG BANG, VietnamIn
the picture, the girl will always
be 9 years old and wailing Too
hot! Too hot! as she runs down
the road away from her burning
Vietnamese village.
She will always be naked af-
ter blobs of sticky napalm melted
through her clothes and layers of
skin like jellied lava.
She will always be a victim
without a name.
It only took a second for Asso-
ciated Press photographer Huynh
Cong Nick Ut to snap the iconic
black-and-white image 40 years
ago. It communicated the hor-
rors of the Vietnam War in a way
words could never describe, help-
ing to end one of the most divisive
wars in American history.
But beneath the photo lies a
lesser-known story. Its the tale
of a dying child brought togeth-
er by chance with a young pho-
tographer. A moment captured
in the chaos of war that would
serve as both her savior and her
curse on a journey to understand
lifes plan for her.
By Joyce Pangco Paares
JARO, IloiloPresident Benigno
Aquino III on Friday ended specu-
lations as to when he will fulll his
campaign promise to sign a waiver
to open his bank accounts to the
public by saying he will not.
He said the waiver he signed in
his Statement of Assets, Liabilities
and Net Worth should be enough.
He need not waive his rights guar-
anteed by the Bank Secrecy Law.
What should I sign? I have
already signed the waiver in the
SALN, Mr. Aquino said.
If I have already signed a waiv-
er and I will do it again, that would
only be drama on my part.
Mr. Aquino made his statement
even as Justice Secretary Lilia de
Lima said the call to all Cabinet of-
cials to sign waivers to their bank de-
posits were an overreaction to ousted
Chief Justice Renato Coronas chal-
lenge after he waived his right to the
secrecy of his bank accounts.
The Senate sitting as an impeach-
ment court pronounced Corona
guilty of violating the Constitution
by not revealing all his assets. The
Senate voted 20-3 to remove Co-
rona from ofce.
De Lima said it would be better
to rst pinpoint who were suspect-
ed of having ill-gotten wealth so it
could be determined who should be
required to sign a waiver.
Perhaps we can just choose who
to require, but to require everyone
to sign a waiver---that is actually
unnecessary, De Lima said.
But she said she was willing to
sign a waiver if Mr. Aquino required
her to do so.
Mr. Aquinos statement came a
day after his deputy spokeswoman,
With only three days before Con-
gress adjourns, the Philippine Press
Institute, the National Union of Jour-
nalists of the Philippines, and the
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa
Pilipinas demanded that the reconciled
version of the bill be remanded to the
committee level for transparency.
Under re from journalists, Angara
removed a reference to the reporter,
writer, president, publisher, manager and
editor-in-chief as being liable in cases
where condentiality is breached, an of-
fense that would carry a jail term of two
years and four months to ve years and a
ne of P500,000 to P2 million.
But PPI executive director Ariel
Sebellino said the rewritten provision
was more dangerous and alarming
because it did not say if the journalist
or the source of the information would
be penalized, thus making it open to
malicious and vague interpretation.
The revised version of the bill still
curtails press freedom, freedom of ex-
pression, freedom of information and
the publics right to information, Sebel-
lino told the Manila Standard.
River summit. President Aquino talks about rivers that affect the lives of Filipinos in the countryside. Shown with him are (from left) Communications
Operations Ofce Secretary Herminio Coloma, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas, Transport Secretary Manuel Roxas, and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog.
Captured moment of terror. Terried children, including nine-year-old Kim Phuc
(center), ee from an aerial napalm attack in Trang Bang, Vietnam, on June 8, 1972 in the
picture at left. Kim Phuc, who now lives in Canada, is shown buying fruits in the China-
town district of Toronto in the May 25, 1997 photo at right. Next page
Next page
Next page
Next page Next page
De Lima: If he wants me .... I
will accept.
STORY BELOW
Estrada: No proof of ill-
gotten wealth.
By Christine F. Herrera
THREE large press groups on Friday rejected
the changes made by Senator Edgardo Anga-
ra to the data privacy bill, saying the measure
would still penalize journalists with jail time
and stiff nes for doing their job.
First storm. Tropical depression Ambo intensied into a storm on Friday
as it continued moving north-northwest, prompting the weather bureau
to hoist storm signal no. 1 over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines
Norte, Polillo Island and Aurora. RIO N. ARAJA
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 mst.daydesk@gmail.com JUNE 2, 2012 SATURDAY
A2
CUSTOMS has charged two trad-
ers and their brokers for attempting
to smuggle in P18 million worth
digital video discs, lap top and cell-
phone accessories and unknown
chemicals, Commissioner Ruffy
Biazon said Friday.
Charged were Daribeth Sevilla-
no of Mabolo, Cebu City, owner of
Zachris General Merchandise, and
her broker Joseph Spencer Lopez
for failing to produce the permit to
import 1,200 cartons of DVD-Rs
worth P8 million.
Richflow Trading owner Cri-
santo Caldozo Jr., owner of Rich-
flow Trading, and his broker Janet
Jackielou Coriga were also charged
for smuggling in 88,750 pieces of
DVDs and music DVDs, 103,800
pieces of assorted cellphone and lap
top accessories, and some chemicals
and other goods worth P10 million.
Biazon said Zachris made the
smuggling attempt in the Port of
Cebu on March 3, while Rich-
ows shipments arrived at the
Manila International Container
Port on March 31.
[Our] anti-smuggling campaign
is now on high gear. We expect
more charges to be filed within the
coming weeks, Biazon said.
We are closely monitoring the
entire loop of the import facilitation
process: from sanitizing the import-
ers accreditation to the final release
of shipments. I have also made
instructions to all concerned [Cus-
toms] officials to spare no one.
Customs
charges
2 traders
Coronas...
Henares said in a radio interview she was unmoved
by the appeals from some senators, including Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile, that the administration
show some compassion for the ousted chief justice.
On Friday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada added his
voice and said the Senate had already done enough
by removing Corona from ofce. His made his
appeal after Budget Secretary Florencio Abad an-
nounced that Corona would be investigated for al-
leged ill-gotten wealth and tax evasion.
But Estrada urged the administration to forgo
further legal action, saying the impeachment court
had failed to determine if Coronas $2.4 million in
foreign exchange deposits and P80 million in co-
mingled peso accounts were obtained illegally.
The impeachment court did not prove that there
was ill-gotten wealth, he said.
The money did not come from the government.
There is no proof that he stole it.
Estrada and 19 senators, including Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile, voted to convict the chief magis-
trate for failing to disclose all his bank deposits in his
statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said any other
cases should wait until the ousted chief justice re-
covered physically. He said Coronas removal was
already extremely harsh.
But two other senators who voted to convict Co-
rona said the investigations should be pursued.
Senator Edgardo Angara said Corona should
face the charges to be led by Internal Revenue be-
cause it was everyones duty to pay taxes.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said there should
be no compassion in the justice system. The charg-
es against Corona should be pursued.
Earlier, the Ofce of the Ombudsman said it
would use Coronas waiver on his bank accounts
to investigate the complaints against him. Om-
budsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the in-
vestigation was ongoing, but declined to disclose
specics.
Meanwhile, the left-leaning Kilusang Mayo
Uno condemned the statements made by President
Aquino after Corona was convicted, saying he was
pursuing cases against the deposed chief justice
instead of against former President and now Pam-
panga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Also on Friday, the House committee on justice
said it would no longer pursue the impeachment
complaint against Associate Justice Mariano del
Castillo, who is accused of plagiarizing the works
of foreign authors in a decision he wrote.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the
House had run out of time to act on the case before
it adjourned on June 9.
The opposition said another impeachment trial so
soon after the Corona case would take up too much
time and distract Congress from its job of legislation.
I dont think we can afford to have another impeach-
ment, said House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez.
Lets get back to work.
With Macon Ramos-Araneta and
Maricel V. Cruz
Aquino...
She knows who to talk to. She
knows what the concerns are.
Brady, who is returning to
the post she handled from 2008
to 2010, breezed through the
Appointments Commissions
conrmation process earlier
this week.
Mr. Aquino will leave at 1
p.m. on Monday for London,
where he will be on an ofcial
visit from June 4 and then y
to the US on June 6 for another
state visit lasting up to June 8,
Foreign Affairs said Friday.
It will be Mr. Aquinos fourth
meeting with Obama in two
years after after their meetings in
September 2010 at the Associa-
tion of Southeast Asian Nations-
United States Leaders Meeting
in New York, in September 2011
at the launching of the Open
Government Partnership also in
New York, and in Nov. 18, 2011
during the Asean-US Leaders
Meeting in Bali.
The President will also meet
with the leaders of the US Sen-
ate at a reception organized by
Senate President Pro Tempore
Daniel Inouye at the US Capitol.
He will be the guest of honor
at the launching of the US-Phil-
ippines Society, a private sector
initiative designed to encour-
age economic ties, promote
trade and investment, support
common strategic and political
goals, and strengthen cultural,
technological, educational and
people-to-people linkages.
En route to Manila, the Presi-
dent will meet with the leaders of
the Filipino-American community
in Los Angeles. Joyce Pangco Pa-
ares and Eric B. Apolonio
De Lima...
In Iloilo City, President Aqui-
no said he was more inclined to
appoint an outsider to replace
Corona.
The President was with Dril-
on, touted to be a strong con-
tender to the top judiciary post,
when he was asked if acting
Chief Justice Antonio Carpio
would get the nod.
Mr. Aquino initially played
it safe, saying there is a very
distinct possibility [the next
chief magistrate] can come
from the outside or can come
from within.
We have just started [the
process]. It would be premature
[to say one way or the other].
But he eventually said that
the remaining crop of associate
justices helped perpetuate the
culture of Supreme Court of-
cials hiding their assets.
Is it proper that just be-
cause of tradition, I will have
to choose from the present crop
who helped perpetuate the old
system? Mr. Aquino said.
He said the tradition of ap-
pointing an insider was a
good consideration, but im-
proving the Supreme Court as
an institution was more im-
portant.
As early as December last
year, the President ordered his
legal team to come up with a
list of candidates who could be
nominated to the Judicial and
Bar Council to replace Corona.
Deputy presidential spokes-
woman Abigail Valte said the
three most senior justices in
the Supreme Court would also
be automatically screened for
the post.
Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile earlier expressed the
opinion that Coronas replace-
ment must come from the
remaining 14 justices of the
Supreme Court, and that the
Constitution did not allow the
appointment of an acting chief
justice.
Not even the whole court
can appoint an acting chief jus-
tice, Enrile said.
Only the President can
appoint a chief justice. An
acting chief justice is not
authorized under the 1987
Constitution unlike under the
1935 Constitution.
But Valte said the designation
of the most senior associate jus-
tice as acting chief justice had
been the tradition.
That has always happened.
Even when a sitting chief jus-
tice is out of the country, the
most senior associate justice is
designated as acting chief jus-
tice. We do not see that it is out
of the norm, Valte said.
From what we understand,
that has always been the proce-
dure of the Supreme Court.
House...
Ecleo, 48, was convicted in 2006 for
illegally disbursing money in three con-
struction projects and sentenced up to 31
years in jail. He appealed the case, posted
bail and won a congressional seat in 2010.
Last month, a trial court sentenced him
again to a maximum of 40 years in jail after
nding him guilty of murdering his wife,
Alona, a medical student, in their home in
Cebu City 10 years ago. He was detained
in a Cebu City jail in 2004, but the court
allowed him to post P1 million bail so he
could seek treatment for his heart ailment.
Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones called
on Ecleo to surrender because, as law-
makers, we must show that we are not
above the law and we respect and uphold
the rule of law.
Ecleos lawyers said they had no knowl-
edge of his whereabouts.
Police said arresting the fugitive on
Dinagat Island was risky because he was
being protected by thousands of hard-line
members of the Philippine Benevolent
Missionaries Association that acknowl-
edges him as their Supreme Master.
In 2002 a police team tried to arrest
Ecleo on the Island but the cult members
fought the policemen in a erce gun battle
in which 16 cultists and one policeman
was killed.
About 2,000 armed cultists barricaded
Ecleos mansion to prevent the arrest of
their Supreme Master. The PBMA was
founded by Ecleos late father, Ruben Sr.,
who was looked up to by members as the
reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
Ecleo is one of the so-called Big Four
high- prole fugitives being hunted by the
police for various crimes, including mur-
der and human rights violations.
President Aquino has given the police
90 days to arrest Ecleo, retired Army gen-
eral Jovito Palparan, former Palawan gov-
ernor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron,
Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes.
Palparan, a known anti-communist
campaigner, faces two counts of kidnap-
ping in connection with the disappearance
of two female University of the Philip-
pines students in 2006.
The Reyes brothers have been linked
to the murder of radio broadcaster Gerry
Ortega, who was shot by a lone gunman
inside a clothing store in Palawan last year.
PNoy...
Abigail Valte, said the President would sign the
waiver in due time.
Mr. Aquino said the waiver that accompanied his
statement of assets already authorized the Ombuds-
man and other agencies, such as the Bureau of In-
ternal Revenue, to look into documents showing his
assets, business interests and financial connections.
He said shady individuals might just deposit
money in his bank accounts if those are made
public.
Valte earlier said the President felt he should not
be lumped with impeached Chief Justice Renato
Corona, who issued a waiver to open his bank
accounts to the public and challenged his 188 ac-
cusers in the House of Representatives, as well as
Senator Franklin Drilon, to do the same.
Coronas accusers brushed aside his challenge,
but Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said
public leaders from the highest to the lowest should
take on the challenge if they had nothing hide.
Senator Francis Escudero, who voted to convict
Corona, also challenged his colleagues to pass a bill
requiring public officials to sign a waiver to allow
the Ombudsman to look into their bank accounts.
With Rey E. Requejo
Iconic...
I really wanted to escape from
that little girl, says Kim Phuc, now
49. But it seems to me that the pic-
ture didnt let me go.
It was June 8, 1972, when
Phuc heard the soldiers scream:
We have to run out of this place!
They will bomb here, and we
will be dead!
Seconds later, she saw the tails
of yellow and purple smoke bombs
curling around the Cao Dai temple
where her family had sheltered for
three days, as north and south Viet-
namese forces fought for control of
their village.
The little girl heard a roar over-
head and twisted her neck to look
up. As the South Vietnamese Sky-
raider plane grew fatter and louder,
it swooped down toward her, drop-
ping canisters like tumbling eggs
ipping end over end.
Ba-boom! Ba-boom!
The ground rocked. Then the heat
of a hundred furnaces exploded as
orange ames spit in all directions.
Fire danced up Phucs left arm.
The threads of her cotton clothes
evaporated on contact. Trees be-
came angry torches. Searing pain bit
through skin and muscle.
I will be ugly, and Im not nor-
mal anymore, she thought, as her
right hand brushed furiously across
her blistering arm. People will see
me in a different way.
In shock, she sprinted down High-
way 1 behind her older brother. She
didnt see the foreign journalists
gathered as she ran toward them,
screaming.
Then, she lost consciousness.
Ut, the 21-year-old Vietnamese
photographer who took the pic-
ture, drove Phuc to a small hos-
pital. There, he was told the child
was too far gone to help. But he
ashed his American press badge,
demanded that doctors treat the
girl and left assured that she would
not be forgotten.
I cried when I saw her running,
said Ut, whose older brother was
killed on assignment with the AP in
the southern Mekong Delta.
If I didnt help her---if something
happened and she died---I think Id
kill myself after that.
Back at the ofce in what was
then US-backed Saigon, he devel-
oped his lm. When the image of the
naked little girl emerged, everyone
feared it would be rejected because
of the news agencys strict policy
against nudity.
But veteran Vietnam photo edi-
tor Horst Faas took one look and
knew it was a shot made to break
the rules. He argued the photos
news value far outweighed any
other concerns, and he won.
A couple of days after the image
shocked the world, another journal-
ist found out the little girl had some-
how survived the attack.
Christopher Wain, a correspondent
for the British Independent Television
Network who had given Phuc water
from his canteen and drizzled it down
her burning back at the scene, fought
to have her transferred to the Ameri-
can-run Barsky unit. It was the only fa-
cility in Saigon equipped to deal with
her severe injuries.
I had no idea where I was or
what happened to me, she said.
I woke up and I was in the hos-
pital with so much pain, and then the
nurses were around me. I woke up
with a terrible fear.
Thirty percent of Phucs tiny body
was scorched raw by third-degree
burns, though her face somehow
remained untouched. Over time, her
melted esh began to heal.
Every morning at 8 oclock, the
nurses put me in the burn bath to cut
all my dead skin off, she said. I
just cried and when I could not stand
it any longer, I just passed out.
After multiple skin grafts and
surgeries, Phuc was nally al-
lowed to leave, 13 months after the
bombing. She had seen Uts photo,
which by then had won the Pulit-
zer Prize, but she was still unaware
of its reach and power.
She just wanted to go home and
be a child again.
For a while, life did go some-
what back to normal. The photo
was famous, but Phuc largely re-
mained unknown except to those
living in her tiny village near the
Cambodian border. Ut and a few
other journalists sometimes visited
her, but that stopped after northern
communist forces seized control
of South Vietnam on April 30,
1975, ending the war.
Life under the new regime be-
came tough. Medical treatment
and painkillers were expensive
and hard to nd for the teenager,
who still suffered extreme head-
aches and pain.
She worked hard and was accept-
ed into medical school to pursue her
dream of becoming a doctor. But all
that ended once the new communist
leaders realized the propaganda val-
ue of the napalm girlin the photo.
She was forced to quit college
and return to her home province,
where she was trotted out to meet
foreign journalists. The visits were
monitored and controlled, her words
scripted. She smiled and played her
role, but the rage inside began to
build and consume her.
I wanted to escape that picture,
she said. I got burned by napalm,
and I became a victim of war ... but
growing up then, I became another
kind of victim.
She turned to Cao Dai, her Viet-
namese religion, for answers. But
they didnt come.
My heart was exactly like a black
coffee cup, she said.
I wished I died in that attack with
my cousin, with my South Vietnam-
ese soldiers. I wish I died at that time
so I wont suffer like that anymore ...
it was so hard for me to carry all that
burden with that hatred, with that an-
ger and bitterness.
One day, while visiting a library,
Phuc found a Bible. For the rst
time, she started believing her life
had a plan.
Then suddenly, once again, the
photo that had given her unwanted
fame brought opportunity.
She traveled to West Germany in
1982 for medical care with the help
of a foreign journalist. Later, Viet-
nams prime minister, also touched
by her story, made arrangements for
her to study in Cuba.
She was nally free from the
minders and reporters hounding her
at home, but her life was far from
normal. Ut, then working at the AP
in Los Angeles, traveled to meet her
in 1989, but they never had a mo-
ment alone. There was no way for
him to know she desperately wanted
his help again.
I knew in my dream that one day
Uncle Ut could help me to have free-
dom, said Phuc, referring to him by
an affectionate Vietnamese term.
But I was in Cuba. I was really
disappointed because I couldnt
contact with him. I couldnt do
anything.
While at school, Phuc met a
young Vietnamese man. She had
never believed anyone would ever
want her because of the ugly patch-
work of scars that banded across
her back and pitted her arm, but Bui
Huy Toan seemed to love her more
because of them.
The two decided to marry in 1992
and honeymoon in Moscow. On the
ight back to Cuba, the newlyweds
defected during a refueling stop in
Canada. She was free.
Phuc contacted Ut to share the
news, and he encouraged her to tell
her story to the world. But she was
done giving interviews and posing
for photos.
I have a husband and a new life
and want to be normal like everyone
else, she said.
The media eventually found Phuc
living near Toronto, and she decided
she needed to take control of her story.
A book was written in 1999 and a
documentary came out, at last the way
she wanted it told. She was asked to
become a UN Goodwill Ambassador
to help victims of war. She and Ut
have since reunited many times to tell
their story, even traveling to London to
meet the Queen.
Today, Im so happy I helped
Kim, said Ut, who still works for AP
and recently returned to Trang Bang
village. I call her my daughter.
After four decades, Phuc, now a
mother of two sons, can nally look
at the picture of herself running na-
ked and understand why it remains
so powerful. It had saved her, tested
her and ultimately freed her.
Most of the people, they know
my picture but theres very few that
know about my life, she said.
Im so thankful that ... I can ac-
cept the picture as a powerful gift.
Then it is my choice. Then I can
work with it for peace. AP
Privacy...
KBP chairman Herman Basbano
agreed.
They may have reworded the
penalty clause, but the intent to
harshly penalize the journalists is still
intact, Basbano said.
It still curtails press freedom and
endangers the public interest.
NUJP spokeswoman Veronica
Uy also demanded that Congress
approve the freedom of information
bill before they pass laws that curtail
such freedom.
The harsh penalty clauses run
counter to the very intent of the free-
dom of information bill. Why dont
they give priority to the FOI bill
rst? Uy said.
She said it was hypocritical of the
senators, who extolled transparency
during the impeachment trial of Chief
Justice Renato Corona, to pull a fast
one and pass a bill without subjecting
it to proper consultation.
They better toss it back to the
committee level rst and subject the
bill to a serious, honest and transpar-
ent public consultation, Uy said.
The press groups made their de-
mands even after House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte Jr. withdrew
the House contingents concurrence
with the Senate version of the pen-
alty clause.
Belmonte, who owns the family-
run Philippine Star, found the penalty
clause against journalists too harsh.
The penalty clause is too strong.
I will tell my people to remedy the
problem, Belmonte told the Manila
Standard.
The two counterpart bills were
written by House Assistant Majority
Leader and Pasig City Rep. Roman
Romulo and Angara.
Romulos bill did not carry the
harsh penalty provision, but the
House contingent to the bicameral
conference committee, led by Tagu-
ig City Rep. Sigfrido Tinga, gave its
concurrence to the Senate version,
which came under heavy re after its
penalty provision came to light.
Sebellino and Uy agreed that An-
gara might have taken out the refer-
ences to journalists, but said they and
their sources could still be punished
under the bill.
Sebellino also pointed out that An-
gara overlooked the fact that the
other penalty clauses also pointed to
journalists as liable for breaches of
condentiality.
Sebellino cited SEC. 30. Ma-
licious Disclosure. Any person
who, with malice or in bad faith,
discloses unwarranted or false in-
formation relative to any personal
information or personal sensitive
information obtained by him or her
from a data controller or unknow-
ingly transferred to him or her, shall
be subject to imprisonment ranging
from one (1) year and six (6) months
to ve (5) years imprisonment and
a ne of not less than ve hundred
thousand pesos (Php500,000.00)
but not more than One million pesos
(Php1,000,000.00).
This is as harsh as the original
provision that we are questioning.
Journalists write and publish infor-
mation. These are gray areas that
need to be addressed by the House
and Senate, Sebellino said.
He said that and the other punitive
provisions of the bill were really re-
strictive and would keep enterpris-
ing journalists from doing truthful
and responsible reporting.
Angara said the bicameral com-
mittee would be convened on Mon-
day to approve the nal version of
the bill, but a member of the panel,
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte,
said the House contingent would not
sign it unless all the questionable
provisions had been removed.
The House contingent will see
to it that the concerns raised by
the press organizations will be ad-
dressed, said another bicameral
member, Agham Rep. Angelo Pal-
mones, a journalist before he became
a congressman.
Ready for Monday.
Chief Supt. Alejandro
Gutierrez of the
Manila Police District
inspects the rearms
of the districts Special
Weapons And Tactics
team in preparation
for the reopening of
classes on Monday.
DANNY PATA
JUNE 2, 2012 SATURDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Its all media
hypesolons
PhilHealth
covers 5m
workers
Immigration tightens up
on ve border crossings
Masterplan
on water in
the works
AROUND ve million migrant
workers and their dependents are
now covered by the Philippine
Health Insurance Corp.
Weve so far signed up
2.52 million workers and 2.48
million of of their dependents,
said Eduardo Banzon, Philhealth
president.
Under the program, Banzon
said active land-based workers
who went through the prescribed
registration process of the
Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration were enlisted as
Philhealth members.
He said that workers already
abroad but not yet enrolled as
Philhealth members could also
register under the program.
Sailors and other sea-based
workers are considered locally
employed members.
Philhealth provides subsidy
for room and board, drugs and
medicines, laboratory exams,
as well as operating room and
professional fees in case where a
worker needs to be conned in the
hospital.
At present, each worker has to
pay an annual premium of P1,200
to enjoy Philhealth coverage. This
rate will be adjusted to P2,400
effective January 2013.
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III
on Friday said he was reviewing a
proposal from Public Works chief
Rogelio Singson for the creation
of a body that would manage all
national water resources.
During the closing ceremony
to the 1st Philippine International
River Summit in Iloilo City, Mr.
Aquino said the proposal was part of
a comprehensive water masterplan
being prepared by Singson.
The President also stressed the
need to increase forest cover in
river basins to prevent massive
ooding.
Mr. Aquino called for
strengthened partnership with the
private sector in managing and
preserving the countrys water
resources.
The summit, which had a theme
of My River, My Life, dealt
with governance, biodiversity
conservation and management,
climate change and disaster risk
reduction management and water
quality management.
LAWMAKERS on Friday warned the
leadership of the House of Representatives
on any effort to railroad the approval of
the proposed sin tax using the Luisita
Express in the name of reforms.
House Minority Leader Danilo
Suarez of Quezon appealed to his
colleagues to go slow on House Bill
5727 until all issues and questions on
the bill are threshed out.
If we can have a plausible, reliable
and dependable version of the sin tax
measure, then that is the only time
we should pass it. Lets not do it in a
hurry, he said.
Suarez made the statement even as
the House leadership was poised to pass
the Abaya bill on third and nal reading
anytime next week, before Congress
adjourns sine die on June 9.
Suarez said that the Abaya version
would be counter-productive as it lacked
mechanisms as to how the tobacco
farmers and liquor workerswould be
provided with alternative livelihood if
the sin tax bill were enacted.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus
Rodriguez, an administration ally,
agreed with Suarez and accused
Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim
Henares of misleading the lawmakers
and the Filipino people by providing
them an outdated information in an
effort to push harder for the passage of
the sin tax bill.
Rodriguez said that the BIR and the
Bureau of Customs were feeding the
legislators with wrong data in an attempt
to prove that increasing taxes on tobacco
products would not open the oodgates
to smuggling.
Rodriguez, member for the majority
of the House Committee on Economic
Affairs, pointed out the experiences
of other countries that proved that
smuggling became rampant when they
imposed high increases on excise tax.
Rodriguez said that cigarette
smuggling forced governments to
reverse their respective policies of
radical excise tax hikes and implement
instead moderate increases, and
even tax freezes, to keep the illicit
tobacco trade under control. He cited
the experience of United Kingdom,
Malaysia, Singapore and Ireland,
among others.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay,
for her part, complained that the sin
tax measure was railroaded since it was
tackled at the House committee on ways
and means.
Magsaysay said that the Luisita
Express steamrolled the measure, a
reference to the sugar estate owned by the
family of President Benigno Aquino III.
She said that the panel headed by
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab approved
several proposed amendments to the
measure without giving its members the
chance to debate on the matter.
Maricel V. Cruz
On sin tax reforms: Beware of Luisita Express
Crisis training. Policemen under the Special Action Group assault a building during a mock exercise at
Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. DANNY PATA
Maguindanao Rep. Simeon
Datumanong said it was too
early to tell if the trends would
hold.One swallow does not
make a summer. One positive
quarter of economic growth
will not lift the quality of life of
every Filipino, especially the
impoverished in our midst.
Datumanong downplayed
the data of the National
Statistical Coordination
Board, saying that the GDP
growth was far from reality in
terms of alleviating the suffering
of the growing number of poor
families today.
Datumanong said Palace
propagandists should go slow in
trumpeting the reported statistics
indicating the 6.4 percent economic
growth because numbers and cipher
s and percentages of economic
growth were meaningless if the
general quality of life of majority
of the Filipino people continue to
deteriorate and the countrys poor
continue to wallow in poverty.
Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua said
that poverty was the grim reality
stalking millions of Filipinos,
not the statistical hype that the
Palace wanted the nation to
swallow, hook, line and sinker.
Fua cited the recent surveys
conducted by the Social Weather
Stations (SWS) saying that two
million more Filipino families
rated themselves poor, and the
same pollster revealed that the
unemployment rate reached a
record of 34 percent in the rst
quarter of 2012, or about 13.8
million. That meant three out of
ten Filipinos were jobless.
Fua, a senior member of the
House opposition bloc, said
that the 6.4 GDP growth gures
would be useless if they could
not provide food on the table,
jobs for the unemployed,
adequate and decent shelter,
educational and health support
for the poor.
Can the Filipino people
especially the poor eat the
Aquino governments economic
statistics?, Fua asked.
Meanwhile, two administration
allies, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner
Baguilat Jr. and Western Samar
Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said
the Aquino government should
be able to sustain the challenge
and provide the mechanisms
that would allow the gains in the
economy to trickle down to the
poor.
It is probably true that the
business community is bullish
on the economy especially with
the gains in the anti-corruption
drive of the Aquino government,
said Baguilat, chair of the House
Committee on National Cultural
Communities.
Sarmiento, for his part, said
the 6.4 percent economic growth
in this quarter was welcome
news but its benecial impact
would not be felt immediately.
For instance, creating job
is not an overnight thing. It
takes time before investments
are translated into jobs and real
income, said Sarmiento, vice
chair of the House Committee on
National Defense and Security.
By Maricel V. Cruz
LAWMAKERS on Friday said the
Aquino government should refrain from
prematurely rejoicing over the reported
economic growth to 6.4 percent in the
last quarter of this year after two years
of economic reversals and the increase
in the incidence of poverty.
Stock market of hot cars bared
By Florante S. Solmerin
THE anti-carnapping unit of
the National Police on Friday
said some cities and provinces
in Central Visayas have
become the dumping ground
of stolen vehicles mostly
coming from Luzon.
Police ofcials made the
observation after conducting
a series of successful anti-
carnapping operations in
Western Visayas and Northern
Mindanao, which they likened
to a stock market of stolen
vehicles where cars of various
sizes, colors and design were
found.
For instance, the Manila-
Bacolod-Cagayan de Oro
connection of the notorious
Baktin carnapping network,
force the carnap syndicate to
shift operations to Central
Visayas. This became the hub
of carnapping activities of the
syndicate, said Chief Supt.
Leonardo Espina said of the
Highway Patrol Group.
He said 12 utility vehicles,
mostly stolen from Luzon,
were recovered in Bohol
during two weeks of
operations in the island
province.
Just recently, the group
revealed that it had recovered
at least 67 stolen cars in 6
months of operations last
year in Bacolod, Cagayan de
Oro, General Santos City and
Bohol. The recovered cars,
commuter vans and sedans,
were shipped to the South, he
said.
The recovery of these hot
cars in Bohol bolstered our
belief that Central Visayas is
being used by the syndicate
as a major transhipment point
for processing and trafcking
of stolen motor vehicles from
Luzon, Espina said.
According to Espina, the
syndicates involved a network
of armed carjackers who
do the actual carnapping in
Luzon; nanciers who buy the
freshly tolen cars; transporters
who deliver the stolen cars
via the Philippine Nautical
Highway to motorshops in
Bacolod and Cebu; mechanics
and craftsmen who do the
tampering, repainting and
detailing work to give stolen
cars a new look; and a
network of document forgers,
facilitators and corrupt
bureaucrats who manufacture
ofcial documents to give
stolen cars a new identity
before these are offered for
sale by local used car dealers
in Visayas and Mindanao.
Of the newly recovered
12 vehicles, Espina said
these were mostly private
sports utility vehicles such
as Mitsubishi Pajero, Isuzu
Crosswind, and Nissan Urvan
used as public utility vehicles
when intercepted.
THE Bureau of Immigration
has deployed its personnel
near the countrys borders
with Indonesia and Malaysia
as part of the efforts to beef
up security and prevent
undocumented aliens from
slipping into the country via
the southern backdoor.
Commissioner Ricardo David
Jr. ordered the deployment of
several immigration ofcers
from Manila to ve border
crossing stations in Mindanao.
Among them is veteran im-
migration ofcer Recaredo
Reyes, who was named chair-
man of the border crossing
coordinating committee that
would oversee and supervise
the personnel deployed to the
borders.
The stations are in Bongao
and Turtle Islands in Tawi-
Tawi; Taganak and Balabac in
Palawan; and Batunganding and
Tibanban in Davao del Sur.
Earlier, David issued a mem-
orandum order creating the
BCCO which spelled out the
mechanisms and guidelines for
deploying the border crossing
ofcers to the South.
The committee was formed
after Executive Secretary
Paquito Ochoa Jr. directed the
BI to augment its personnel in
Mindanao due to the alarming
increase in the number of
undocumented foreigners in
the region.
I mmi g r a t i o n p e r s o n n e l
ofcer Danilo Lopez disclosed
that there were 25 border
crossing ofcers, holding
the position of Immigration
Ofcer III, presently employed
in the bureau.
He said the employees would
be deployed to the South on
a rotation basis as their new
assignments will unavoidably
separate them from their
families in Manila. Vito Barcelo
On behest loans. Senator Serge Osmena III presides over the nance committees public hearing on the large-scale transactions involving behest loans. Witnesses include
(from right) Reynaldo David, president of the DBP, and Miguel Romero, former bank director. EY ACASIO
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com JUNE 2, 2012 SATURDAY
A4
THE President likes to say that
transparency and accountability are the
cornerstones of his administration.
Indeed, when Mr. Aquino was on
the campaign trail two years ago, he
promised that he would open up his
nancial records to the public. When he
took his oath, he declared that he would
put the Philippines on the straight and
narrow path. If there was no corruption
in government, he said, there would be
no poverty. He lashed out at other public
ofcials who believed themselves
entitled to exceptions under the law.
The entire nation witnessed Mr.
Aquinos single-minded devotion to
sending his political enemies, whom
he portrayed as the embodiment of
corruption and ill governance, to jail
or infamy. Most recently, Renato
Corona was found guilty of betrayal of
public trust and culpable violation of
the Constitution. Nobody doubted that
it was the President who engineered
the complaint against Corona and saw
it through until the end he so desired.
The Palace could hardly contain its
self-congratulations. The President must
realize he should not be partying just yet.
The just-designated acting chief
justice of the Supreme Court, Antonio
Carpio, ordered all members of the
Judiciary to disclose their Statements
of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth
even as a 1989 resolution allowed them
to keep it condential.
Some members of the Senate and
the House of Representatives, too,
have signed waivers, opening up their
foreign currency deposits to scrutiny.
Yes, they may have responded to the
challenged posed by Corona during his
controversial testimony last week, but
its a gesture that nonetheless shows
their sincerity and good faith.
In the meantime, the self-proclaimed
champion of transparency in government,
President Aquino himself, remains
resistant to such calls. His deputy
spokesman insists the situation of the
President is different from the situation
Mr. Corona found himself last week.
What doublespeak.
Then again, it does not at all come as
a surprise, especially to the more critical
Filipinos watching the Presidents
actionsor lack thereof. The freedom
of information bill remains pending in
Congress, even as the passage of another
bill on so-called data privacywhich
media groups feel threatens freedom of
the presswas being rushed.
The nation has seen that Mr. Aquino
could accomplish many things if he
only gave them the same amount of
attention and dedication as he did the
campaign to jail his predecessor and
oust the former chief justice. Why is he
not acting now?
Alas, it appears that the President has
morphed into the kind of public ofcial
he says he loathesthose who believe
that rules are good, but dont apply to
them.
Mr. Aquino should act quickly if he
wants us to still believe in the other
things he says he would do in his
remaining years in ofce. And if he
wants to show that he is not just another
self-righteous hypocrite.
Walk your talk
Three priority
measures
WITH the Corona impeachment trial
over, the legislative mill should now
focus on three priority measures that
require their undivided attention.
These are the freedom of
information bill, the reproductive
health bill and the amendment to the
Foreign Currency Deposit Act which
generated heated debates over the
Corona dollar deposits during the
impeachment trial.
The rst and third measures will
foster transparency of our government
ofcials. While the secrecy of
foreign currency deposits was meant
to protect the privacy of foreign
depositors, some of our government
ofcials have used
it as a shield for
unexplained wealth
or simply to park
dollar deposits
in banks while
earning interest.
Unless there
are unusually
large movements
in deposits and
withdrawals that
would call the attention of the Anti-
Money Laundering Council, as in
the case of the Corona accounts,
government ofcials with dirty
money are able to escape detection.
Some lawmakers are of the view
there is no need to amend the FCDA.
The law prohibits third parties such
as bank ofcials from disclosing
foreign currency deposits. Aside
from the waiver that can be signed
by the depositor, dollar deposits can
still be declared in the Statement of
Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of
government ofcials by converting
them into their peso equivalent
without saying which banks the
money is actually deposited into. This
was the contention of the senator-
judges who convicted Corona for not
declaring his dollar deposits in his
SALN.
Meanwhile, the freedom of
information bill that has been
languishing in the legislative mill is
now faced with a countermeasure
privacy bill that would mete a harsher
penalty on journalists who violate it.
After drawing re from the
Philippine Press Institute, National
Union of Journalists, National Press
Club, Manila Overseas Press Club
and other media watchdogs, bicameral
conference committee chair Senator
Edgardo Angara said he would work to
scrap the harsher penalty on journalists.
Angaras assurance is cold comfort
to members of the media who know
that ferreting out the news, especially
on government anomalies, is like
extracting teeth. The senator from
Aurora, with Taguig Rep. Sigfrido
Tinga, insist the bill is not meant to
muzzle media.
Senate Bill 2965 and House Bill
4115 are seen as a veiled attempt to
emasculate the working press even
as the freedom of information bill
has yet to see passage. It has had so
many revisions, with even Malacaang
studying it to come up with its own
version .
It would seem that our lawmakers
are more concerned with the privacy
of individuals (especially theirs).
The Fourth Estate in this country has
sacriced so much for its powers to
be weakened instead of strengthened.
Take the Ampatuan massacre, for
instance, where 31 journalists were
killed. Were it not for the journalists
who died in that bloody incident, the
atrocities of the Ampatuans would not
have been seen the light of day.
The victims and
their families have
yet to get justice.
Ampatuan family
leaders are detained
while the long-
drawn trial has yet
to see closure. Key
witnesses are being
s i l enceds ome
are missing or in
hiding.
The same thing seems to be
happening in the electoral sabotage
case against former President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo and former
Commission on Elections chief
Benjamin Abalos.
Two witnesses have backed out
from giving vital evidence against
the accused. The two who were
supposed to appear two days ago
before Regional Trial Court Judge
Jesus Mupas have gone missing. The
Comelec, which is prosecuting the
case, said election ofcers Russam
Mabang and Norie Unas could not
be located and must have gone into
hiding because of death threats.
The governments Witness
Protection Program leaves much to
be desired. It has many loopholes
that need to be plugged to ensure
conviction of the accused. A witness
in the carnapping with homicide case
involving the Dominguez brothers
was killed, his body found gagged and
bound in Cavite. In this case, however,
the witness was at fault for leaving the
custody of his police escorts.
While we are it, police authorities
must come up with a better solution
to stop killers riding in tandem on
motorcycles. The assassins and guns
for hire are hard to identify because
of the tinted helmets they used while
committing a crime. The Philippine
National Police and the Land
Transportation Ofce should put
their heads together to come up with
effective countermeasures to protect
the citizenry.
EDITORIAL
Wavering on the waiver
MY coffee tasted even more bitter when
I saw the headline: PNoy wont sign
waiver.
The call for transparency and
accountability in governance has been on
for many years. These are reasons why
the Filipino people turned their backs on
previous Presidents Ferdinand Marcos,
Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
The rst two were ousted when
citizens trooped to the streets to reclaim
what was theirs in the rst placethe
choice of the President who will lead the
country out of the quagmire we have been
in for decades. The last, who beneted
from the Estradas ouster, is ironically,
detained and facing several cases for acts
many feel betrayed public trust.
The peoples quest for transparency
and accountability was not lost on then-
presidential aspirant Noynoy Aquino. This
led to his campaign promise to waive his
rights to bank secrecy should he win.
Two years after occupying
Malacanang and after successfully
unseating the former chief justice in
the name of, yes, transparency and
accountability, the Palace is now singing
a different tune. And this is making a lot
of people doubt the Presidents word.
Deputy presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte rationalized this by saying
that the context was the Corona challenge
for high government ofcials to waive
their secrecy rights. She said that since
Aquino was not accused of the charges
the ousted CJ faced, there was no need to
sign the waiver.
How can the Palace miss the context?
The context is the peoples clamor. The
context is the Presidents promise. The
Corona case happened because of that
contextas what has been repeatedly
said during the trial by no less than PNoy.
The context is our quest for
transparent and accountable governance
the tuwid na daan. And the standards
should be the same for everyone,
ESPECIALLY the President who should
lead as the country traverses the path of
righteousness.
The best thing that came out of the
former chief justices impeachment is
this golden opportunity to demand full
transparency from public servants.
Now we know that Statements of
Assets and Liabilities are PUBLIC
documents AND can be scrutinized.
Because of Coronas precedent-setting
(though late for his own good) waiver, we
now can and should call on our ofcials
to issue the same so that in the event that
complaints are led against them, their
nancial transactions may be looked into
by proper authorities.
Some even demand that like the
SALN, the waiver should be made a
requisite for everyone assuming public
ofce. Why not? As the impeachment
prosecution was fond of saying, Kung
walang itinatago, hindi dapat matakot.
The funny thing is that many of those
who refuse to sign or are eerily quiet
about signing bank secrecy waivers
are those who have, during the trial,
been at the forefront of the quest for
transparency and accountability.
Lead prosecutor Rep. Niel Tupas
reportedly said that those calling for him
to sign the waiver are only after pogi
points and that he would not dignify
such calls. Tupas cannot be more wrong.
The people demanding this of him are
not politicians who, like him, need to be
pogi especially after his nationwide
display of incompetence and dirty tactics
during the trial. If anything, the waiver
can help save Tupas reputation.
But all is not lost. A number of
politicians have risen to the challenge.
Some of the 188 House complainants
against Corona have said that they are
willing to sign waivers. These include
prosecution spokespersons Deputy
Speaker Erin Tanada and Rep. Sonny
Angara.
Senators Chiz Escudero and Allan
Peter Cayetano are supposed to have
already submitted their waivers to the
Senate.
The House minority and the
Makabayan block have actually signed
theirs. I just do not know those waivers
contents.
To my knowledge, the very rst to
sign was complainant and Liberal Party
member Ifugao Representative Teddy
Brawner Baguilat whose duly notarized
waiver was dated 28 May. I quote Rep.
Baguilats waiver because this may be
used as a model for transparency:
I, ... do hereby waive my right of
condentiality and secrecy of bank deposits
under RA 1405, as amended, and RA
6426. I also hereby authorize all banking
institutions to disclose to the public all
bank documents, pertaining to all peso and
foreign currency accounts under my name.
I authorize the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, the Anti-Money Laundering
Council, the Securities and Exchange
Commission and Land Registration
Authority to disclose to the public any
and all information that may show my
assets, liabilities, net worth, business
interests and nancial connections.
In a statement, Rep. Baguilat said,
... I am open to Ifugaos knowing the
nancial situation of their representative
now and for the years to come and also
to show the country that representatives
take accountability and transparency
seriously...
Baguilat is a neophyte. But already, he
is showing more senior representatives
how politics should be practiced. This is
the kind of politician we need, the kind
people should support.
It is not yet late for the President. He
should sign his soon.
Stop wavering on the waiver.
eangsioco@yahoo.com and @
bethangsioco on Twitter
Congress
must now get to
work.
ELIZABETH
ANGSIOCO
POWER POINT
ALEJANDRO
DEL ROSARIO
BACK CHANNEL
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN Managing Editor
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A5 Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
THE removal of the chief justice
could have become a milestone in
the countrys judicial evolution to
maturity had the essential rudiments
of fair play and rule of law been
meticulously observed.
It could have become the benchmark
in revitalizing our Judiciary that in all
these years has been tainted by the
vices of corruption, ignorance of the
law and worse, political partisanship.
All these have sapped the vitality of
the countrys
justice system,
and what
happened to
Corona was the
nal blow for
the decision
delivered a
d e a t h - k n e l l
by insult to
all that were
ci r cumscr i bed
of that golden
rule known as
due process.
What Corona
got was a raw
deal because he was adjudged guilty
not for a crime that his assets were
stolen and not for a violation of any
law, but for applying a stupid law
legislated no less than by people who
voted for his condemnation. And he
was condemned by those who are
themselves not impeccably honest
when it comes to declaring their own
assets.
Is on this basis why the shameful
judgment rendered against Corona
has become mournful to people
who nurture much their sanity and
common sense. If it could happen
to the highest man in the Judiciary,
then what is in there that could
prevent those political bigots from
condemning an ordinary man, all for
making a denitive stand?
As Senator Joker Arroyo pointed
out, there was no preliminary
investigation that was conducted in
the complaint led against the former
chief justice to determine whether
there was sufcient basis for the
house to vote on the impeachment
complaint.
Rather, the case was based on the
number of zealots and minions who
votedand not on the evidence on
hand. As if to add insult to injury,
the real prosecutor in the person of
the Ombudsman demeaned herself
by serving as witness against the
accused.
When the hypocrites failed to pin
Corona down in what they considered
discrepancies in his Statement of
Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth,
the prosecutors collaborated with the
ofcials of the Land Registration
Authority.
But Corona, like the rest of those
politicians, simply availed himself of
what those stupid laws allowed them
to do.
That is how our politicians acted,
and the idea of justice was far from
their minds.
***
The fallout continues because
what happened to Corona was totally
unexpected. The people never
thought that the Senate impeachment
court which they idealized would
instead act with brazen impunity
to make a travesty of those long-
imbued principles that created a
civilized society known as the rule of
law and fair play. The people were
still clinging to their belief that the
honorable men
they elected to
ofce would
do their jobs
and observe the
law, seeing the
institution they
represent as
the last refuge
for vindication.
C i t i z e n s
thought that
the politically
hounded chief
justice would
be able to get
his day of
vindication from what they thought
as politically impartial men in red
robes.
Unfortunately, when the judges-
senators who are supposed to
represent an independent branch of
our government proceeded to cast
their individual voteswith all the
fanfare of having to justify and cite the
rationale for their votesall that came
out was their illogical and sometimes
insane extrapolation of what they
thought the law should be. Were they
all responding to the conducting baton
of Western interest? The way they
voted reafrmed our suspicion that
indeed, the Legislature has become the
ideal nesting ground of sub-lackeys
whose test of loyalty would serve to
determine whether they should be
allowed to move upward.
Then one by one, those men and
women in red robes, whom we
expected to be more knowledgeable
than most of us, spewed utterly
frustrating arguments.
They were opening the gates of
hell, for obviously it was not justice
they rendered. Rather, they unleashed
the wrath of vengeance. In that so-
called plenary hall, it was not justice
an accused could expect, but the price
for political revenge. It became a
reckoning of a different sort because
the chief justice was being made to
account, not on something he has
stolen, but on what he might have,
and what his family owns. This is a
practice Senator Miriam Defensor-
Santiago said was being violated
practically by all public ofcials in
the two houses of that supposedly
august chamber.
The impeachment
fallout
DEAN TONY
LA VIA
EAGLE EYES
ROD
P. KAPUNAN
BACKBENCHER
A new Philippines is possible
IT IS good that Mr. Corona decided not
to appeal his conviction. Let us leave him
and his family in peace. If warranted by
the evidence, the Ombudsman should
le criminal charges against him. But
that should be done with due process,
affording Mr. Corona all the rights he
has under the law. There is a difference
between an impeachment process and
criminal proceedings, the former being
essentially political. The latter should
never be politicized.
Let us now turn to impeachments
aftermath to the country. And lets start
with the Supreme Court. Remarkable
is the courts decision in its special en
banc session held on Wednesday after
receiving the Senate decision removing
its chief justice from office. Led by
Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio,
the court approved the release in full of
the 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities
and Net Worth of all justices and judges,
a reversal of a 1989 decision that shielded
them from requests to disclose their
ofcial record of personal wealth.
The stone continues to roll as more
and more citizens are calling for all in
public ofce to sign a waiver on the
opening of their bank accounts. The
President is resisting and time will
tell how long he can keep this stance.
Certainly, everyone realizes that the
SALN is a potent instrument to exact
accountability, that any serious untruth
or nondisclosure can lead to serious
repercussions.
With the decision by the Supreme
Court to open up their SALNs, the
gods of Faura conceded that no one
is sacrosanct, none inviolable. If at all,
the impeachment trial demonstrated that
our democratic institutions can work,
that we as a people have attained some
measure of political maturity to respect
our democratic processes, and that we
can change our country for the better.
A new Philippines is possible. That
is the message of the impeachment of
Renato Corona. But note that I express
a hope; there is no certainty that this
will happen. In fact, pessimistic citizens
believe that nothing will really change,
and we will go back quickly to business
as usual. I reject this cynicism. At the
same time, as a legal and political
practitioner, I know enough of the ways
of the world to concede that reform can
easily be defeated and turned back.
The test of whether it will be business
as usual or authentic transformation,
at least for the Judiciary, is in the
appointment of the chief justicethe
most important decision that President
Aquino will make in his presidency.
Nothing compares to this decision in
cementing the straight road to good
governance. It could also be the most
lastingits impact extending to another
five to 10 years beyond President
Aquinos term that ends in 2016.
In making this historic decision, the
president must avoid appointing a person
for mainly political reasons. It would be a
mistake if this appointment will be about
pleasing one faction or another of his
political coalition. What a waste of the
political capital exerted in the impeachment
and the gains achieved if we end up with a
chief justice that is appointed because he
or she is the most acceptable, politically.
The next chief justice must have
integrity, exceptional intellectual
capacity, vision and imagination,
independence, and political skills to
lead a divided court. He must be able
to stand up to those who would block
progress towards a transformed Judiciary
that would support governance reforms,
uphold the rule of law and be a bastion
for social justice.
Given these qualities, the obvious
choice is no other than Justice Carpio.
The veteran justice, unjustly passed
over by the former president who
unconstitutionally appointed Mr. Corona,
is not a saint. After all, he practiced law
for decades before joining government
in 1992 as the presidential legal counsel
of President Fidel V. Ramos. Reversing
the injustice done to Justice Carpio is
enough reason for appointing him as
chief justice. But beyond that and his
record as private practitioner, what really
matters is his record as public ofcial and
Supreme Court justicewhich we can
examine and evaluate.
Look for example at the leadership
Justice Carpio exerted on his rst day
as acting chief justicebringing a
unanimous court with him to reverse
two decades of perverse privilege. His
decisions, whether in majority or dissent,
are always solid, scholarly, brilliant, and
visionary. He is consistently on the right
side of environmental, social justice and
public accountability cases. He knows
the court and the Judiciary inside and
out, and will be able to outmaneuver
opponents to reform while winning to his
side the many still on the fence.
Yes, a new Philippines is possible.
And it starts with the appointment of
Antonio T. Carpio as chief justice.
E- mai l : t on yl avs@gmai l . com
Facebook: tlavina@yahoo.com Twitter:
tonylavs
Values-based governance
FOLLOWING is an excerpt from
the speech of Justo A. Ortiz,
chairman and chief executive officer
of Unionbank, at the 9th annual
dinner of the Institute of Corporate
Directors held on May 30 at The
Peninsula Manila.
We are gathered here because we
embrace good governance as the
keystone to sustainable success.
How do we now respond and
update governance? As corporate
executives, given our mandates,
it is extremely difficult to balance
profits against the public good.
And frankly, I am not sure we
have the expertise to make such
social calculations, and yet, they
are essential to good corporate
governance going forward. I guess,
that is why we have democratic
governments to represent the public
in achieving that balance. As such,
our regulators have required high
standards of governance using a
scorecard. This compliance-based
governance approach and our
achievements tovdate are what we
celebrate today.
But, to stick with compliance-
based governance has its limitations.
You may have your own views, but
my take is that it over-emphasizes
shareholder rights and interests, and
underplays the importance of other
stakeholders: our customers, our
supply and distribution partners,
our team members, and the
communities we serve. In form, it
leads itself to much documentation
and endless checklists instead of
being internalized in our culture,
precisely, because its emphasis is
limited compared to our business
reality. It lacks depth, substance
and comprehensiveness in our actual
stakeholder engagement strategies
and behavior.
We are therefore compelled to
ask, Is there a better way? We
offer values-based compliance as
the way forward. Values and ethics
should not be seen in competition to
good business and well-functioning
markets, but as a necessary
complement. Values and ethical
ideas must still be held accountable
to practical results. But at least, by
instituting values-based governance
we can align ourselves more
harmoniously with the communities
we serve by directing our ambitions
and passions to a higher purpose,
elevating lives, sustaining value
for society, and thus ensuring that
we persist as successful enterprises
for generations to come. And so,
corporate governance evolves to
a concern for holding the balance
between economic and social
goals, and between individual and
communal goals.
The impetus for this new
understanding of board
responsibilities can be found
in a growing number of global
and industry-specific initiatives,
chief among them are the OECD
Principles of Corporate Governance
and the United Nations Global
Compact. The UN Global Compact
in particular asks companies to
embrace, support and enact, within
their sphere of influence, a set of
core values in the areas of human
rights (2), labor standards (4), the
environment (3), and anti-corruption
(1).
In 1911, he of the stopwatch fame,
the father of scientific management,
Frederick Taylor, declared: In
the past, man was first. In the
future, the system will be first.
Compliance-based governance is
systems and processes, checklists
and detailed documentation, and
thoughtfulness of a few at the very
top of management and the board.
This may be great at attributing
accountability and responsibility
for governance to the very top of
decision making in an enterprise, but
it is weak at bringing governance to
life on a day-to-day basis at the grass
roots where team members are in
contact with external stakeholders,
especially, customers and the
communities served. The new way
of thinking, does not reject the
importance of systems, but would
redesign systems to put people first,
so that, instead of tapping into the
wisdom, knowledge and creativity
of only a few, we should recognize
the advantages of drawing out and
combining the wisdom, knowledge,
and creativity of all team members.
I have a story to tell about scientific
management.
It is experiences like this that
make one appreciate why the Nobel
Economics prizes of late have been
awarded to behavioral economists.
As it turns out, people do not make
decisions solely for their self-interest
which is the principal assumption
in most economic constructs, but
many times people make emotional
decisions or intuitive decisions and
rationalize them after. These limbic
brain decisions are usually based on
core values, which the neo-cortex
rationalizes and puts into language.
In the end, isnt authentic good
governance not about science, not
about law, but about good instincts,
good behavior, good judgment, and an
honest conscience of each corporate
team member at the grass roots lived
day-to-day in every interaction with
each stakeholder, but still accountable
to practical results.
There is a better way always,
and the journey towards progress
continues as we build from roots
anchored on human potentials.
As the American cartoonist Tom
Wilson wrote: Many of us are more
capable than some of us, but none of
us is as capable as all of us!
As someone said a perfect day is
when I sleep with a dream and wake
up with a purpose. May you all
have a perfect day.
EVERYMAN
THE Konrad Adenauer Asian
Center for Journalism at the Ateneo
de Manila University launched its
multimedia journalism program
in ceremonies at the Ateneo Art
Gallery on Friday, June 1.
The programs centerpiece is the
Diploma in Multimedia Journalism,
a one-year, seven-course program
for Asian professional journalists
offered using hybrid online learning
methods.
The program will give students
a broad perspective and the practical
skills to produce web-based news
stories using text, photos, videos,
audio and info-graphics, according
to Dr. DJ Clark, coordinator of
the diploma program. Clark is a
multimedia journalist for China
Daily (Beijing) and director of visual
journalism at Beijing Foreign Studies
University.
World Press Photo, the Dutch
media NGO renowned for its annual
global photography competition, gave
support to develop the multimedia
journalism curriculum for the
programs rst offering which started
in April 2011. With funds from the
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
World Press Photo has conceived
the program as a strategy to develop
media institutions and promote their
involvement in good governance,
according to Dr. Violet B. Valdez,
ACFJ executive director.
Paul Linnarz, director of the Media
Asia Programme of the Konrad
Adenauer Foundation, spoke at the
programs launch. The foundation has
established ACFJ jointly with Ateneo
and has continued to support it since
2000.
A scholarship program to support
outstanding Asian journalists
admitted to the program was also
established. Grantees are selected
on the basis of their potentials for
contributing to media development
in their societies, Valdez said.
Among the 2011 grantees are eight
journalists, three of them women,
from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and
the Philippines.
Twelve journalists, including a
Swiss journalist working in Vietnam,
are among the students in the pilot
offering of the multimedia program
which ends in June. With the success
of the pilot offering, Valdez said the
program is continuing with a second
batch of 12 students coming from
seven Asian countries including
Japan, Myanmar, India and Nepal.
Among the subjects in the
coursework are Mobile Journalism,
Convergence Theory, Multiplatform
Practice and Interactive Media
Literacy. A final project which the
student presents to a jury caps the
requirements.
The international faculty includes
David Campbell, professor at
Durham University (UK), a leading
academic and observer of global
media trends and Stephen Quinn,
well known Australian author
presently editor at the South China
Morning Post. Also in the faculty
is Kim Kierans, professor of
journalism and the vice president of
the University of Kings College in
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
ACFJ runs two other academic
programs, the M.A. in Journalism
and the Diploma in Photojournalism.
All three programs are designed for
Asian working journalists, use hybrid
online learning and are taught by an
international faculty.
Multimedia program opens in Ateneo
It was not
justice the senators
rendered, but
revenge.
News
ManilaStandardToday
mst.daydesk@gmail.com JUNE 2, 2012 SATURDAY
A6

IN BRIEF
Treasurer wins round
vs Quezon City bosses
Nichols bridge still under repair
Postmaster charged with malversation
Manila employees get
salaries after processing
I. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
A. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
1. CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT FOR METRO MANILA; 2.
VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER, VALENZUELA CITY; 3. ACCOUNTANT
I, (1) SG-12, ITEM NO. OSEC-DOHB A1-30002-1998 4. BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN COMMERCE/BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MAJOR IN
ACCOUNTING; 5. ELIGIBILITY; RA 1080
VALENZUELA GENERAL HOSPITAL, VALENZUELA CITY; 3. MEDICAL
SPECIALIST II (1) SG-234, ITEM NO. OSEC-DOHB-MDSP2-30010-1998;
4. DOCTOR OF MEDICINE; DIPLOMATE OR FELLOW WITH RELEVANT
TRAINING; 5. ELIGIBILITY: RA 1080
(Sgd.) MARIO C. PANAY, MD, MHA, CESE
District Health Offcer II
BULLETI N OF VACANT POSI TI ONS
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT-Metro Manila
VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER
Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
Tel. No. 294-6711 to 16, Telefax 294-5090
(MST-June 2, 2012)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
ANNABELLE D. SANCHEZ
A warrant of arrest has been issued by the Regional Trial Court of Makati,
Branch 58 in Criminal Case No. 11-1443-44 for two counts of ESTAFA against
the person in this photo,
ANNABELLE DEMETRIA SANCHEZ
A reward will be given to any person who provides information leading to her arrest.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of ANNABELLE DEMETRIA SANCHEZ
may text or call Ayen at (0908) 1584054.
(MST-May 26, June 2, 9 & 16, 2012)
I. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
A. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER, VALENZUELA CITY; 3. ACCOUNTANT
I, (1) SG-12, ITEM NO. OSEC-DOHB A1-30002-1998 4. BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN COMMERCE/BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MAJOR IN
ACCOUNTING; 5. ELIGIBILITY; RA 1080
VALENZUELA GENERAL HOSPITAL, VALENZUELA CITY; 3. MEDICAL
SPECIALIST II (1) SG-234, ITEM NO. OSEC-DOHB-MDSP2-30010-1998;
4. DOCTOR OF MEDICINE; DIPLOMATE OR FELLOW WITH RELEVANT
TRAINING; 5. ELIGIBILITY: RA 1080
(Sgd.) MARIO C. PANAY, MD, MHA, CESE
District Health Offcer II
BULLETI N OF VACANT POSI TI ONS
CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT-Metro Manila
Tel. No. 294-6711 to 16, Telefax 294-5090
(MST-June 2, 2012)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
ANNABELLE D. SANCHEZ
A warrant of arrest has been issued by the Regional Trial Court of Makati,
Branch 58 in Criminal Case No. 11-1443-44 for two counts of ESTAFA against
the person in this photo,
ANNABELLE DEMETRIA SANCHEZ
A reward will be given to any person who provides information leading to her arrest.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of ANNABELLE DEMETRIA SANCHEZ
may text or call Ayen at (0908) 1584054.
(MST-May 26, June 2, 9 & 16, 2012)
DUE to the ongoing repairs on
Sales (Nichols) Bridge in Pasay
City, trafc is expected to build up
at the expressway ramp area along
Andrews Avenue inside Villamor
Air Base and motorists are advised
to take alternative routes, according
to the Skyway O&M.
Skyway O&M, which operates
the Manila Skyway, reiterated that
the eastbound lane going to Fort
Bonifacio and across the South Lu-
zon Expressway is still closed to
trafc and motorists coming from
Manila or Makati on Osmea High-
way can turn right on Buendia Av-
enue and take Roxas Boulevard or
Macapagal Avenue to their destina-
tions.
Those from Makati who are
traveling on EDSA can take Tramo,
Roxas Boulevard or Macapagal Av-
enue. On the other hand, motorists
from the south can take C-5.
The tollway operator said
trucks coming from the Port Area
bound for the East Service Road
and FTI area can take the Bicutan
exit of the South Luzon Express-
way or pass through A. Bonifa-
cio, Mindanao Avenue to C-5 and
then turn left on the East Service
Road.
The trafc advisory was issued
by Skyway O&M along with the
Manila Toll Expressway Systems,
which operates the South Luzon
Expressway, as part of their Oplan
2012 Balik-Eskwela.
Under Oplan 2011 Balik-Esk-
wela, Skyway O&M MATES will
coordinate with the police, Toll
Regulatory Board, Land Transpor-
tation Ofce to ease trafc next
week when classes are expected to
reopen.
Both operators will deploy ad-
ditional enforcers and motorcycle
units inside the tollway and its
nearby vicinity, especially at identi-
ed entry/exit choke points, where
ambulant tellers will be assigned
during the peak morning and after-
noon hours.
Their respective operations com-
mand centers will also intensify
their round-the-clock monitoring
for efcient and timely response to
any unusual incidents or emergen-
cies.
Both firms appeal to motorists
to check the road-worthiness of
their vehicles before they travel
to prevent breakdown or malfunc-
tion, observe road courtesy and
speed limits to avoid accidents,
and obey other tollway traffic
rules.
Now that students will again
make up a large part of pedestrian
trafc in the interchanges, the
Skyway and SLEX operators urge
parents and teachers to remind their
children and pupils to be careful
when commuting and to obey rules
like using proper pedestrian cross-
ing and waiting in the designated
loading areas for public utility ve-
hicles.
To report emergencies and sug-
gestions or request for assistance,
motorists can call the Skyway O&M
hotline at 776-7777 and MATES at
0908-8807539.
THE acting postmaster of Pan-
dacan, Manila has been charged
in court for allegedly embez-
zling some P1.38 million from
the funds of the Philippine
Postal Corp. by overstating the
deposits entered in her reports.
Cristina Sapiera was charged
of violation of Art. 217 of the
Revised Penal Code, or mal-
versation of funds, after she
allegedly misappropriated
P1,387,667.91 for her own
personal use and benet to the
prejudice of the Philpost.
In recommending the l-
ing of the case against Sapiera,
the Manila Prosecutor cited the
audit report of the Philposts
Internal Audit which corrobo-
rated with the testimony of law-
yer Margarita Basco, who rep-
resents Philpost.
Basco said Sapiera suppos-
edly embezzled the money by
overstating the deposits en-
tered in the cashbook or in her
reports, thus making it appear
that the cash balance on hand
was only minimal.
In the absence of evidence
to show that the audit report is
false or inaccurate, the prosecu-
tors deemed them true.
Special Counsel Rose Ma-
carina Tan of the Manila City
Prosecutors Ofce recommend-
ed a P40,000 bail for Sapieras
temporary liberty when she for-
warded the case information of
the accused before the Manila
court.
Court records showed the
case against Sapiera stemmed
from an audit of the Pandacan
Post Ofce which was conduct-
ed by the Philpost Internal Au-
dit Service in March 15, 2007.
The audit covered the dealings
made by Philpost-Pandacan
from October 18, 2005 up to
March 14, 2007.
Basco said they asked Sa-
piera about the cash shortage
of more or less P 1.38 million,
but she failed to account for
the missing funds although
she denied the accusations
against her.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
HITTING back at workers who are dunning the
Manila City Hall for the payment of their sup-
posed salaries, a ranking ofcial stressed that
legitimate consultants, researchers and casual
employees of city councilors have already re-
ceived their salaries after they complied with
the standard requirements.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lims chief of staff
Ric de Guzman said the employees retained by
Councilors Nino dela Cruz, Bobby Lim, Josie
Siscar, Bimbo Quintos, Joey Uy, Rod Lacsa-
mana, Eunice Castro, Lou Veloso and Ramon
Morales have already received their salaries.
Before the release of their pay, the employees
of the nine councilors decried the refusal of Manila
City Council secretary lawyer Luch Gempis to sign
their payroll, prompting them to complain to the
mayor and appeal the approval of their payrolls.
The payrolls were returned to us for the
reason that the ofce of the city council refused
to receive [them], the nine councilors said in
their letter to Lim.
Gempis, for his part, said he did not sign the
document prepared by the workers because it
was not the ofcial payroll.
They prepared their own payroll so I cannot
sign it because its not ofcial. It did not come from
us. Denitely, the Vice Mayor would not also sign
it, explained Gempis, stressing that he did not re-
fuse to sign. I told them to just leave their papers
and I would refer it to the Vice Mayor. However,
they brought their papers with them.
Lim referred the matter to city legal of-
cer Renato dela Cruz, who recommended the
granting of the request.
Aside from appearing personally, De
Guzman said the casuals, researchers and
consultants of the nine councilors also pro-
duced their respective IDs as they drew their
respective salaries at the cash division and
then signed as they received their pay, with-
out any hitches, at around 2:30 p.m
As to the other councilors including the of-
ce of the vice mayor, De Guzman said the
salaries of their consultants, researchers and
casuals will also be given at once as long as
they appear to personally get their salaries.
Ang problema, walang binibigay na payroll
hanggang ngayon ukol sa mga na-retain nilang
empleyado at wala ding nagpupunta sa cashier
para kunin ang sahod nila, kaya ibinalik na lang
`yung pera sa cash division he stressed.
By Rio N. Araja
QUEZON City Treasurer Edgar
Villanueva scored a round against
his bosses who purportedly
want to ease him out because
of his repeated failure to submit
reports about the citys nancial
condition.
City Administrator
Victor Endriga said the city
will comply with the legal
opinion of the Department of
Finance that only Villanueva
has the direct accountability
and liability to examine the
nancial records and books
of accounts of businesses and
only his signature is required
in all letters of authority and
conrmation.
The nance department
issed the opinion after Vil-
lanueva questioned the cre-
ation of a special assess-
ment task force, under the
supervision of Endriga, who
directed that all letters of
authority and conrmation
must be signed by the head
of the Business Permit and
Licensing Ofce, Garry Do-
mingo.
Mayor Herbert Bautista
created the task force in No-
vember last year after he and
Endriga were piqued by Vil-
lanuevas repeated failure to
submit reports on the citys
nancial condition.
Villanueva wanted to go
solo as if there were no oth-
er higher ofcials whom he
must report to, Endriga told
the Manila Standard. He did
not submit reports for a year
and a half. That is no way to
run a city.
The task force was
launched last April as part of
Bautistas program to boost
the ease of doing business
in the city by integrating re-
quired inspection services.
The primary function and
mandate of the SATF is to en-
sure that the revenue, taxes,
fees and charges collected
have factual, real and legal
basis, Endriga said.
The task force is com-
posed of representatives
from the citys Building
Permits and Licensing Of-
ce, Treasurers Ofce, As-
sessors Ofce, Building
Ofcial, Health Department,
Environmental Protection
and Waste Management De-
partment and the Fire De-
partment.
Each member of the in-
spection team will bear the
proper identacation and au-
thorization from the city gov-
ernment, to prevent unscru-
pulous practices, Endriga
added.
However, the groups
operational matrix clipped
Villanuevas power to sign
vital tax documents and
required the BPLO head
(Domingo) to oversee Vil-
lanuevas transactions and
afx his counter-signature
in all letters of authority and
conrmation.
Villanueva insisted that he,
not Domingo, is the city trea-
surer who is duty bound by
law to sign such documents
and wrote the DOF for the le-
gal opinion, which turned out
to be in his favor.
But Endriga said he pri-
vately met with Villanue-
va and Domingo and they
reached a gentlemans agree-
ment that they will the mat-
ter to rest so long as the city
treasurer complies with the
reportorial requirements of
city managers.
We agreed to abide by
the opinion of the nance de-
partment, Endriga said.
Manila allots P200m
for Tondo re victims
A TOTAL of P200 million was allocated
by the Manila City Council to bankroll
the relocation of 1,500 families rendered
homeless during the May 11 re that hit
a squatters colony in Isla Puting Bato in
Tondo, Manila.
The budget appropriation was con-
tained in the resolution passed by the
council at its regular session last May
31 and approved by presiding ofcer
Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. It was au-
thored by Councilor Dennis B. Alcor-
eza of the 1st District of Manila.
The city council will appropriate
the amount of P200 million from the
existing available budget and so much
amount from the 2013 executive budget
of the City of Manila to cover the imple-
mentation of constructing a staging area
and the initial costs of land acquisition
and the construction of houses for the
Isla Puting Bato residents, Alcoreza
said. Macon Ramos-Araneta
Bistek wants security
cameras in QC schools
TO ENSURE the safety of over 400,000
students enrolled in public schools, Quezon
City Mayor Herbert Bautista is studying
the possibility of putting up closed-circuit
televisions in different public schools.
Bautista met with the Quezon City
Association of Filipino-Chinese Busi-
nessmen Inc., and Philippine National
Polices anti-kidnapping group and dis-
cussed a common advocacy for a safer
city for children in public places.
According to Bautista, the city is
investing P50 million to P100 million
for its security camera requirements for
school zones and major roads.
Rio N. Araja
P20-m IT scholarships
readied for beginners
WITH a P20-million infusion for
scholarships, the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority is opening
doors of opportunity to beginners in the
information technology industry.
Partnering with Informatics College
Eastwood Inc., one of the countrys
leading IT educational institutions, the
agency will tap individuals with limited
or no IT background for intensive train-
ing to soon make them eligible for em-
ployment.
The TESDA-Informatics tie-up was
formalized in a memorandum of agree-
ment inked by the authoritys director
general Joel Villanueva and Informatics
vice president Stephen Banares.
The training will focus on Web Devel-
opment and Animation, which Informat-
ics pledged to offer in its branches na-
tionwide in accordance with the TESDA
Board-approved training regulation.
Gigi Munoz David
Cleaning up for school opening. Makati City remen help cleanup the service road of
Osmea Highway in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City which has been closed for the clean-up of the
leak from the oil pipeline of First Philippine Industrial Corp.
A7 Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
The real deal
Davao, GenSan pugs prevail
By Peter Atencio
FIGHTERS from Davao del Norte
and General Santos City shared the
top honors in the rst four completed
bouts of the 2012 Philippine
Olympic Committee-Philippine
Sports Commission National
Games at the Ninoy Aquino
Stadium yesterday in
Malate, Manila.
THE famed ALA Promotions,
unquestionably the top promotional
outt in the Philippines and giant
broadcast network ABS-CBN are
most denitely taking a gamble in
staging Pinoy Pride XIV at the
Resorts World Hotel in Manila on
Saturday.
Thats because they have, through 13
episodes mostly at the jam-packed and
classy Waterfront Hotel and Casino, put
on some excellent cards that have turned
in terric ratings. Whether theyll do the
same numbers in attendance remains to
be seen although the TV ratings should
even improve.
The one ght that was a letdown was
that farcical main event in Tagbilaran
City, Bohol last year. That was when
an impostor identied as Genaro
Panterita Garcia was foisted on ALA
Promotions by a scheming Mexican
matchmakerHugo Correainstead
of the ghter they had contracted for,
Genaro Poblanito Garcia.
To be sure, it was an embarrassment
for both ALA Promotions and ABS-
CBN, but it was also, more than that,
an enterprise in which they both lost a
substantial amount of money as ALA
Promotions patron Tony Andeguer
and ALA president Michael Aldeguer
did the honorable thing and refunded
the money of ticket holders.
The fake Garcias ght against Rey
Boom Boom Garcia was such a
charade that ABS-CBN vice president
for sports Peter Musngi decided not
to telecast the bout, which lasted two
rounds and in the process also lost
sponsorship revenue.
To their eternal credit, ALA
Promotions and ABS-CBN decided
almost immediately that they would
make every effort to bring the real
Poblanito Garcia to Manila, no
matter what it took and how much it
cost. And they did.
Poblanito Garcia has beaten ve
world champions, but hes also been
beaten by a few others, including
World Boxing Council super
bantamweight Toshiaki Nishioka. In a
title ght on Jan. 3, 2009 in Yokohama,
international referee Bruce McTavish
stopped the ght in the 12th round,
when Garcia was being badly beaten
by the classy Japanese southpaw.
Garcia, a little on the cocky side,
IN BRIEF
Laylo bags chess title
GRANDMASTER Darwin Laylo of
Marikina City grabbed the top spot in
the 2012 Philippine Olympic Committee-
Philippine Sports Commission National
Games Open Chess Championships on
Thursday in Dumaguete City.
Using the disadvantageous black
pieces, Laylo split the point with
erstwhile co-leader IM Jan Emmanuel
Garcia of Manila in the nal round to
formally clinch the title in the seven-
round tournament.
Laylo collected a total score of 5.5
points. He bagged the gold medal by
virtue of higher tie break points against
fellow 5.5 pointers that includes runner-
up Garcia, third placer IM Rolando Nolte
of Quezon City and fourth placer FM
Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City.
RONNIE
NATHANIELSZ
INSIDE SPORTS
Castrol-TRS to improve title bid
Floyd starts jail sentence
LAS VEGASFree time is about to run
out for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is due
to begin a three-month jail sentence in
Las Vegas stemming from a hair-pulling,
arm-twisting attack in September 2010
on the mother of three of his children.
The unbeaten ve-division champions
legal and ring advisers werent
immediately commenting Thursday about
Mayweathers scheduled Friday morning
surrender before Las Vegas Justice of the
Peace Melissa Saragosa.
The judge sentenced him Dec. 22 for
his guilty plea to reduced charges in the
domestic battery case.
Mayweathers lawyers, Karen Winckler
and Richard Wright, said previously they
didnt plan to seek another postponement
or delay. AP
Kasibulan
football
opens in
Marikina
THE Castrol-Tuason Racing School Team looks
forward to another big ght to bolster its chances
for the titles at stake in the third leg of the 2012
Philippine GT Championship Series this Sunday
at the Batangas Racing Circuit.
Multi-titled champion Mike Tuason banners the
hunt for the titles, parading his Mazda Rx7 in the
GT300 division as he will be joined by Korean
Micky Kim and new recruit Ross Jackes for the
Castrol-TRS Racing Team, powered by Castrol,
Bridgestone, Standard Insurance, Coke Zero,
Oakley, Toptul, OMP, C! Magazine, Speedlab, and
Aguila Auto Glass.
Car problems hounded Tuasons bid in the
past two legs, but he has vowed to leave no stone
unturned this time to ensure a trouble-free run and
keep up with the top guns.
Two years ago, Tuason led the early stage of this
series until a suspected back injury forced him to
quit and settle for the overall runner-up honors.
Jackes uncorked an impressive maiden stint
clinching the runner-up crown in the GT130
class aboard his Ford Focus 1800 car. A pilot by
profession, Jackes rst showed his potential as
a future racing champ after winding up fourth
overall in the TRS Ford Fiesta Cup, with the
support of Pacic Jet Corp.
Kim looms a a strong contender for the overall
GT100 crown after winning the kickoff leg in
Batangas and claiming the runner-up trophy in
Clark, driving a TRS Cup Ford Fiesta racing car.
After what happened in the rst two legs, I
believe this is the perfect time to step up and boost
our title chances, said Mike Tuason.
For more information about the team,
interested parties may vischit website at www.
tuasonracing.com. Like the team on facebook
for more updates and promos at www.facebook.
com/tuasonracingschool. Email the team for
inquiries at www.info@tuasonracing.com, or
call TRS secretariat, c/o Aileen Urgelles and Abi
at 820-4203.
MARIKINA Sports Park will
be the venue for the launching
of the FIFA-backed Kasibulan
Grassroots Football program
on Wednesday, with around 60
local coaches and more than
500 kids from ages 9 to 12
expected to participate in the
three-day event.
Organized by the National Cap-
ital Region Football Association,
headed by its president and Philip-
pine Football Federation secretary
general Rolly Tulay, and backed
by Vitamilk Champ and the Phil-
ippine Amusement and Gaming
Corp., this free football seminar is
a long-term program aimed at en-
abling the country to qualify in the
2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
We take pride in being the rst
Metro Manila LGU to respond
to this call for a partnership in
developing football further in the
country, particularly for kids,
said Marikina Mayor Del de
Guzman, who will also be the
special guest at the culmination
of the event, where certicates
of participation will be
distributed to the participating
coaches and kids.
The Mayor will be joined
by members of the Azkals and
the Malditas football teams,
Asia Brewerys Francis Tan
and Chito Loyzaga, former
Commissioner of Philippine
Sports Commission.
Panabo City standout Joey
Canoy conquered the pinweight
class at the expense of Aljhun Oro,
32-26, to claim his third national
crown, while fellow Davaoeno
Quirino Mellejor Jr. of Kapalong
took the bantamweight trophy
following a 22-12 stopping of
Jeson Umbal.
Promising General Santos City
campaigner Jake Bornea showed
a consistent form against Bago
City Argie Alabado, 26-19, for
the light-yweight honors, while
Roldan Boncales Jr. held his
ground with a 19-12 edging of
Samar-As Lowen Bordeos in
yweight championship.
Their title conquests came as
30 records fell in weightlifting,
with 20-year-old Jeffrey Garcia
of Zamboanga City collecting
three gold medals in the open,
secondary and junior divisions.
He ofcially smashed nine marks
in weightlifting at the Lamberto
Macias Coliseum lobby.
Garcias 114 kilograms lift
in snatch, 153 kgs in clean and
jerk and 267-kg total improved
the existing marks in the juniors
(105-130-230), the secondary
(105-118-213) and the open (113-
140-253) divisions, which he also
established.
This also gave him the most
number of gold medals as
every discipline was rewarded
individually.
Olympic-hopeful Hidilyn Diaz
claimed one in the womens open
58 kg, with her lifts of 96-123-
219, while Ellen Rose Perez of
Zamboanga (secondary women
48kg class) came up with a 45-kg
effort in the snatch to beat her old
mark of 48kgs.
Lea Ruth Llena of San Antonio
Montesori, who posted a 73-86-
159 in secondary 52kg class, reset
her own 70-85-155 records. Also
improving his own mark was
Maybelyn Pablo in the open 62-
kg class, with her snatch of 83kg.
LEADING wireless services provider Smart
Communications, Inc. has partnered with the Tacloban
City-based Leyte Sports Academy. Smart, through its
Smart Sports program, shall extend support to the sports
development and promotion program of the academy
the rst of its kind in the Philippines.
We are glad to share ideals with the LSA with a
program that is enabling grassroots sports development
in the country, said Epok Quimpo, Smart Sports
Manager. We commit to support LSA in their mission
to develop a center of sports excellence for the
training and development of athletes in the region, and
eventually, help increase the countrys medal haul in
international sports competitions.
LSA was established in August 2010 by the provincial
government of Leyte under Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla
after the province hosted the 2009 Palarong Pambansa.
The Leyte Sports Development Center in Sta. Cruz district,
Tacloban City that served as venue for the Palaro events
now houses the Academy which trains close to a hundred
scholars in the elds of athletics, swimming, boxingall
potential medal mines for Filipino athletes.
All our students are on full scholarship getting
free education through the guidance of the Department
of Education, supplies, training and use of facilities and
equipment, and even board and lodging through the
Academys in-house dormitories, said Rowil Batan,
Executive Director of LSA. We spend about PhP8M a
year so the help and support from our private partners,
like what Smart is providing now is very benecial for
the nurturing and development of our athletes.
Aside from access to international standard sports
facilities, Batan said LSA aims to provide its athletes
expert coaching and a comprehensive sports training
program where the art of scientic training procedures,
processes and practices are applied.
Leyte Sports Academy
gets boost from Smart
effectively told a pre-ght press
conference at the Ipil Room of the
Bay View Hotel on Thursday that the
undefeated Gensis Servania (17-0, 5
KOs) was far too inexperienced to
face him and that he would take him
to school.
Thats ne, because it helps build
up the excitement. But what we didnt
quite like was his statement that the
three judges in his ght with Servania
are all Filipinos and the referee,
referring to McTavish, has lived here
for the past 40 years. To us who have
covered ghts around the world for
some 50 years, when it comes to the
Philippines it doesnt mean a thing
because to the credit of Filipino
boxing fans, they will never accept
or condone hometown decisions and
our ofcials by and large do the right
thing. Certainly McTavish does.
We were forced to give the Mexican
visitors a short lecture on the integrity
of ofciating in the Philippines and the
quality of Filipino fans. We pointed
out that when Z The Dream Gorres
was, in the eyes of a vast majority of
boxing writers from here and abroad,
robbed of a world title when he lost
a split decision to Mexicos Fernando
Montiel before some 25,000 fans, not
one single boo was heard, no water
bottles were hurled into the ring and
no chairs smashed in anguish. That
showed class and dignity.
Fortunately, veteran referee/judge
Raul Caiz Sr., who was a judge in
that ght was in the audience at the
press conference and was a living
testament to the decency of Filipino
boxing fans.
What the Mexicans may have also
forgotten is that McTavish, with one
minute and 15 seconds remaining in
the World Boxing Organization light
yweight title ght between Brian
Viloria and Carlos Tamara of Panama,
stopped the ght and awarded Tamara
a TKO win, which the visitor himself
could hardly believe.
Viloria was leading handily on
the scorecards of all three judges
and only had to clinch and grab and
stay on his feet. But he inexplicably
faded and allowed Tamara a chance
to throw several unanswered punches
and although Tamaras punches
lacked power, McTavish stepped in
because Brian was not ghting back.
Thats the quality of the ring ofcial.
McTavish underwent surgery for a
growth on his lip the other day and after
his plastic surgeon Dr. Lito Alava did what
Bruce said was a fantastic job, hell be
ready to work the Garcia-Servania ght
on Saturday. Thats how passionate he is
about his role as a referee.
The real Poblanito Garcia will
surely realize in the ring on Saturday
that Bruce McTavish is just like him
the real deal.
Canizares, Olivarez
move to seminals
NO. 6 Argil Lance Canizares and ninth seed
Eric Olivarez claimed seminals slot after
beating their separate quarternal rivals
yesterday in the Manila leg of 14th Smart
Presents the HEAD 2012 junior National
Tennis Age-Group Satellite Circuit at the
Meralco Tennis Courts.
Canizares bucked a sluggish start to whip
Arjohn Dela Cruz in the boys 18-under
singles class, 7-6 (5), 6-2, and set up a
seminal showdown against No. 2 Dheo
Talatayod in the tournament supported
by Smart Communications, Chris Sports,
HEAD, Meralco, Maynilad and Toalson.
Im expecting a good ght against
Dheo, said the 15-year-old Canizares, who
displayed a barrage of backhand volleys in
the second set.
Talatayod outlasted Emer Cariga, 6-1,
6-4, to enter the boys 18-under seminals of
the 64-day tournament supported by Smart
Communication executive Noel Lorenzana.
Olivarez overcame a lethargic start
to rally past Hakeem Cariga, 1-6, 6-2,
10-8. He meets Daniel Villasenor in the
seminals. Villasenor also took a hard-
earned 6-7 (3), 7-6 (7), 13-11 win against
third seed Joel Cabusas in quarternals.
Dog show at Tiendesitas
THE newly formed Metro-
politan Manila Kennel Club,
Inc., a new afliate of the
Asian Kennel Club Union
of the Philippines, Inc. will
mount its maiden rst and
second All-Breed Champi-
onship Dog Shows on Sun-
day, 1 p.m., at the Peoples Village
of Tiendesitas, Ortigas Ave. cor. E.
Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Pasig City.
International all-breed judges
Sam Tsang of Hong Kong, Mike
Buenaor and Jester Jo Ong Chuan
of the Philippines will each have a set
of the best Philippine-born, best baby
puppy and best in show winners from
the seven breed groupingshound,
toy, terrier, sporting, working, non-
sporting, and herdingthat will be
elded during the show.
Tsang is an international all-
breed judge of the Hong Kong
and China Dog Lovers
Association, who had bred
and showed various breeds
into champions and won
30 Best-in-Show and
Reserve Best-in-Show, 60
Best in Group and over 200
Challenge Certicate awards.
Buenaor is an international
German Shepherd specialty judge
and international all-breed judge
licensed under AKCUPI, Kennel
Club of Asia and Federacion Canina
International, a licensed ring steward
for both German Shepherd Seiger
shows and all-breed shows with more
than two decades of breeding and
exhibiting Rottweilers, Dobermans,
Boxers, Labradors, St. Bernards,
English and Neopolitan Mastiffs,
Anatolian and German Shepherds.
Fund-raising. Manny Ibay, president
of the Philippine Masters Athletic
Association (seated right) and former
Southeast Asian long jump queen
Elma Muros (seated left) sign an
agreement with SportsCore Events and
Management Consultancy president
and Chief Executive Ofcer Ramon 'Tats'
Suzara designating SportsCore as the
ofcial fund-raising rm for the country's
participation in the Asian Masters
Athletic Championships in November
in Chinese Taipei. Witnessing the event
are (standing from left) Philippine Sports
Commission Chairman Ritchie Garcia,
Commissioner Salvador Andrada and
Executive Director Guillermo Iroy.
Antonio Benjamin Gadi
of the GSF Team returns
to the PH Teams Kevin
Cudiamat during the
2012 PNG badminton
competitions in
Dumaguete City. Gadi won
the gold. LINO SANTOS
Tsang
WORLD Boxing Organization
No. 1-ranked Milan Melindo
(26-0, 10 KOs) welcomed
former WBO light yweight
champion Jesus Geles of
Colombia (13-2-1, 5 KOs)
being over the 112-pound limit.
Im not disappointed,
because its a bigger challenge
to ght someone much heavier,
Melindo told the Manila
Standard after the weigh-in
when Geles said he couldnt
shed off the excess weight.
To Melindo, ghting Geles,
who weighed in at 115 pounds
at the ofcial weigh-in at the
Robinsons Galeria activity
center, will enable him to get
better experience.
Ronnie Nathanielsz
Melindo
condent
Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
A8
NBA RESULT
Thorp leads AUTSracings charge
AUTSracing karters gallantly
fought against the top guns
to come up with respectable
nishes recently in the third leg
of the 2012 Philippine National
Karting Series at the Kart Track
Boomland.
Young Brian Thorp rose to
the occasion as he captured the
Formula SL Novice crown and
delivered the lone champion
trophy for AUTSracing,
powered by Kiplings, BIREL
Competition Karts, YAMAHA
Winforce, Maynilad Water
Services, Kart Care Lubricants
and FreeLine Go Kart Parts.
Lady karter Yvana Carangan
clinched runner-up honors in
the Formula SL Expert class,
while Carl Luig bagged third
place in the Formula SL Novice
division, where he still kept the
solo leadership after winning
the rst two legs.
Francis Tanlu, on the other
hand, claimed the third runner-
up trophy in the Formula Cadet
Novice class.
It was the rst big win for
Thorp this season after making a
huge mark last year as the Cadet
Novice champion. Though he
incurred bruises on his back after
nishing fourth in the qualifying
heat, he showed no hesitation
giving his best like a veteran
trooper in the crucial afternoon
Pre-Final and Final races.
Banking on the racing
excellence of his Birel
Performance Kart, Thorp pushed
his kart to second best times in
the Pre-Final and Final races of
the combined Formula SL Expert
and Novice classes.
Clocking a laptime of 32.689
seconds, he moved up third
overall in the Pre-Final and
pushed himself faster with a
32.583 seconds in the grueling 28-
lap Final race, where he checked
in just 1.817 seconds behind the
Expert champ.
LOTTO RESULTS
6/45 000000000000
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P0.0M+
Pacquiao is now at his peak, says Ariza
Kevin Durant scored 22 points,
Thabo Sefolosha set playoff career-
bests with 19 points and six steals,
and the Oklahoma City Thunder
snapped San Antonios 20-game
winning streak with a 102-82
victory in Game 3 of the Western
Conference nals on Thursday
night.
San Antonio still leads 2-1
heading into Game 4 on Saturday
night in Oklahoma City.
They played like it was a
closeout game, both offensively
and defensively, Popovich said.
They were very active, physical,
they moved the ball well on offense.
They did all those things better than
we did. They beat us good.
Sefolosha threw a wrench in
the Spurs well-oiled offense at
the start, getting four steals in the
rst 3 minutes. The Spurs ended
up committing a postseason-worst
21 turnovers and scoring their least
points all season.
San Antonio had been averaging
109.4 points during its month-and-
a-half winning streak and had been
held to double digits only twice.
We just played a good
basketball game, Thunder coach
Scott Brooks said. We played
with a lot of force, we played
with good energy but we played
defensive-minded basketball.
Thats who we are. Thats how
we win.
Tony Parker and Stephen
Jackson led the Spurs with 16
points apiece. Tim Duncan had 11
points on 5-for-15 shooting, taking
11 of San Antonios rst 25 shots
as the offense went through the All-
Star center instead of Parker.
Its not about Tony,
Popovich said. Its about our
team, and we played much more
poorly tonight than we have and
I thought they played fantastic
basketball in every way.
The Spurs, who already set
an NBA record for the longest
winning streak carried over from
the regular season into the playoffs,
were trying to match the league
mark for most wins to start the
postseason. The Lakers won 11
straight to start the 1989 and 2001
playoffs, getting swept in the NBA
nals the rst time and winning it
all the second. AP
OKLAHOMA CITYAfter a month and
a half of dominance, San Antonio Spurs coach
Gregg Popovich suddenly had a reason to
question his teams passion and desire.
Spurs 20-game run snaps
THE 2012 Philippine Basketball Association
Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals came to
a rousing wrap-up Friday with Taytay getting
crowned champion at the Smart-Araneta
Coliseum.
Led by John Ryan Gumtang, Franz Abuda,
son of ex-PBA player Freddie Abuda, Norrish
Decapia and Mark Joper Diputado, Taytay,
represented by San Beda College, clobbered
Cebu, carrying the colors of University of
Visayas, 83-66, in the nal game, opening a
23-14 rst quarter lead and never looking back.
We reminded our players to stay focused
to the end para di maulit yung nangyari
nong rst meeting namin with Cebu, said
Taytay coach Troy Umaly. We learned from
that experience na huwag bibitiw lalo na sa
defense.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud paid tribute
to both nalists.
I wish to congratulate the team of Taytay
for winning the rst-ever national basketball
league for 13-16 year olds, said Salud.
Kudos, likewise, to the runner-up team of
Cebu. We will be conducting another one next
year to continue the PBAs and Cokes quest
to push for a healthy, active lifestyle, along
with developing the values of hard work and
sportsmanship among our youth.
Their rst meeting, an 86-81 victory where
Taytay blew a 20-point advantage and needed
a struggle to put down Cebu at the Ynares
Center in Pasig, was a lesson learned as Taytay
kept up the pressure throughout this time.
Taytay tops PBA
Youngstars meet
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
FIGHTER of the Decade Manny Pacquiao
(54-3-2, 38 KOs) sparred six rounds at
the Wild Card Gym on Thursday against
two Russian sparring partners and again
impressed his trainers.
Pacquiao is right now at his peak, but
weve got to slow him down, strength and
conditioning coach Alex Ariza told the Manila
Standard after the Filipino champ sparred with
Russian Welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov
(21-1, 14 KOs) and undefeated Russian super
featherweight Evgeny Chuparako.
Ariza conceded they had a problem
with Pacquiao, who just keep pushing
and pushing and pushing. Thats Manny
Pacquiao.
The strength and conditioning coach,
who is credited with having harnessed
Pacquiaos explosiveness, joked that you
cant have everything in life, not with
Manny Pacquiao.
There are plans for the eight-division
world champion to spar four rounds more on
Monday, before leaving in a convoy for Las
Vegas and the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
HUMBLED in team play,
Team South banked on its
individual talents to outwit
Team North, winning nine
of the 12 singles matches
to capture the crown in the
inaugural Duel North vs
South golf showdown, 16-
12, at Alabang Country Club
yesterday.
Elmer Salvador and
Marvin Dumandan sparked
the Southerners romp in
head-to-head duels, posting
a 5&4 triumph over Mars
Pucay and a 1-up win over
Jun Bernis, respectively,
before Elmer Saban,
Anthony Fernando, Mhark
Fernando followed suit with
victories over Randy Garalde
(2&1), Gene Bondoc (3&1)
and Benjie Magada (3&2),
respectively.
Joenard Rates actually
kept Team North in the ght
with a 2&1 win over Richard
Sinfuego in the third match
but Runo Bayron, Tony
Lascuna, Ferdie Aunzo and
Jay Bayron all rolled past
their rivals to clinch the
victory for Team South in the
three-day event sponsored
by International Container
Terminal Services, Inc.
South rallies in singles, wins Duel
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook screams after scoring a basket as San Antonio Spurs point guard Gary Neal (14) watches
during Game 3 of their teams NBA Western Conference nals. The Thunder won, 102-82. AP
NATIONAL shooter Alyanna
Chuatoco eyes the ultimate
prize in the fth Asian Shooting
Championship on Oct. 29 to
Nov. 4 in Nanchang, China after
gaining valuable experience in
her last four competitions, which
she dominated.
Chuatoco, who turned 18 last
Saturday, won the air-pistol gold medal
in the National Youth Development
Program event last March, before
bagging two more golds in the
Southeast Asian Shooting Association
qualifying tournament last April.
Chuatoco will skip the SEASA competition in June due to her
studies in Ateneo, but her commitment to the sport remains after
she competed in the 2012 Philippine National Games Sunday
at the Fort Bonifacio Shooting Range. Her next big goal is the
Asian tournament in China in October.
I really want to win the gold in the Asian Shooting
Championship in China and Im very condent of my chances,
said Chuatoco, who expects powerhouse Asian countries like
China and Korea to test her skills in the air-pistol event.
Chuatoco settled for a silver medal in the 10-m air pistol
event at the PNG after posting 365 points behind gold-winner
Shanin Gonzales (370 points). Isabelle Fernandez settled for
bronze with 364.
Chuatoco eyes gold
AUTSRacing VP Indy Villalon (third from left) com-
mended his wards, led by (from left) Formula SL Novice
champion Brian Thorp, Formula SL Expert runner-up
Yvana Carangan and Formula SL Novice third placer Carl
Luig, for a job well done.
Members of Team South, headed by skipper Cookie LaO, pose
with Alabang Country Club president Jojo Gana, AGC general
manager Cynthia Matias and ICTSI PR manager Narlene So-
riano after beating Team North to claim the crown in the Duel
North vs South golf showdown.
Chuatoco
82
102
Business
B1
IN BRIEF
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX
Closing June 1, 2012
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 43.6300
Japan Yen 0.012758 0.5566
UK Pound 1.540400 67.2077
Hong Kong Dollar 0.128771 5.6183
Switzerland Franc 1.029548 44.9192
Canada Dollar 0.968242 42.2444
Singapore Dollar 0.776156 33.8637
Australia Dollar 0.970403 42.3387
Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 115.7356
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266652 11.6340
Brunei Dollar 0.773156 33.7328
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000106 0.0046
Thailand Baht 0.031397 1.3699
UAE Dirham 0.272264 11.8789
Euro Euro 1.236100 53.9310
Korea Won 0.000847 0.0370
China Yuan 0.157011 6.8504
India Rupee 0.017832 0.7780
Malaysia Ringgit 0.315457 13.7634
NewZealand Dollar 0.752389 32.8267
Taiwan Dollar 0.033501 1.4616
Source: PDS Bridge
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Friday, June 1, 2012
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
40
42
44
46
48
P43.400
CLOSE
Closing JUNE 1, 2012
5,062.44
28.79
5200
4460
3720
2980
2240
1500
1200
VOLUME 1199.900M
HIGH P43.370 LOW P43.730 AVERAGE P43.543
P14-b Meralco deal
to raise power rates
Ray S. Eano, Editor mst_biz@manilastandardtoday.com
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com
PH budget airlines
buck refund ruling
Cebu
water
project
starts
Govt to repurchase high-coupon debt
Iloilo summit calls for protection of rivers and environment
By Alena Mae S. Flores
A PASIG court declared the P14-billion
settlement agreement between Manila
Electric Co. and National Power Corp. valid,
moving the two companies closer to end
their dispute over a 10-year supply contract.
Acting presiding judge
Antonio Reyes of the Pasig City
RTC Branch 71 issued a 13-page
decision dated May 29, but said
the decision was independent
of the pass-through provision
that would result in additional
power charges to Meralcos
consumers.
The court referred the pass-
through provision to the Energy
Regulatory Board, which
regulates electricity rates.
The P14-billion settlement
agreement, if approved by the
ERC, translates into an increase
of P0.12 per kilowatt-hour in
the electricity bill of Meralco
consumers.
The court did not rule on the
pass-through provision under
the settlement agreeement as the
same is reserved for the approval
of the ERC where the case is
currently pending, the ruling
said.
ERC executive director
Francis Saturnino Juan said
Meralco might still have to wait
for the nal decision of the Pasig
City court because of a possible
appeal.
After that, [Meralco] can go
back to ERC to resolve their
petition to allow the recovery
of the settlement amount, Juan
said.
The settlement agreement,
which was concluded after the
parties underwent mediation
proceedings, resolved the
dispute between Meralco and
Napocor over their 10-year sale
contract.
Meralco and Napocor signed
a supply agreement entered on
Nov. 21, 1994 covering 10 years
from Jan. 1, 1995 to Dec. 31,
2004.
The deal obliged Napocor to
supply and Meralco to purchase
a specied minimum volume of
electric power at rates approved
by then Energy Regulatory
Board.
Meralco was required to pay a
minimum monthly charge, even
if the actual volume of power it
bought from Napocor fell below
the minimum quantitites.
Meralco from 2002 to 2004
drew less supply than the
minimum stipulated by the
contract. Meralco merely paid
for the supply it actually received
instead of the minimum monthly
charge.
Napocor eld a claim against
Meralco to include contracted
but undrawn energy starting in
the billing month of January
2002.
Meralco objected and served
a notice of termination of
the contract, claiming that it
suffered losses from the delay
in the construction of Napocors
transmission lines. The delay
prevented Meralco from fully
supplying electricity contracted
with indepedent power
producers. Meralco also cited
unrealized revenues as Napocor
directly supplied electricity
to customers in violation of
retailers franchise.
By Othel V. Campos
ILOILO CITYParticipants
to the rst International River
Summit in Iloilo City have
signed a manifesto to protect
the worlds rivers and called for
greater investment to address
environmental challenges.
The rst Philippine
International River Summit
intends to emphasize the urgency
for joint and collaborative
action to manage our waters
especially since the adverse
effects of climate change on our
water assets are becoming more
pronounced every day, Iloilo
City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog
said at the close of the two-day
summit at the Centennial Resort
Hotel and Convention Center.
Mabilog, who presented the
manifesto, said that the summit
would establish a cooperative
approach in confronting challenges
that threaten the environment.
The summit is a joint project of
the national government through
the Environment Department,
with the PLDT group and the
city of Iloilo as co-presentors.
The PDLT group has been
implementing programs that seek
to rejuvenate the countrys river
systems and has a continuing
project to replant mangroves
along the Iloilo river.
The manifesto cited the need
to mainstream biodiversity
management, disaster risk
reduction management and climate
change adaptation, into national
and local legislative agenda.
It also called for efforts to
enhance the capacity of the
local government units and
improve access to resources and
technical opportunities for river
conservation.
By Lailany P. Gomez
LOW-COST carriers have opposed the new ruling of the Civil
Aeronautics Board allowing no-show airline passengers to
rebook or get a refund on all airline tickets bought on promo or on
regular prices.
The regulator 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 CAB 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.
ZestAir president Alfredo Yao said in a phone interview his
company would ask the regulator to reconsider the ruling, especially
on rebooking and refunding of tickets for no-show passengers.
The no-overbooking ruling should be the airlines responsibility,
but [not] for rebooking and refunding non-appearing passengers. It
will be a burden for us, Yao said.
AirAsia chief executive Marianne Hontiveros echoed ZestAirs
sentiment, saying the refundable or rebookable options for
passengers were very dangerous because you are removing all
of the responsibilities of the passenger to show up and fulll the
courage terms condition of the ticket.
It has got to be workable to both sides, because... if you kill the
low-cost carrier business in this country, our people suffer because
they cannot avail of the low fares. Its going to be very impactful,
she said.
Cebu Pacic Air, meanwhile, declined to comment, saying it was
drafting its own position paper for submission to the CAB.
THE Philippines plans to repurchase
high-coupon dollar-denominated
bonds as it seeks to rein in costs and
win a credit-rating upgrade, Finance
Undersecretary Rosalia de Leon said.
Were exploring some options on how
we can better manage our portfolio, De
Leon told reporters Friday. The government
may sell peso-denominated notes to global
investors and use the proceeds to retire
some of its debt or offer new bonds in
exchange, De Leon said. No rm schedule
has been decided, she said.
The Philippine economy is reducing its
budget decit, extending debt maturities
and cutting its foreign-currency risks to
win an investment-grade credit rating by
the end of President Benigno Aquinos
term in 2016. In the last two years, the
nation has conducted bond exchanges,
offered global peso notes and sold 25-
year benchmark securities.
There may be about $800 million of
bonds suitable to be repurchased, De
Leon said. The Philippines spent $1.7
billion buying back $1.3 billion of
foreign-currency debt in October. Of
the $17 billion of securities available to
be bought back at that time, about $2.2
billion were offered by investors.
Moodys Investors Service raised the
outlook on the nations foreign-currency
debt rating, the second-highest junk
level, to positive from stable on May
29, citing improved scal management.
Gross domestic product increased 6.4
percent in the rst quarter from a year
earlier, the most since 2010, ofcial data
show. The Philippines reported a budget
surplus of P31 billion for April, cutting
its decit to P2.89 billion for the rst
four months of the year.
Government ofcials plan to meet
with investors on a non-deal roadshow in
the US from June 11 to 15, and may also
meet bankers and credit-rating companies,
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.
They are looking forward to presenting
the Philippine case again after rst-quarter
economic growth exceeded expectations,
he said. Bloomberg
Restless farmers. Farmer leaders (right photo) accompanied by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega meet with House Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte to submit their petition to lower the tax increase on tobacco products under amended House Bill 5727. Belmonte
assured the farmers that Congress would consider their appeal and promised not to neglect them. Tobacco farmers (left photo)
and workers rallied outside the House of Representatives to express their sentiment against the proposed 700-percent tax
increase on cigarette products.
CONSTRUCTION of
Cebus largest bulk water
supply project is set to start
within the month, following
the signing of agreements
between a consortium led by
Manila Water Co. Inc. and
the local government units
of Cebu.
The project will supply 35
million liters per day of potable
bulk water from the Cantumog-
Luyang river in Carmen, Cebu
to the cities of Mandaue and
Lapu-lapu as well as the
towns of Compostela, Liloan,
Consolacion and Cordova.
Cebu Manila Water
Development Inc., a joint
venture between the Manila
Water consortium and the Cebu
provincial government, signed a
memorandum of agreement with
the municipal government of
Carmen covering the contribution
of the company to the municipal
development fund.
Other members of the consortium
are Vicsal Development Corp. and
Stateland Inc.
The agreement provides that the
consortium will contribute P0.30
per cubic meter to the fund within
the rst ve years of operation,
based on actual volume of water
sold to distributors.
The agreement also includes
the recovery of the P35-million
advanced royalties paid by the
Manila Water consortium to
the Carmen town.
It also denes the
responsibilities of the town in
the implementation of the bulk
water supply project, particularly
on right-of-way issues.
Another agreement was also
signed to protect and manage
the catchment area surrounding
the proposed water source at
Luyang river.
The Cebu Manila Water
Development and the Carmen
municipal government will
establish a foundation to
implement a comprehensive
and integrated program for the
protection of the catchment
area to ensure a sustainable
source of raw water to the
proposed project.
The project is expected to
contribute to the improvement of
the current aquifer condition in the
province which has deteriorated
due to excessive abstraction of
groundwater sources.
Othel V. Campos
Atok raises Forum stake
MINER Atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc. said Friday
it has increased its stake in Forum Energy through
wholly-owned subsidiary Tidemark Holdings Ltd.
Forum Energy is the operator and owns 70 percent
of Service Contract No. 72 covering the oil and gas
discovery at Recto Bank. Monte Oro Resources and
Energy Inc. holds the remaining 30 percent.
Atok, the mining and oil unit of businessman
Roberto Ongpin, told the stock exchange it had
acquired 1 million ordinary shares of Forum
Energy, bringing Tidemarks total ownership to
9,646,757 ordinary shares or 27.14 percent of
Forum Energys outstanding capital.
Philex Mining owns 64.45 percent of Forum
Energy through its interests in FEC Resources and
Philex Petroleum. Minority shareholders in the United
Kingdom own the balance in Forum Energy.
Atok disclosed earlier it was looking to acquire
other mining, oil, gas and other natural resource
assets. The company was also in the initial
stage of evaluating an operating medium-scale
gold mine for possible takeover in the southern
province of Attepue in Laos.
Atok reported a consolidated net loss of P1.8
million in the rst quarter, as a result of general
and administrative expenses amounting to P5
million. Lailany P. Gomez
Phinma to spend P4b
PHINMA Property Holdings Corp. will start
construction of two new housing projects worth
more than P4 billion, a key ofcial said Friday.
George Richard Siton, Phinma Properties vice
president for operations, said the home developer
would launch two residential condominium
projects called Arezzo Place and Solano Hills in
Pasig and Muntinlupa, respectively.
Both developments are ve-story condominium
projects that will cater to the working class.
Phinma property pioneered in affordable
housing. Were really catering to the working
class and specially those renting. So instead
of rentals they can put it into housing loan and
ownership. We sell-build-and turnover in a years
period, Siton said.
Siton said at least P2.3 billion would be spent
to build the 2,300-unit Arezzo Place and another
P1.7 billion to P2 billion for the 1,700-unit Solano
Hills.
Phinma expects to sell an average of 60 to 100
units a month, when the rst three buildings are
completed by the end of the year.
Lailany P. Gomez
Stocks dip; PLDT,
Meralco buck trend
Business
ManilaStandardToday
extrastory2000@gmail.com mst_biz@manilastandardtoday.com
B2
52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign
High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012
M
S
T
FINANCIAL
70.00 46.00 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 70.50 67.00 64.80 66.00 (6.38) 3,988,800 (80,083,922.00)
76.80 50.00 Bank of PI 67.00 69.00 67.20 68.00 1.49 1,719,450 (9,731,026.00)
1.82 0.69 Bankard, Inc. 0.70 0.73 0.71 0.71 1.43 60,000
512.00 370.00 China Bank 551.00 560.00 551.00 551.00 0.00 440
1.95 1.42 BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. 1.75 1.79 1.79 1.79 2.29 9,000
28.50 27.80 Citystate Savings 27.00 27.00 27.00 27.00 0.00 340,000 (9,180,000.00)
23.90 12.50 COL Financial 23.40 23.40 22.60 23.40 0.00 143,100
Eastwest Bank 18.62 19.08 18.62 18.82 1.07 2,245,200 19,636,240.00
22.00 7.56 Filipino Fund Inc. 9.50 9.52 9.33 9.33 (1.79) 8,600
3.26 1.91 I-Remit Inc. 2.22 2.35 2.30 2.35 5.86 476,000
29.00 3.00 Maybank ATR KE 37.70 37.80 37.05 37.70 0.00 51,300 (248,820.00)
93.50 60.00 Metrobank 89.90 89.50 88.40 88.45 (1.61) 2,704,300 (390,921.50)
3.06 1.30 Natl Reinsurance Corp. 2.00 2.10 2.01 2.10 5.00 39,000
16.85 41.00 Phil. National Bank 72.00 72.00 70.00 72.00 0.00 343,110 (3,156,595.00)
85.00 57.70 Phil. Savings Bank 82.00 82.10 82.00 82.00 0.00 170
539.00 204.80 PSE Inc. 353.00 353.00 350.00 350.00 (0.85) 190,020 48,057,500.00
44.40 25.45 RCBC À 43.10 44.00 42.70 44.00 2.09 867,600.00 4,135,730.00
151.50 77.00 Security Bank 131.00 134.00 132.50 134.00 2.29 300,730 (18,863,322.00)
1390.00 950.00 Sun Life Financial 890.00 930.00 910.00 910.00 2.25 120
140.00 58.00 Union Bank 95.00 98.95 95.05 98.20 3.37 845,740 (12,855,816.50)
2.06 1.43 Vantage Equities 1.80 1.80 1.79 1.79 (0.56) 520,000 (17,900.00)
INDUSTRIAL
35.50 26.50 Aboitiz Power Corp. 35.35 35.15 34.45 34.50 (2.40) 2,066,600 (30,488,060.00)
13.58 7.32 Agrinurture Inc. 11.56 11.56 11.38 11.40 (1.38) 525,400
23.50 11.98 Alaska Milk Corp. 23.55 23.55 23.50 23.50 (0.21) 5,000
1.86 0.97 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.47 1.47 1.40 1.47 0.00 13,000
54.90 26.00 Alphaland Corp. 30.20 30.10 30.05 30.10 (0.33) 400
1.65 1.08 Alsons Cons. 1.31 1.35 1.32 1.32 0.76 36,000
Asiabest Group 26.30 26.95 25.00 25.50 (3.04) 143,600 50,600.00
138.00 45.00 Bogo Medellin 68.00 49.00 48.00 49.00 (27.94) 500
102.80 3.02 Bloomberry 8.98 8.99 8.85 8.88 (1.11) 1,132,700 (2,208,000.00)
2.88 2.24 Calapan Venture 2.31 2.35 2.30 2.35 1.73 24,000 (9,400.00)
144.00 36.00 Conc. Aggr. À 80.00 56.00 56.00 56.00 (30.00) 1,900
3.07 2.30 Chemrez Technologies Inc. 2.50 2.51 2.42 2.51 0.40 168,000
8.33 7.41 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 8.16 9.00 8.16 8.79 7.72 870,700 183,380.00
7.06 4.83 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.00 5.95 5.81 5.84 (2.67) 19,603,900 (48,750,343.00)
6.28 2.80 EEI 6.37 6.62 6.35 6.40 0.47 1,891,100 5,435,120.00
25.00 5.80 Federal Chemicals 10.00 10.78 10.00 10.50 5.00 7,200
15.58 12.50 First Gen Corp. 16.44 16.50 15.90 15.90 (3.28) 8,490,100 (8,244,642.00)
67.20 51.50 First Holdings A 71.70 71.95 70.30 70.60 (1.53) 859,740 14,583,401.50
31.50 22.50 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 20.50 20.90 20.90 20.90 1.95 5,500
0.10 0.0095 Greenergy 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.0130 0.00 91,600,000
13.50 7.80 Holcim Philippines Inc. 11.50 11.78 11.78 11.78 2.43 2,000
9.00 4.71 Integ. Micro-Electronics 4.20 4.02 4.00 4.00 (4.76) 39,000
2.35 0.95 Ionics Inc 1.600 1.730 1.600 1.700 6.25 953,000 102,400.00
120.00 80.00 Jollibee Foods Corp. 105.60 110.00 105.80 110.00 4.17 266,410 1,639,454.00
8.40 1.04 LMG Chemicals 1.85 1.81 1.79 1.79 (3.24) 416,000
3.20 1.05 Manchester Intl. A 2.00 1.87 1.82 1.82 (9.00) 177,000
24.70 17.94 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.70 24.70 24.50 24.60 (0.40) 2,173,700 (13,291,270.00)
15.30 8.12 Megawide 17.98 17.90 17.60 17.70 (1.56) 23,000 (246,300.00)
295.00 215.00 Mla. Elect. Co À 225.00 245.00 228.00 240.00 6.67 1,281,350 38,959,212.00
6.75 4.50 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 6.45 6.00 3.90 5.40 (16.28) 10,200
11.00 7.00 Pancake House Inc. 9.06 11.48 9.13 9.13 0.77 3,800
3.00 1.96 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 2.78 2.80 2.78 2.79 0.36 299,000 209,750.00
17.40 9.70 Petron Corporation 10.16 10.16 10.12 10.20 0.39 3,000
14.00 10.30 Phinma Corporation 10.20 10.20 10.20 10.20 0.00 3,000
15.24 9.01 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 8.67 8.70 8.50 8.50 (1.96) 80,400 26,350.00
9.50 5.25 Republic Cement À 8.80 8.90 8.70 8.90 1.14 28,200 (13,050.00)
2.55 1.01 RFM Corporation 2.80 2.95 2.76 2.91 3.93 15,750,000 14,182,780.00
33.00 27.70 San Miguel Brewery Inc. 29.00 29.00 28.00 28.00 (3.45) 3,900
132.60 105.70 San Miguel Corp À 117.00 116.80 114.50 114.90 (1.79) 552,170 10,041,593.00
1.90 1.25 Seacem 1.82 1.81 1.78 1.80 (1.10) 1,896,000 (18,000.00)
0.250 0.112 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.125 0.127 0.127 0.127 1.60 70,000
5.46 2.92 Tanduay Holdings 3.90 3.90 3.85 3.90 0.00 675,000
3.62 1.99 TKC Steel Corp. 2.38 2.35 2.20 2.20 (7.56) 106,000
1.41 0.90 Trans-Asia Oil 1.24 1.25 1.23 1.25 0.81 126,000
68.00 36.20 Universal Robina 65.00 64.00 60.60 62.30 (4.15) 3,925,210 (78,410,857.50)
Victorias Milling 1.20 1.47 1.10 1.26 5.00 7,784,000 1,132,080.00
1.12 0.285 Vitarich Corp. 0.690 0.740 0.690 0.700 1.45 6,924,000
18.00 2.55 Vivant Corp. 10.02 11.50 10.02 11.50 14.77 1,700
HOLDING FIRMS
1.18 0.65 Abacus Cons. À 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.71 (1.39) 4,000
59.90 35.50 Aboitiz Equity 52.00 51.95 50.50 50.90 (2.12) 693,140 (2,160,018.00)
13.48 8.00 Alliance Global Inc. 12.46 12.46 12.34 12.40 (0.48) 9,727,700 (8,534,056.00)
4.60 3.00 Anscor À 4.40 4.45 4.41 4.41 0.23 15,000
6.98 0.260 Asia Amalgamated A 4.50 4.60 4.30 4.60 2.22 24,000
3.15 1.49 ATN Holdings A 1.95 1.94 1.83 1.94 (0.51) 25,000
437.00 272.00 Ayala Corp À 442.00 455.00 439.00 455.00 2.94 581,400 30,182,236.00
59.45 30.50 DMCI Holdings 57.95 57.80 55.20 55.35 (4.49) 6,880,960 (9,371,321.50)
4.19 1.03 F&J Prince A 2.62 2.63 2.60 2.62 0.00 95,000
5.25 3.30 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.07 4.10 4.03 4.10 0.74 232,000 (40,500.00)
0.98 0.10 Forum Pacic 0.220 0.216 0.215 0.215 (2.27) 250,000
GT Capital 500.00 499.60 497.00 499.00 (0.20) 148,160 4,441,348.00
5.22 2.90 House of Inv. 4.60 4.68 4.41 4.60 0.00 24,000
34.80 19.00 JG Summit Holdings 33.00 33.00 32.65 32.75 (0.76) 602,500 847,075.00
6.95 4.00 Lopez Holdings Corp. 5.89 5.90 5.85 5.90 0.17 1,235,400 2,062,630.00
1.54 0.61 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 1.03 1.05 1.03 1.03 0.00 430,000
0.91 0.300 Mabuhay Holdings À 0.460 0.450 0.450 0.450 (2.17) 300,000
3.82 1.500 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 2.65 2.68 2.65 2.66 0.38 843,000 (366,920.00)
4.45 2.56 Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. 4.30 4.30 4.16 4.23 (1.63) 20,393,000 9,659,710.00
6.24 2.10 Minerales Industrias Corp. 4.65 4.65 4.60 4.65 0.00 6,000
4.72 1.22 MJCI Investments Inc. 5.00 4.96 4.96 4.96 (0.80) 200
0.0770 0.054 Pacica À 0.0520 0.0540 0.0530 0.0540 3.85 6,330,000
2.20 1.42 Prime Media Hldg 1.390 1.620 1.550 1.620 16.55 95,000 94,920.00
4.10 1.56 Republic Glass A 2.07 2.07 2.07 2.07 0.00 3,000
0.490 0.285 Sinophil Corp. 0.315 0.325 0.320 0.320 1.59 1,460,000 (342,400.00)
699.00 450.00 SM Investments Inc. 704.00 704.00 690.00 692.00 (1.70) 234,540 (27,715,900.00)
1.78 1.00 Solid Group Inc. 1.37 1.44 1.36 1.44 5.11 290,000
1.57 1.14 South China Res. Inc. 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.23 0.00 92,000
0.620 0.056 Wellex Industries 0.3650 0.3700 0.3600 0.3700 1.37 520,000
1.370 0.178 Zeus Holdings 0.480 0.470 0.470 0.470 (2.08) 50,000
P R O P E R T Y
39.00 11.00 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 38.00 40.00 38.00 40.00 5.26 8,300 144,600.00
2.82 1.70 A. Brown Co., Inc. 2.85 2.85 2.80 2.80 (1.75) 231,000 (98,000.00)
0.75 0.31 Araneta Prop À 0.690 0.690 0.690 0.690 0.00 150,000
22.40 13.36 Ayala Land `B 19.64 19.98 19.64 19.98 1.73 3,604,100 1,832,024.00
6.12 3.08 Belle Corp. À 4.75 4.75 4.70 4.74 (0.21) 2,591,000 (826,510.00)
9.00 2.26 Cebu Holdings 6.16 6.27 5.85 6.15 (0.16) 4,995,400 (715,661.00)
5.20 2.20 Cebu Prop. `B 5.10 4.90 4.90 4.90 (3.92) 20,000
5.66 0.26 Century Property 1.46 1.59 1.44 1.50 2.74 73,066,000 (7,627,970.00)
2.85 1.20 City & Land Dev. 2.47 2.47 2.40 2.40 (2.83) 58,000
1.65 1.07 Cityland Dev. À 1.22 1.23 1.20 1.23 0.82 10,000 12,170.00
1.16 0.67 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.81 0.81 0.80 0.80 (1.23) 89,000
0.90 0.54 Empire East Land 0.680 0.690 0.670 0.690 1.47 4,085,000
0.310 0.10 Ever Gotesco 0.166 0.180 0.180 0.180 8.43 10,000
3.06 1.76 Global-Estate 1.82 1.83 1.79 1.83 0.55 1,492,000 (290,120.00)
1.35 0.98 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.26 1.29 1.26 1.26 0.00 3,734,000 (1,963,070.00)
3.80 1.21 Highlands Prime 1.60 2.04 1.57 1.99 24.38 324,000
2.14 0.65 Interport À 1.14 1.15 1.08 1.08 (5.26) 122,000
4.50 1.50 Keppel Properties 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 6,000
2.48 1.51 Megaworld Corp. 2.03 2.01 1.97 1.99 (1.97) 51,513,000 (273,590.00)
0.80 0.215 MRC Allied Ind. 0.1960 0.2000 0.1870 0.1870 (4.59) 2,720,000
0.990 0.072 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.6400 0.6600 0.6400 0.6400 0.00 10,117,000 (6,400.00)
4.77 1.80 Polar Property Holdings 3.88 3.93 3.80 3.82 (1.55) 230,000 (95,500.00)
18.86 10.00 Robinsons Land `B 17.90 17.40 17.04 17.30 (3.35) 2,103,400 (14,315,904.00)
Rockwell 3.02 3.35 3.00 3.15 4.30 672,000 (48,750.00)
9.47 6.50 SM Development À 6.15 6.16 6.13 6.14 (0.16) 1,175,200 (4,373,006.00)
18.20 10.90 SM Prime Holdings 12.74 12.98 12.70 12.86 0.94 10,194,800 (13,645,150.00)
1.14 0.64 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.69 0.69 0.67 0.67 (2.90) 11,000
4.30 2.60 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.130 4.130 4.070 4.120 (0.24) 2,867,000 (2,976,410.00)
S E R V I C E S
2GO Group 1.80 1.80 1.64 1.80 0.00 107,000
43.00 28.60 ABS-CBN 35.60 36.70 36.50 36.70 3.09 7,200
14.76 1.60 Acesite Hotel 16.20 16.40 15.50 16.22 0.12 421,300 16,340.00
0.80 0.45 APC Group, Inc. 0.660 0.630 0.630 0.630 (4.55) 409,000 (257,670.00)
28.80 12.20 Berjaya Phils. Inc. 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 0.00 100
0.5300 0.0660 Boulevard Holdings 0.1580 0.1600 0.1570 0.1590 0.63 6,100,000 1,580.00
Calata Corp. 16.94 22.40 17.10 22.00 29.87 27,316,700 (6,554,885.00)
98.15 62.50 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 68.90 69.00 68.40 68.60 (0.44) 203,050 (4,095,077.00)
10.60 8.20 Centro Esc. Univ. 10.10 10.10 9.90 9.90 (1.98) 20,100
9.70 5.40 DFNN Inc. 5.97 5.90 5.69 5.70 (4.52) 97,300
1750.00 765.00 FEUI 960.00 960.00 940.00 940.00 (2.08) 700
1172.00 11.70 Globalports 31.00 29.75 22.10 29.75 (4.03) 400 (675.00)
1270.00 825.00 Globe Telecom 1130.00 1122.00 1080.00 1097.00 (2.92) 12,285 967,150.00
10.34 6.18 GMA Network Inc. 10.40 10.54 10.10 10.36 (0.38) 1,723,700
69.00 43.40 I.C.T.S.I. 77.00 73.00 70.50 70.50 (8.44) 791,480 (40,899,996.00)
18.40 5.00 Imperial Res. À 10.28 11.98 9.00 9.00 (12.45) 5,900
6.00 4.00 IPeople Inc. À 5.70 5.74 5.74 5.74 0.70 6,000
4.29 2.20 IP Converge 4.19 4.30 4.06 4.23 0.95 1,192,000
34.50 0.123 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.045 0.048 0.043 0.048 6.67 48,800,000 28,600.00
3.87 1.16 IPVG Corp. 1.05 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.90 100,000
5.1900 2.900 ISM Communications 2.7400 2.6500 2.6400 2.6400 (3.65) 141,000
3.79 1.58 JTH Davies Holdings Inc. 2.46 2.30 2.30 2.30 (6.50) 16,000
11.68 5.90 Leisure & Resorts 6.80 6.75 6.70 6.75 (0.74) 17,700 13,500.00
3.96 2.70 Macroasia Corp. 2.90 2.90 2.90 2.90 0.00 54,000
3.00 1.00 Manila Jockey 2.12 2.12 2.02 2.10 (0.94) 799,000 (207,100.00)
21.00 17.20 Pacic Online Sys. Corp. 20.00 20.60 20.00 20.55 2.75 50,900
8.58 4.50 PAL Holdings Inc. 7.25 7.34 7.30 7.30 0.69 18,600
3.32 1.05 Paxys Inc. 2.93 3.04 2.90 2.93 0.00 1,091,000 28,300.00
60.00 17.02 Phil. Seven Corp. 43.00 42.00 42.00 42.00 (2.33) 16,500 693,000.00
17.18 14.50 Philweb.Com Inc. 15.50 15.50 15.30 15.50 0.00 602,900 (1,350,050.00)
2886.00 2096.00 PLDT Common 2340.00 2430.00 2380.00 2420.00 3.42 257,350 (34,140,230.00)
0.48 0.23 PremiereHorizon 0.330 0.330 0.320 0.320 (3.03) 1,200,000
23.75 10.68 Puregold 22.95 24.50 23.50 24.50 6.75 3,727,100 34,397,850.00
Touch Solutions 3.55 3.53 3.53 3.53 (0.56) 10,000
3.30 2.40 Transpacic Broadcast 2.56 2.70 2.70 2.70 5.47 1,000
0.79 0.26 Waterfront Phils. 0.450 0.445 0.440 0.440 (2.22) 220,000
MINING & OIL
0.0083 0.0036 Abra Mining 0.0043 0.0043 0.0043 0.0043 0.00 36,000,000
6.20 3.01 Apex À 5.35 5.00 4.99 4.99 (6.73) 1,100
6.22 3.00 Apex `B 5.40 4.75 4.75 4.75 (12.04) 900
25.20 14.50 Atlas Cons. À 17.80 18.00 17.70 18.00 1.12 635,400 429,084.00
31.00 20.00 Atok-Big Wedge À 30.00 29.95 29.95 29.95 (0.17) 400
0.380 0.148 Basic Energy Corp. 0.265 0.255 0.255 0.255 (3.77) 30,000
30.35 15.00 Benguet Corp À 25.00 24.90 23.05 24.00 (4.00) 540
34.00 14.50 Benguet Corp `B 23.20 25.00 22.00 23.20 0.00 13,100
2.51 1.62 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 1.48 1.55 1.48 1.49 0.68 211,000 10,430.00
50.85 4.35 Dizon 35.00 36.50 33.45 33.50 (4.29) 310,200 35,000.00
1.21 0.50 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.71 0.73 0.70 0.72 1.41 4,709,000 9,230.00
1.82 0.5900 Lepanto À 1.240 1.290 1.220 1.290 4.03 12,799,000
2.070 0.6700 Lepanto `B 1.320 1.310 1.280 1.300 (1.52) 6,555,000 2,590,000.00
0.085 0.035 Manila Mining À 0.0620 0.0620 0.0610 0.0620 0.00 22,600,000
0.087 0.035 Manila Mining `B 0.0630 0.0620 0.0620 0.0620 (1.59) 2,310,000
34.80 15.04 Nickelasia 28.75 29.10 28.50 29.10 1.22 238,900 3,043,230.00
12.76 2.08 Nihao Mineral Resources 9.20 9.40 8.91 8.94 (2.83) 457,300
1.100 0.008 Omico 0.7000 0.7000 0.7000 0.7000 0.00 110,000
8.40 2.12 Oriental Peninsula Res. 5.280 5.400 5.200 5.200 (1.52) 1,280,900 8,408,280.00
0.032 0.012 Oriental Pet. À 0.0170 0.0180 0.0170 0.0170 0.00 1,071,700,000
0.033 0.013 Oriental Pet. `B 0.0190 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 (5.26) 15,700,000 12,600.00
28.95 17.08 Philex À 24.00 24.45 24.00 24.45 1.88 1,469,800 8,408,280.00
14.18 3.00 PhilexPetroleum 41.00 41.80 39.65 40.90 (0.24) 1,465,100 10,894,165.00
0.058 0.013 Philodrill Corp. À 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.043 0.00 156,900,000
252.00 161.10 Semirara Corp. 230.00 230.00 223.00 226.00 (1.74) 265,710 (1,256,390.00)
0.029 0.013 United Paragon 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 0.00 29,200,000 126,000.00
PREFERRED
First Gen G 100.80 101.00 100.70 100.70 (0.10) 2,550
11.02 6.00 GMA Holdings Inc. 10.20 10.40 9.90 10.26 0.59 2,075,200 (3,813,082.00)
116.70 106.20 PCOR-Preferred 111.60 111.80 111.60 111.60 0.00 8,320
1050.00 990.00 SMPFC Preferred 1022.00 1022.00 1022.00 1022.00 0.00 2,000 20,440.00
6.00 0.87 Swift Pref 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 0.00 3,000
WARRANTS & BONDS
1.35 0.62 Megaworld Corp. Warrants 1.01 1.00 1.00 1.00 (0.99) 80,000
0.210 0.00 Omico Corp. Warrant 0.0660 0.0670 0.0670 0.0670 1.52 880,000
TRADI NG SUMMARY
SHARES VALUE
FINANCIAL 17,047,776 1,003,929,633
INDUSTRIAL 173,474,902 1,305,837,818.97
HOLDING FIRMS 56,057,219 1,455,348,510.241
PROPERTY 178,052,394 567,071,415.77
SERVICES 98,072,678 1,527,454,435.5
MINING & OIL 1,368,928,095 363,351,230.517
GRAND TOTAL 1,891,633,064 6,222,993,043.995
FINANCIAL 1,246.35 (down) 8.68
INDUSTRIAL 7,788.58 (down) 50.61
HOLDING FIRMS 4,425.97 (down) 45.09
PROPERTY 1,830.15 (up) 7.38
SERVICES 1,646.38( up) 6.02
MINING & OIL 23.829.26 (up) 142.59
PSEI 5,062.44 (down) 28.79
All Shares Index 3,365.81 (down) 11.34
Gainers: 72; Losers: 88; Unchanged: 36; Total: 196
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Calata Corp. 22.00 29.87
Highlands Prime 1.99 24.38
Prime Media Hldg 1.620 16.55
Vivant Corp. 11.50 14.77
Ever Gotesco 0.180 8.43
Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 8.79 7.72
Puregold 24.50 6.75
IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.048 6.67
Mla. Elect. Co À' 240.00 6.67
Ionics Inc 1.700 6.25
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Conc. Aggr. À' 56.00 (30.00)
Bogo Medellin 49.00 (27.94)
Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 5.40 (16.28)
Imperial Res. À' 9.00 (12.45)
Apex `B' 4.75 (12.04)
Manchester Intl. "A" 1.82 (9.00)
I.C.T.S.I. 70.50 (8.44)
TKC Steel Corp. 2.20 (7.56)
Apex À' 4.99 (6.73)
JTH Davies Holdings Inc. 2.30 (6.50)
TOP GAI NERS TOP LOSERS
China Bank signs deal with IFC
BDO and SM cited. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has awarded BDO Unibank
Inc. and SM Supermalls plaques of recognition during its 30th founding anniversary celebration on
May 4. BDO and SM were cited for being staunch supporters of projects that protect and promote the
socioeconomic welfare of Filipino workers overseas and their families. Shown are BDO rst vice president
and head for remittance distribution Genie Gloria, BDO chairman and SM Retail Inc. president Teresita
Sy-Coson, SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia, SM Supermalls vice president for operations Glenn Ong,
Owwa administrator Carmelita Dimzon and Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz.
STOCKS fell Friday, in tandem with the
movement of regional equities, as reports
of weak Chinese manufacturing caused
worries the slowdown in the worlds
second-largest economy may affect the
rest of Asia.
The Philippine Stock
Exchange index, the 30-company
benchmark, retreated 28 points, or
0.6 percent, to close at 5,062.44,
as value turnover thinned to P6.2
billion Friday from P14.5 billion
the previous day.
The heavier index representing
all shares also dropped 11 points,
or 0.3 percent, to 3,365.81, as
losers outnumbered gainers, 88
to 72, with 36 issues unchanged.
Distributor Manila Electric
Co. jumped 6.7 percent to
P240 while Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Co., a
major shareholder in Meralco,
advanced 3.4 percent to P2,420.
Meralco said a court upheld a
settlement agreement it reached
with National Power Corp. over
a power-supply dispute.
Calata Corp., a newly listed
Bulacan-based agricultural
product supplier, jumped 30
percent to P22. The stock has
risen nearly threefold from the
IPO price of P7.50 on May 23.
Other most actively traded
stocks were Ayala Corp., which
rose 2.9 percent to P455; Puregold
Price Club Inc. which increased
6.8 percent to P24.50 and Union
Bank of the Philippines which
added 3.4 percent to P98.20.
Meanwhile, most Asian
stock markets also fell Friday,
stunted by weakness in Chinese
manufacturing that suggests the
slowdown in the worlds no. 2
economy may worsen.
The state-afliated China
Federation of Logistics and
Purchasing said its purchasing
managers index, or PMI, fell 2.9
percentage points to 50.4 percent
in May, just above the 50 level
that signies expansion. The
index was at 53.3 in April.
New orders weakened more
than 4 percentage points while
inventories rose and prices
softened due to weaker demand.
Japans Nikkei 225 index fell
1.3 percent to 8,433.42 and South
Koreas Kospi dropped 0.5 percent
to 1,835.04. Australias S&P/
ASX 200 index lost 0.3 percent
to 4,065.40. Benchmarks in
Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and
New Zealand were also lower.
But Hong Kong and mainland
Chinese shares rose in tandem
with investor hopes that China
will now launch more measures
to help its economy. Hong Kongs
Hang Seng added 0.3 percent to
18,677.49.
The data is so bad, and so
clearly points to slowdown
of growth momentum, that
it will likely help convince
policy makers that the economy
needs more stimulus, Dariusz
Kowalczyk, senior economist
at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong
Kong, said in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, there is still no
agreement over how to solve
Europes debt crisis. Stronger
countries like Germany want
governments to cut spending, but
voters in weaker countries like
Greece have shown they are in no
mood for more scal pain.
The head of the European
Central Bank told European
Union leaders Thursday that the
17-country euro currency union is
unsustainable in its current form.
The euro has fallen nearly 7
percent in May as Europes debt
crisis intensied. The likelihood
of Greece leaving the euro grew in
early May when parties opposed
to the terms of the countrys
nancial rescue won at the polls.
New elections are planned for next
month. With Bloomberg, AP
By Elaine R. Alanguilan
CHINA Banking Corp. and the
International Finance Corp.
have signed an agreement to
support a lending program
for renewable and other clean
energy projects.
The IFC, the investment arm
of the World Bank, will extend
technical assistance and advisory
services to China Bank under
the Sustainable Energy Finance
program that promotes clean and
efcient energy projects.
The IFC agreed to help China
Bank identify potential projects
and analyze project risks. China
Bank will then package viable
nancial structures to fund clean
energy projects, as well as enable
energy-intensive industries to go
green.
China Bank is honored to be
a partner with IFC in sustainable
energy nancing, said China Bank
senior vice president and chief
operating ofcer Ricardo Chua.
Chua said there were many
opportunities for ventures
on renewable energy in the
Philippines.
High power rates, increasing
demand for electricity and
the Philippines vulnerability
to climate change underscore
the importance of lending to
sustainable energy projects. IFC
will continue to promote this
initiative to help ease the burden
of Filipino households and
businesses, said IFC resident
representative Jesse Ang.
William Whang, head of China
Banks institutional banking
group, said the bank had projects
in the pipeline, and several
manufacturing, agriculture, and
mall/resort businesses were
looking at cleaner production
and more energy-efcient
operations.
China Bank provides a wide
range of banking services
through 300 branches and over
480 automated teller machines
nationwide.
It lends to small businesses,
medium-scale industries and
large corporations in various
industries, providing innovative
nancial solutions tailored to
meet their requirements.
CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT-METRO MANILA
Tel. No. 294-6711 to 14, Telefax 294-6718, 294-5090, 292-0431
Email address: vmc_hrd@yahoo.com
INVITATION TO BID
PUBLIC BIDDING NO.: VMC-2012-009
The VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER invites all eligible bidders to bid on:
DESCRIPTION PROJECT
ALLOCATION
NON-REFUNDABLE
FEE
Pr oc ur ement of Dr ugs
& Med i c i n es & s o me
Medi cal Suppl i es CY 2012
(Supplemental)
P 2,569,942.40 P1,000.00
The bidding documents shall be available to interested bidders at the BAC
Secretariat, BAC Offce, 2/F, VMC, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
from 9:00AM to 3:00PM, starting June 1, 2012 upon payment of non-refundable
fee as indicated above. The pre-bidding conference will be on June 8, 2012,
10:00 am at the BAC Mini-Conference Room, 2/F, VMC Annex Bldg., Padrigal
St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Only those who have purchased the bidding
documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre bid conference and raise
or submit written queries (see revised RR of RA 9184). Bid opening will be on
June 21, 2012, 10:00AM at the 2/F, VMC BAC-Mini Conference Room, Padrigal
St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.
All particulars relative to bid evaluation and award of contract shall be
governed by the provisions of R.A. 9184 otherwise known as the Government
Procurement Reform Act. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget of
the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. LATE BDS
SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ALTERNATVE BDS SHALL BE REJECTED.
Bid bond shall be in form of cash, cashier's check or manager's check
equivalent to two percent (2%) of the approved budget of the contract.
This invitation is also advertised with the Government Electronic Procurement
System (G-EPS) at www.procurementservice.org and posted at the VMC BAC
bulletin board.
For inquiry, please call the BAC Secretariat Offce at Telephone No. 294-
4625 and 294-6711 local 104.
VALENZUELA MEDCAL CENTER RESERVES THE RGHT TO 1) REVEW
ALL THE REQUREMENTS; 2) REJECT ANY OR ALL BDS; 3) CONFSCATE
THE BD BOND AND/OR PURSUE APPROPRATE LEGAL ACTON SHOULD
A BDDER BE FOUND TO HAVE VOLATED R.A. 9184; 4) WAVE ANY
DEFECTS CONTANED THEREN; and/or 5) ACCEPT THE OFFER MOST
ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. ANY DECSON MADE BY THE
VALENZUELA MEDCAL CENTER S FNAL AND EXECUTORY.
FURTHER, VALENZUELA MEDCAL CENTER ASSUMES NO OBLGATON
WHATSOEVER TO COMPENSATE OR NDEMNFY THE BDDER OR WNNNG
BDDER. AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR ANY EXPENSE OR LOSS THAT SAD
PARTY (ES) MAY NCUR N TS PARTCPATON N THE PRE-BDDNG AND
BDDNG PROCESS NOR DOES T GUARANTEE THAT AN AWARD WLL
BE MADE.

(SGD) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN
Chairman, BAC
(MST-June 2, 2012) (MST-June 2, 2012)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLC WORKS AND HGHWAYS
Cordillera Administrative Region
OFFCE OF THE REGONAL DRECTOR
Engineer's Hill, Baguio City
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
The Department of Public Works and Highways, Cordillera Administra-
tive Region (DPWH-CAR) through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites
contractors to bid for the aforementioned project/s:
1. Contract D : 12P00027
Contract Name : Road Upgrading (gravel to paved) of Kalinga-
Abra Road
Contract Location : K0467+688 - K0486+000 (i.s.) Pasil & Balbalan,
Kalinga
Scope of Work : PCCP, Grouted riprap, Stone Masonry, etc.
Approved Budget Cost : Php 11,706,960.05
Contract Duration : 60 calendar days
Cost of Bidding Documents : Php 10,000.00
2. Contract ID : 12P00029
Contract Name : Road Upgrading (gravel to paved) of Balbalan-
Pinukpuk Road
Contract Location : K0485+000 - K0489+000
Scope of Work : Stone Masonry, Grouted riprap, PCCP, etc.
Approved Budget Cost : Php 21,638,946.42
Contract Duration : 90 calendar days
Cost of Bidding Documents : Php 20,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with Revised RR
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 ntent (LO),purchase
bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with the
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 10% of ABC. The BAC will use the non-discretionary pass/
fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration,
to the DPWH-POCW -CentraI Ofce before the deadline for the receipt of LO. The
DPWH POCW-Central Offce will only process contractor's applications for registra-
tion, 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 ntent 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. ssuance of Bidding Documents From June 2, 2012-June 25, 2012
2. Pre-Bid Conference June 14, 2012; 10:00am
3. Deadline of Receipt of LO from Prospective
Bidders
Deadline: June 21, 2012; 5:00pm
4. Submission/Receipt of Bids Until 10:00am; June 25, 2012
5. Opening of Bids June 25, 2012; 10:00am
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD's) at DPWH-CAR,
BAC-Secretariat, upon payment of 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 BD's. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the amount and acceptable
form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised RR of R.A. 9184.
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 the
eligibility requirements. 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 and
to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring
any liability to the affected bidders.

Approved by:
CONSTANTE R. SARMIENTO
Chief, Maintenance Division
BAC Chairman
DPWH-CAR, Regional Offce
Engineer's Hill, Baguio City, 2600
Fax/Tel. No. (074)-444-88-38
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLC WORKS AND HGHWAYS
OFFCE OF THE DSTRCT ENGNEER
sabela 4th District Engineering Offce
Quezon, San sidro, sabela
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
(MST-June 2, 2012)
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH sabela 4th District
Engineering Offce, through the Road Board Fund and Flood Control Savings,
invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects:

1 a Contract D No. : 12BH 0031
b Name of Project and : Repair/Rehab/mprovement along Daang
Maharlika
c Location: : Echague, Isabela
d Brief Description : RR-Road Rehabilitiation-Asphalt
e Major tem of Work :: tem 310
f Approved Budget for the Contract : P 9,800,000.00
g Duration, C.D. : 60
h Cost of Bid Documents : P 10,000.00

b Name of Project and : Construction of Pangal Flood Control
Project
c Location: : Pangal, Echague, Isabela
d Brief Description : FHR - Flood Control/Hydraulics/River
Control
e Major tem of Work : tem 511
f Approved Budget for the Contract : P 630,500.00

b Name of Project and : Construction of Dammang East Flood
Control
c Location: : Dammang East, Echague, Isabela
d Brief Description : FHG-Dredging
e Major tem of Work : 102-Excavation

b Name of Project and : Construction of Laoag Flood Control
c Location: : Laoag, San Agustin, Isabela
Control

b Name of Project and : Construction of Additional Lane of
Santiago-Tuguegarao Road
c Location: : (KO328+039.05 - KO328+087.50),
Santiago City
d Brief Description : RCP-Roads-New Construction - PCCP
e Major tem of Work : tem 311-30cm thk
f Approved Budget for the Contract : P 307,251.69

b Name of Project and : Construction of Disimpit Flood Control
c Location: : Disimpit, Jones, sabela
Control

b Name of Project and : Construction of Vicente Flood Control
c Location: : San Vicente, Jones, Isabela
d Brief Description : Disimpit, Jones, sabela
e Major tem of Work : FHR - Flood Control/Hydraulics/River
Control

Procurement shall be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures
in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised mplementing Rules and
Regulations.

To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of ntent (LO),
purchase bid documents and must meet the followingmajor 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 of at
least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the
eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.

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

Signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1 Deadline of Receipt of LO June 5, 2012 4:00 P.M.
2 ssuance of Bid Documents May 29 - June 19, 2012
3 Pre-Bid Conference June 5, 2012 2:00 P.M.
4 Deadline of Receipt of Bids June 19, 2012 9:30 A.M.
5 Opening of Bids June 19, 2012 11:00 A.M.

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD's) at DPWH-sabela
4th DEO, Quezon, sabela upon payment of non-refundable costs indicated
above. Prospective bidders may also download the BD's if available, from
the DPWH website. Prospective bidders that will download BD's from the
website shall pay the stated fees on or before the submission of their bid
documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties
who purchased the BD's. Bids must be accompanied bya bid security, in the
amount and acceptable form, as stated in Sec. 27.2 of the Revised RR.

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 enveloipe shall contain the technical component of the bid, which
shall include the eligibility regquirements. 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 BAC shall receive Letters of ntent (LO) only of prospective bidders upon
presenting the copy of duly updated BRS accreditation of their asphalt plant.
(For 12BH0031 only)
The DPWH sabela 4th DEO reserves the right to accept or reject any or all
bids and to annul the bidding process anytime before contract award, without
incurring any liability to the affected bidders.

(Sgd.) FERNANDO C. SALIM
BAC Chairman
NOTI CE OF EXTRAJ UDI CI AL
SETTL EMENT OF THE ESTATE OF
MARI A LOURDES S. ANCHETA
Notice is hereby given that
the estate of the late Maria
Lourdes S. Ancheta, who was
a resident of Blk A-6, Lot 5-C,
PH-2, Sta. Lucia, Magalang,
Pampanga and who di ed
on January 12, 2012, was
extrajudicially settled by her
heirs, Christopher A. Jimenez
and Kristine A. Jimenez, by
virtue of a Deed of Extrajudicial
Set t l ement execut ed on
January 30, 2012 in the City
of Makati and entered in the
notarial register of Notary
Public Rafael V. Recto, Jr.
as Doc. No. 142; Page No.
29; Book No. CXXV; Series
of 2012.
(MST-June 2, 9 & 16, 2012)
LEGAL NOTI CE
Notice is hereby given that on 31 January
2012, the estate of the late Sps. Antoni o
C. Gan and Rosalina N. Gan consisting of
various real properties situated in Metro Manila
and Baguio City, has been extrajudicially
settled among their surviving heirs in a manner
share and share alike pursuant to the Deed of
Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed
before Atty. Tomas F. Dulay Jr. on January
31, 2012 and entered in his notarial books
as Doc. No. 495; Page No. 99; Book No. V,
Series of 2012.
(MST-May 26, June 2, 9 & 16, 2012)
Business
ManilaStandardToday mst_biz@manilastandardtoday.comextrastory2000@gmail.com JUNE 2, 2012 SATURDAY
B3
UK driller revisits 3 oil fields
Indian
BPO firm
solidies
position
Pepsi bullish this year,
bares expansion plans
PEPSI-COLA Products Philippines
Inc. plans more expansion projects
this year even as it looks back to
the challenges of the previous year
when revenues were sustained
at P20 billion despite adverse
business conditions.
We have weathered another
crippling challenge and even
came out stronger, so now we
are poised to bring the business
to the next level in 2012,
PCPPI chairman Oscar Reyes
told shareholders during the
companys recent annual meeting
held at The Palms Country Club
in Muntinlupa City.
With 1-percent revenue growth
in 2011 versus prior year, the
company posted a net operating
income of P408 million. Earnings
before interest, tax, depreciation
and amortization stood at P1.6
billion.
PCPPI achieved positive
performance last year by
keeping operating expenditures
at 19 percent of net sales, the
lowest in seven years. Selling
and distribution expenses were
maintained at 12 percent of net
sales. General and administration
expenses decreased by 10 percent
compared with the prior year, while
increase in marketing expenses
was limited to 4 percent.
Improved business conditions
this year are generally expected
to boost PCPPI performance.
Reyes noted that the Philippine
economy should perform better in
2012 with higher public and private
spending, net export turnaround,
stronger capital inows and
favorable monetary policy.
PCPPIs net prot in the rst
quarter of 2012 jumped 606
percent year-on-year to P225
million as a result of higher sales
volume and lower input cost.
Airbus orders. Airbus chief operating ofcer Fabrice Brgier (second from left) shakes hands with
Malaysia Airlines Group chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya at the handover of MAS rst A380 in
Toulouse, France. Malaysia Airlines has taken delivery of its rst A380, becoming the eighth operator of the
worlds largest and most eco-efcient airliner. Malaysia Airlines has ordered six A380s.
BUSINESS process outsourcing
giant Tech Mahindra has
solidied its presence in the
Philippines, where its number of
its employees reached 1,800 in
three delivery centers, following
the acquisition of vCustomers
international operations in the
rst quarter of 2012.
Tech Mahindra, a
leading global provider of
solutions and services to the
telecommunications industry,
said the acquisition of
vCustomer, which has large
presence in both India and the
Philippines, marks its entry
into other verticals such as
retail and consumer technology
in addition to signicantly
enhancing technical support
credentials.
The international operations
of vCustomer in Philippine maps
perfectly with the existing BPO
operations, allowing for seamless
integration and smooth transition
of processes and associates. The
expanded Philippines operations
has over 1,800 associates with
three delivery centerstwo in
Manila and one in Cebu, Tech
Mahindra president Sujit Baksi
said in a statement.
VCustomer, which is
headquartered in Kirkland,
Washington, has global delivery
centers in India and Philippines.
Tech Mahindra acquired
vCustomers international
operations for $27 million in
March.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
FIVE foreign companies have signed an
agreement to redevelop three oil elds in
northwest Palawan basin, including the
Tindalo, Yakal and Nido oil discoveries.
TVI Pacic Inc. of Canada
said unit TG World Corp. and a
joint venture of three exploration
companies signed a memorandum
of agreement with London-based
Viking Energy Holdings 2 Ltd. to
develop three oil elds in Service
Contract 54A.
The agreement gives Viking a
60-percent equity in SC 54A, in
return for operating, developing
and bringing the three oil elds
to commercial production.
Viking will nance all
required capital expenditure
associated with bringing the
Yakal, Tindalo, and Nido 1X1
undeveloped oil elds into
production. This will include
the drilling of one well in each
eld, TVI said in a statement.
SC 54A covers 862 square
kilometers in northwest Palawan
basin. The SC 54 joint venture
is composed of Nido Petroleum
Philippines Pty. Ltd. and
Yilgarn Petroleum Philippines
Pty Ltd. of Australia as well as
Tragura Ventures III B.V. of the
Netherlands.
The four companies and
Viking have also agreed to work
in collaboration with Offshore
Production Solutions and Thome
Oil & Gas on the project.
Offshore Production will
provide offshore production
facilities under bareboat charter
arrangements while Thome
Oil will provide operation
and maintenance services
for the offshore production
facilities under an operation and
maintenance agreement.
Production in the rst eld
is expected by the third quarter
of 2013, subject to relevant
approvals from third parties and
the Energy Department and the
availability of rig and production
facilities.
The signing of this MoA is a
key step for TVI to realize cash
ow from its interest in SC 54A.
Furthermore, this collaboration
provides a relatively low-risk
approach for TVI to participate in
the development of these assets. I
am pleased to work together with
Viking and the rest of the Joint
Venture Participants to advance
the opportunity presented in SC
54A, TVI chief executive Cliff
James said.
TVI said Viking anticipated
bringing the Yakal and Tindalo
discoveries into production rst,
followed by Nido 1X1 at a later
stage.
The nal investment amount
will be agreed between Viking
and the participants on selection
of the most appropriate technical
and commercial solution; and
Viking will receive a preferential
proportion of the net cash ow
generated from SC 54A until
such time as it has recovered in
full its capital expenditure in the
project, TVI Pacic said.
Viking plans to use cost-effective
offshore production and storage
facilities comprising a mobile
offshore production unit and a
oating, storage, ofoading/storage
tanker moored to a Catenary anchor
leg mooring buoy to commercialize
the three oil elds.
TG Worlds stake in SC 54A
will increase to 5 percent from
12.50 percent while those of
Nido Petroleum will decline to
16.96 percent from 42.4 percent;
Yilgarn Petroleum to 12.04
percent from 30.10 percent; and
Tragura Ventures to 6 percent
from 15 percent.
B4
Provinces
Edited by Leo A. Estonilo www.manilastandardtoday.comleoestonilo@gmail.com
Noah to help monitor oods
Head for the hills
Village execs reject takeover of John Hay
SAN MATEO-When road work turns into a treadmill sort of
routine, its time to head for the hills in Rizal.
Jey-Ann Oroceo, of GQWEST Environment Solutions
Technologies, said Merrell Adventure Tun kicks off today in
Timberland Heights on a breathtaking course with a scenic view of
the Sierra Madre Range.
This years run is a challenging trail packed with dirt roads,
owing streams, river crossings, rock scrambling, and uphill and
downhill paths, she said.
Among the partners in this years event is GQWEST, providing
Aquabest Structured Water for the participants on a course aptly
called Finisher for the ve-kilometer event, Survivor for 10k, and
Conqueror for 21k.
People who lose uids during strenuous activities need quick
replacement to keep the body functioning normally and prevent
damage to vital organs, Oroceo said.
Structured water offers hydrating ability without the food
colorings that accompany conventional sports drinks.
According to Oroceo, Aquabest uses a water treatment technology
developed in Austria and exclusively registered in the companys
name.
By Redge Jimenez-Lopez
A MONTH after nishing a course in Professional
Cooking, Mark Newman Balaoro was getting a
fat paycheck at the restaurant of Al-Sa Dairy in
Saudi Arabia.
I was as a helper and cook, preparing food
served to Saudi princes who came almost every
day, said the graduate of Asian School for the
Hospitality Arts, who had come home for good.
I was earning well, but I could not bear being
away from my family for a long time.
Angie Blanco, school director, said the faculty
and management have noted a growing demand
for hospitality along with food and beverage
professionals riding on tourism surge across the
archipelago.
It is an advantage for our students that we are
backed by our mother company, Cravings Group,
and its network of schools, dining places and hotel-
resorts, she said.
Instead of waiting tables, John Paul Tanjutco
wants his own resto-bar with his Bartending
expertise plus food and beverage certications
earned while on leave of absence from his Fine
Arts course at the University of the Philippines.
Many people were surprised that I wasted an
opportunity since it was hard to enter UP, he
said.
Tanjutco found the ASHA program well
organized to enable him to complete his academics
as well.
The lessons were modular, so you dont feel
crammed, he said, commending the faculty
that included professionals in the hotel and food
sectors.
Dennis Leung, ASHA admissions and marketing
manager, said Balaoro and Tanjutco joined 48
batchmates who received their diplomas and
certicates.
We have established a good name that really
means serious business, he said. The courses
are personalized for each student to maximize
learning.
Vic Alcuaz, Association of Human Resource
Managers president, keynoted the commencement
rites, keeping a keen eye on new hires sought after
here and abroad.
Chefs school eyes new hires out of town
By Othel V. Campos
ILOILO CITYThe PLDT conglomerate
takes the lead in pushing Project Noah
along with the Department of Science and
Technology to set up a ood monitoring
and warning system in 18 major river
basins.
In a speech read by Philex
Corp. vice president for
communications Mike Toledo
before the 1st International River
Summit here, PLDT Group
Chairman Manny Pangilinan
BAGUIO CITYBarangay
ofcials at Camp John Hay
reject the planned takeover
of the property leased to the
private developer by the Bases
Conversion Development
Authority.
At leased 14 barangays
covering the 247 hectares of
the former American rest and
recreation center demanded
the replacement of the Catalina
Security Agency, which they
believed would gain entry to the
premises.
The group led by Hillside
Chairman Ferdinand Bucad in a
resolution cited complaints about
alleged harassment and other
forms of provocations showing
lack of proper training and
orientation on human relations
and other diplomatic means
by personnel of the security
agency.
The barangay executives urged
John Hay Management Corp.
to hire instead residents of the
city together with La Trinidad,
Itogon, Sablan and Tuba towns
in Benguet.
Bucad said the resolution was
also signed by his colleagues
for Lower Dagsian, Upper
Dagsian, Greenwater Village,
Sta. Escolastica Village, Loakan
Proper, Loakan Liwanag,
Lucnab, Happy Hallow, Country
Club Village, Outlook, Camp 7,
Scout Barrio and Loakan Apugan
during their special meeting last
May 17.
Alfredo Yiguez, executive
vice president and chief
operating ofcer of Camp John
Hay Development Corp. said
at stake is over P5 billion that
CJHDevCo has invested and
nearly P1.5 billion remitted to
the state.
He said a takeover would
displace 2,000 people
employed in Camp John Hay
and discourage about 15,000
visitors every week to the
facilities and give a wrong
signal to business locators.
FORMER House Deputy
Speaker Eric Singson,
representing the Stern Real
Estate and Development
Corporation, Meehan Cellars
and Ilocos Coastal View
Resorts said he is suing for
P72 million in damages
ofcials of Camp John Hay
Development Corp.
He said the complaint was
led last April before the
Department of Justice.
In a statement, CJHDevco
spokesman, lawyer Barry
Ubarra, said the charges are
misplaced.
BCDA has been
aggressively trying to put
CJHDC out of business
and it has caused locations
such as Singson to put
panic by false claims,
he said. For example,
they are telling locators
that CJHDCs lease is for
25 years when it is for 50
years. That is on record. It
is BCDA whom Singson
should sue.
Singson alleged that Ilocos
Coastal was defrauded to
buy leasehold rights from
the developer.
Separate counts of estafa
covered lots in Eco-Village
with Singson claiming he
was informed only last
February 10 in a letter given
by BCDA that the period
of lease contract is only for
25 years commencing from
October 19, 1996 to October
19, 2021.
He said he wrote the
developer about the
misrepresentation last April
2 but received no response.
Former
lawmaker
sues
private
developer
said that two-year project would
enable real-time measurement of
rainfall to provide communities
with critical updates on weather
conditions.
Project Noah combined with
other new technologies like
doppler radar, will bring the
countrys disaster preparedness
systems into the 21st century,
he said. Even before oods
strike, we can know to an
unprecedented level of detail
how such calamities will impact
on our cities and towns.
Pangilinan also heads the
Philippine Disaster Recovery
Foundation, which was formed
to coordinate with government
a reconstruction program
following the destructive
Typhoon Ondoy.
The World Bank extended
nancial assistance to help
government and the private
sector to integrate measures
in a master plan for ood
management .
One project of the
Foundation is the
reforestation of the Marikina
River Watershed for long-
term flood-mitigation.
The PLDT Group signed an
agreement late 2011 with DOST
for Smart Communications
and Sun Cellular to house the
monitoring system in 600 cell
sites located near the river
basins nationwide.
Smart and Sun have a
combined cell site population
of around 8,000 to 10,000
nationwide, according to Ramon
Isberto, Smart Communications
and PLDT vice president for
public affairs.
We agreed to co-locate the
monitoring equipment in our
cell sites, he said, adding that
the Ondoy catastrophe was the
turning point for the company
to get involved in disaster
preparedness.
According to Isberto, Smart
and Sun Cellular will handle the
transmission of the rainfall data
to the DOST central data base
every 15 minutes to allow quick
updates.
PUGOTravelers to the Cordillera can
add to their itenary the Pugo Adventure,
about 40 minutes from Baguio City or less
than ve hours from Manila.
The name comes frm the Pangasinense
word for islet, describing the smallest
town of La Union.
PUGAD, which is owned and managed
by retired Director Eugene Martin of
the National Police, and wife, councilor
Priscilla Marrero-Martin, made sure the
place preserved its natural environment.
The resort has a mini-zoo and an aviary
along with outdoor adventure facilties.
Favorite choices for picture-taking are
among foreigners and local vacationers are
a python and the alligators in their pond.
We want to duplicate what we
have successfully done in PUGAD
<pugadadventure@gmail.com> where
our facilities co-exist with wildlife without
compromising the natural ecosystem
of the forest, Mrs. Martin said during
the recent turnover of the environment-
friendly charcoal briquetting production
livelihood program to Barangay Cuenca.
She said the green fuel would help
protect the forest and promote a renewable
source of energy.
PUGAD has been nominated to the
Likas Yaman Awards for Environmental
Protection under the category Most
Outstanding Moment in the Environment.
The resort produces its own briquettes
from agro-waste purchased from local
residents who have adopted organic
farming as well.
She said ash residues are turned into
deodorizers now being used in the cottages
and other function areas.
PUGAD <pugadadventure@yahoo.
com> has three zip lines that offer a
panoramic view of rice elds and Lingayen
Gulf and West Philippine Sea.
Otrher amenities include a swimming
pools, a wall for climbing enthusiasts and
all-terrain vehicles for those who want to go
on crosstrail adventure. Dexter A. See
La Union: Between the highlands and the blue sea
LEGAZPI CITYTourists who
will visit Albay this June will
be in for special treats with the
province set to kick off three
esta celebrations in row on
culture, craft and cuisine.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said
the festivities will lead visitors
in rediscovering historical,
religious and cultural heritage
with the Pulang-Angui Festival
in Polangui; culinary expertise
and food trips in the Pinangat
Festival in Camalig, and gain
skills and craft expertise in the
Tabak Festival in Tabaco City.
These places surround Mayon
Volcano.
The month-long Pulang-
Angui Festival opens June
1 and offers the hospitality
and the festive character of
the Polanguenos. The festival
features religious, cultural,
social and sports activities. Its
highlights include activities
during the celebration of the
town esta on June 24, for its
patron Saints Peter and Paul.
The Polangui festival traces
its roots to the legend of Angui
(a nickname for Maria), the
beautiful maiden dressed in red
from head to foot who was said
to possess all the best qualities
of a woman. She was pursued
by suitors even when she had
already surreally transported
into the world of myths.
Salceda, a native of Polangui,
and town Lady Mayor Cherille
Mella-Sampal will lead this
years opening of the Pulang
Angui Festival. Polangui is
Albays northernmost town, with
a population of 80,000 people.
It is situated along the national
highway and shares common
borders with neighboring
Camarines Sur.
In Camalig the Pinangat
Festival unravels June 10-24
bringing to the fore the towns
culinary pridethe Pinangat,
a signature Bicol delicacy. It
is a dish of pork or sh folded
up in gabi leaves, with native
condiments including red ginger
and pepper and cooked in cocnut
milk in clay pots and seasoned
with balaw (salted tiny shrimps).
Pinangat makers often join
culinary contests on improved
ways to cook the delicacy.
Camalig is known as
Albays heritage town with
its archeological sites, rows
of ancestral homes and the St.
John Church which serves as a
repository of pre-Spanish relics.
Other activities are also lined up
for the weeklong festivities.
The Tabak Festival that
represents a booming cutlery
industry, takes center stage in
Tabaco City on June 16-30.
Often referred to as the countrys
cutlery capital. Tabaco City
is a major producer of quality
scissors, swords, knives and
bolos crafted by its skilled
traditional blacksmiths.
Albay launches 3
festivals in June
to boost tourism
Cave vandals.
Tublay guides
brief the media
on the damage
caused on
stalactites
inside
Bengaongao
cave in
Ambongdulan,
Benguet
caused on
souvenir
collectors.
DAVID CHAN

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