Manila Standard Today - Sunday (November 18, 2012) Issue

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CALAMANSI
GOES
GLOBAL
Helen del
Rosario makes
it her mission to
make calamansi
a global product.
ARTS & LIFE B1
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Sunday
MST
The Sunday Edition of ManilaStandardTODAY
Vol. I No. 21 12 Pages, 2 Section
P18.00 SUNDAY, November 18, 2012
BUSINESS BUSINESS A8
THE NEXT
BILL GATES
Entrepreneur
and book author
Siddharth
Wadehra
believes that the
next Bill Gates
will come from
Asia.
A4
CARISSA
AND BEATRIZ
Showbiz and political
royalty Carissa
Cruz-Evangelista is
the designer behind
Beatriz, a line of high
end fashion jewelry
and accessories.
Asean told: US here to stay
UN, groups nd aws in regions human rights paper
Dirty job. Science students and other volunteers
collect garbage during a coastal clean-up at Manila
Bay Saturday. Tons of garbage, which the government
blames largely on the improper waste disposal
by informal settlers living along Manila's coastal
communities, were washed ashore especially during
the typhoon season. AP
By Joyce Paares
PHNOM PENHThe secretary-
general of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations admit-
ted that the declaration on hu-
man rights that will be adopted
by leaders of the 10 member-
states today is not perfect
amid strong opposition from the
United Nations and civil society
organizations to what they called
a awed document.
Surin Pitsuwan, however,
stressed that the adoption of the
declaration is a step in the right
direction. It is not a perfect doc-
ument. It has its aws. There are
some human rights issues that the
declaration may fail to address,
he said yesterday.
We have to start somewhere.
This document can be improved
upon, Surin said.
The landmark declaration will
be signed during the opening of the
21st Asean Leaders Summit today.
The Philippines, in particular,
gave inputs on the issue of rights of
women and children for inclusion.
However, United Nations
High Commissioner for Hu-
man Rights Navanethem Pillay
has called on Asean to delay the
signing of the declaration.
Pillay said there was inade-
quate involvement of the public,
including civil society groups,
and that the draft fell short of uni-
veral values on human rights.
I must say that I am surprised
and disappointed that the draft
declaration has not been made
public and that civil society has
not been consulted in the drafting
of the document, Pillay said.
Pillay cited as example the
provision on the right to life,
which she said should not be
contingent on domestic laws
that can be used to justify state-
sponsored violence.
Critics of the declaration were
especially concerned over the pro-
visions on public morality and
national and regional particularity
which they say depart from funda-
mental human rights principles.
At least 60 non-governmental
organizations have already written
Asean to postpone todays signing,
including Human Rights Watch
and Amnesty International.
In Phnom Penh, members of
the Asean Grassroots Peoples As-
sembly complained of harassment
to prevent them from opposing to-
days signing.
According to the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations sec-
retary general Surin Pitsuwan, the
US policy on the region was ex-
pressed by US Defense Secretary
Leon Panetta during a meeting of
defense ministers here in Cambo-
dia ahead of the Leaders Summit.
He said that the US is here
to stay. But they will respect the
norms of the region, especially
with regards to territorial dis-
putes, Surin said.
Panetta said the US will in-
crease the size and number of mil-
itary exercises in the region.
Americans have fought and
died in this region and our goal
has always been to promote
peace and prosperity throughout
the region, he said.
We are deepening our military
engagement with our allies and
partners in this region to ensure
that we are able to promote peace
and security for many years to
come, he added.
The US defense ofcial said
Washington will also continue to
support Asean-led defense coop-
eration in critical areas such as
humanitarian assistance, disaster
relief, maritime security, non-pro-
liferation and counter-terrorism.
Asean is seen to further deepen
its ties with the US with the hold-
ing of the rst Asean-US Summit
next year in Brunei.
In the past, as in this weeks
summit, the US only had a Lead-
ers Dialog with Asean.
A summit sends a signal of a
serious commitment to meet an-
nually, Surin said.
Panettas statement a day be-
fore US President Barack Obama
attends the summit after a heated
re-elected campaign.
Obama will seek to reinforce
American inuence in Southeast
Asia in spite of the large shadow
cast by China. He will become the
rst US president to visit Myan-
mar, an appreciation for its steps
toward democratization, as well
as Cambodia.
The four-day trip beginning
Saturday will be the presidents
fourth to Asia. It comes amid
unusual challenges at home, in-
cluding opening discussions with
lawmakers about dealing with the
nations scal health and a sex
scandal thats roiling his national
security team.
Still, Obama is eager to return to
foreign policy matters that were put
Next page
By Joyce Pangco Paares, AP
P
HNOM PenhWashingtons
top defense ofcial said the
United States will further
deepen its military presence
and engagement in the region.
By Sara D. Fabunan
SENATOR Miriam Santiago on
Saturday called for the termination
of the countrys Visiting Forces
Agreement with the United States
purportedly because the pact has
failed and the Americans have vi-
olated Philippine and international
laws on the protection and preser-
vation of the environment.
On Monday, I shall le in the
Senate a joint resolution termi-
nating the Visiting Forces Agree-
ment, Santiago said in a speech
during the annual convention of
the Philippine Academy of Medi-
cal Specialist.
Santiago seeks end
to visiting forces pact
A US Navy aircraft carrier visited Manila last month for a goodwill
tour. DANNY PATA
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon
Panetta speaks during a joint
press conference with Cambodian
Minister of National Defense Gen.
Tea Banh at the ASEAN Defense
Ministers Meeting Retreat in Siem
Reap, Cambodia, on Friday. AP
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
NOVEMBER 18, 2012 SUNDAY
A2
Army-NPA
gunbattle:
11 dead
Sunday
NEWS
ManilaStandardTODAY
By Florante S. Solmerin
THE Mindanao Peoples Cau-
cus has urged President Aquino
and the leadership of the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front not to
appoint political warlords as
their representatives in the 15-
man Transition Committee that
will enforce the Bangsamoro po-
litical entity in Mindanao.
[They] must consider indi-
viduals who have no conict of
interest in the desired roadmap
of the transition period. Thus, it
must avoid as much as possible
appointing traditional politi-
cians who represent that abu-
sive, warlord-led and already
unacceptable status quo that the
Framework Agreement seeks to
replace, said Christine Sumag-
oy, MPCs Peace Talks Advo-
cacy head.
Sumag-oys group issued
their 6-point criteria suggestion
for the TC composition. She said
the transition panels critical
task should not be taken lightly
in order not to derail the imple-
mentation of the Bangsamoro.
First, the transition commis-
sion must be composed of men
and women with proven track
record in human rights, peace-
building and support to the GPH-
MILF Peace Talks, she said.
Third, she said that consis-
tent with the National Action
Plan of the UN Security Coun-
cil Resolution 1325, the panel
must have at least 30% women-
members who directly come
from conict-affected areas and
with identied constituency to
represent; fourth, a representa-
tive from the indigenous peo-
ples must also be appointed in
the Transition Commission in
order to ensure that their rights
are heard and protected. This
representative must be cho-
sen on the basis of consensus
building among the indigenous
peoples leaders with special
focus on those tribes that are
directly affected e.g. Teduray,
Dulangan Manobo, Arumanen,
Blaan and Higaonon tribes;
Fifth, all-Moro members must
ensure that the geographic areas
of the Bangsamoro must be rep-
resented especially those coming
from the island-provinces;
And nally, a representative
from the Moro National Lib-
eration Front must also be ap-
pointed in order to promote unity
and convergence of the MNLF
and MILF peace processes with
the Philippine government. It is
vital that the Moro National Lib-
eration Front will actively partic-
ipate in TC and will have a say in
the drafting of the Bangsamoro
Basic Law, she said.
Earlier, the Nur Missuari-led
MNLF faction slammed the
Bangsamoro even as Aquino
had said that the current Autono-
mous Region in Muslim Mind-
anao was already obsolete.
Missuari became the rst
ARMM governor after the
MNLF surrendered to the gov-
ernment in 1996.
On Oct. 15, the Malacanang
and the MILF signed the FRAG,
a starting point to work on to -
nally end the decades-old Moro
conict in Mindanao. The FRAG
has to work on three annexes
namely, normalization (decom-
missioning), power-sharing and
wealth-sharing.
Aquino has yet to sign an Ex-
ecutive Order that will ofcially
direct the TC to start its job of
implementing the Bangsamoro.
Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro
Islamic Armed Forces under the
MILF reiterated its full support
to the FRAG.
The BIAF overwhelmingly
welcome and support the frame-
work agreement, even as he
called on all the BIAF ofcers
and men to cooperate in all ini-
tiatives and endeavors that push-
es for the success of the agree-
ment, said Sammy Al Mansur,
chief of staff of BIAF.
Mindanao group scoffs at political warlords
FIELD unit heads of the De-
partment of Public Works and
Highways will convene for a
two-day assembly of the District
Engineers League of the Philip-
pines on November 20-21, 2012
in Cebu City.
District and Assistant District
Engineers from the 183 district
engineering ofces nationwide
gather for the staging of the 8th
Annual Convention 2012 with
the theme DELP Supports DP-
WHs New Systems Approach.
As frontliners of the De-
partment, the District and As-
sistant District Engineers put
into practice the programs and
policies crafted by the DPWH
management level to address
the demand for better infra-
structure that will help push
rapid, inclusive and sustained
economic growth.
The DPWH in the district
level is continuously working
to ensure the safety of all infra-
structure facilities and to guaran-
tee the efciency and quality in
construction of all public works
and highways.
As the principal infrastruc-
ture agency of the govern-
ment, DPWH will address
the rising necessity for bet-
ter infrastructure with the
District Offices spearheading
the preservation and rehabili-
tation of national roads and
bridges in the municipalities,
cities and provinces.
To sustain the upswing of
government spending particu-
larly on infrastructure that will
make the country more glob-
ally competitive, a discussion
on nancial matters, disburse-
ment and obligation is among
the topics to be discussed at the
convention.
Equally important matter is
the implementation of the Per-
formance-Based Incentive Sys-
tems for government employees
designed to reward performers
for meeting their targets.
The competency of DPWH
men in the eld will be the hall-
marks of good leadership which
will be the key to the success-
ful carrying out of development
programs.
According to Secretary Ro-
gelio L. Singson, the DPWH
in partnership with the Civil
Service Commission has car-
ried out two (2) promotional
examinations to validate the
capability and competency
of those holding managerial
positions such as District and
Assistant District Engineers
to continue professionalizing
the Department.
To increase productivity, ef-
ciency and effectiveness, the
DPWH has also embarked on the
institutionalization of a Quality
Management System that will
standardize quality of public ser-
vice delivery to become consis-
tent with the requirement of the
International Organization for
Standardization (ISO).
Public Works sets big event in Cebu
Londons Big Eye? No, but it can pass up as Manilas version of the giant ferris wheel being built in Star City in time for the holidays. SONNY ESPIRITU
State troopers from the 52nd Division Reconnaisance Company
under 2nd Lt. Torre Palma were ambushed by NPA rebels at Baran-
gay Mabbayad, San Guillermo town around 5 AM, according to
Camp Aguinaldo, the military headquaters.
Acting army spokesman, Colonel Cirilito Sobejana said the clash
broke out between 30 NPA rebels under the Benito Tesorio Com-
mand and the Army men. Six soldiers and ve rebels died during
the reght.
The rebels took eight high-powered rearms from the slain sol-
diers.
Prior to the encounter, the Army engaged another group of rebels
in Brgy. Ganalan, San Mariano also in Isabela. There were no casu-
alties from either side.
In Mindanao, the National Police on Friday seized a cache of
high- powered rearms and assorted ammunition at a residence of
two suspected gunrunners.
The arms cache was unearthed days after Interior Secretary
Mar Roxas and the police launched the Secure and Fair Elec-
tions for 2013 task force whose job, among others, is to capture
loose rearms.
Two persons were arrested at their residence in Park Bougain-
villa, Barangay Pimbalayan, Sultan Kudarat during a raid staged
by members of the Regional Special Intelligence Division led by
Police Chief Inspector Sebastian.
Zamboanga Police Regional Director Chief Supt Alex Paul
Monteagudo said charges of illegal possession of rearms were
led against the two suspects.
The police operations against the suspects were carried out
on the basis of a search warrant issued by the Marawi City
Trial Court.
On the rearms list were: an Elisco M-16 rie; 1 KG9 rie, a ga-
rand rie, a calibre 45 pistol, an UZI-type homemade sub-machine
gun, as well as assorted ammunitions for high-powered rearms.
By Frank Tuyay
AT LEAST six Army troopers and ve
New Peoples Army rebels were killed
during erce ghting in a remote village
in Isabela on Saturday morning.
Santiago...
She said decided to propose the
resolution after American defense
contractor Glenn Defense Marine
Asia allegedly bilged hazardous
waste in Subic Bay.
The senator, who is expected
to assume a magistracy at the In-
ternational Criminal Court in the
Hague, Netherlands, said she has
three underlying reasons why she
has repeatedly called for the abro-
gation of the VFA.
I have been calling for the
abrogation of the VFA for so
many years now, particularly
when I was the chair of the for-
eign nation committee, San-
tiago said.
First, she said the main
point of the agreement was to
allow US troops to visit their
Filipino counterparts for train-
ing and other security and
maritime exercises.
We call it visiting forces
agreement, but their so called
visit has became permanent,
she said. They have been here
for 13 years, so they are violating
and misleading the people about
the nature of their visit.
She said the people of Zambo-
anga City, including members of
mass media, know that the Amer-
icans have maintained a constant
presence in the southern city.
They are not visiting there, they
are squatting, she said.
Secondly, the Philippines has
received very little military as-
sistance from the US and only
gets junked military equipment.
What benet do we gain from
that? she asked.
Thirdly, she accused the US of
violating Philippine and interna-
tional laws with vessels in Philip-
pine territorial waters.
I charge the United States
for failing to comply with, and
for violating, Philippine law, as
well as international norms and
customs on the protection and
preservation of the environment
as these obligations are now
codied respectively in Articles
192 and 211 of the United Na-
tion Convention on the Law of
the Sea, Santiago said.
Because of these violations,
Santiago said the VFA became
void and it is right of the Phil-
ippine government to terminate
the agreement.
Under the VFA, neither the
Philippines nor the US need to
cite a basis or to comply with
any prerequisite to terminate
the agreement. One party will
simply notify the other in writ-
ing that it desires to terminate
the agreement, Santiago said,
adding that her proposed resolu-
tion will also direct the Depart-
ment of Foreign Affairs to give
notice of termination of the US
Embassy in Manila.
She also said Rep. Walden
Bello will also le on Monday
a counterpart resolution in the
House Representative.
This joint resolution will be
treated as a bill passed by the two
chambers of Congress. Just like a
bill, this resolution can be vetoed
by the President, she said.
But Presidential Edwin Lacier-
da could only say Malacaang re-
spects the prerogative of Santiago
to le the said resolution.
We respect the prerogative of
Senator Defensor-Santiago to le
that resolution, Lacierda said in
a telephone interview.
The parties involved have
already indicated their willing-
ness to be resource persons in the
event they are invited to the Sen-
ate, he added.
In a separate interview, Presi-
dential Commission on the VFA
executive director Edilberto
Adan stressed that the SBMA
is conducting an investigation
of the alleged dumping of toxic
waste.
So far, the SBMA Ecology
Center said that the waste is not
hazardous and the Coast Guard
said there was no dumping, as al-
leged, Adan said.
But Santiago shrugged off Ad-
ans statement, saying: If that is
not hazardous, why do you have
to dump them in the sea? They
could have just recycled it.
UN...
Sar Mora, one of AGPAs or-
ganizers, said at least ve ven-
ues for civil society fora ahead
of the Asean Summit have can-
celled their reservations.
The regional declaration is
one of the key mandates of
the Asean Intergovernmental
Commission on Human Rights
created in 2009.
Reectors. Workers install light reectors on Andrews Avenue that leads to the airport area (inset).
Motorists traversing Andrews Avenue in Pasay City are now guided by the light reectors which Citra
Metro Manila Tollways Corporation recently installed on the 1.4-kilometer stretch of the avenue from
NAIA-3 to the Manila Domestic Airport. The airport area serves as the international gateway to the
countrys commercial and tourist hubs.
Asean...
on the back burner by the campaign. The
unprecedented visit to Myanmar, also
known as Burma, gives the trip a historic
edge while shoring up a strategic regional
goal sought with stops in Thailand and in
Cambodia, where he will attend the East
Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.
The Asia trip underscores Obamas ef-
forts to establish the United States as an
Asia-Pacic power, a worldview dened
by 21st century geopolitics but also by
Obamas personal identity as Americas
rst Pacic president. Obama was born in
Hawaii.
Continuing to fill in our pivot to
Asia will be a critical part of this pres-
idents second term and ultimately his
foreign policy legacy, deputy nation-
al security adviser Ben Rhodes said
ahead of the trip.
In choosing this time to travelthe
East Asia Summit was scheduled some
time agoObama is taking advantage of
his electoral success, and his international
counterparts are bound to be in a congrat-
ulatory mood.
Burma is sending a powerful signal
that people are rejecting the notion that an
authoritarian model is the key to develop-
ment, Rhodes said.
The precarious nature of the budget ne-
gotiations is not lost on Asian countries,
and Obama will likely nd himself on the
sidelines offering reassurances to other
leaders that the US will not plunge over
a scal cliff.
During the brief stop Monday in Myan-
mar, Obama will meet with opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President
Thein Sein and deliver an address in
which he will call for continued political
reforms in a country that had been interna-
tionally shunned for decades.
The East Asia Summit includes the
10-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and eight other nations:
the United States, China, Japan, South
Korea, India, Russia, Australia and
New Zealand.
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Sunday
NEWS
ManilaStandardTODAY
A3
The laboratory uses state-of-the-art fully-
automatic and computerized test bench
system and is capable of testing mechanical,
electromagnetic, & ultrasonic meters from
15mm up to 300 mm in size for capacity from
three liters per hour to up to 500 cubic meters
per hour of water volume.
Numerous water districts, water service
providers, property developers and water meter
suppliers across the country seek the services
of Manila Waters meter testing laboratory
to certify water meters they manufacture or
install Ior customers. These frms include
Subic Water, Clark Water, Zamboanga City,
Gumaca, Meycauayan, Alaminos, Bacolod
City and Tagum City Water Districts as well
as Metro Manilas West Zone water service
concessionaire, Maynilad Water Services, Inc.
Water meter manufacturers such as Luzon
Foundry, Philippine Valve and Alluminates
Metering Supply Co. Inc., among others, also
have their products tested in the Manila Water
meter testing laboratory. A number of property
developers and private subdivision homeowners
associations also engage the services of the
laboratory to test the water meters they use in
their developments.
We invite customers and industry
practitioners to witness how we test our water
meters and better appreciate the rigid and
Phls only ISO-accredited meter testing laboratory,
Manila Waters Metrology Center, expands
services to industry practitioners
careful process of meter testing and calibration
using state-of-the-art facilities and systems, ,
said Jun Santos, Metrology Centers Quality
Manager.
With P30 million spent for its rehabilitation,
the Metrology Center underwent a constant
upgrade and improvement through the years.
From the manual test bench it used at the
start of the concession 15 years ago, the
company enhanced the facility by purchasing
a computerized test bench for small meters
in 2001 and then another test bench, this time
catering to large meters, in 2008. In 2011,
the Center underwent renovation while totally
applying new technology on the process for
testing meters to qualify for the accreditation.
Another set of leading-edge and fully-automated
test benches were also acquired, to comply with
globally-recognized standards. From a single
fow test. Manila Water Iully implemented
the ISO 4064 standards, where the calibration
experts test all meters in Iour fows based on its
maximum fow. nominal fow. transitional fow.
and minimum fow. All these are testaments to
Manila Waters commitment to accuracy and
reliability in providing service not just to its
customers for water and wastewater services
in the Metro Manilas East Zone but also to
partners who seek certifcation Ior water meters
used across the country.
Photo shows Romy Macatula, Manila Waters Research and Development Manager explaining how the
Metrology Centers test bench works, to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Gerardo
Esquivel and other Manila Water stakeholders. He explained the rigid and careful process of test/calibration
that Manila Water employs to ensure that what the customers pay each month is really their actual consumption.
M
anila Water`s Metrology Center continues to prove its efciency and
competence in testing water meters for use in the Philippines. The
recently inaugurated centers laboratory is the only meter testing
laboratory in the Philippines recognized by the Philippine Accreditation Ofce
with an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation. This authorizes Manila Waters
Metrology Center to issue certications for water meters that undergo testing in
its laboratory.
Securing Yout Future Today
AFP eyes cybersecurity ops
Treasures of Angono. Giant paper-mache gures made in Angono,
Rizal were paraded along the streets of Intramuros in Manila on Friday
during the opening of National Commission for the Arts Artist Haven
in Intramuros . DANNY PATA
House text brigade
tapped for quorum
Singson sets policy
to reclaim sidewalks
By Florante S. Solmerin
ALTHOUGH the Supreme Court
has decided to temporarily stop the
implementation of the Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012, the military
is scrambling to set up a cybersecurity
operations center, according to military
spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr.
The military dubbed its
envisioned cybersecurity war
room as the Command, Control,
Communications, Computers,
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target
Acquisition and Reconnaissance
(C4ISTAR), Burgos said in a
statement distributed to defense
reporters.
The C4ISTAR project was
envisioned by the Department of
National Defense and the (Armed
Forces of the Philippines) for a
comprehensive upgrading and
acquisition of modern equipment
and solutions under the AFP
modernization program for
efcient and effective conduct
of operations, he said.
Burgos did not specify what
kind of operations the military
hoped to conduct but Col.
Wilson Galedo of the Ofce of
the Deputy Chief of Staff for
Communications, Electronics
and Information Systems, said
the C4ISTAR is focused on
protecting highly-secured data
from cyberattacks.
This is a continuing effort to
keep the AFP at pace with current
trends in cybersecurity in line
with the C4ISTAR and the AFP
Modernization Program, Galedo
said, adding they will also monitor
the changing threat landscape
and its implications for defense,
security management and building
cybersecurity core personnel.
The remarks attributed to AFP
chief of staff General Jessie Dellosa
in the statement was equally vague.
As part of its inherent roles
on internal security operations,
territorial defense, and disaster
response, the AFP has to be
prepared and ready as the world
shifts its focus on cybersecurity,
the statement read. To do this we
have to streamline and secure our
communications systems in order
to efciently and effectively
perform our mandate in protecting
our people.
By Maricel V. Cruz
AFTER failing to muster a quorum over three session days last week,
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he will activate a mobile phone
text brigade to ensure that there are at least 145 lawmakers present in
the House of Representatives this week for the debates on the highly-
contentious Reproductive Health Bill.
On Monday, Im almost sure that we will have a quorum. I think
well text them earlier, maybe on Friday or Saturday, Belmonte
said. It cant be like this always.
Belmonte acknowledged that something has to be done to compel
the lawmakers to attend sessions after the House had to adjourn early
in the last three session days because there were only 113 lawmakers
present last Nov. 12, 139 on Nov. 13 and 131 on Nov. 14.
Belmonte said he understands that some of his 284 fellow
congressmen could already be busy preparing for 2013 elections, but
they should not forget that they still have to fulll their legislative
functions.
Pro-RH lawmakers were dismayed with the apparent helplessness
of the House leadership to address the perennial problem of quorum,
especially since the House only has 15 session days before its holiday
break on Dec. 21.
Belmonte said the text brigade may help solve the problem because
like it did when the House needed to vote last August to terminate the
period of interpellations and debates on the RH bill.
Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, an RH supporter,
said she is hoping that her colleagues will attend the session next
week.
We hope next week (there will be a quorum already). Its another
week, Herrera-Dy said.
By Joel Zurbano
THE Department of Public Works
and Highways is set to impose
next year a new policy prohibiting
obstruction and illegal use of road
right-of-way in a bid to lessen or
prevent road accidents.
We have to recover our road right-
of-way and remove commercial
activities on our easement, said
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson,
noting the directive of President
Aquino to improve the road safety
standards in the country.
Singson said his agency will
re-launch its campaign to recover
road right-of-way, which is among
the cost-efcient approaches in
dealing with the high number of
accidents among pedestrians.
DPWH study showed that road
accidents are among the leading
cause of death in the Philippines.
What has happened with the
loss of pedestrian pathways is that
people are now on the highway
putting their lives in danger
because commercial activities
and obstructions have taken over
on the sidewalks, said Singson.
Singson said the implementation
of this anti-obstruction campaign,
which is in line with the thrust
of the DPWH to improve road
safety, requires political will
and greater communication to
generate public cooperation.
Last May, Singson issued
Department Order 29 directing all
regional and district engineering
ofces to strictly enforce
Department Order No. 52 on
the removal of obstructions and
prohibited uses within the right-
of-way of national roads.
DPWH eld ofcials were
ordered to carry-out an inventory
of all illegal structures and
obstructions, including utility
posts along sidewalks and
shoulders as well as report the
status on removal of illegal
structures and obstructions on
a monthly basis to the agencys
Bureau of Maintenance.
extrastory2000@gmail.com business@mst.ph
A4
Sunday
FEATURES
ManilaStandardTODAY
Edited by Roderick t. dela Cruz
HELEN del Rosario belongs to a cluster of Filipino exporters
who work together to elevate the status of calamansithe small
citrus fruit so common in the Philippines it is used as a clothes stain
remover.
of calamansi
world gets a taste
The
She, however, believes that calamansi is the next
big thing in the organic food and beverage industry
that can help the Philippines grow its sluggish
exports industry.
Del Rosario, who is the general manager of food
exporter Soyuz Foods International Inc., relates that
her love affair with calamansi began with a search
for a superfruit that can put the Philippines on the
world map.
Studying the prole of the beverage industry
abroad and how other power fruits made it into the
international hall of fame, inspired me to search for
a local superfruit which can compete with those
marketed abroad. A fruit that can only be traced to
the Philippines and can put our country on the world
map, she says.
I was inspired by the motto of Joey Concepcion
in one of his speeches which is to quote to be
successful in your advocacy one has to start local
but think global.
Calamansi, or Citrofortunella microcarpa, grows
in abundance all year long in the Philippines. Known
for its strong sour taste, the versatile calamansi is a
favorite avoring in local dishes and goes well with
soy sauce as a condiment.
Mothers use calamansi as a natural cleanser that
removes stain on clothes while organic enthusiasts
recommend it as a skin whitener. The fresh calamansi
juice is also promoted as a part of diet regimen.
Calamansi as superfruit
Del Rosario, on her part, says she chose calamansi
because of the uniqueness of the fruit, the peculiar
taste which I can describe as a marriage between
lemon and mandarin, and the magic it brings as it
relieves ones thirst.
This inspired me to develop the fruit and make it
known in the world, she adds.
Del Rosario says Soyuz was formed to produce
and market local fruits, such as calamansi, with no
additives or preservatives. In 2005, the company
began a research project with the Department of
Science and Technologys Industrial Technology
Department Institute to identify, test and develop
processes and packaging that would allow calamansi
to be exported to other countries.
In May 2006, Soyuz Foods began exporting
natural calamansi extract, tapping the production of
farmers in southern Philippines to ensure adequate
supply of raw materials.
Del Rosario says their main product, the pure
calamansi extract 100-percent natural with no
preservatives, could stand room temperature without
refrigeration.
This comes in different packaging such as 250ml
bottle, 500 ml bottle, 1 kg aseptic pouch and the BIB
(bag in the box) which is the bulk size 20kg aseptic
pouch.
I am a believer of zero-waste environment so I
thought of converting the peel and the pulp of my
calamansi into dietary ber and essential oil which
has more value added, she says.
My vision is to export this power fruit in single
strength, powdered form and concentrate with quality
that is acceptable in the international market, says
Del Rosario.
Calamansi cluster
Together with other parties, Soyuz formed
the calamansi clustera group of processors of
calamansi-based products whose mission is to
promote the calamansi as a healthy drink and as a
versatile fruit which is acceptable in the mainstream
market worldwide.
As for Soyuz Foods International Inc., my mission
is to forge partnership with farmers and farmers
groups through sustainable development initiatives
in order to minimize poverty in the farming sectors,
says Del Rosario.
Soyuz currently employs 15 individuals. The
business is picking up. We started marketing the
product May 2010. Early 2011, we started exporting
our products, she says.
Del Rosario says the plan is to expand in the future,
beginning with the construction of several facilities
located near the farms where the raw materials are
abundant. It is a long-range plan to train the farmers to
run the factory themselves in order to give them a chance
to become entrepreneurs themselves, she says.
Soyuz is also looking at developing other products
using calamansi while studying other local fruits that
can be exported.
Del Rosario understands that exporting local
agricultural produce has one of the biggest impact
on the economy.
When I put up the company, there are three criteria
considered, she says. No. 1, the business should
focus on the farmers, hence, create an alternative
market for their produce. In this case, Soyuz Foods
is a direct and alternative market versus the spot
market.
No. 2, the business must have a milestone and
a multiplier effect that will benet the farming
community as a whole and No. 3, the business
should not compete with the local
processors but instead enable other
businesses to grow and expand the
market, she says.
Del Rosario says faith in God
and hard work enabled them to
accomplish their goal. She admits
that with the challenges that came
her way, one would think that were
no longer workable, but by faith,
courage and persistence, the business
got where it is now.
Opportunities
She says agriculture offers
vast opportunities to aspiring
entrepreneurs.
What I can do, you can do better.
If you want to help your country, do something in
your own small way but always give your best shot.
In my case, I chose to contribute to our agriculture in
a broader perspective by considering the needs and
the situation of the calamansi farmers, she says.
I believe that giving these farmers the proper
empowerment through the various programs started
by my company and with the help of some non-
government organizations that we can create a
positive change in the landscape of our agriculture,
Del Rosario adds.
Del Rosario is optimistic about the potential of the
calamansi as a truly Filipino export product.
We are very optimistic that this lowly fruit will
become the banner product of the Philippines. My
marriage with calamansi will denitely take us
around the world. This will become a phenomenal
product in the next ve years, she says.
To promote calamansi as an export product, Soyuz
Foods International and the Kal-Mansi cluster will join
the International Food Exhibition at SMX Convention
Center in Pasay City on May 16 to 19, 2013.
IFEX, the countrys biggest export-oriented food
event, recognizes the immense potential of the
Philippine food industry to sell locally and make it
big internationally. For more information, visit www.
ifexphilippines.com. RTD
By Othel V. Campos
ONE homegrown brand in the Philippines is expanding across the
globe faster than any other Filipino company. Potato Corner, the
countrys rst signature avored fries, is now one of the newest
sensation in the US, Panama, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Potato Corner chief executive Jose Jomag Magsaysay says the
company is branching out to more countries and is in talks with
investors to bring the brand to Mexico, China, New Zealand, Japan,
Australia, South Korea and Taiwan through franchising.
We never thought we will
come this far. This is even more
than we have planned for the
company. We just wanted to
have a thriving business in the
Philippines. But we are all more
than grateful for the success of
this business, he says.
The US invasion by Potato
Corner is expected to increase its
outlets to 100 stores by end-2013
and to about 1,000 stores over
the next ve to seven years.
I still remember vividly how
we started our US operations.
There was a call from the US by
a Filipino immigrant who said
that he was so enamored by our
product to the point that he, at times, felt pangs of homesickness, he
says.
This guy was once a kid who grew up with Potato Corner. His
family frequented our branch in Greenbelt in Makati. To make the
long story short, with our blessings, he wanted to put up his own
Potato Corner shop in the US. So we entered into a partnership and
the rest is history for Potato Corner US, says Magsaysay.
First Potato Corner kiosk
Potato Corner had its very rst kiosk at SM Megamall in
Mandaluyong City in October 1992. Now in its 20th year, the company
has around 308 branches nationwide and abroad.
But it was never smooth sailing for us. We encountered many
mistakes that we deeply regretted. We experimented with new
concepts that only drained our capital. And there was the nancial
crisis in 1997 that decimated the population of our branches to 40
from 100 nationwide. Times then were really difcult especially for
upstart businesses like ours, says Magsaysay.
Magsaysay is one of the four original partners who established the
business in 1992. His experience with fastfood chains has earned him
the credibility to run the operations of the business.
I got a call from my brother-in-law, Ricky Montelibano, to join
the business. There were already three partners that time. I was the
fourth and the last one to come in as partner. When I came in, they
already have a concept and that was Potato Corner. I was called in to
operationalize the concept, he says.
Magsaysay was still employed with multinational fastfood chain
Wendys when he got the call.
Aside from Magsaysay, other company partners include Jorge
Wieneke, Danny Bermejo and Ricky Montelibano.
In 2001, the company then took in a fth partner, Jojo Montinola, who
was instrumental in the development of the Vis/Min operations. With ve
partners, the company changed the corporate name to Cinco Corp.
Magsaysay says he accepted the offer since hes in dire need of
cash. He needed a part-time job after his wife gave birth to their rst
born in the same year Potato Corner was established.
After a month in operations, the company needed more money
to expand but for lack of capital,
company owners were not able to
move on.
I even tried borrowing money
from my kuya who was, at that time,
a mayor. I thought mayors have more money. But I was wrong. I was
just borrowing P37,500 but he refused to lend me. I never asked for
reason, so I just assume that kuyas never wanted to loan the bunso. I
ended up borrowing from Ricky [Montelibano], he says.
Montelibano, then, had a thriving avored popcorn business which
was where the idea for Potato Corner came from.
Wonders of franchising
The company moved on to the next best thingfranchising. So
in our third month of operations, we started franchising. That was
the best decision we ever made as a group. Whatever we have right
nowthe success of the company, the blessings, the opportunities
we all owe it to franchising, says Magsaysay.
Just like all better brands, Potato Corner has a unique ritual that was
purely its own. We started the shaking ritual. We own that ritual. Its
part of the DNA of the company. That, the avor and the taste is what
Potato Corner is all about, Magsaysay says.
Before assuming his post as chief executive in 2001, Magsaysay
worked full time, rst with Wendys where he stayed for nine years
and then at Ramcar, operator of Mr. Donut. where he was the country
general manager for three years since 1998.
I was really thankful that I was given the chance to work for
Ramcar. They allowed me to nish my degree for free. They agreed
to pay for my tuition after I qualied for a Masters degree on
Entrepreneurship at the AIM [Asian Institute of Management]. It was
a program wherein undergraduates like me can have a graduate degree
based on experience alone. There were many tests, but my long-term
experience in the quick service restaurants was able to get me into the
program, he says.
Member of Magsaysay clan
Despite having come from the illustrious Magsaysay clan,
Magsaysay says he worked his way to fend for his own schooling
after his father died when he was still young.
One of his uncles paid for his tuition at Dela Salle University where
he was enrolled under the Communications Arts program.
He used to work for his cousin, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. who
owns a cable company for his weekly allowance.
However, Magsaysay decided to quit school and worked
full time when he was offered a managerial position at
Wendys. It was his ninth year at Wendys when he received
an offer to partner for Potato Corner.
Magsaysay also had a bitter taste of politics when he ran
as councilor in Quezon City in 1997 elections, but lost. I
was really depressed. For two months, I stayed at home just
sleeping and sleeping. I had no work since I quit the company
as an ofcer though I stayed as part-owner. Then Ramcar
came and I was able to redeem myself. That opportunity was
amazing. Not only did I head the business in the Philippines,
I was also given the chance to nish my studies, he says.
Magsaysay was able to go back to running Potato Corner
when one of his partners sold out in 2001. From then on, I
focused on the business. As CEO, I am proud that I was able
to contribute to the growth of the business. We are thriving.
We are expanding. And the biggest lesson I learned is to take
care of your luck, of your blessing. It is not everyday that
luck comes your way, he says.
Plans and new brands
Potato Corner is coming up with new brands, new concepts that will
enhance company operations in 2013. There are ongoing talks for the
acquisition of as much as three brands that will be operated separately
from Potato Corner.
The company plans to establish a quick service restaurant, deviating
from the Kiosk concept.
We have Jollibee as our model but on a smaller scale, of course.
Were also adding beverages to Potato Corner. It is one of the innovations
that we plan to introduce by December, says Magsaysay.
The company is also planning to build more branches in the Visayas
and Mindanao in 2013 to take advantage of the popularity of the
brand.
In our 20 years of business, Potato Corner has evolved not only
as kids favorite fries. It has become a household word. Even grown-
ups can relate to our product, the same way they relate to Jollibee or
McDonalds, Magsaysay says.
A Filipino brand conquers the US
A5
Sunday
FEATURES
ManilaStandardTODAY
From banker to
ice cream maker
By Julito G. Rada
FROM banking to ice cream business. This was
the path treaded by Ricardo Cuna, the president and
chief executive of Milkin Corp., which led him to
success.
ELECTRONICS giant Philips has a Brazilian beauty leading its operations in
the Philippines. Fabia TetterooBueno was appointed in October as the country
manager of Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc.
She oversees the three business sectors of Philips in the countrylighting,
consumer lifestyle and healthcare and ensures that each group achieves its
respective business objectives.
A career manager, her professional prole includes stints in Brazil, Germany,
the Netherlands, China and now the Philippines. She is an avid reader and
counts reading, climbing, traveling and listening to music among her hobbies.
TetterooBueno also serves as the general manager for Philips Lighting
sector, where she is responsible for implementing plans and strategies that will
help grow the companys market share in the Philippines, to further solidify its
standing as the countrys leading lighting brand.
In her 14 years with Philips, she has worked in
various regions and handled roles in purchasing,
supply chain management, sales and marketing.
Before her appointment in the Philippines, she
served as the marketing director for the Retail and
Hospitality segment in Philips Lighting China, where
she was instrumental in the creation of the trade and
segment marketing channels in the region.
She holds a Masters Degree in Business
Management, specializing in Foreign Trade, from
the Universidade Metodista in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
New lighting products
Recently, TetterooBueno led the launching
of Philips new lighting products. Echoing
the belief that Home is where the heart is,
Philips unveiled its newest range of stylish
and versatile LED home lighting solutions,
to address the growing demand of Filipino
consumers for quality lighting products that
combine style and functionality.
Light is more than turning on or off a switch. It can make a difference to
your life and your home, affect your mood and transform a room in an instant.
With the use of Philips LED lighting solutions, there are more possibilities than
before, she says.
Philips is committed to fully understanding the needs of its consumers.
Innovation and design is key to our LED lighting solutions. We continuously
strive to develop innovative lighting solutions that can further enhance the
quality of peoples lives, says Tetteroo-Bueno.
By using Philips LED lighting solutions, homeowners can transform spaces
and enhance the overall human experience. We give our consumers the unique
opportunity to see and experience life, as well as its precious moments, through
a clearer, more colorful perspective, she says.
Through its comprehensive LED lighting range that offers lamps, luminaires,
and controllable ambience solutions, homeowners can transform houses
into homes, kitchens and dining rooms into areas that promote bonding and
friendship, studies into havens of learning and inspiration and bedrooms into
cozy sanctuaries.
Philips is dedicated to release the potential of light through meaningful
innovation and stylish designs. In addition, its diverse range of exible and
cost-effective LED lighting solutions promotes efcient-energy consumption,
with sustainability and respect for the environment as its core values. More
than the ability to control electricity consumption, light intensity, and color, the
Philips LED lighting solutions help consumers become more mindful of the
environment.
Philips diverse range of LED lighting solutions is available in all Philips
stores, and in over 30 branches of Wilcon Home Depot nationwide.
Energy professional of the year. Herman Doromal Robles, 33, a registered electrical engineer from the Mapua
Institute of Technology and a Singapore certied energy manager, has been chosen and awarded The Young Energy Professional of
the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers. AEE is a 35-year old association with 85 member countries, best known for issu-
ing licenses to become a certied energy manager, certied energy auditor, certied renewable engineer, and the likes. Shown is
Herman personally receiving his award (from left) from Eric Woodroof, chairman of the Foundation Board of AEE and Larry Good,
director of International Membership Development during the recent World Engineering Congress held in Atlanta, USA.
Milkin Corp. sells different avors of
Italian-style ice cream in the country,
including Fiorgelato (the pure Italian ice
cream).
I come from a family born and
raised in Manila. I graduated from San
Beda College, with degree in Bachelor
of Science major in Management and
Marketing, Cuna says.
Afterwards, he took up his Masters
degree at the Asian Institute of Management
and later on, banking and nance courses
at the Ateneo Business School.
He worked for the Ayala-controlled
Bank of the Philippine Islands as
product ofcer until 1988. I continued
my banking career as vice president of
Export and Industry Bank from 1997 to
2003, Cuna says.
He recalls that he started the gelato
business only as a hobby back in 1992.
Fiorgelatos rst outlet was established
in Metro Manila in 1992 with nine
employees, Cuna says, adding he had to
leave his banking career to concentrate
on the gelato business.
To ensure the success of his business,
Cuna undertook different trainings and
formal education abroad on ice cream
making.
Ice cream education
I graduated from Penn State
University in Pennsylvania, USA for
the Sciences and Ice Cream Technology.
I also enrolled in the Carpigiani Gelato
Schools and Pregel Gelato School, both
from North Carolina, USA, he says.
Cuna is also a graduate of Certied
Franchise Executive from Nova
Southeastern University in the US.
He says all these trainings taught him
the ins and outs and latest technologies
for ice cream and gelato production and
manufacturing.
Milkin Corp. was established in 1989
under a Filipino-Italian business venture.
The company started as designers ice
cream manufacturing company created
to formulate tailored ice cream products.
This specially-prepared ice cream
catered to well-known restaurants, hotels
and food chains in a private labeling
arrangement.
Fiorgelato distributor
Within the same year, the company
was also granted exclusive rights from
Italy to manufacture, sell and distribute
Fiorgelato for the Philippine market. It
created a big following among the AB
market, which made Fiorgelato the ice
cream of the elite.
Compared to the regular ice cream in the
market, Cuna says gelato is healthier as it
has less fats and sugar but is better-tasting.
He says gelato is famous for being the
only ice cream made from 100-percent
pure fresh milk and with the highest quality
of imported ingredients from Italy.
Similar to other edgling businesses,
Fiorgelato also had its share of struggles
and obstacles that needed to be hurdled
along the way.
Like any other business venture, it was
really a struggle for the rst few years of
operation. Manpower and nancial factors
were critical. We were lucky to have
a premium product which was openly
patronized by the market, he says.
Market niche
With its own market niche, Cuna
says Fiorgelato did not have much
competition, especially from big ice
cream makers in the country.
Fiorgelato was considered an elite
ice cream brand which has its own
niche market. It was never considered
as a commercial ice cream since it was
considered then and now as a supreme
brand of its own class market distinct
from the rest, Cuna explains.
So, what propelled Fiorgelato to
success? Aside from the premium high
standards of good quality ingredients
and gelato formulation, the companys
overall high standards of managing and
operating its totality was the biggest
factor for its success, says Cuna.
Cuna says Fiorgelato currently has
50 outlets accumulated in a span of 20
years of operations. These are located
in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with
afliate brands operating in Malaysia,
Japan and the United States. We have a
total of 75 avors, of which Pistaccio,
Ciocolato and Fragola [strawberry] are
top avors, Cuna says.
Fior Cafe
In 2000, Fiorgelato also introduced
the Fior Cafe for coffee drinkers, another
product which also has its own market
niche.
Cuna says Fiorgelato was able to mix
gelato and coffee in one store which is
the original Italian setup.
Fiorgelato has penetrated various
institutions such as schools, exhibit
halls, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops,
bake shops, ofce lounges and scooping
stations.
Cuna is a staunch advocate of franchising
in the country, being the executive vice
president of the Association of Filipino
Franchisers Inc., an association of business
entities that promotes and supports the
upliftment of local homegrown businesses
and entrepreneurs.
AFFI has always promoted and
supported the upliftment of our homegrown
businesses and entrepreneurs. We in the
association has always encouraged the
values of responsible franchising in the
country, he says.
Cuna says aside from getting the full
support of the government, especially
from the Trade Department, there are still
much to be done to help franchisers in the
country.
These include more programs to
support local entrepreneurs, to guide
them from infant stage and for their
growth. More programs for operational
and nancial assistance, he says.
In 2011, the franchising sector recorded
$11 billion in sales, or a 17-percent
growth from $9.4 billion in 2010. And
based on a University of Asia and the
Pacic report, franchising has accounted
for 5 percent of the countrys total gross
domestic product in 2011.
Cuna says franchising as long as its
used within the basic standards of proper
business principles and ethics is a
perfect vehicle for a companys growth
or expansion.
Franchising, he says, is the best way
for a start-up entrepreneur to venture
into a new business without starting from
scratch.
Franchise concept
Fiorgelato started its franchising
program in 1999. Cuna says Fiorgelatos
franchise concept is to share our
successful business concept to interested
individuals who believe that our franchise
business programs is of their interest and
the right one for them.
Cuna says in assessing a prospective
franchisee for Fiorgelato, they are
looking for franchisees who have the
same passion and interest with them as
franchisors. We invoke to them the
mission and vision of what Fiorgelato is
all about, he says.
He says Fiorgelatos franchising
packages range from P350,000 for cart
type; P900,000 for kiosk type; and P1.8
million (for the co-branding Fiorgelato-
Fior Cafe) for counter type with seating
capacity. He says these packages include
inventory, equipment and training.
Milkin Corp.s main ofce is at 1263 Gen.
Luna St. Ermita, Manila. It can be reached
through milkin_mktg@yahoo.com.
Brazilian lady
now leads Philips
Electronics in PH
Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno
By Richard Javad Heydarian
First of two parts
MANILAAt the recently concluded
UN General Assembly in New York,
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del
Rosario made an emphatic speech to
rally global support for his countrys
rule of law position vis-a-vis China over
ongoing territorial disputes in the South
China Sea.
Today my country faces its most seri-
ous challenge to the security of its mari-
time domain and integrity of its national
territory, as well as its effective protec-
tion of its marine environment, said
Del Rosario. The UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea has never been more
relevant than it is today, all States must
respect their obligations to settle their
maritime disputes by peaceful means,
without threats or use of force under
UNCLOS.
In a veiled criticism of Chinas grow-
ing assertiveness, he called for a rule-
based approach to avoid weaker coun-
tries from being forced to accept that
might is right. His speech was a clear
appeal for greater international interven-
tion while portraying the Philippines as
a responsible member of the interna-
tional communityand not just an in-
strument of Americas pivot to Asia to
contain China.
Lacking a credible deterrence capabil-
ity, the Philippines is now pouring more
time and energy into its diplomacy, espe-
cially towards the Association of South-
east Asian Nations (ASEAN). An ASEAN
Summit meeting to be held in Cambodia
later this month will be attended by global
leaders, including US President Barack
Obama, and will be closely watched for
progress on the South China Sea issue.
The 10-member groupings usual
consensus broke down earlier this year
when its members failed to issue a joint
communique due to differences of opin-
ion on the South China Sea. While Ma-
nila has expressed its commitment to
utilize all instruments of national power,
including revitalized bilateral military
ties with the US, to defend its territorial
claims in the South China Sea, diploma-
cy appears to have moved to the center
of its overall strategy.
There are basically three reasons for
this strategic shift:
Lingering doubts about the extent
of the USs commitment to the Philip-
pines defense, especially in the event
of direct confrontation with China
over disputed territories.
A growing emphasis on repairing
ties with China, setting the stage for
better relations with the incoming new
leadership in Beijing.
Increasing condence in an
ASEAN-led multilateral approach, with
Brunei (a party to ongoing conicts in
the South China Sea) poised to take
over the rotational chairmanship of the
organization from Cambodia (a staunch
ally of China). In recent months, the
Philippines diplomatic offensive has
moved forward on multiple levels. On
one hand, the Philippines has stepped-
up its direct bilateral diplomacy towards
China after an earlier backdoor attempt
backred, creating further acrimony and
division within Manilas leadership.
Recent indications are that the Aquino
administration is keen to create a more
positive atmosphere amid the highly
sensitive leadership transition in China.
Owing to the signicance of bilat-
eral economic ties, the Philippines has
become more cautious in projecting its
deepening military relations with the
US. In recent weeks, top Filipino of-
cials, apparently conscious of Chinas
constant and wary gaze, have notably
toned down their rhetoric.
Manila has consistently bid to as-
suage Chinas strategic anxieties
through reassurances that joint mili-
tary exercises with the US are merely
defensive in nature rather than aimed
at China. The Philippines has ada-
mantly emphasized that its military
cooperation with the US is focused on
more benign Non-Traditional Security
(NTS) issues rather than bolstering its
South China Sea claims.
The Philippines most important dip-
lomatic coup, however, came through
its recent hosting of the third ASEAN
Maritime Forum (AMF), which brought
together leading experts as well as high-
level representatives from across the
Pacic. The forum provided a crucial
platform for Manila to refocus ASEAN
efforts on the issue of maritime security,
emphasizing the need for regional soli-
darity and increased cooperation.
Manila had earlier failed to win suf-
cient support for its diplomatic pro-
posals, especially regarding a binding
regional Code of Conduct (CoC) for the
South China Sea during both the 2011
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in In-
donesia. The 2012 ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting (AMM) in Cambodia, whereby
Phnom Penhallegedly under Beijings
inuenceblocked even the inclusion
of the ongoing disputes in the South
China Sea in the nal communique.
With the fate of a regional CoC in lim-
bo and growing concerns over strategic
rifts within the ASEAN, the Philippines
is desperate to inject some life back into
its diplomatic efforts and steer a more
unied regional approach.
Concluded tomorrow
Richard Javad Heydarian is a foreign
affairs analyst based in Manila. He can
be reached at jrheydarian@gmail.com.
Reprinted courtesy of Asia Times On-
line. Link to the original article: http://
www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/
NK16Ae02.html
Murky futures
EDITORIAL
Monumental
intransigence
Manila paddles harder in the South China Sea
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A6
Sunday
OPINION
ManilaStandardTODAY
THE authors of the reproduc-
tive health bill have bent over
backwards on so many points
of House Bill 4244 its a won-
der they are still able to stand
upright. The amendments were
made in order ton the words
of principal author Rep. Edcel
Lagmanaddress the objec-
tions, reservations and concerns
of oppositors.
To date, the number of amend-
ments that have been introduced
to accommodate the Catholic
Church has reached more than
20. These amendments are
not simple cosmetic changes
or mere rhetorical discourses;
in fact some of the proposed
amendments represent a drastic
turn in ideology. I dont have
space in this column to enu-
merate all of the revisions that
represent a major concession.
Sufce it to say that I personally
think that the proposed amend-
ments have watered down the
essence of the RH bill.
So what did Lagman and com-
pany get for their sincere and
earnest efforts? Nothing. Zilch.
Nada. The Catholic Church and
its allied organizations have re-
mained steadfast in their objec-
tion to the billwhatever form
or substance it has taken or
metamorphosed into.
Last Thursday, November 15,
full-page ads appeared in two
leading dailies lambasting the
proposed amendments to the
RH bill. The whole-page ads
were the position papers of two
powerful Catholic Church or-
ganizations, namely, the Catho-
lic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines Episcopal Commis-
sion on Family and Life and the
Couples for Christ Foundation
for Family Life. The ads simply
rehashed previous objections
and reservations.
In fact, one sentence from the
18-paragraph ad literally jumps
off the page and effectively
sums up the message: What is
(supposedly) wrong with the bill
is the bill itself. How does one
argue with this assertion? Its
already a blanket denunciation
of the RH bill.
In short, the Church has not
budged, nor has it shown any in-
dication that it ever would on the
matter of reproductive health.
This has not come as a surprise
to many. I have personally been
pushing to get the RH bill voted
upon already. As I have written
many times in previous col-
umns, the Catholic Church
and its allied groups of reli-
gious zealots will not change
their minds on the bill. It is
futile to enter into any dis-
cussion or negotiation with
them. There is absolutely
nothing to discuss. Everything
has been debated upon, dissected,
analyzed, etc., and both sides of
the issue have already made their
positions and counter-positions
known.
The Catholic Church and its
allies have already made up their
minds a long time ago and they
are 100-percent convinced of
the infallibility of their position.
As far as they are concerned,
they have received direct in-
structions from God himself and
the probability of them chang-
ing their mind or giving in to
any of the proposed amendment
has about the same chances an
ice cube has in surviving a ma-
jor conagration.
I can understand why it was
important for Lagman and com-
pany to come across as reason-
able individuals in quest of a
compromise. They probably
thought that being perceived as
having the higher moral ground
would boost the chances of hav-
ing the bill passed. They wanted
to exhaust all possible avenues
to achieve a win-win solution.
The problem was that there is
just no way for a compromise to
qualify as a win-win solution. A
compromise, at its very essence,
is already a lose-lose or at least
a no-deal situation.
The amendments have only
resulted in loss of valuable
time that could have been bet-
ter spent marshalling resources
to get the bill voted upon in ple-
nary. I doubt that theres now
enough time to get the measure
approved during this congress.
I pray that I will be ultimately
proven wrong, but my best
guess is that the bill is as good
as shelved. Theres just no way
that legislators who are up for
reelection in a few months will
want to have their reelection
chances imperiled by the way
they vote on the measure.
Since the Catholic Church has
not indicated any willingness to
revisit its original position on the
RH Bill, what, then, is the point
of amending the bill? Lets just
go back to the original version
and submit this already to a vote.
We should now be focusing our
efforts in making sure the bill ar-
rives at the oor, getting our leg-
islators to vote on it, and ensuring
that they vote according to the
needs and demands of majority of
their constituencies.
BONG C.
AUSTERO
ARE WE THERE YET?
GET-RICH-QUICKor get-richer-
quickschemes that eventually col-
lapse are nothing new. Many keep
falling for them anyway.
The propensity to place funds in
these lucrative organizations is not
limited to Filipinos, or to the mass-
es. For instance, Bernard Madoff,
now locked up for the rest of his life,
has become the poster boy for scam-
mers. Madoff lived the high life in
the US and conducted an exclusive,
by-invitation-only operation so that
rich people were practically begging
to be asked to place their money
with his fund. He also engaged in
philanthropic activities. He is re-
ported to have scammed politicians,
celebrities and other high-net worth
individuals in the US and Europe to
the tune of $65 billion.
In the Philippines, Rose Baladjay
was thrown into jail for running a
Ponzi scheme that duped ordinary
wage earners and businessmen, poli-
ticians and celebrities alike for a to-
tal sum of P25 billion.
Now more than 8,000 individuals,
most of them from Pagadian City, have
led a complaint before the National
Bureau of Investigation against a
company called Aman Futures Group
Philippines. There are reports that as
many as 15,000 lost an aggregate of
P12 billion. Unfortunately, the brains
behind the scam, Manuel Amalilio,
has ed to Malaysia.
In the resulting fallout, Philippine
ofcials are decrying the lack of su-
pervision by pertinent agencies such
as the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission, the NBI, and the Philippine
National Police. In fact, some PNP
ofcials from the area have been re-
lieved of their posts for their failure
to nip the scam in the bud.
Regulators must have also seen red
ags in the operations of Aman Fu-
tures. Questions should have been
raised at the earliest possible instance.
Even so, such a company would
not thrive if there were no takers
gullible investors who believed
the too-good-to-be-true promises
of Amans agents, or really greedy
ones who may have known about
the dangers but decided to take their
chance to cash in before the entire
scheme falls apart.
They may le their complaints and
tell stories of how they have been
duped, but the ultimate responsibil-
ity lies with investors themselves.
Its their money, and the decision to
use the funds however way is theirs
to make alone.
Asia Times Online
A7
Sunday
FOREIGN
ManilaStandardTODAY
Xi leads China amid new challenges
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Public Works and Highways
First Metro Manila Engineering District
Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario
Pasig City
i nvi tati on to Bi d
A. The Department of Public Works and Highways-First Metro Manila
Engineering District, Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario,
Pasig City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors
to apply to bid for the following contracts:

1. Contract ID No.: 0120B0296
Contract Name: Phase I, Drainage Improvement Works at Boni-Maysilo
Circle West of Mandaluyong Main, Drainage Project,
Mandaluyong City
Contract Location: Mandaluyong City
Scope of Work: Drainage Improvement
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PhP107,668,033.16
Contract Duration: 210 Calendar Days
Cost of Bid Documents: PhP50,000.00
Contract Name: Improvement/Construction of Gravity Wall along Taytay
River at Intermittent Section from Sta. 0+520 to Sta.
6+040, Taytay, Rizal
Contract Location: Taytay, Rizal
Scope of Work: Improvement/Construction of Gravity Wall
Contract Name: Improvement/Construction of Gravity Wall with Gabions
as Foundation at Intermittent Section along Cainta,
River, Sta. 8+901 to Sta. 10+300, Cainta, Rizal (Phase
III)
Contract Location: Cainta, Rizal
Contract Name: Construction of Slope Protection for Marikina River
along Brgy. Tumana, Eastbank, Marikina City, 2
nd

District, Sta. 6+210 Sta. 6+621.10
Contract Location: Marikina City
Scope of Work: Construction of Slope Protection
I)
II)
Contract Name: Construction of Gravity Wall along Nangka River at
Boystown Compound, Marikina City
Contract Location: Marikina City
Scope of Work: Construction of Slope Protection
Contract Name: Proposed Restoration of Damaged Slope Protection
along Marikina River (Mouth of Rosario Weir), Pasig
City
Contract Location: Pasig City
Scope of Work: Restoration of Damaged Slope Protection
Contract Name: Construction of Multi-Purpose Building and Site
Development, Hall of Justice/TCU/Taguig City
Compound, Gen. Santos Avenue, Taguig City
Contract Location: Tagug City
B. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission
and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least
ffty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained
in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.
C. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using
non-discretionary pass/fail critetion as specifed in the Revised Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known
as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino Citizens/sole proprietorships, or organizations
with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock
belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
D. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from First Metro Manila
Engineering District, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given
below from [8:00A.M.-12:00NN and 1:00P.M.-5:00P.M.].
E. A. complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders
from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the
Bidding Documents.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine
Government Electronic System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the procuring
Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not
later that the submission of their bids.
F. The First Metro Manila Engineering District, will hold the Pre-Bid Conference
on November 23, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at FMMED-Offce Conference Room,
Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario, Pasig City, which shall be
open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.
G. Bids must be delivered on or before December 06, 2012 10:00 A.M. at First
Metro Manila Engineering District, Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway,
Rosario, Pasig City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of
the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1.
Bids will be opened on the same date at 2:00 P.M. in the presence of the bidders
representatives who choose to attend at the aforesaid address. Late bids shall
not be accepted.
H. The First Metro Manila Engineering District, reserves the right to accept or reject
any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to
contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected or bidders.
I. For further information, please refer to:

(Sgd.) MARIO E. ALCANTARA
OIC-Chief, Maintenance Section
Engineer III/BAC Chairman
NOTED
(Sgd.) ROBERTO S. NICOLAS
District Engineer
(MST-Nov. 18, 2012)
Department of Transportation and Communications
CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
OLD MIA ROAD, PASAY CITY,
Metro Manila
(MST-Nov. 19, 2012)
IN RE: PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE
FUEL SURCHARGE ON ITS
INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TICKETS
CAB CASE No. EP-59420/HED112012/5J/254-PFS
CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC),
Petitioner.
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
NOTICE OF HEARING
Pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 776, as amended, notice is
hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC) has fled with
the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for authority to impose upward
adjustment of fuel surcharge on its international passenger tickets,
detailed as follows:
Route V.v. Amount per PAX
(USD)
Manila - Denpasar 65.00
The above entitled case is scheduled for hearing on December 6,
2012, at 10:00 A.M. at the CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay
City, before the undersigned Hearing Offcer, at which hearing the petitioner
shall present evidence.
Under Section 16 of R.A. 776. the applicant is hereby required
to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once, two (2) weeks
before the scheduled hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and
have copies hereof and the application be sent to all Philippine carriers
with international scheduled operations, either by personal service or
by registered mail with return card at least fve (5) days before the
scheduled hearing.
Let a copy of the petition and this Notice of Hearing be posted at
the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.
14 November 2012.
Pasay City, Philippines.
(Sgd.) MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO
Hearing Offcer
Copy furnished:
M. MARIA VIDA M. STOIFL
Director-External Affairs
CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC)
Airline Operations Center
Domestic Airport, Pasay City
Atty. PATERNO S. MANTARING, JR.
Counsel for CEB
Cebu Pacifc Air, Inc.
Airline Operations Centre
ATTY. ENRIQUE ANTONIO J. ESQUIVEL, III
Assistant Corporate Secretary and
Head of Aeropolitical Division
Philippine Airlines, Inc.
PNB Financial Center
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue
CCP Complex, Pasay City
ATTY. JONATHAN ANDREWD. LIM
Counsel for APC
Legal Department
Air Philippines Corporation
APC Gate 1, Adrews Avenue
Pasay City
ATTY. MAILA ROBERTAA. PADPAD-BANAAG
Counsel for Zest Airways
Zest Airways, Inc.
Domestic Road cor. Andrews Avenue
Pasay City
ATTY. LEONARDO VINZ O. IGNACIO
Vice President for Legal
Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), Inc.
Unit 404 La O' Centre, 1000 Arnaiz Ave.
Makati City
MS. MARIA INEZ F. JOSE
Strategy, Airport and Planning
AIRASIA, INC.
8
TH
Floor, DPC Place
2322 Chino Roces Avenue
Makati City
MS. AILEEN C. CLEMANTE
President
Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA)
12/F EGI Rufno Plaza, cor. Taft Buendia
Gil Puyat, Pasay City
Department of Transportation and Communications
CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
OLD MIA ROAD, PASAY CITY,
Metro Manila
(MST-Nov. 19, 2012)
Copy furnished:
M. MARIA VIDA M. STOIFL
Director-External Affairs
CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC)
Airline Operations Center
Atty. PATERNO S. MANTARING, JR.
Director for Legal
Cebu Pacifc Air, Inc.
Airline Operations Centre
ATTY. ENRIQUE ANTONIO J. ESQUIVEL, III
Assistant Corporate Secretary and
Head of Aeropolitical Division
Philippine Airlines, Inc.
PNB Financial Center
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue
CCP Complex, Pasay City
ATTY. JONATHAN ANDREWD. LIM
Counsel for Airphil Express
Legal Department
Air Philippines Corporation
APC Gate 1, Adrews Avenue
Pasay City
ATTY. MAILA ROBERTAA. PADPAD-BANAAG
Counsel for Zest Airways
Zest Airways, Inc.
Domestic Road cor. Andrews Avenue
Pasay City
ATTY. LEONARDO VINZ O. IGNACIO
Vice President for Legal
Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), Inc.
Unit 404 La O' Centre, 1000 Arnaiz Ave.
Makati City
MS. MARIA INEZ F. JOSE
Strategy, Airport and Planning
AIRASIA, INC.
8
TH
Floor, DPC Place
2322 Chino Roces Avenue
Makati City
MS. AILEEN C. CLEMANTE
President
Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA)
12/F EGI Rufno Plaza, cor. Taft Buendia
Gil Puyat, Pasay City
IN RE: PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE
UPWARD ADJUSTMENT OF FUEL
SURCHARGE ON ITS INTERNATIONAL
PASSENGER TICKETS
CAB CASE No. EP-59443/HED112012/5J/255-PFS1
CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC),
Petitioner.
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
NOTICE OF HEARING
Pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 776, as amended, notice is
hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. (CEBU PACIFIC) has fled with
the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for authority to impose upward
adjustment of fuel surcharge on its international passenger tickets,
detailed as follows:
Route V.v. From (USD) To (USD)
MNL - KIX 45.00 55.00
The above entitled case is scheduled for hearing on December 6,
2012 at 10:30 A.M. at the CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay
City, before the undersigned Hearing Offcer, at which hearing the petitioner
shall present evidence.
Under Section 16 of R.A. 776. the applicant is hereby required
to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once, two (2) weeks
before the scheduled hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and
have copies hereof and the application be sent to all Philippine carriers
with international scheduled operations, either by personal service or
by registered mail with return card at least fve (5) days before the
scheduled hearing.
Let a copy of the petition and this Notice of Hearing be posted at
the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.
14 November 2012.
Pasay City, Philippines.
(Sgd.) MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO
Hearing Offcer
The countrys political elite
named Xi to the top party post on
Thursday, and unexpectedly put
him in charge of the military too,
after a weeklong party congress
and months of divisive bargaining.
The appointments give him broad
authority, but not the luxury of time.
After decades of juggernaut growth,
China sits on the cusp of global
pre-eminence as the second largest
economy and newest power, but it
also has urgent domestic troubles
that could frustrate its rise.
Problems that have long fes-
teredfrom the sputtering econ-
YANGON, MyanmarWhen
Arker Kyaw heard President
Barack Obama was coming to
Myanmar, he gathered 15 cans
of spray paint and headed for
a blank brick wall under cover
of darkness. Kyaw, whose pas-
sion is grafti, labored from
3 a.m. until the sun came up.
Passing taxi drivers and the
occasional pedestrian gave
him signs of encouragement
as Obamas grinning, uplifted
face took shape against a back-
ground of the American and
Myanmar ags.
I wanted to welcome him,
said Kyaw, a 19-year-old with
a sweep of styled hair and a
penchant for skinny jeans.
The next day, someone
a rival grafti artist, suspects
Kyawscribbled over his
handiwork with a can of black
spray paint.
Before dawn Saturday, as he
watched for cops between tea
breaks, he painted another wall
with an image of Obama scrawled
with the words hello again. He
sees it as a shout out from the
youth of Myanmar, and hopes
Obama will glimpse it during his
six-hour visit to the country, the
rst by a US president.
Word of Obamas historic
visit has spread quickly around
Yangon, which is readying it-
self with legions of hunched
workers painting fences and
curbs, pulling weeds and scrap-
ing grime off old buildings in
anticipation of the presidents
Monday arrival.
Some here read symbolic
value into Obamas itinerary.
Obama is scheduled to meet
with opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi as well as President
Thein Sein, who is widely cred-
ited with driving the countrys
recent political and economic
reforms. He will also deliver a
speech at the University of Yan-
gon, which has been a seat of op-
position since colonial times. AP
JERUSALEMThe hostilities between Israel and Hamas
have found a new battleground: social media.
The Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas militants have ex-
changed ery tweets throughout the ghting in a separate
war to inuence public opinion.
Shortly after it launched its campaign Wednesday by killing Ha-
mas top military commander Ahmed Jabari, the Israeli militarys
media ofce announced a widespread campaign on terror sites &
operatives in the (hash)Gaza Strip on its Twitter account.
It then posted a 10-second black-and-white video of the
airstrike on its ofcial YouTube page. Google Inc., which
owns YouTube, removed the video for a time early Thurs-
day, but reconsidered and restored it.
A tweet from (at)idfspokesperson said: We recommend that
no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show
their faces above ground in the days ahead.
Hamas, under its (at)AlQassamBrigade English-language
account, which is largely considered to be the ofcial Twit-
ter account for its military wing, red back: Our blessed
hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are
(You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves).
The Israeli militarys media ofce Twitter account, which gained
more than 50,000 followers in just 24 hours, is just one of various
online platforms used to relay real-time information to the public,
sometimes even before it is conveyed to reporters.
The IDF news desks email signature reads like a cata-
log for new media platforms, including links to its YouTube
channel, Facebook page and Flickr photo albums. The mili-
tary also just opened a Tumblr account in English and plans
to launch one in Spanish.
Following the assassination, the military tweeted a graph-
ically designed photograph of Jabari, with a red backdrop
and capitalized block letters reading ELIMINATED,
drawing both celebration and erce criticism from a range
of users. Throughout the operation, the military and its sup-
porters have tweeted with the hashtag IsraelUnderFire,
while many Palestinians have tweeted with a separate hash-
tag GazaUnderAttack. AP
LONDONIts a mystery
tour, but its hardly magical.
More than nine miles
(14 kilometers) from the
striped crosswalk made
famous by the Beatles al-
bum Abbey Road, this
drab transit station in east
London keeps drawing
confused fans of the Fab
Four into unwanted jaunts
through a gritty, industrial
area just south of Londons
Olympic Stadium.
Abbey Road Station has
no relation to the Beatles
Abbey Road Studios, the
birthplace of the epony-
mous album and a London
tourist landmark. The glass-
and-metal station is wedged
among a train depot, ware-
houses, and gloomy public
housing projects, a world
away from the leafy, sub-
urban street pictured on the
albums cover.
It didnt take long for
American visitor Christie
Johnson, 22, to gure out she
was in the wrong place.
It didnt look right, the
Denver resident said. She
and her embarrassed host
English student Melody Vet-
trainowanted to see the
iconic crosswalk on a whim.
At the nearby Star Newsa-
gents, 36-year-old Paramjeet
Kaur said her convenience
store saw an average of a
dozen Beatles fans a day.
Outside, 19-year-old
Nathan Johnson said he was
constantly seeing visitors
stride across the small, une-
ven intersection outside the
station to recreate the pose
struck by Paul McCartney,
John Lennon, Ringo Starr
and George Harrison on the
1969 album covereven if
the newcomers have come
to the wrong place. AP
BEIJINGLong-anointed successor Xi
Jinping assumes the leadership of China
at a time when the ruling Communist
Party is confronting slower economic
growth, a public clamor to end corruption
and demands for change that threaten its
hold on power.
omy to friction with the U.S. and
territorial spats with Japan and
other neighborshave worsened
in recent months as the leadership
focused on the power transfer. Im-
patience has grown among entre-
preneurs, others in the new middle
class and migrant workersall
wired by social media and con-
ditioned by two decades of rising
living standards to expect better
government, if not democracy.
All along, police have continued
to harass and jail a lengthening list
of political foes, dissidents, civil
rights lawyers and labor activists.
Two young Tibetans died Thurs-
day after setting themselves ablaze
in far west China, Radio Free Asia
said, in the latest of dozens of sui-
cide protests over Beijings han-
dling of its Tibetan regions.
In his rst address to the nation,
Xi, a 59-year-old son of a revolu-
tionary hero, acknowledged the
lengthy agenda for what should be
the rst of two ve-year terms in
ofce. He promised to deliver bet-
ter social services while making
sure China stands tall in the world
and the party continues to rule.
Our responsibility now is to rally
and lead the entire party and the peo-
ple of all ethnic groups in China in
taking over the historic baton and in
making continued efforts to achieve
People gather at a park watching the live TV broadcast of Chinas new Communist Party General Secretary
Xi Jinping speaking during a press event to introduce the newly-elected members of the Politburo
Standing Committee, in Shanghai, China on Thursday, Nov. 15. AP
the great renewal of the Chinese na-
tion, a condent Xi said in nation-
ally televised remarks in the Great
Hall of the People.
He later said we are not compla-
cent, and we will never rest on our
laurels in confronting challenges
corruption chief among them.
By his side stood the six other
newly appointed members of the
Politburo Standing Committee: Li
Keqiang, the presumptive premier
and chief economic ofcial; Vice
Premier Zhang Dejiang; Shanghai
party secretary Yu Zhengsheng;
propaganda chief Liu Yunshan;
Tianjin party secretary Zhang
Gaoli; and Vice Premier Wang
Qishan, once the leaderships top
troubleshooter who will head the
partys internal watchdog panel.
Xi gave no hint of new think-
ing to address the problems. The
lack of specics and the new lead-
ership heavy with conservative
technocrats deated expectations
for change in some quarters.
We should be expecting more
of the same, not some fundamental
break from the past, said Dali Yang
of the University of Chicago.
Fundamental for the leadership is
to maintain the partys rule, he said.
They are not interested in intro-
ducing Chinas Gorbachevthe
Soviet leader whose reforms has-
tened the end of the S oviet
UnionYang said. AP
Myanmar
welcomes
Obama
in style
Israel, Hamas bring
war in social media
Fans get lost in wrong Abbey Road
In this le photo, a man walks on the zebra crossing made
famous from the album cover of The Beatles Abbey Road in
front of Abbey Road Studios, seen at left, in London. AP
extrastory2000@gmail.com Sunday
BUSINESS
ManilaStandardTODAY
SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 SUNDAY
A11
Sunday
Manila StandardTODAY
Business
A8
By Anna Leah G. Estrada
MORE than 1 million clients of just one local bank
now conduct their nancial transactions without
leaving their homes or ofces, allowing them to
save on gas and avoid long queues inside the bank
branches.
Bank tellers
disappearing soon?
SIDDHARTH Wadehra believes that
the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg
will come from Asia. In an interview
in Makati City, Wadehra, a 27-year-old
former Silicon Valley engineer, says a
number of young Asian professionals
are returning to their home countries
to start their own companies that
could well be the next Microsoft or
Facebook.
Wadehra, who rst gained fame
as a whiz kid in India, explains why
he quit his high-prole jobs at Sun
Microsystems (now Oracle) and IBM
in the US to establish his own start-ups
and gain entrepreneurial knowledge
by studying at the Makati-based Asian
Institute of Management for his MBA
degree.
While studying at AIM, Wadehra
helped the business school perform well
in international competitions such as
the Hult Global Case Challenge in San
Francisco early this year. The event
is considered one of the worlds top
platforms for social change.
His business concept thInQ was
declared among the most innovative
concepts presented at the Hult Global
Case Challenge and was voted among
the top ve platforms changing the
world by the Time magazine. Inspired
by the legacy of Steve Jobs and lured by
the promise of the current tech boom in
Philippines and other Asian countries, he
is busy converting his next idea into one
of the hottest start-ups on the Internet.
In October, Wadehra was proclaimed
one of the winners of the 3rd Drucker
Challenge Essay Contest, which aims
to raise awareness among young people
on the works and ideas of Peter Drucker
and a management philosophy that puts
the human being in its center.
the convenience of initiating investment
transactions through the Internet.
The bank also offers BPI Trade
which allows its client to access live
stock market information from the
Philippine Stock Exchange during
trading hours, enter their stock market
orders online, check on the status of
their stock market orders, and keep
track of their cash balance and stock
position.
Were one of the rst in terms of
Internet use. According to third parties,
we have the most number of users.
But what we really want to do aside
from these is to help our clients plan
their nances. We want to help them to
manage their funds, Gatuslao says.
Gatuslao admits that while there are a
lot of things that the 24/7 banking offers,
there are still certain things that their
clients cannot do online, like opening
an account. He says bank branches and
tellers may not disappear entirely, but
their functions may be focused on sales
and promotion in the future.
Future of banks
If you look at our services now, there
are a lot of services that we already
provide online so what we want is to
focus on marketing to further help our
clients, he says.
Recently, BPI teamed up with Globe
Telecom to provide an easy, fast and secure
reloading transaction which will benet
the BPI 24/7 banking clients who are also
Globe Telecom prepaid subscribers.
We encourage our Globe subscriber
clients to reload their prepaid SIM cards
through BPI 24/7 banking for a more
convenient yet secured reloading, says
Noel Tagaza, senior vice president and
head of BPI Electronic Channels Group.
Reloading through BPI is now very
rewarding, giving you exclusive perks to
always keep in touch with your families and
friends. Now, even if you are always on the
go, anytime and anywhere, you wont be
afraid of zero load balance, Tagaza says.
He says from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31,
reloading a Globe SIM card using BPI
24/7 banking express online, mobile and
phone channels give Globe subscribers
unlimited SMS to all networks, 50
minutes of free call to Globe and TM
numbers, plus 5MB worth of free mobile
Internet surng.
Asia seen
to produce
next Bill Gates
AIM education
He says being a business student
at AIM has truly been a life changing
experience. He attributes his numerous
achievements to his education and
experience at AIM, adding that the case
method at the business school helps
them to apply management principles
and concepts to real-life challenges and
scenarios.
Wadehra also believes that the
Philippines is poised to become the next
big business destination in Asia because
of its amazing potential for growth. This
is why he is doing his bit encouraging
people to establish their own businesses
and play their part in the incredible
Asian growth story.
One needs to be aware of your
strengths and weaknesses and should
have the ability to learn humbly from all
the mistakes one makes, he says.
Wadehra also used his time at AIM to
write a book called Asia Incredible,
which shows the journey taken by
Asian entrepreneurs to transform their
ventures into global enterprises.
Wadehra represents a breed of
youngsters from Asia who are doing
well to fast spread the message of
how taking up entrepreneurship and
creating jobs will benet the economy
in the long run.
He says young Asians like him are
setting up innovative start-upsand
raking in the moolah, not just for
themselves but also for the society.
Asia, today, is fast becoming the
hotbed of the tycoon at 20 syndrome,
he says, referring to the experiences of
Gates and Zuckerberg.
Software companies
Wadehra himself established his own
software companies at a very young age. I
hold patents and copyrights to the various
software applications that I have developed.
My software application Mobi-Secure
has been awarded numerous business
innovation awards and has found immense
accolades from the banking and the ITES
[information technology enables services]
industry, he says.
He says an educational start-up
project has found wide appreciation
from some of the biggest business
names and has been the cynosure
of the eyes of a leading venture
capitalist firm in Europe. Wadehra is
at the brink of cracking $4.5 million
which he says he will use to scale up
his operations in Manila, Singapore,
Hong Kong and other major cities in
Southeast Asia.
He has been actively involved
in mentoring students and aspiring
entrepreneurs across different start-up
incubator camps and business schools.
Wadehra says he was also invited
as a guest speaker across various
forums, conferences and at some
of the best business schools across
Europe and Asia. My topics of speech
primarily include emerging trends in
entrepreneurship to the opportunities
and challenges which the huge Asian
market poses, he says.
He has been covered in numerous
print media and television appearances.
Soon, he would be featured in CNBCs
prime time TV show Young Turks and
an entrepreneurship show at BBC-India.
Wadehra says he is doing all he can
writing books, speaking at international
forums, inspiring youngsters, quitting
high-prole Silicon valley jobs and
turning-down high prole consulting
This became possible after Bank of
the Philippine Islands launched its 24/7
banking services that allow its clients to
do bank transactions through electronic
channels such as the Internet, mobile
phones and landline telephones. One
of the persons responsible for these
innovations is Carlo Gatuslao, assistant
vice president and head of channels
marketing and sales division of BPI
electronic channels group.
We really want to provide our clients
more convenience because they dont
have to go to the banks anymore to do
these transactions, says Gatuslao.
Gatuslao plays an active role in the
various initiatives of the bank for the
development of its electronic self-
service channels. He was a part of
the team that established the BPI Call
Center in 1998 and spent the next ve
years managing the Express Phone Self
Service Channel.
He was later appointed channel
manager of BPI Express Online, the
banks consumer Internet banking
platform. He now leads the marketing
and sales division of the BPI electronic
channels group and handles channels
marketing, outbound sales and worksite
sales departments.
Gatuslao says BPI clients can now
make nancial transactions using their
phone, mobile phones and the Internet.
These transactions include but are
not limited to account balances, bills
payment and money transfer.
Gatuslao says since these services
were launched, they noticed a signicant
increase in the number of enrolled
users.
1.1m website users
Some 1.5 million BPI clients are now
enrolled in the banks internet, mobile,
and phone banking. Of the total, 1.1
million are enrolled in the banks Web
site, 400,000 in mobile account and
100,000 in phone banking.
We have very young clients and even
up to the age 70s using BPI channels,
says Gatuslao.
Users of these channels, representing
a quarter of the banks total clientele,
made a total of 95 million transactions,
excluding withdrawals or deposits using
automated teller machines. The gure
is expected to rise further in the coming
years.
In fact, Gatuslao says the banks
electronic channel enrollees have been
increasing 30 percent year-on-year and
the growth is expected to continue over
the next three years.
This is because more Filipinos are
becoming mobile and Internet-savvy.
About 85 percent of Filipinos now
have mobile phones, and many of them
own smart phones that can access the
Internet.
A third of Filipinos are already
online. Soon, a third of those online
would be using mobile phones, says
Gatuslao.
BPI has been very active
in technology. Weve seen the
transformation already and we expect
more in the future. But it is still difcult
to predict what will still happen in the
near future, he says.
Banking anytime
BPI is offering 24/7 banking to allow
clients to bank anytime, anywhere. Its
more on offering convenience to clients
to give them more time for things that
matter-more quality time for family
bonding, more time to travel, and
more time to shop, says Frederick
Faustino, head of BPIs mobile banking
department.
Aside from these innovations, the
bank also launched the BPI investments
online last year. This is the countrys rst
full-service online investment facility,
which enables the banks clients to enjoy
Carlo Gatuslao (fourth from left) and other executives of BPI and Globe Telecom
Siddharth
Wadehra
assignments to start-up innovative
ventures and social enterprises, playing
role models and mentors to help make a
change in the society and economy.
The recent economic surge of the
Philippines and a host of other Asian
countries are a potent testimony to
that and the futures of these countries
continue to seem rosy, he says.
I hope that I can create a credible
impact in the country and the society
which I owe so much to, says Wadehra,
who was once termed as community
crusader by a leading English daily
The Telegraph in India even when
while he was in high school.
For the future, Wadehra says he has his
sights rmly set on the Asian software
industry, adding that his passion for
technology and acumen for business is
second to none.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be
everything and do everything. There
were days I imagined myself to be a
soldier and on others I would be a king,
he says.
His teachers in high-school remember
him as an all-rounder. He was awarded
the overall efciency in curricular and
co-curricular activities in high-school
way back in 1997.
Asia Incredible
Wadehra says the pre-booking
numbers for his rst book Asia
Incredible indicate that the project has
the potential to become a bestseller.
The book launch, scheduled over
the next few weeks in Makati, would
see some of the biggest names in the
business fraternity in Asia come together
under one roof for the event, he says.
Meanwhile, Wadehra says he has
gracefully declined offers from leading
business magazines seeking copyright
for his work and intends to incorporate
the unedited version of his paper in his
upcoming second book Methods to
Madness.
The project which is due for a March
2013 release highlights the dilemmas
and challenges faced by any aspiring
entrepreneur. He has pledged the royalty
from his literary projects to the Chandra
Prabha Trust which focuses on education
for the rural poor in villages.
Wadehra truly tries to make an impact
in whatever he does, representing the
new global Asian youth who are striving
hard to make an impact in the world
today. RTD
Sunday
ManilaStandardTODAY
ARTS & LIFE
B1
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2012
The Beatriz Accessories Gold
Holiday Collection is composed
of seven matching luxury 24-karat
gold plated and hammered into
metal clutches and bangles with
stones. Fabulously themed
Holiday Sparkle, the golden
sheen of the clutch bags and
bangles accentuated by garnet,
jade or onyx can be the next little
black dress best friend.
For that special event, whether
its a special date in a post restau-
rant or an important holiday event,
the Beatriz Accessories collection
is there with statement pieces that
you need to mark that moment,
says Carissa. The collection comes
with designs playfully named Em-
press Jade, Garnet Sunburst, Mod-
ern Stone, Bejeweled Symphony,
Onyx Chrysanthemum, Diamond
Butteries and Raw Brown Agate.
Before the Beatriz Accessories
collection, Carissa produced and
supplied bags and accessories for
Kultura at SM department stores
through her company Bella Trading.
Carissa is showbusiness royalty.
Her grandfather was Doc Perez of
Sampaguita Studios. Pangasinan
Rep. Gina De Venecia is her mother.
Carissa was also a former Trade Un-
dersecretary and the mother of two
daughters, Isabella Beatrice, ve,
and Gabrielle Francesca, three.
Yes, Carissa named Beatriz after
one of her daughters.
She studied Apparel Manufac-
turing at the Fashion Institute of
Design and Merchandising in San
Francisco, California in 2003. She
also has a Masters in Business Ad-
ministration from the University
of Boston while her undergraduate
study in Management was com-
pleted at Ateneo de Manila Uni-
versity in 1993.
Carissas appreciation for local
craftsmen, designers and artists
was borne out of her decades of
work experience at the Trade and
Industry Department, Board of In-
vestments and Center for Interna-
tional Trade Expositions and Mis-
sions (Citem).
It was at that time that I came to
know and made contact with them
from different parts of the country.
We are so rich with talented people
in design that I felt privileged to be
working with them and showcase
their work, she says.
For the brand Beatriz Acces-
sories, I was inspired by the tal-
ent and craftsmanship of our local
lateros (blacksmith). I wanted to
showcase their exceptional skills
&
Carissa
By Carla Mortel
CLASSIC, elegant yet edgythese best describe the
accessories of the Beatriz Accessories Gold Holiday
Collection recently unveiled by Carissa Cruz-Evangelista
during an intimate gathering at M Caf in Makati City.
Beatriz
Present during the launch are (from left) Chito Vijandre and Ricky To-
ledo of Firma, Isabel de leon of Manila Bulletin, Rep. Gina de Venecia,
philanthropist Pinky Tobiano, Carissa Cruz- Evangelista and Juancho
Robles.
and level of craftsmanship in cap-
turing the design values that are re-
ective of my own personal style.
With this particular collection, the
lateros came from Luzon, adds
Carissa..
In the works for the Beatriz
Accessories are collection pieces
made up of silver, and silver and
gold pieces. This time, Carissa
plans to work with craftsmen
from up North in Baguio and
down South to the Visayas. She
also allowed a sneak peak of her
upcoming line of purses made out
of sh leather during the launch.
Aside from the aesthetics, the
metal clutches are meant to be
functional as well with a handy
compartment the can t in an iPod,
smartphone, small purse, powder
compact, lipstick and a mini-pack
of tissue paper.
Proudly Philippine-made, all
materials are locally-sourced.
Exclusively distributed in Firma
at Greenbelt 3, the caters to the
high-end market.
I made this collection with
the Filipino high-end market spe-
cically in mind. I wanted to give
them a collection truly dedicated
to the Filipino women who had
worked their dues and made their
mark in their respective elds.
I believe they deserve a collec-
tion they can proudly call as their
own, and aunt them on special
holiday occasions, adds Carissa.
Her distinct style and impecca-
ble taste was rst showcased in her
Obi Collection of bags and match-
ing belts. These garment pieces
made of vintage ceremonial Japa-
nese obi adorned with Swarovski
crystal and Japanese beads were
chic as fashion pieces. In the same
design track, the Beatriz Accesso-
ries Gold Holiday Collection com-
pletes and ties together the evening
ensemble easily.
Carissa named her jewelry line after one of her two daughters
The Beatriz Holiday Collection consists of 24-karat gold plated and harnessed into metal clutches and bangles
Carissa and her
mom, Pangasinan
Rep. Gina de
Venecia
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e
p
ie
ce
s a
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d
e
sig
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e
d

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C
a
rissa
a
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io
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Sunday
ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY
B2
Located at the back of the Folk Arts Theater at the
CCP Complex, the PAP studio has a fantastic view
of Manila Bay for sojourners and art lovers. For four
Saturdays in November and December, the Art by the
Bay will showcase the works of Filipino masters as well
as the up-and-coming gures of the local art scene. You
might even chat with some of these artists and relish
the view.
It is one of PAPs aims to expose the general public
regarding the art form of printmaking. Printmaking
has been around the world for centuries. There is a
massive legacy among the worlds greatest artists that
delved into printmaking. Spains Francisco Goyas los
Caprichos have exposed the horrors of war centuries
ago. 20
th
Century luminary Pablo Picasso has made
several prints alongside his paintings. Andy Warhol has
cemented pop art in the global consciousness with his
serigraph portraits of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe.
Even our very own National Artists who delved into
this oft-misunderstood art. Ben Cabrera solidied his
visions via printmaking and he himself is a PAP member
as well as a supporter of printmaking.
Among the current PAP members are known
masters of Philippine Visual Arts. Pandy Aviado who
has been quite prominent and visible in the Philippine
Art Scene with his bold visions. Along with his is
his fellow printmaker and educator Raul Isidro who
has articulated his thoughts on stark and compelling
abstraction both on canvas and in print. PAP is also
proud of its stable of upcoming young artists such as the
recent 13 Artist awardee Joey Cobcobo who is among
the new generation who seek to push the envelope of
printmaking in the 21
st
Century.
Their works along with the prints of Angelo Magno,
Janos Delacruz, Benjie Torrado, Noell Farrol, Buen
Abrigo will be available at the Art by the Bay. PAP also
conducts workshops on printmaking for interested groups.
The PAP invites you to their Art By the Bay and
sip wine, see the fantastic sunset and be surrounded
by great art.
For more information contact Gelo Magno (0927)-
6543707.
THE success of the recently concluded Carinderia Fiesta 2012 at the
World Trade Center enlivened one of the trusted food brands in the
country. Purefoods showed its support to all participating carinde-
rias through its display booth, namely Evas carinderia and Aling
Star, adjoining the two carinderias were the words, Kapartner sa
Asenso.
Carinderia Fiesta 2012 walk-in visitors were extremely glad to
make Evas carinderia and Aling Stars carinderia their tambayan
as they were in the receiving end of the incessant product sampling
and festive booth activities. Purefoods Star Corned Beef led the pack
of Purefoods products esteemed for its simple cooking procedure
that can either be mixed into a torta or classically sauted in onions
and potatoes, served with extra-steamy rice.
Purefoods bahay-
carinderia conveyed
that caring for carin-
derias is their way of
elevating homemade
meals to a certain
standard measured
not by monetary value
alone. The Best Pure-
foods Star Corned
Beef awards said it
all by recognizing
carinderia owners,
kusinero and kusinera
in terms of creativity,
innovation, hygiene
and sanitation. The
awardees are Baby
Jane Borja of Rey-
mon Eatery, Vinah
Bugtas of Ernings
Cebu Lechon and
Vicky Villaruel of
Vickys Eatery.
As the carinderia
prepares for the next
days menu, owners
can take comfort in
knowing that Purefoods can help them manage their food cost bet-
ter without compromising quality. Learning from one of the cooking
demos of San Miguel Culinary Center with top chef Sylvia Reynoso
Galas Magnolia All Purpose Flour Puto paired with Purefoods Star
Corned Beef, carinderia owners can rest assured that customers will
never go tired in taking their most anticipated lunch breaks in their
favourite carinderias. Only quality products, with emphasis on fresh-
ness, avor and cleanliness, are being used as ingredients for their
meals. Good quality ingredients produce good quality viands.
Purefoods takes this role to heart being a trusted food supplier
that assists carinderias in earning two thumbs up and word of mouth
marketing from their loyal customers.
Morning til sun down, Purefoods has all the products carinderias
need. Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs are a delight for kids during
breakfast, lunch, merienda or even dinner. Purefoods Liver Spread
and Primo dItalia Toppings had it all goin as nishing details on
rice meals, menudo or caldereta. Liver Spread goes well with pan-
desal and bread too! Ham sandwiches with Purefoods Star Ham are
also perfect for merienda. It is even easier to prepare pulutan with
Ulam King and Purefoods Sizzling Sisig. One can never go wrong
with a sundry of Purefoods discoveries and innovation; a power
brand dedicated for a booming segment that is the carinderias.
Food brand supports
small businesses
Art
Bay
by the
By Chong Ardivilla
NOTHING can rival the majestic Manila Bay Sunset. The
Philippine Association of Printmakers asks you to witness this
fantastic view alongside great art works from their members. On
Nov. 24 and on Dec. 1 and 8, the PAP members are opening their
studio doors to art enthusiasts and purchase groups various works
on display.
Purefoods Hormel Inc., product manager
Joyce Jacobe
MAGNUM recently launched the latest ad-
dition to the Magnum Ice Cream collection,
the Magnum Choco Capuccino. The newest
avor boasts of the perfect blend of creamy
vanilla ice cream with smooth cappuccino
sauce ripple, covered in thick cracking Bel-
gian chocolate and sweet crunchy pieces.
The event was held at the swanky Las
Flores restaurant at the Bonifacio Global
City and was attended by the Magnum
brand ambassadors, celebrities and me-
dia personalities. Opening the event was
none other than John Concepcion, chief
executive and managing director of Uni-
lever RFM Ice Cream Inc., who welcomed
guests and thanked them for their unwaver-
ing support of the Magnum brand. This was
followed by an entertaining performance
by the beautiful singer, Catriona Gray.
Magnum has delighted the palates and
satised the cravings of discriminating plea-
sure seekers all over the world. We are very
excited for this unveiling of the Magnum
Choco Capuccino, says Brian Chanyungco,
Magnum brand manager. This avor is per-
fect for Filipinos simply because we love
coffee. This is evident by the presence of so
many coffee shops around the country. So
now you have a product that offers coffee,
ice cream and premium Belgian chocolate. I
dont think it can get any better than that!
Biology Lesson, Intaglio print by Pandy Aviado
Engraving by Benjamin Torrado Cabrera
The latest addition
Robbie
Carmona
with Peachy
and John
Concepcion
Liz Uy Tessa Prieto-Valdes
Ruffa Gutierrez
Patricia Prieto, Laureen Uy and Camille Co
Raymond Gutierrez, Jean Madrid, Solenn Heussaff, Bea Soriano, Brian Chanyungco and Rajo
Laurel
B3 NOVEMBER 18, 2012 SUNDAY
Sunday
tech.mst.ph
ManilaStandardTODAY
email: tech@mst.ph
Consumers gain
COMDDAP sale
from
CONSUMERS
and small business
owners deciding
on their equipment
needs for home
or ofce use
will gain from
investing in high-
value information
technology
products
currently on sale
at COMDDAP
Expo Manila 2012
until Sunday,
November 18 at
the World Trade
Center Metro
Manila in Pasay
City, according
to Jefferson T.
Plaza, Computer
Manufacturers,
Dealers and
Distributors
Association of
the Philippines
Expo Manila 2012
chairman.
From the pioneering and
longest-running technology
exhibit committed to promoting
the use of IT in all levels, raising
productivity, and competitiveness
of professionals, home ofce
users and small businesses,
the COMDDAP Expo has
become the largest pre-holiday
technology sale event in the
Philippines today, Plaza told
Manila Standard.
The Expo offers substantial
discounts, special deals, bundled
promotions, trade-ins and
other Expo-exclusive offers
on computers and accessories,
monitors, laptops (notebooks and
Countrys biggest IT show and bazaar. COMDDAP Expo Manila 2012 at the World Trade Center expects to exceed last years crowd
of more than 17,000 IT consumers, small business owners, professionals and enthusiasts.
netbooks), printers, projectors,
smartphones, tablets, among other
gadgets.
The IT shows theme Make
I.T. work 4 U sums up our
commitment to offer the latest
products from global and local
technology brands at their most
affordable prices and complete
with enticing freebies, Plaza
said.
The annual COMDDAP Expo
is free of charge to the public.
Leading IT sellers participate in
the three-day IT shopping spree
including Advance Solutions, Inc.;
Astech Pengson Distributors, Inc.;
Complink Marketing, Inc.; Coby
Kyros Touchscreen Internet Tablet;
Infoworx, Inc.; International
Microvillage, Inc.; JMG; Mustard
Seed Systems Corporation;
Nanotec Corporation; Edupro,
Inc.; Jupiter Systems, Inc.; Nexus
Technologies, Inc.; Spinweb
Productions, Inc.; Trinity
Marketing, Inc.; and Wordtext
Systems, Inc.
Advance Solutions offers
discounts on a wide array of
laptops, including Lenovo Z470
and G470 notebooks by up to 27
percent or close to P10,000 saving;
Asus gaming notebook G75VW at
27 percent or as much as P26,000
saving; and Dell Inspiron 13z,
14z, 15z, and N4050 notebooks
by up to 20 percent.
The company also offers price
cuts on Acer netbooks 270, 756,
and E1-471 by up to 19 percent or
close to P4,000 saving; HP Folio
13 ultrabook and notebooks by up
to 13 percent or as much as P6,000
saving; and Samsung netbooks by
up to nine percent.
Astech Pengson gives owners
of old working or non-working
projectors (any brand) a chance
to get a new BenQ SVGA 2,700
ANSI lumens projector at only
P14,000, or a P4,000 saving
from the original P18,000. They
can also win a BenQ GP2 LED
projector valued at P33,500 if they
like BenQ Projector Philippines
on Facebook.
Complink shaves off eight
percent along with exclusive
freebies to buyers of selected
Toshiba netbooks, notebooks,
ultrabooks, Ivy Bridge processors
and tablets under Satellite,
Portege, and Regza series. The
company also offers Lifextend,
an extended product warranty of
one to two years on top of the
manufacturers warranty.
Tablet enthusiasts gets ve
percent discount on U.S. brand
Coby Kyros Touchscreen Internet
Tablets for its products priced
from P5,995 and up. Complink
also offers MID7042, MID8042,
MID9740, MID1042, and
MID9042 models at the Expo.
International Micro Village
offers up to 50 percent discount
on Avira Antivirus Premium and
Avira Internet Security versions
11 and 12. Prices for Aviras
ultrafast, cloud-enhanced virus
protection and security software
ranges between P470 to P1,700
at the Expo. The company also
gives up to 30 percent discount on
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge models
E330, E430, S430.
Nanotec Corporation extends up
to 30 percent discount on selected
motherboards, casing, power supply,
keyboards, mouse and headsets,
battery packs, laptop chargers,
and coolers from Thermaltake/ Tt
eSPORTS, Corsair, FSP/Amacrox
and ASRock.
Wordtext Systems gives
up to 50 percent discount on
2012 McAfee Antivirus Plus,
Internet Security Suite and Total
Protection with free upgrade to
2013 version and McAfee trade-
in deals; up to 50 percent discount
on Microsoft hardware (mouse,
keyboard and headset); and 20
percent discount on ribbons for
Printronix printers. WSI extends
discounts on Microsoft software
bundle deals and Star POS printer
trade-in offer.
With focus on consumer, small
business and enterprise markets,
COMDDAP Expo has lined up
the following seminars: Windows
8 and Windows-run products
by Microsoft (Friday, Nov. 16,
11 a.m.-4 p.m.), Changing
the Game with Backup Exec
3600 Appliance by Symantec
(Saturday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.-4
pm.), and Cybercrime Law by the
Department of justice (Sunday,
Nov. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.).
BPI, Security Bank MasterCard
and Diners Club International
cardholders (0% installment plan
exclusive to Expo buyers) may
charge their purchases onsite.
COMDDAP secretariat can
be reached at 810-3814 (email:
exhibit@comddap.org or info@
comddap.org) More information
about the event is available at
http://www.comddap.org.
Manila
Standard
TODAY
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
NUEVA VIZCAYA 2
ND
DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Malasin, Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya
INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways Nueva Vizcaya 2
nd
District Engineering
Offce, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the
following contract(s):
1. Contract ID: 12BJ0066
Name of Project: Road Upgrading (Gravel to Paved) based on Gravel Road
Strategies, Traffc Benchmark for Upgrading to Paved Road
Standard (HDM-4 Project Analysis) MFO-2), Intermittent Section,
Aritao-Quirino Road, K 0289+692-K 0291+500
Location: Catarawan-Biyoy Section, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya
Brief Description: Concreting of 6.70 x 0.23 x1,068.0 ln.m. roadway; installation of
12.0 ln.m., 910mm dia. RCPC; construction of 3.0 x 3.0 x 10m
RCBC; construction of 400.71 cu.m. grouted riprap and 982.76
cu.m. stone masonry works
Major Items of Work: Item 311 (1) : PCCP, 23m thk; Item 200: Aggregate Subbase Course; Item
506: Stone Masonry
Approved Budget for
the Contract (ABC): P 36,721,622.35
Duration: 210 CD
Name of Project: Replacement of Temporary to Permanent Bridges generated from
Bridge Management System (BMS), Imugan Bridge along Nueva
Vizcaya-Pangasinan Road
Location: Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
Brief Description: Construction of 8.54 x 10.0 ln.m. fat slab bridge; concreting of 6.7
x 0.23 x 72.0 ln.m. roadway; construction of 4.0 x 40.0 ln.m. detour
road.
Major Items of Work: Item 404 : Reinforcing Steel, Grade 40; Item 405: Structural Concrete
Class A
Approved Budget for
Duration: 150 CD
Name of Project: Replacement of Temporary to Permanent Bridges generated from
Bridge Management System (BMS), Papaya Bridge along Papaya-
Malabing-Wangal-Binogawan-Tadji-Runruno Road
Location: Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya
Brief Description: Construction of 8.54m x 10.0 m fat slab bridge
Major Items of Wor: Item 404 : Reinforcing Steel, Grade 40; Item 405: Structural
Concrete Class A
Approved Budget for
Duration: 150 CD
Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance
with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid
documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino
citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB
license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing
at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at
least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use
nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the
DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central
Offce will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and
issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded
at the DPWH website.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
BAC Activities Schedule
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents October 25-November 15, 2012
2. Pre-Bid Conference November 5, 2012 (2:00 PM)
3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from
Prospective Bidders
Deadline: November 8, 2012 (5:00 PM)
4. Receipt of Bids Deadline: November 15, 2012 (10:00 AM)
5. Opening of Bids Deadline: November 15, 2012 (2:00PM)
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at the Department of
Public Works and Highways Nueva Vizcaya 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, upon payment of a
nonrefundable fee (per D.M.C #37, series of 2012) of twenty fve hundred pesos (P25,000.00)
for Item #1 and ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for Items #2 and #3. Prospective bidders may
also download the BDs from the DPWH web site, if available. 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. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as
stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in the BDs
in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain
the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope
shall contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated
Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualifcation.
nd
Offce 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 :
(SGD.) FERDINAND M. DOMINGO
BAC, Chairman
Noted :
(SGD.) RODOLFO M. TORALBA, JR., CEO VI
District Engineer
(MST-NOV. 18, 2012)
NUEVA VIZCAYA 2
ND
Malasin, Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya
INVITATION TO BID
nd
Offce, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for
the following contract(s):
1. Contract ID : 12BJ0072
Name of Project: Lamo Flood Control along DM Jct. Lamo-Malasin Road, K
0252+000-K 0254+000, with exception
Location: Lamo Section, Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya
Brief Description: Construction of rubble concrete revetment, channel and
structure excavation with disposal of waste
Major Items of Work: Item 507 : Rubble Concrete
Approved Budget for
Duration: 145 CD
Name of Project: Baracbac Flood Control along Nueva Vizcaya-Pangasinan
Road, K 0216+000- K 0217+000, with exception,
Location: Baracbac Section, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
Brief Description: Construction of rubble concrete revetment
Major Items of Work: Item 507 : Rubble Concrete
Approved Budget for
Duration: 145 CD
Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance
with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid
documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b)
Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture,
(c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of
a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net
Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least
equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility
check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the
DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-
Central Offce will only process contractors applications for registration with complete
requirements and issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration
Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
BAC Activities Schedule
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents October 31-November 22, 2012
2. Pre-Bid Conference November 12, 2012 (2:00 PM)
3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective
Bidders
Deadline: November 15, 2012 (5:00 PM)
4. Receipt of Bids Deadline: November 22, 2012 (10:00 AM)
5. Opening of Bids Deadline: November 22, 2012 (2:00PM)
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at the Department of Public
Works and Highways Nueva Vizcaya 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, upon payment of a
nonrefundable fee (per D.O. #52, series of 2011) of fve hundred pesos (P500.00) for
Items #1 and #2 and one thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for Item #3 and twenty fve
thousand pesos (P25,000.00) for Item #2. Prospective bidders may also download the
BDs from the DPWH web site, if available. 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. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form,
as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in the BDs in two
(2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the
technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope
shall contain the fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest
Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualifcation.
nd
Offce 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 :
(SGD.) FERDINAND M. DOMINGO
BAC, Chairman
Noted :
(SGD.) RODOLFO M. TORALBA, JR., CEO VI
District Engineer
(MST-NOV. 18, 2012) (MST-NOV. 18, 2012)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & HIGHWAYS
DAVAO DEL SUR 2
nd
Buhangin, Malita, Davao del Sur
INVITATION TO BID
1. The Department of Public Works and Highways 2
nd
District Engineering Offce,
Buhangin, Malita Davao del Sur, through the Utilization of Savings derived from
Project under FY 2011 Budget] intends to apply the sum of following sum to
payments under corresponding contracts listed hereunder. Bids received in excess
of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
1. Contract ID 12LE0016
Contract Name/Location
Road Upgrading (gravel to paved)-Davao-Sarangani
Coastal Road, Malalag-Malita-JAS Road; km.
1686+940-km. 1687+530, Lamidan Section
Scope of Works Roadway and Drainage
Source of Fund Savings derived from Project under FY 2011 Budget
Approved Budget for the Contract P10,190,500.00
2. Contract ID 12LE0017
Contract Name/Location
Road Upgrading (gravel to paved)-Davao-Sarangani
Coastal Road, Malalag-Malita-JAS Road; km.
1688+760-km. 1688+1,119.805, Lanipao Section
Scope of Works Roadway and Drainage
Source of Fund Savings derived from Project under FY 2011 Budget
Approved Budget for the Contract P10,819,500.00
2. The DPWH 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, Buhangin, Malita, Davao del Sur now
invites bids for above-mentioned contract. Bidders should have completed,
within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract
similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in
the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.
3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures
using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed in the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA
9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships,
or organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or
outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH 2
nd
Offce, Buhangin, Malita, Davao del Sur and inspect the Bidding Documents at the
address given below from 8:00 oclock in the morning to 5:00 oclock in the afternoon.
5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders
from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding
Documents in the amount of Twenty Five thousand pesos only (Php 25,000.00)/project.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the
Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS)
and the DPWH website, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for
the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
6. The DPWH 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, Buhangin, Malita, Davao del
Sur will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on November 26, 2012 at 10:00 oclock
in the morning at DPWH 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, Buhangin, Malita,
Davao del Sur-BAC Offce, which shall be opened to all interested parties.
7. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before December 11, 2012
at DPWH 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, Buhangin, Malita, Davao del Sur-BAC
Offce at 10:00 oclock in the morning. All bids must be accompanied by a bid
security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who
choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.
8. Deadline of Receipt of LOIs from prospective bidders at 5:00 oclock in the
afternoon December 5, 2012 and Issuance of bidding documents starts
on Nov. 16, 2012 to 9:00 oclock in the morning of December 11, 2012.
9. The DPWH 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, Buhangin, Malita, Davao del Sur reserves
the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all
bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the
affected bidder or bidders.
10. For further i nformati on, pl ease refer to:

ANDREW A. PANGAN
BAC Chai rman
DPWH 2
nd
DEO, Buhangi n, Mal i ta, Davao del Sur
Contact number: 09474164895

(Sgd.) ANDREW A. PANGAN
Engineer III-BAC Chairman
NOTED :

Manila StandardTODAY
Sports
Sunday
B4
We take pride in what we have ac-
complished in kayaking, there is that
sense of fulllment in how this sport
has grown .It was a big challenge for
us to introduce something new and now
kayaking is enjoyed by a lot of people
all over the country, said Didi who has
joined the senior ranks of citizens but
can still kayak with gusto any time.
It was in 1993 when Mike Ricketts, a
retired US Air Forceman rst brought
kayaks into the country and held a dem-
onstration for the resorts in the area, it was
Didi who attended and she surprised Val
afterwards when she went back to the
Paniman Country Club with all ve sit-on
kayaks that Ricketts used for his demo.
Without even knowing how they will
be able to pay for the kayaks, the husband
and wife tandem included kayaking among
the water sports they were offering to resort
guests, this after trying it out and nding
that it was user friendly, not just for me and
Didi but for all the guests that tried it out,
That same year, we got the distribution right
for ocean kayaks which led us to travel all
around the country promoting and demon-
strating its use, said 57-year-old Val.
Actually it was an easy decision for
the couple to get hooked on kayaking,
considering their background in differ-
ent sports during their younger years,
Didi was into swimming, volleyball, and
badminton while the more daring Val en-
gaged in windsurng and triathlon.
More so for Didi whose late father was a
boat builder and ship captain who was fond
of bringing his kids to remote, uninhabited
islands where they stayed overnight.
My fathers love for the outdoors rubbed
off on me early on. I developed my love for
nature, said Didi, a former teacher in Ly-
ceum and a travel agency employee before
putting up a water sports concessionnaire
business when she married to Val.
Kayaking soon became popular in the
country and the Camara couple received
numerous invitations including a boys
scout jamboree in Lipata , Surigao del
Norte where they became the trainors do-
ing water safety and rescue work using
kayaks. The duo later formed the Philip-
pine Kayaking Association to serve as
event organizer of kayaking events.
We started in eco tourism in 1995 with
multi sports events that emphasize protec-
tion of the environment and later on, inte-
grated community development and liveli-
hood programs.This is our way of giving
back to the sport that we have learned to
love, said Didi whose three daughters all
kayak with their mom and dad during their
childhood to teen age years. Now grown up
they still help their parents in events organiz-
ing, making kayaking a truly family affair.
The rst event that PKA launched
in 1997 was a kayaking competetion
around the Taal Volcano Island in Taal
Lake with participants coming from
as far as Maguindanao and Cebu. This
was followed by a Cavite to Corregidor
crossing in the same year.
In 1998, the PKA held a challenge
event from Anilao, Batangas to Puerto
Galera, crossing the treacherous Verde
Passage between Batangas and Mind-
oro. Next was a trip back to Taal Lake
but this time it was a Taal Lake-Pansipit
promote local kayaking
CAMARA COUPLE
By Lito Cinco
HAVING pioneered the sport of kayaking in the
Philippines in 1993 while doing business as water
sports concessionaires in a resort in Paniman Puerto
Azul in Ternate Cavite, the couple Val and Didi
Camara look back with a sense of accomplishment at
what they have done to promote the sport.
River-Balayan Bay adventure that in-
cluded a coastal clean-up involving the
kayakers and other volunteers.
Other events done by PKA for the
growing number of kayakers also in-
cluded a Batangas City to Verde Island
Crossing, the Cavite-Corregidor Eco-
Motion in Action. They even found time
to join a Game Plan television Christmas
special where the hosts were host to 50
street children in Caliraya Lake with Val
and Didi teaching the children to kayak.
To promote the environment as a
form of public service the couple al-
ways had pre-events which included
teaching and training volunteers of
different LGUs on zero waste manage-
ment and coastal clean-up activities.
From open water kayaking, the hus-
band and wife tandem ventured in white
water river kayaking in Chico River in
Kalinga, and partnered with local out-
door adventurer Anton Carag in 1998.
They formed an adventure tour outt-
ter based in Tuguegarao. White water
rafting along Pinakanawan River was
also introduced to the public.
Busy as they were they still found the
time to do a training program for local
volunteers in Bulusan Lake in Sorsogon.
In 2006 that Val and Didi were con-
tracted by the New Zealand Agency
for International Development which
funded an eco tourism program aimed at
developing the Hundred Islands in Pan-
gasinan as a kayaking center. The project
involved the local residents who under-
went training as kayak tour guides.
This was a two year engagement for
us and our efforts were focused on that
program as were practically living in
Pangasinan. Itt was a complete training
program and not just teaching them to
use kayaks. We included modules on
communication skills development,
tour guiding, organizing group tours,
and safety and rescue, said Didi.
In 2008, the Hundred Islands Eco
Tours Association or HIETA opened
for business offering kayak tours to
visitors, something that has continued
to the present. This eco-tourism- live-
lihood project was cited by NZAID as
one of the more successful programs it
has funded.
Finding the time to go back to orga-
nizing kayak events, the couple lost no
time in coming up with another event.
We tied up with the Taal Lake for a
sailing and kayaking event Yacht Club
with a side objective of calling attention
to the importance of preserving Taal
Lake amidst the increasing number of
sh pens inside the lake.
The Camaras were tapped by the De-
partment of Tourism in 2009 to assist in
then Department of Tourism Secretary
Ace Durano in his Adventure Philippines
campaign. Being an archipelago the Phil-
ippines is a perfect venue for kayaking.
Kayaks enable people to visit places not
accessible to big motorized boats
The year proved to be a busy one as
the PKA did three legs of their Philip-
pine Kayaking Series. The rst one was
in Hundred Islands, followed by a Cavite-
Corregidor Crossing, and an ambitious
Cebu to Bohol crossing. The last event
turned out to be a nancial disaster.
But even if they lost money in that
event, the enthusiasm for kayaking was
never lost and in 2010, the PKA organized
an Anvaya-Subic eco-tourism adventure
experience. They included a visit to a
turtle conservation center where partici-
pants had an orientation on pawikans or
giant turtles. In 2011 and 2012, the PKA
went back to Taal Lake, partnering with an
NGO, Pusod, for the conservation of Taal
Lake as a watershed.
This year, the PKA staged two legs of
their series. The rst one was the Ternate-
Maragondon River eco adventure that
included an LGU and NGO assisted live-
lihood program anchored on the establish-
ment of a kayak eco park in Ternate . The
Camaras again trained local volunteers on
kayaking and being tour guides.
The second leg was the recently-
concluded Zambales Multi Sports Festi-
val, a sports tourism event of Zambales
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. who
wanted to include kayaking as an attrac-
tion to visitors.This was held in Uacon
Lake and Cove and Potipot Island.
In between these two events, Val and
Didi managed to nd their way to Oriental
Mindoro to train indigenous people, the
Mangyans on white water river kayaking.
Maybe by next year, the place will be
open to the public, said Didi.
From the way it looks for this intrepid
couple, their lives will continue to re-
volve around kayaking.
Suba overcomes all challenges
to grab top karting honors
By Anjanette Abad

HES simply the best.
VJ Suba of Eagle Cement overcame uncom-
mon odds to bag this seasons top karting honors
when he won the last two ROK races of the 2012
Coca-Coca Karting Super Series recently at the
Carmona Racetrack in Cavite.
Suba, who was with the FERN-C Racing Team
in the rst half of the season, swept the nal two
ROK Senior races to capture the years most cov-
eted award in the sport as Karter of the Year.
Estefano Rivera ruled Race 7 and copped the run-
ner-up crown in Race 8 to clinch the Junior Karter of
the Year award of this series sanctioned by the Auto-
mobile Association Philippines and sponsored by Co-
ca-Cola, Yokohama Tires, Motorstar and Aeromed.
The Karter of the Year was an inspiring ending
to Subas Cinderella journey since he started rac-
ing at the age of just eight years. Suba succeeded
in a sport dominated by those with the nancial
means to nance the cost of karting. Though just
a poor mechanics son, Suba never stopped be-
lieving that he had what it took to make it big in
this very expensive endeavor.
Persevered in racing and through the years, he
relied mostly on the generosity of other karting
parents and supporters like Kart Plaza who lent
him the machine and provided other require-
ments to continue his racing career.
He overcame daunting odds to establish him-
self as one of the countrys top karters and a
budding coach to young racers. He kept himself
among the top three title contenders in the rst
half of the series under the wings of FERN-C
Racing but it was the huge support of San Miguel
Corporation chief Ramon Ang in the latter half
of the season that became the key for Suba to
realize his long-time dream.
If not for those who helped me I could not
have achieved my dreams, said an emotional
Suba after copping the ROK Senior crown with
a total of 257 points against Overall Runner-up
CJ Tsui of Formula-E Industria Racing and third
placer Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing who end-
ed with 217 and 212 points respectively.
It has been a tough struggle for Suba this sea-
son as he actually ended in a three-way tie with
Rivera and Tsui in the race for the Karter of the
Year which was based on their performances in
the 2012 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series and
the 2012 Coca-Cola KF2-KF3 Cup Series.
Suba prevailed in the tie-breaking countback
winning seven races up against Rivera who copped
the Overall Runner-up crown with ve victories.
Meanwhile, Estefano Rivera of FERN-C Racing,
a Don Bosco-Makati Junior student, won the Junior
Karter of the Year convincingly as he bagged both the
ROK Junior crown and the ROK Overall title in the
2012 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series and the KF3
plum in the 2012 Coca-Cola KF2-KF3 Cup Series.
He clinched the ROK Junior crown with a total
of 341 points to prevail against runner-up Daniel
Miranda of Cebuana Lhuillier and third placer
Jaz Monzones of Natmo Asia-GP1 Racing who
amassed 296 and 145 points respectively.
VJ Suba (right) and Estefano Rivera ruled the recently-
concluded 2012 Coca-Coca Karting Super Series to bag
the top karting honors as Karter of the Year and Junior
Karter respectively.
Top: Val Camara and grandson Joaquin Macalinga test their mettle as they paddle
their kayak in open water off the Batangas coast. Below: Val and Didi Camara can
look back with a sense of pride at what they have accomplished to promote the
sport of kayaking.

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