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Portrait of a Duchess. The rst ofcial portrait of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Artist Paul Emsley poses for photographers next to his newly commissioned portrait of Kate. AP

China re-draws map; PH digs in

By Sara D. Fabunan and Francisco Tuyay
AMID its continuing territorial dispute with its neighbors in South East Asia, China has updated its old map by including 130 islands and islets in the South China Sea. Sinomaps Press chief editor Xu Gencai told Xinhua News Agency on Saturday that Beijing decided to come with a new ofcial map to inform Chinese nationals on Chinas territory, safeguard Chinas marine rights and interests and manifest Chinas political diplomatic stance. The new vertical maps have marked clearly the major South China Sea islands and demonstrated their geographic relations with surrounding island countries as well as surrounding islands and islets, Xu said. The new vertical-format maps of China, published by Sinomaps Press, featured more than 130 islands and islets in the South China Sea, including the islands and waters that other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia also claim. The bottom-left corner of the new China map, meanwhile, illustrated the Diaoyu Islands, which the Japanese claims as their own and calls Senkaku. The map showed Diaoyus position in relation to other Chinese islets in the mainland and Taiwan. Raul Hernandez, the spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Department, however, has yet to issue an ofcial statement on Beijings latest move. Chinas National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation (NASMG) said in a statement that the 130 islands and islets in the South China Sea were not featured on old China maps. The old maps were printed horizontally and featured only the three major islands of Xisha (Paracels), Zhongsha (Maccleseld Bank) and Nansha (Spratlys). These (new maps) were illustrated in the bottom-right corner at half the scale used for the Chinese mainland, the editor of the new maps Zhou Beiyan said. The new maps would be distributed to the public by the end of January, the NASMG said. As this developed, the countrys defense experts said Manila planned to develop its military bases and other facilities to support the deployment
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Crime drive still wanting

By Sara Fabunan and Maricel Cruz

Sunday
Vol. I No. 29 12 Pages, 2 Section

MST

P18.00 SUNDAY, January 13, 2013

The Sunday Edition of ManilaStandardTODAY

Aquino: Much work remains to be done

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has ruled out a total gun ban although he says that much more needs to be done about criminality in the country despite the gains made from this social scourge.
President Aquino receives a copy of the Covenant for the Government-Citizenry Commitment to Combat Criminality from MRPO founding chairman Teresita Ang See during the 20th anniversary of MRPO at the Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros. Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and MRPO chairman Ka Ka Kuen Chua signed the covenant. MALACAANG PHOTO BUREAU

More checkpoints set up as gun ban takes effect

By Joel E. Zurbano and Francisco Tuyay
THE Commission on Elections issued last-minute reminders while the Philippine National Police put up checkpoints as the ofcial election period for the May 13 mid-term polls began at midnight Saturday. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. used his Twitter micro-blog site (@ChairBrillantes) to remind the public about the start of the election period and clarify points in various Comelec resolutions while the poll body's public information ofcer James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) tweeted rules on the checkpoints that began to sprung up across the nation. PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, on the other hand, reminded policemen to set up and operate checkpoints in accordance with the established rules and reiterated the standard policies based on the constitutional guarantees against unreasonable search and seizure. Purisima said checkpoints should only be placed at well-lit areas with corresponding signage and policemen manning the
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Speaking before members of an anti-crime movement on Saturday, Mr. Aquino expressed the lawmens dilemma of whether the problem was lack of gun control laws or just poor enforcement. Gains have been made from supressing criminality, but he said, I will be the rst to admit that much work remains to be done. The government is looking for solutions that are strategic, rational, and effective, he said. The debate on gun ban heated up after three consecutive incidents of violence in the run-up to the 2013 elections. A seven-year-old child, Stephanie Nicole Ella, died from a stray bullet during the New Years revelry. Days after that incident, a drug-crazed man went on a shooting rampage in Kawit, Cavite, killing seven people, including two children and a pregnant woman. Also last week, 13 men including a police colonel and an environmentalist were shot dead in an encounter with police
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Flowers for Nicole. A supporter throws a pink rose into the grave of Stephanie Nicole Ella, 7, who was hit with a stray bullet on New Years Day, during her burial Saturday in Bulacan. Her death prompted groups to call for a total gun ban. AP

BUSINESS
SPORTS LOSS, PAGEANTS GAIN. US LAWYER BUILDS TRAVEL CAF
Rose Cabrera, a 44-yearold lawyer, came home after more than 20 years in the US to establish Mabuhay Restop, a travel cafe and museum at Rizal Park, which gives tourists a chance to experience the Philippines like never before. Rizzini Alexis Gomez is the muse of the Alaska Aces during this seasons Philippine Basketball Association season marking the rst time that a daughter of a former PBA player became the teams muse.

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ARTS & LIFE

SHE SAID, THEY SAID
The battle that started on Twitter is now in court as GMA Network les a complaint against Sarah Lahbati, one of its contract stars.

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JANUARY 13, 2013

Customs head revamps key ports

By Joel Zurbano

CUSTOMS Commissioner Ruffy Biazon

has ordered the reshufe of ve district collectors and other key ofcers to improve collection performance and meet this years P397 billion revenue goal.

The reshufe was the rst major decision Biazon made since he assumed ofce in September 2011. Customs sources, however, took note of the fact that district collectors of three major ports Manila, MICP and Naia - were not included in the reshufe although they were overstaying and their performance lacking luster. Covered by the reshufe were collectors assigned in small ports based on Biazons Customs Personnel Order dated Jan. 10, 2013. Cebu collector Ronnie Silvestre assumed his post as ofcer-in-

charge of Customs- Clark International Airport, replacing Eduard dela Cuesta who moved to Cebu. Zamboanga collector Christopher Bolastig replaced Filemon Mendoza Jr. as head of the bureaus Risk Management Ofce. Mendoza moved to Legal ServiceRuling and Research Division while Subic collector Carmelita Talusan was designated as head of the X-ray Inspection Project, replacing lawyer Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang who was appointed OIC in Cagayan de Oro. Mangaoang in turn replaced collector ally lies with loose rearms, said Gunigundo, who also sits as vice chaiman of the House committee on transportation. `Lapus, a co-author of House Bill 5484 or the Comprehensive Regulation of Firearms, Light Weapons and Ammunition, said that gun holders should inculcate in their minds that gun ownership is a great responsibility. HB 5484 had already been transmitted to the Senate for action after it was approved on third and nal reading by the House in January 2011. We cannot just disarm innocent civilians. We should go after illegal gun owners, Lapus, vice chair of the House committee on accounts, pointed out. Earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said that proposed measures on gun control topped the agenda of the House leadership when it resumes session on January 21. Crime and punishment Mr. Aquino said that he had ordered the Interior and Local Government secretary Manuel RoxasII to step up its campaign against loose rearms. The issue of loose rearms is an important component of our ght against criminalitynot only because we want safe and peaceful elections in 2013, but for greater peace and order in our communities, he said. The National Police, he said, is already conducting stringent operations against private armed groups. So far, we have in our custody a total of 249 recovered rearms, and more than a hundred individuals belonging to these armed groups are now in jail, Mr. Aquino said. The Anti-kidnapping Group of the PNP has arrested 29 individuals involved in kidnapping in 2012, and now being tried in courts. The AKG also continues to solve kidnapping cases, through a three-pronged strategy: intelligence gathering and community awareness campaigns, tactical and strategic management of incidents, and the enhancement of investigation capabilities. Police recently launched Oplan Katok campaign where policemen are visiting houses of identied holders of expired rearms licenses with the goal of having these licenses renewed or the rearms surrendered.

Anju Nereo Castigador, who took over the Ofce of the Commissioner while Biazons chief of staff Adelina Molina was designated as district collector of Subic. Ninoy Aquino International Airport deputy collector for operation Roberto Sacramento was appointed OIC in Zamboanga. Molina replaced Geniefelle Lagmay. Ruling and Research Division chief Mary Grace Malabed was demoted as assistant chief of the same division while Manila International Container Port deputy collector for assessment Priscilla Bauzon was transferred to the Port of Manila deputy collector for administration, replacing Sonia Irinea Togonon who was named as deputy commissioner for assessment. Lilibeth Sandag was also transferred from the Ofce of the Commissioner to the ofce of the deputy collector for assessment in MICP, replacing Bauzon while PoM deputy collector for assessment Rogelio Vil-

lagarcia was designated deputy collector for operations in Naia. Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group chief of staff Romalino Valdez was appointed deputy collector for administration in Clark International Airport. PoM collector Rogel Gatchalian and Naia collector Carlos So have been overstaying in their positions for about four years. The major ports topped the list of poor performers in 2012 that resulted in the agencys failure to meet its P347 billion revenue target. The revamp of district collectors and other key ofcials was supposed to happen March last year but according to Biazon, the then existing political map within the bureau made it hard for the agency to reorganize. Biazon had said the Department of Finance still has to give its go signal on the implementation on the proposed reorganization, but the move itself attracts the inter-

ests of so many personalities. He said that the shakeup is not a punishment but more of a change of strategy in revenue collections. Biazon did not name the political personalities involved, but he said that these were ofcials from the DoF, heads of the executive departments, Congress and the Senate who play an integral part in the agency. The Customs bureau collected only P287.652 billion, down by P59 billion based on its P347.07 billion goal last year. Of the total amount, P282 billion was in cash and P5.4 billion in the form of tax expenditure fund (TEF), or revenue on paper from governments importation. Only seven out of the 17 districts were able to hit their respective revenue collection goal for the year 2012. Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Surigao, Legaspi, Iloilo, Tacloban and Clark surpassed their targets while all major ports failed. Davao posted the highest surplus

collection with P498 million followed by Iloilo with P327 million. Cagayan De Oro placed third with P181-million surplus while Clark managed to post a surplus of P131.6 million. These were followed by Surigao, P70 million; Tacloban, P46 million; and Legaspi, P18.5 million. Reports also showed that the Manila International Container Port posted the highest shortfall with P21.87 billion for the 12-month period. MICP collected P72.49 billion as against its P94.35 goal. The Port of Manila also failed to meet its target. It collected P56.47 billion, down by more than P18 billion. Three other major ports Naia, Batangas and Limay - also failed. Batangas, where most of the oil depots are located, suffered a P10.09 billion decit while Naia had a decit of P4.66 billion for the period. Limay, on the other hand, incurred the smallest shortfall among the major ports with P1.2 billion.

Crime...
at a checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon. We have seen a revival in discussions on gun control, which largely revolve around new legislations on rearms, with some sectors advocating a total gun ban, Mr. Aquino said in his speech during the 20th anniversary convention of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order on Saturday. Mr. Aquino said that with this incident, and public clamor, gave the government a way to deepen the necessity of discernment to determine if the total gun ban is the effective solution to the issue. Will a total gun ban really deter kidnappers, murderers,robbers and terrorists from committing their crimes? Mr. Aquino asked. On Wednesday, Mr. Aquino dismissed the call of other groups for a total gun ban on civilians carrying guns saying that it was a knee-jerk reaction to the issue. The proposed gun ban is apart from the prohibition on carrying of guns imposed by the Commission on Elections effective Sunday. The election ban is good for six months. Mr. Aquino is allowed to carry his own gun, so are members of the presidential security, an ofcial of the Commission on Elections said. We have exempted the members of the armed Forces and since the President is commander-inchief, then by necessary implication, the xemption covers the President, said a Comelec ofcial. Mr. Aquino is an avid shooter who is adept at using a pistol and rie, and can hit a target deadcenter at 100 meters. On cue: No to gun ban As if on cue, Aquinos allies in Congress thumbed down calls for a total gun ban and instead sought tighter controls. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections said it would impose a gun ban effective midnight. House Deputy Majority Leader Magtanggol Gunigundo and Tarlac Rep. Jeci Lapus pushed for stricter gun control, focusing on safe handling of rearms to prevent accidents. All gun owners must be required to have mandatory gun safe handling course and pass the evaluation test. The problem re-

Toyota partners Day. Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation through its social and humanitarian arm Toyota Motor Philippines

Foundation in partnership with the City Government of Santa Rosa and Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation recently held the GK Partners Day at the Toyota-City of Santa Rosa-Gawad Kalinga Project site in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. The partners painted semi-nished houses, with Toyota initially donating P20 million for the construction of 160 housing units for deserving beneciaries from two barangays Pulong Sta. Cruz and Malitlit of the City of Santa Rosa. Last November, TMP donated an additional P2 million during the staging of the 15th Toyota Classics. This will be used to fund the construction of a multi-purpose hall which will serve as a venue for community assemblies, seminars and livelihood training programs, as well as various learning activities for children of the beneciaries. From right: Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Vice Mayor Arnel Gomez, and TMPF president Dr. David Go.

China...
of its naval forces and the establishment of air assets in the West Philippine Sea. The military said these plans should contribute to enhancing the defense of islets and reefs within the countrys territory against possible intrusion by foreign forces. They added that the plans to develop military bases were needed deter aggressive posturing by foreign military elements in the West Philippine Sea, in relation to the growing importance of maritime trade, energy deposits as well as shery and marine resources inside the countrys 200 exclusive economic zone. Western Command Chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Saban recently said that the structures that will

be put up in Kalayaan Island and in the highly-disputed Panatag Shoal would help underscore the countrys territorial claims. Saban said the Defense Department has plans to beef up its military capability by procuring naval and air assets worth P75 billion in the next ve years as part of the militarys modernization efforts. Also, the military has earmarked P1.2 billion to procure a Hamilton Class Navy ship from United States as part of its objectives to strengthen the Philippine Navys presence in the West Philippine Sea. The government had said that maritime security was a major concern by defense and the military to address non-traditional issues such as maritime terrorism, smuggling, piracy, human and drug trafcking. These developments were

meant to also safeguard the countrys maritime territories, as China continues to press its claim over virtually the entire West Philippine Sea, including the coastal waters of neighboring countries, citing historical inheritance and the nine-dash line that was contained on ancient Chinese maps. The Philippines had said that Chinas claim was excessive and was contrary to the provisions in the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea or Unclos. The Philippines has insisted that its sovereignty and ownership extends to its 200 nautical mile EEC. Meanwhile, China is reportedly speeding up the drafting of a new maritime regulation, in the wake of Vietnams creation of its own sea law, which states that parts of the Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea Keep your drivers license and car registration handy and within reach. Be ready to use your cellphone at anytime. Speed dial emergency number. Report violations immediately. Your actions may save others. Jimenez said Comelec ofcials were inspecting police checkpoints in Metro Manila at press time while Purisima, who heads the Secure and Fair Elections for 2013 task force, assured the public that policemen will uphold citizens rights even as he warned members of private armed groups. We will not spare all private armed groups whether they are connected to any political party or any individuals, criminal elements and terrorist elements Purisima said. Our sole intention here is to neutralize PAGs for them not to create trouble and crimes during elections. He said there are at least 25,065 loose rearms in the country and 552,328 unrenewed rearms licenses. There are also 60 active PAGs in the countrty while another 47 potential PAGs are mon-

falls under Hanois jurisdiction. The new maritime law, according to National Oceanic watchdog chief Liu Cigui, would China settle conicts over disputes in the South China Sea. Our oceanic rights are being challenged. It is of great urgency to protect our territory and settle boundary disputes with surrounding countries, Ministry Foreign Affairs on boundary and ocean affairs director Deng Zhonghua said. Deng added that the peaceful environment in international waters, the Cshinese rights in polar regions, and disputes over Huangyan Island and the Diaoyu islands poses serious challenges to Chinas territorial integrity. Recently, Chinese lawmakers proposed during the National Peoples Congress to immediately start legislation on maritime affairs. itored being by the government. Other police targets include gunfor-hire groups that may be tapped by unscrupulous politicians to ensure their victories in the coming elections, Purisima added. Brillantes said a peaceful and orderly election can be achieved by the strict implementation of the gun ban and the installation of more checkpoints. He also said the poll bodies foresees less cheating because of the precinct count optical scanning machines that will be used in tallying the votes. Other problems, however, such as vote buying, intimidation and terrorism cannot be addressed by the use of the vote counting machines, he said. The election period starts on Sunday and will end on June 12. During that time, it is prohibited to alter the territory of established precincts as well as the establishments of new precincts, to transfer government ofcers and employees, to carry rearms and other deadly weapons, to use personal bodyguards unless authorized by the commission.

More...
post must be in uniform with name tags and within sight of a marked police vehicle. According to a Department of Justice Advisory Opinion No. 1 signed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in March last year, there are 10 rules that must be observed to protect the constitutional guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures (Section 2, Article III). Checkpoint must be welllighted, properly identied and manned by uniformed personnel. Upon approach, slow down, dim headlights and turn on cabin lights. Never step out of the vehicle. Lock all doors. Only visual search is allowed. Do not submit to a physical or bodily search. You are not obliged to open glove compartment, trunk or bags. Ordinary/routine questions may be asked. Be courteous but rm with answers. Assert your rights, have presence of mind and do not panic.

Term extension. Administrator Antonio Nangel (right) of the National Irrigation Administration

takes his oath of ofce before Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Nangel, whose term of ofce was extended to June 2013 four months after his scheduled retirement on February 14, has his status as acting administrator upgraded to that of regular administrator by President Aquino. Nangel is one of the longest-serving NIA chiefs. FERDIE G. DOMINGO
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Sunday Dole program hit as unwise

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By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House opposition bloc on Saturday demanded a review of the governments dole program, called conditional cash transfer (CCT), because it has been ineffective in uplifting the lives of the poorest of the poor.
Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the Department of Social Welfare and Development, headed by Secretary Corazon Soliman, failed to study how to spend the CCT fund properly and this has resulted in inefciency. Suarez said the P1,400 monthly dole given to indigents should be spent on education and other productive livelihood activities that will teach the poor how to sh, but CCT beneciaries more frequently use the dole to pay debts or, at worst, to

buy alcohol, cigarettes and other vices. The sales of distilled spirits increased because some people turn their CCT into collateral so they could borrow money from the neighborhood stores, Suarez told reporters, citing reports reaching his ofce on how CCT beneciaries use the welfare money. Worse, the money is spent on gambling, the House minority leader added. He said the original purpose of the dole was to induce parents to make sure that their children are going to school and the program included health benets. Earlier, the minority bloc said that Secretary Soliman should be charged with malversation of public funds for diverting P10.5 million from the budget that the Congress alloted for the governments CCT to a so-called anti-epal campaign against credit-grabbers. Malacaang has already defended the departments diversion of the funds with Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte saying the government only wanted to protect the governments dole program against politicians who want to grab credit for the program.

Opposition defends Enrile

THE opposition United Nationalist Alliance denounced moves to demonize Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and charged that it was part of the plan to harass political opponents, similar to the moves made against suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. We are concerned that this apparent attempt to malign the character of the Senate President came after UNA leaders, among them Senate President Enrile, expressed their full support for Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, another UNA leader, UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said on Saturday. We hope that this is not part of a sinister smear campaign against UNA leaders for standing up against political harassment, the abuse of power, and disregard for the rule of law and due process, he added. Tiangco said Commission on Audit chairwoman Grace Pulido Tan has already said that the additional funds given to senators last year is perfectly legal. It is obvious that the allegations against the Senate President - rst made by a source who refused to be named - are baseless and can be safely dismissed as pure political grandstanding, he said. Since becoming Senate President in November 2008, Tiangco said Enrile has adhered to established COA rules and he has done so with the same zeal that he has used in defending the independence and integrity of the Senate. There are certain parties who will use this supposed controversy to advance their own agenda of instigating a leadership change in the Senate. Such a move would be ill-advised and politically provocative, he said. It will be seen by the people as another attempt to consolidate political power in preparation for the 2013 and 2016 elections, even at the expense of the Senates independence, he added.

Albay folk remember cataclysmic eruption

DARAGA, AlbayThe province of Albay is readying at least 50 tourist-oriented activities to mark the 199th anniversary of the February 1814 cataclysmic Mayon Volcano eruption that destroyed the town of Cagsawa, leaving only a baroque church that eventually ran to ruins over the years. Today, only the belfry of the Cagsawa Church remains standing, but it has become a favorite destination for both Filipino and foreign tourists because its panoramic view of the nearly perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano. Albay province and the town of Daraga have teamed up for the month-long festival that will focus on the site of the ruins, just 11 eleven kilometers away from the crater of Mayon Volcano. Now in its second edition, the Cagsawa Festival ushers in Albays year-long series of festival celebrations. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda and Daraga Mayor Gerry Jaucian forged a partnership last year that gave birth to the month-long Cagsawa Festival, making it one of the provinces most signicant festivals with the Daragang Magayon, Karangahan sa Pasko, Ibalong, Tabak and Pulang Angui. Tragic as the 1814 Mayon Volcano eruption was, Salceda noted, the cataclysm also helped demonstrate the resiliency of Albayanos and the province is now a United Nations global model in disaster risk reduction, after rising from the ashes of 1814 and similar disasters. The Cagsawa Church was built in 1724 by Franciscan friars in the small town of Cagsaua, the forerunner of what is now Daraga town, where the survivors of the 1814 disaster ed and settled down. Next months festival includes at least 50 activities, mostly outside the connes of the protected Cagsawa Ruins Park and Resort. It will offer tourists new adventures including a traditional healers (herbolario) convention, trail run, cross country bike race, a chicken eating contest, and an on-the-spot Pamaypay (fan) making competition, handcrafts being one of Daraga towns main products. One other major festival event is a oneof-a-kind journey into the culinary world of the famous hot chili, known locally as lada. The journey goes beyond the limits of the traditionally known Bicol Express cuisine. Aside from the Cagsawa Festival, Albay has three other major festivals held annually -- Magayon, its oldest which spotlights on Mayon and everything beautiful in the province; Culinaria which celebrates Albays native and new cuisines; and Karangahan Festival: Green Christmas, that features an environment friendly and safe celebration of the holidays. In addition, Albays 15 towns and three component cities also celebrate their own festivals spread throughout the whole year.

PH wins spots in lists of best tourism sites

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan
A SHANGHAI-based newspaper has named the Philippines one of the best tourist destinations in the world even as a global travel magazine also included the country among its top 10 destinations to watch in 2013. The Department of Foreign Affairs said an annual consumer survey conducted by the Oriental Morning Post, one of the top news dailies in Shanghai, included the Philippines as one of the best tourist destinations along with Ireland, Korea, Singapore, Finland, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The award supports the consumers renewed condence in the Philippines, which remains to be a popular and sought-after destination among Chinese tourists, the DFA said. At the same time, the London-based Conde Nast Traveller magazine listed the Philippines among the top 10 destinations for 2013 along with Brazil, Amsterdam, the Congo, the Galapagos Islands, Kashmir, the Mayan Riveiera in Mexico, New Zealand, Panama and Oman. The CNT article said the Philippines is becoming particularly popular among serious divers, who come for the incredible underwater life, unspoilt coral gardens with rainbow-bright sh, green sea turtles and dugongs, particularly Bicol and Siargao. Other recommended places to visit include Bacuit Bay and other resorts in Palawan, Pamalican Island and the capital city of Manila.

Admiral to head Central Command

By Florante S. Solmerin
THE Armed Forces announced on Saturday the designation of Rear Admiral Edgar L. Abogado as the new commander of the AFP Central Command. Abogado, the current vice commander of the Philippine Navy, will assume headship of the Cebu-based command in a turnover ceremony Monday. He will replace Major Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., who has led the Centcom in an acting capacity since Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano vacated the post in December. Alano is the current ag-ofcer-in-command of the PN while Mabanta is the incumbent commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. A member of the Philippine Military Academy Mapitagan Class of 1980, Abogado held important command positions in the Navy before his appointment as its vice commander. He also served as the PNs chief of naval staff, deputy commander of the Philippine Fleet, and head of Assault Craft Force. He commanded the following PN vessels: BRP Gen. Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS36), BRP Bagong Silang (PG-104), BRP Bagong Lakas (PG-102), BRP Liberato Picar (PG-377), and BRP Filipino Flojo (PG-386). He is also a recipient of various awards and decorations among which are four Distinguished Service Stars, Gold Cross Medal, Distinguished Navy Cross, Outstanding Achievement Medal, 15 Military Merit Medals, three Military Commendation Medals, Senior Command at Sea Badge, GSC Distinguished Graduate Award, Silver Wing Medal, Command at Sea Plaque, and Logistics and Comptroller Eligibility.

Volunteers start year right with bay clean-up

FORMER Las Pinas congresswoman Cynthia Villar on Saturday led a clean-up of the Las Pias-Paraaque Critical Habitat & Eco-Tourism Area with a thousand volunteers and they came up with 1,500 sacks of garbage. Villar, also managing director of Villar Foundation, underscored the need to clean our environment to prevent ooding. Protection of the environment will save us from disasters and calamities. Calamities are added an burden to us. It can make one poorer because all efforts would be futile if properties acquired through hard labor will only be destroyed by oods and other calamities, Villar said. To avert this scenario, Villar encouraged people to clean our rivers, our creeks and other bodies of water, especially Manila Bay, particularly the Las Pias-Paraaque bio-reserve which is very important to prevent ooding in Las Pinas and Paraaque. All our waters go here, said Villar who served as Las Pinas City congresswoman for three terms or nine consecutive years. She said regularly cleaning Manila Bay of garbage is in consonance with the Villar Foundations partnership with radio station

Way to go. Former Las Pias congresswoman Cynthia Villa helps volunteers clean up Manila Bay.
dRH and the Manila Broadcasting Company as part of a public service program to help promote of a livable, healthier and ecological sustainable Manila Bay. The Villar Foundation together with students and other volunteers also conduct weekly cleanups. The more partners we work with, the better it will be for the environment, she said. We are pleased with the improvement that we are seeing at LPPCHEA. The number of truckloads of garbage that we are getting here has considerably decreased. We attribute that to our consistent cleanup efforts, she said. On March 16, 2012, she led a petition for writ of kalikasan against a Manila Bay reclamation project that may cause severe ooding to 11 barangays in Paraaque, 37 in Bacoor and 17 in Las Pias. The Supreme Court granted her petition and issued the writ on April 10.

Coast guard to hire 300 personnel for 10 patrol boats from Japan
By Francisco Tuyay
THE Philippine Coast Guard is planning to hire 300 new personnel for the 10 new multi-role rescue vessels that the government expects to acquire from Japan by 2014, ofcials announced on Saturday. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said Coast Guard chief Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena has also formed an asset management team to inspect the new vessels in accordance with talks between Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario and Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida last week. Del Rosario said the vessels will be acquired through soft loans with flexible payment terms under Japans official development assistance program. We need to recruit people with maritime-related courses such, as marine engineers and marine navigation course. But we would also be needing technical experts such as those who have mechanical, welding and electrical skills or background, Balilo said. The spokesman said succesful applicants will undergo training for an entire year in time for the delivery of the new vessels over the next 18 months. Meantime, Balilo said the asset management team is set to leave for Japan within the year to inspect the vessels which he could only describe as cutter type and capable of both patrol and rescue functions. The asset management team will look into the maintenance, operation and manning of the vessels. This will be done to ensure that the ships will be efciently used by the PCG, he added. The purchase of the new vessels are seen as a boost in the relations between the Philippines and Japan, which has a maritime dispute with China over Senkaku Island in the East China Sea similar to Manilas dispute with Beijing over the Kalayaan group of islands in the West Philippine Sea. During Kishidas talks with del Rosario last week, the Japanese foreign minister said strengthened ties between Manila and Tokyo are needed as the strategic environment in the region is changing and the current meeting would enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries.

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JANUARY 13, 2013

US LAWYER BUILDS Manilas first travel caf

A FEMALE LAWYER, who dreamt of becoming one of the rst FilipinoAmerican judges, left her lucrative career in California to build an innovative business venture in Manila that pushes the envelope further for corporate social responsibility.
Rose Cabrera, a 44-year-old US-educated Gawad Kalinga leader, came home after more than 20 years in the US to establish Mabuhay Restop, a travel caf and museum at Rizal Park, which gives tourists a chance to experience the Philippines like never before. Mabuhay Restop launched on Dec. 8, 2012 a wide spectrum of experiences that showcase delicious Filipino cuisine, the vibrancy of Filipino arts and the beauty of bayanihan. Travel caf It is a travel caf and museum. There is the travel component and we have educational and volunteerism tours, says Cabrera, who is married to a Filipino-American businessman. She serves as president of Mabuhay Restop while her husband Alain is the vice president. Together, they plan to put up a network of Mabuhay Restop outlets around the Philippines and even in the US. Cabrera wants to call Mabuhay Restop a social enterprise that contributes to building an economy where no one gets left behind. Our social enterprise seeks to promote the best in us Filipinos. We want it to be the go-to place for social tourism in the Philippines, she says. Cabrera, who once headed the US chapter of Gawad Kalinga, says her husband helped nance the project while she provided the vision. He is giving me two years to make it sustainable, she says with a chuckle. She says Mabuhay Restop committed to give 30 percent of its net income to Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino nationbuilding movement dedicated to eradicating poverty and restoring human dignity through building empowered and sustainable communities. Cultural shows Mabuhay Restop also features cultural shows Manila Vanilla and Tita Beauty. These are our attempt to help the performing artists in the Philippines. We are already inundated by so much foreign musicals and foreign shows, she says. The Cabrera couple live a comfortable life in the US and they have a beautiful fouryear-old kid, but she feels a compelling reason to go back to Manila where she was born. For us, this is really not just business but mission. We have a good life in the US. My husband has a thriving business there. And I am a lawyer. I practised law in LA for 10 years, she says. Cabrera says the idea of returning to the Philippines cropped up when she got more involved in Gawad Kalinga. So this is my calling. For me this is what the Lord has blessed us with. I felt this is the best way for me to live out my mission, Gods mission which is to help the poor, to help my country and to honor my being Filipino, she says. Cabrera, the youngest in a family of 12 children, was born in Manila, grew up during the Martial Law period and studied in a private school for her basic education. I went to St. Theresas College in Quezon City for high school and took up Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman for one year in 1985 or 1986 at the height of People Power. So I was a martial law baby, and my school was very activist at that time. It was there I was made aware of social ills, she says. My dream then was either to be a journalist or a human rights lawyer, but People Power happened. My family then went to the States, with me and one of my youngest sisters moving rst, she says. Life in the US Her family settled in Los Angeles and she excelled in school. We settled in LA, California. I went to California Polytechnic University where I majored in Computer Information System and graduated magna cum laude, says Cabrera. Then, I went to law school at University of California for another three years. My plan was to be a judge, to be one of the rst Fil-Am judges in California, she says. I graduated from law school around 1993-1994, then worked for almost 10 years in Sta. Monica. I had a good job, good career until I got introduced to Gawad Kalinga through Couples for Christ. Being introduced to Gawad Kalinga changed her outlook in life. When I saw that, I felt that this is my calling, she says. GK is building the lasting foundation for social justice. When I headed GK in the US, it is about generating resources, organizing events and talking to people. At rst glance, it seemed that I left my law career, she says. Cabrera, however, believes that being involved in Gawad Kalinga is about making law accessible to the poor. For me, it is totally encompassing of what being a lawyer is all about, which is about social justice. GK is building the foundation for social justice. This is what I feel to be the Lords calling for me, she says. Beyond prot Now, Cabrera is committed to her new social enterprise Mabuhay Restop, which is more than about generating prot. There is more to life than just accumulating wealth, she says. She says blessed with a myriad of natural wonders and stunning sights, the Philippines is truly a gem to behold. But she says the most outstanding and yet muchoverlooked and underrated facet of the Philippines is the burning passion of its people to work together and help each other rise above the throes of darkness and despairthe spirit of bayanihan. Were not just promoting Philippine cultural heritage; were creating a way for tourists to experience the beauty of the Philippines while allowing them to channel the bayanihan spirit, and make an immediate and concrete transformative impact on communities that need it the most, she says. Our enterprise demonstrates a feasible business model that commits a signicant percentage of income to nation-building, Cabrera says. She says the museum cafe aims to make a difference through delectable culinary fare, tours, shows, art, and other attractions. Voluntourism The largest tour offered by Mabuhay Restop is the Voluntourism Tour, also known as the Kalinga Tour. It takes visitors not just to beautiful tourist spots, but also several Gawad Kalinga villages, where they can experience the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino, practice compassion in action, and understand the soul of bayanihan. Visitors can choose between a half-day city tour of Intramuros and one of the GK villages in Metro Manila, a full-day tour of historic Malolos and the GK Enchanted Farm in Bulacan; or a 3, 5, or 7-day tour of tourist sites and villages around the country including El Nido in Palawan, Catigan in Davao, Libmanan in Camarines Sur and Bacolod in Negros Occidental. Mabuhay Restop also offers a number of attractions that showcase the beauty of the country in creative and entertaining ways. Children are entertained by Mga Kwento ni Tita Beauty, a creative and theatrical storytelling show that features 10 original Pilipino and English stories imbibed with valuable moral lessons. Visitors also enjoy Mabuhay Restops cultural dinner show Manilla Vanilla, a comedy musical about the preparations of a family about to open up their home as a bed and breakfast, with snippets of Philippine folk dancing. Additionally, Mabuhay Restop also offers a patriotic educational tour in Rizal Park called Bayan Tour for visitors who wish to learn more about the Philippines and the Filipino. Bayan tour Mabuhay Restop also offers home-style dishes, featuring different regional food specialties. Ultimately, the Mabuhay Restop aims to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos through social tourism and entrepreneurship. We want to be able to set an example to other entrepreneurs by showing that it is protable to invest in the poor and partner with them through social enterprises, says Cabrera. RTD

Companies bring gifts of joy to Filipino children

GMA Kapuso Foundation and its partners continue to bring joy and Christmas cheer to thousands of Filipino children in poor communities around the country. Its Give-A-Gift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy Christmas project is an annual distribution of Christmas packages to underprivileged children living in remote and farung areas, according to GMA Kapuso Foundation executive director Red Avendao. Avendao says among the recipients of the GAG Christmas project are children of farmers and sher folks, children living in armed conict areas and indigenous communities, children of incarcerated women and children with special needs. One of the groups that have been actively supporting the Give-A-Gift project is Odyssey Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO Foodsphere Inc. Odyssey Foundation started supporting the project in December 2009 and has reached out to a total of 1,200 children beneciaries since then. It is one of the major projects that we have jointly implemented with the GMA Kapuso Foundation, says Odyssey Foundation executive director Dindo Danao. Odyssey Foundation is the humanitarian arm of CDOFoodsphere which provides special attention to marginalized children in the country. For the year 2012, we served 375 kids from Kibungan, Benguet. This was initiated on November 27, 2012 jointly by ofcials of GMAKF and OFI and assisted by Department of Education personnel of Benguet, says Danao. Each child received a Christmas package consisting of the following items: pancit bihon, canned goods, candies, biscuits, powdered juice, hygiene pack and toys. Other additional items were also given such as school supplies, slippers and clothes. Kibungan is a fourth-class municipality in the province of Benguet. The National Statistics Ofce reported that the town had a population of 15,700 people in 2,949 households as of 2007. The town, with elevation of more than 2,500 meters above sea level, is located 62 kilometers north of Baguio City. Kibungan is well known for its cool mountainous zone and beautiful highland scenery. However, deep ravines and cliffs separate and isolate many villages and towns from the rest of Benguet. Since 1996, the Kapuso Foundation has brought joy to 508,551 children all over the Philippines. The Kapuso team withstands distance and difculty of travel to personally deliver the goodies and toys to the chosen children who are made to experience the Christmas cheer. Apart from the Give-AGift Christmas project, CDO Foodsphere is also one of the major sponsors of the Kapuso Foundations Give-A-Gift: Feed A Child program. Our partnership with GMAKF has been time-tested and proven effective in delivering social services to the less privileged members of our society, says Danao.

GMA Kapuso Foundation executive director Red Avendao (third from left) receives from CDO-Odyssey Foundation executive director Dindo Danao the check donation earmarked for the 2012 Give-AGift project. The donation funded the gift-giving activity of GMAK Foundation in Kibungan, Benguet.

Employees of CDO-Odyssey Foundation bring gifts of joy to some 300 marginalized children of Kibungan, Benguet through the GiveA-Gift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy Christmas project of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

In 2012, the GMA Kapuso Foundation served close to 30,000

underprivileged children nationwide in its Give-A-Gift project.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

business@mst.ph

Sunday
ManilaStandardTODAY

FEATURES

SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

A5

American seeks to restore AIMs glory

STEVEN DeKrey rst knew about the Asian Institute of Management in the 1980s, when it was being viewed by other institutions in Asia as a model for their own business schools.
During visits to Thailand in the 1980s, I would stop by Manila. I knew about AIM and it was the motivation and inspiration for the Thais to build a business school, DeKrey, an American national, says in an interview with journalists. Since then, a number of business schools were built across the growing economies of Asia including Thailand, and over the years, international publications stopped mentioning AIM as among the top in its category in the region. Minnesota native DeKrey, a native of Minnesota who was tapped to be the ninth president of AIM in August 2012, says the challenge for him is to resuscitate the reputation of the Makati City-based business school as one of the best in Asia. He has the experience to do just that, having served as the senior associate dean and a director of the Masters program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology School of Business and Management, which is now among the top in Asia. DeKrey helped build HKUST Business School into one of Asias leading management education institutions. HKUSTs full-time MBA program gets a consistent ranking among the worlds top 10, according to the Financial Times. He has been living in Asia for 16 years and is married to Veronica Kwong, a Chinese. They have two daughters attending universities in the US. Despite living in Asia for 16 years, I go to the roots for the holiday, says DeKrey, referring to Northern Minnesota. Minnesota is at the border of the US and Canada. It is a very cold town. I grew up there. It is my hometown, he says. Multiple degrees The AIM president has multiple degrees obtained in the US. One of his former classmates is Ernest Cu, now the chief executive of Globe Telecom, the second largest telecom company in the Philippines. DeKrey graduated cum laude with a BA degree from Bemidji State in 1975. He obtained his MS in School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1977, his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1985 and his PhD in School and Sport Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1982. He initially worked as a school psychologist and taught at Kellogg School and University of Florida. As a psychologist, he discovers that physical exercise is one of the best means to ght stress. DeKrey engages in hobbies such as biking, boating and scuba diving. He is in fact a PADI certied master scuba diver. He is optimistic not only about AIM, but also about the Philippines. I have been in this business a long time and I think I can be helpful, he says. We are optimistic about where AIM could be. The reputation of the country is also moving quickly. DeKrey says culture is alive in the Philippines, which is a beautiful country. I see that democracy here is improving. Tourism is a great niche. Outsourcing is ourishingMy view is very positive, he says. He says he even likes Filipino food, especially garlic rice and milk sh with a couple of eggs, which he says is healthier than American breakfast. AIM on top DeKrey, however, concedes that there are challenges to address, if AIM is to truly become a top school again. When I came here last August, my idea is AIM should return to being one of the very top and we should be Asias source for global leadership talents, insights and knowledge, he says. We should create talents here for Asias needs and we should develop the wisdom for all of us as we progress. He says to achieve that, several strategies need to be adopted. We need to strengthen a lot of areas: our curriculum, our facility, our faculty. Our intakes need to be broader. We have strategies for all of those. I have a very long list of strategies, he says. Some of the strategies that we have come up with, we are raising the price. We are cutting back student intakes so we raise the quality. We are building a lot more linkages with our alumni. We are asking our alumni to help, he says. Alumni support He says alumni support and engagement are critical as AIM paves its path to becoming one of Asias top ve business schools in ve years. We are encouraging our alumni to support us as we work toward attaining our vision of becoming Asias source for global leadership talent, insight, and wisdom, he adds. Dekrey says the AIM faculty appears to be supportive of those strategies, which are all meant to improve career opportunities for its graduates and enable them to climb the salary bracket, which is also among the factors being considered by international surveys. Weve discovered that only two out of three of our graduates are employed three months after graduation, says DeKrey. We want to signicantly improve on this key success criterion and enhance the employability of our graduates by admitting only our top candidates. Tighter screening He says changes are needed to enhance the quality and diversity of AIMs student body and the impact of the MBA program. The plan is to tighten the screening process for AIM students. From a two-section student population of 140, we will be reducing the enrolment to a single section of 70 students for our September 2013 intake, he says. The school will also conduct a tighter selection process of the batch of MBA applicants next year to ensure that those accepted have the best social, emotional, and intellectual capacities and are attractive to our recruiters. The institution is also looking at increasing student diversity by attracting students from key Asian cities other than Manila, such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chih Minh, Hong Kong, and Shanghai as well as Western cities. Changes in curriculum AIM will also make changes in the MBA curriculum to enhance the learning experience for its September 2013 batch of students. AIM has been known as the Harvard-established school of the East because of the key role Harvard Business School played in our founding. We continue to use classroom methods from Harvard, such as the case study method, DeKrey says. By ensuring that our enrolled students meet the highest of standards, we can also assure an improved quality of class discussions, benetting all classmates. The case study method is a participantcentered method of learning, wherein real-life business situations are simulated in the classroom with input from students. Dekrey discloses that part of the plan is to nearly double the tuition at AIM from $24,000 to $45,000 within three years. We will be targeting this Asian average for the 2015 intake, with a phase-in period of three years. For the September 2013 intake, the tuition is set

at US$31,000. This means that in peso terms, tuition at the Makati-based AIM would go up from around P980,000 to more than P1.8 million for the 16-month Master in Business Administration program. Tuition hike We are raising our tuition considerably. We are going from $24,000 to $31,000 starting this year. Next year, we will go to $38,000, then the next year, $45,000, he says. DeKrey says raising tuition is one of the strategies being considered to upgrade the quality of education at the business school. AIM will also upgrade its facilities and is in talks with the Lopez Group and Ayala Land Inc. to modernize its buildings. Dekrey says the school will also strengthen its curriculum and hire more professors from other countries to attract more international students. Some 400 students enrol at AIMs MBA programs each year while more than 1,000 take up executive courses. About 65 percent of students are non-Filipinos, but most of them are from India. Our goal is to have every major Asian city represented in AIM classroom, says DeKrey. Target in ve years He says the plan is to make AIM one of the top ve business schools in Asia. AIM is not even ranked among the top 10 institutions by Economist or Financial Times in their separate surveys. DeKrey says the average tuition of top business schools in Asia is about $45,000. I was amazed to see that we are charging so little. Our goal is to get

to the average of the top ve schools in Asia. We have a three-year plan to go to $45,000, he says. He says the AIM adopted a loan program with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to help students nance their education at the business school. In addition to the loan program, we also have scholarship programs. The idea is to raise scholarship money as we raise tuition, he says. Scholarships We will be offering a signicant amount of scholarships to all those accepted into our MBA program. For most accepted applicants, this scholarship will exceed the price increase, so effectively, the cost remains similar or less, he says. DeKrey says AIM put in place other mechanisms to assist students in nancing their graduate business studies, including the establishment of the BPIAIM Student Loan Facility for Filipino students and qualications for US student loans for Americans. He says the pricing of education in the Philippines is very local because of the low wage levels in the country. This, he says, will change. AIM is an elite institution. We are not trying to educate everybody, he says. DeKrey says despite the increase in tuition, many Filipino students can still afford the AIM brand of education, given the growing economy. There are a lot of Filipinos who can afford it. There are a hundred million people in the Philippines. Some of them can pay, he says. DeKrey says in short, his vision is to build an AIM that Asia needs and can really be proud of. RTD

Richard Tay: From food stuff to dream homes

By Carla Mortel
I MISTAKENLY thought that real property development is easierit is not, says Richard Tay, sales and marketing vice president of Pro-friends Inc., one of the fastest-growing property developers in the country. Newly-appointed to his post, Tay was in to brand management of food products before he shifted to the real estate industry. We are dealing with a house, the dream of every Filipino family, so you better make sure you are providing the best value products that can even exceed their expectation, he says. Since 1999, Pro-friends has been offering affordable house and lot projects mainly in Cavite. Bellefort Estates is one of their premier developments with European designed houses with picturesque landscapes on the estates hilly terrain while the Carmona Estates is for families who value comfort and convenience. Lancaster Estates is an English-inspired housing development with linear parks. Also located in Cavite are developments such as the Cedar Residences, Garden Grove V i l l a g e , Greensborough Subdivision, Las Verandas Villas II, and Montefaro Village. The Parc Regency Residences is a oodfree subdivision located in Iloilo while The Palms Lakeshore in San Fernando, Pampanga is their newest development project situated beside a 12-hectare lake. As a newbie, the industry brought Tay the challenge of embracing innovations and new technologies to attain customer interest and satisfaction. Consumers are becoming value driven. What were previously wants are becoming needs because they are becoming part of the mainstream. So, if you continue on improving what you do, then you are not going to be left behind, says Tay. One such innovation considered the utilization of space and natural ventilation of their houses so that homes are not dependent on air conditioners to maintain cool temperatures. Other unique features of Pro-friends development projects are the so-called linear parks between housing units that connect neighbors, fostering the Filipino traits of being familial and neighborly within the community. To ensure the safety and security of their homes, Profriends uses reinforced concrete technology, where the structures of the wall panels are manufactured with enhanced forms, custom-formulated ready-mix concrete and components designed by the developer itself. Tay says with the durability of this technology at 2,000 pounds per square inch as compared to the concrete hollow blocks 400 to 700 psi, the houses developed by Pro-friends are more likely to endure typhoons, earthquakes, and any other natural calamities. Applied for more than a decade, the prefabricated concrete panel system is now in its 7th generation of improvement. Tay and his team conduct regular qualitative and quantitative consumer research to further improve the products and services they offer to clients. They seek expertise from external research agencies, conduct segmentation research, customer satisfaction surveys, and qualitative testing to determine consumer behavior and preferences. His brand management background made it possible to pitch in disciplines to better understand the market and develop communication models better. In the real estate industry, Tay believes that the consumers gratication does not end once they have purchased a housing unit. For homeowners, the process takes a long period of time. We need to be supportive from beginning to end because our commitment is to offer the best living environment. There is always room for improvement and being lax is not an option, he says. Like in the case of Lancaster Estate, Pro-friends made sure that homeowners are not bothered with the long commute to commercial districts. With shuttle vehicles traversing the Manila-Cavite expressway to get to SM Mall of Asia and Lawton area, the housing project is practically just a 15-minute ride away from Manila. Under the consultancy of the Lasallian Supervision School Ofce, Pro-friends also built a school inside the development area offering pre-school, elementary grades 1 to 4 and rst and second year levels in high school. With this educational facility, homeowners school children are kept safe and secured within the community and are assured of quality education. A graduate of De La Salle University with degrees in Psychology and Business Management, Tay manages his team as a leader as opposed to a boss who merely orders tasks to his subordinates although, he admits that his management style depends on the competency of each team member. With new employees, he tends to monitor the work and acts as a guardian. With high-yer employees, Tay lets them at their work while overseeing their performance. The important thing to do is to clear the way for them to get the job done and make sure they are headed in the right direction, he says. With Pro-friends, Tay is optimistic that the real estate company will prosper based on their phenomenal growth in recent years. He may not determine exactly how far they could go as a company but Profriends is committed to serve homeowners with the best dream home packages in strategic locations at friendly rates. We do not want to measure ourselves against competition. We gauge ourselves by meeting consumers needs and wants. We are always looking out for bigger and better ways to deliver, says Tay. With Charmaine Cunanan

Sy joins UNISDR. SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy is now part of the prestigious United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Private Sector Advisory Group. The group brings together leading global private sector players who are aware of the benets that preventive actions have to their businesses and thus demonstrate their will to make the world more resilient to disaster. Shown is Sy as he receives an invitation from UNISDR Private Sector Advisory Group member Sandra Wu and president of Kokusai Kogyo Holdings Co. Ltd., to join the PSAG during the Top Leaders Forum in Manila.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sunday
OPINION ManilaStandardTODAY

mst.lettertotheditor@gmail.com

A6

SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

Piety and devotion

ARE WE THERE YET?
THERE were many commentaries that surfaced around last Wednesdays observance of the religious and cultural phenomenon that is the Black Nazarene procession in the Quiapo District of Manila. As usual, there were the legions of skeptics that frowned on the very physical and almost riotous expression of piety and devotion. They clucked their tongues in disbelief as they witnessed on their television sets how people threw caution into the wind and risked life and limb in the name of faith. Why do we insist on making judgments about the Black Nazarene procession from a biased perspective such as management thinking or even organized theology? Its like trying to render critical evaluation of an indigenous dance using principles and techniques of ballet. For example, there are those who insist that many things about the procession can be improved with the application of management thinking. The people who mouth this kind of gibberish have obviously not come within a hundred feet of the heaving mass of humanity that carries the image of the Black Nazarene through the streets of Manilas busiest district. Its a phenomenon that is defined by chaos and thrives precisely on the fact that the whole thing teeters on the brink of absolute madness. Its essence will be lost if things would be orderly. It cant be done anyway. If, for example, people were to take turns holding the rope and pulling the carriage forward in an orderly fashion, the procession will probably have to go around the whole of Metro Manila and probably for at least three days. People should stop trying to intellectualize the Black Nazarene procession. Its primarily a test of faith for most of the devoteesfor most of them, its communal afrmation of their belief in the power of a Supreme Being. There were those who chose to comment on the peripheral issues around the phenomenon; for example, how certain politicians shamelessly used the occasion for personal political gains and about the volume of garbage left in the wake of the procession. It was almost hilarious how many people jumped on the issue of garbage collection and disposal (and about how portalets were not immediately collected after the procession) without
BONG C. AUSTERO

We should stop trying to intellectualize the Black Nazarene procession.

bothering to provide a wider context to their criticism. I also find it disconcerting that there are politicians in this country who find nothing wrong in having their smiling faces printed in hundreds of T-shirts that also bear the image of the crucified Christ. But then again, no one can make people wear those tshirts against their will; so unless it has become illegal for people to wear campaign t-shirts theres really not much we can do about it except seethe at the shamelessness of our leaders. But I did nd it annoying that far too many people lambasted the devotees supposedly for leaving behind tons of garbage after the procession. I agree that something needs to be done to minimize the volume of trash that is collected after every major event in this country. But, excuse me, majority of the Black Nazarene devotees come to the area barefoot and carrying virtually nothing else (except fare money, I am told). Unlike in the New Years celebration in Luneta Park where families bring food and paraphernalia for merrymaking, most of the devotees do not bring anything to the procession. Given the kind of physical struggle they submit themselves to during the procession, it would be impractical for them to bring anything. In fact most of them just sit or lie down right on the street to rest. To begin with, the Quiapo District is a major public market and generates more than enough trash any day. The Black Nazarene procession also happens during the esta of the district, which compounds the trash problem. I am not saying that we should absolve the devotees of involvement but if we want to solve this problem, the solution is ensuring that there are enough receptacles for trash and to strictly require food and water vendors to be responsible for the trash generated by their enterprise. Many of our local authorities started giving themselves a pat on the back as early as 8:00 am for what they insisted was a successful celebration. I think theres something off in the way people cite such factors as reduced number of casualties, shorter length of time it takes for the image to be brought back to the Church, number of devotees, etc, as measures of success of the Black Nazarene procession given the earnestness, urgency, gravity, and even diversity of the kind of petitions that devotees offer to the image during the procession. Actually, the fact that the procession continues to take place every year is already a miracle in itself.

The enthusiast
THE subject of guns is a highly emotional issue after several incidents involving unauthorized rearms in Caloocan, Cavite and Quezon led to several peoples even childrensdeaths. As it is, President Noynoy Aquinos seeking exemption from the gun ban that was enforced by the Commission on Elections beginning Sunday has generated a host of reactions. Some quarters have earlier blasted the Presidents application for an exemption. He is sending the wrong signal to other politicians who will always claim to need guns for their own protection, says Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes. The Comelecs Commissioner Elias Yusoph, on the other hand, defended Mr. Aquino, saying that the message he is sending is in fact a good onethat if one wants to be exempt, one must go through the process, le an application and wait for the poll agencys decision. But the move perplexed Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, who says that under the law, the President is automatically exempt from the ban, he being the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Brillantes said that Mr. Aquino could have just been mistaken in his interpretation of the law. This is difcult to believe given the number of lawyers and advisers surrounding the President, even if he was not aware of his automatic privilege in the rst place. What is more plausible is the idea that the exemption he seeks may be related to his being a gun enthusiast, not to the inherent risks he faces as leader of the country. Elections or no elections, the gun culture will persist as long as those in possession of them believe that they have enough inuence to be entitled to rearms. In provinces, especially, a ban means nothing if local ofcials take the lead in aunting them. Even in non-election periods, a ban would also be meaningless if those tasked to enforce it themselves violate the law or allow themselves to be used by those who believe they play by different rules. If Mr. Aquino however wishes to be exempt so that he could maintain his hobbyone he is entitled to, he believes, given the pressures of his jobhe does not only fail to lead. He also exposes himself a hypocriteon the surface denouncing vehicle sirens and trafc counterows but actually believing the rules do not, to him, apply.

EDITORIAL

My cocktail is a Corpse Reviver

EVERYMAN
By Robert Harland
AFTER years of neglect, the cocktail is making a comeback. Drinks that have been forgotten for decades, like the Harvey Wallbanger, the Black Russian and the Rusty Nail are being discovered by a new generation of drinkers, who are starting to appreciate the joys of a perfectly mixed cocktail. The last cocktail I ordered was at the bar of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. I asked the bartender for a Corpse Revivera somewhat obscure concoction created in1930 by Harry Craddock, head bartender at Londons Savoy Hotel, as a hangover cure. My order caused some consternation among the Japanese staff. But after a quick back ofce conference and a ick through a recipe book, the head bartender, with a broad grin on his face, proudly presented me with a Corpse Reviver. He clearly was not going to allow a foreign devil to get the better of him. American Joe Carlin, author of Cocktails: A Global History, believes the cocktail is the most civilizing beverage on the planet. What exactly is a cocktail? Its an alcoholic mixed drink containing three or more ingredients, at least one of which must be a spirit. A cocktail is a drink that can come with eye catching color. It can be long, short, bitter or sweet. The cocktail is generally thought to be an American invention, but its roots stretch back to 18th century England. The rst published reference to the cocktail appeared in the Morning Post and Gazetteer in London in 1798. The rst reference in the US was in The Farmers Cabinet in 1803. But it was in America that the popularity of the cocktail surged, thanks in part through the work of Jerry Thomas, a Connecticut native who in 1862 wrote the rst book to contain a selection of cocktail recipes. Historians have gone so far as to call the American the father of modern bartending, but he actually worked in London prior to penning this pioneering tome. Few drinks have followed the trajectory of the cocktailfrom its mysterious origins, its heady 19th century rise, its survival during American prohibition, to wartime pleasure followed by... years of neglect. So why the renaissance of the cocktail? One British bartender believes its a return to avor. People are looking to savor tastes and appreciate the harmonies between avors, he said. Television has also played a signicant role in the new interest in cocktails. First with Sex in the City with the Cosmopolitan. And then Mad Men with the Classic Martini and the Bloody Mary. Both series introduced a whole new generation of drinkers to the fabulous world of the cocktail. Many of the recipes and fascination with cocktails stretch back to the prohibition era in the US from 1920 to1933. Popular drinks during that period included the Manhattan, White Lady, Monkey Gland, Old Fashioned and, perhaps the most celebrated of them all, the Sidecar. What about the Philippines? Is the cocktail making a comeback? According to the Peninsula Hotel, interest in cocktails among its clientele has never waned. Our guests are denitely interested
MEMBER

in cocktails, especially our female clientele, who have a preference for fruity and sweet drinks and a lot of our cocktails are exactly these. They would rather have a cocktail over a beer, strong spirits or even wine, said Assistant Food & Beverage Manager Adam Lifshitz. He added that the Pen even has a bar, the Salon de Ning, dedicated to cocktails and its very popular. Clearly, the cocktail is here to stay. As for the Corpse Reviver, I could not nd a bartender familiar with this strange brew so heres the recipe: two parts cognac, one part calvados (apple brandy) and one part sweet vermouth. And the taste? Bloody awful, but its should revive any corpse. Based in Bacolod City, Robert Harland is the British Embassy Warden for Negros Occidental

MST Sunday
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FOREIGN

SUNDAY

JANUARY 13, 2013

A7

Peace deal announced for C. African Republic

lic President Francois Bozize and the rebels who sought to overthrow him have reached a deal that will allow him to stay in ofce until his term ends in 2016, ofcials said Friday.
The announcement came after several days of peace talks in Gabon, which were organized after an alliance of rebels groups swept through the north of the country and seized control of a dozen towns. On Friday, Bozize publicly shook hands with the rebel representatives whom he had denounced as terrorists just two days before and other political opponents to seal the deal that spares his ouster. The rebel offensive stopped short of the capital of Bangui but posed the

IN BRIEF
Critics debate Kates portrait
LONDONThe Duchess of Cambridge seems to like her rst ofcial portrait, which is lucky for the artist. Many critics dont. Paul Emsleys portrait of the former Kate Middleton shows the 31-year-old royal against a dark background, her lips pursed into a wry smile, with an ethereal light against her face and hair. Her pale complexion brings out the ne lines under the eyes, and the light adds a hint of silver to her rich brown hair. Shortly after the portrait was unveiled Friday at the National Portrait Gallery in London, critics began grousing. Its a great, great opportunity missed, British Art Journal editor Robin Simon said. The best thing you can say about it is that she doesnt actually look like that. AP

LIBREVILLE, GabonCentral African Repub-

gravest threat to Bozize during his nearly 10 years in power. The president, backed into a corner, was forced to make a number of concessions and to make true of his promise to encourage a government of national unity, Margaret Vogt, U.N. special envoy to Central African Republic, told the U.N. Security Council by videoconference from Libreville, Gabon. Bozize said he would move to dissolve the government Saturday so that a national unity government could be formed that

would be led by a prime minister chosen by the political opposition. For me, its a victory for peace because from now on Central Africans in conict zones will be nally freed from their suffering, Bozize said upon arriving at the airport back in Bangui. I ask everyone to stay calm. As for me, I still remain the president of Central African Republic. News of the agreement, which includes a cease-re, was met with relief on the streets of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic. This agreement could help to calm the anxiety of people who are truly afraid, said Albert Mbaya, 40, a philosophy professor in Bangui. While Fridays agreement appears to suggest a swift resolution to the rapidly advancing rebellion, it still remains to be seen whether forces on the

ground will abide by the deals reached in Gabon. Seleka, which means alliance in the local Sango language, is made up of four separate groups some of whom have previously fought one another. Fridays announcement also does not explicitly address some of the broader grievances raised by the rebels, including aid to the deeply impoverished north of Central African Republic. The ghters, who began their collective offensive on Dec. 10, had previously called for Bozize to step down from power and had dismissed his calls to form a national unity government. Under the deal announced Friday, neither the prime minister nor the president would be eligible to take part in the next presidential election, Vogt said. AP

US govt tells computer users to disable Java

WASHINGTONThe US Department of Homeland Security is advising people to temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid potential hacking attacks. The recommendation came in an advisory issued late Thursday, following up on concerns raised by computer security experts. Experts believe hackers have found a aw in Javas coding that creates an opening for criminal activity and other high-tech mischief. Java is a widely used technical language that allows computer programmers to write a wide variety of Internet applications and other software programs that can run on just about any computers operating system. Oracle Corp. bought Java as part of a $7.3 billion acquisition of the softwares creator, Sun Microsystems, in 2010. AP

New Japan PM hits Chinas handling of island dispute

TOKYOReafrming his hawkish stance on China, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that Japan will not negotiate with Beijing over a contested cluster of uninhabited islands and that China was wrong for allowing violent protests over the territorial dispute. Abe, who took ofce just over two weeks ago, had much warmer words for South Korea, despite strained ties with Seoul over a separate territorial spat and other issues. Abe said he hoped to establish a trusting relationship with President-elect Park Geun-hye as soon as possible. Both nations share liberal and democratic values, and have respect for basic human rights and the rule of law, Abe said. He spoke as US ofcials prepared to visit Japan and South Korea to ensure the key American allies are committed to mending their relationship. Abe, who has declared economic
Republic of the Philippines

In this Oct. 14, 2012 photo, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) escort ship Kurama leads other vessels during a eet review in waters off Sagami, south of Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday, Jan. 11 that they plan to raise military spending for the rst time in a decadepartly aimed at beeng up monitoring and defenses around the disputed islandscalled Senkaku in Japanese and Daioyu in Chinesein the East China Sea. AP

growth to be his top priority, made the comments at a news conference at which he announced more than 20 trillion yen ($224 billion) in new stimulus to jumpstart Japans anemic economy. The aim is to boost growth by 2 percent and create 600,000 jobs, he said. Tensions with ChinaJapans top trading partnerare likely to complicate that task. A decision by the Japanese government to buy a group of tiny islands in the East China Sea from their private Japanese owners in September set off protests in China that damaged Japanese-owned factories and stores around the country. Boycotts of Japanese products in China have hurt Japans exporters and added to uncertainties over their extensive investments in mainland China. Toyota and Nissan have seen vehicle sales in China drop sharply in recent months. AP

Facebook Inc. stock recovers

FACEBOOK Inc. is climbing back from a stock plunge last year that made it one of the worst performing technology initial public offerings of 2012. The shares set a six-month high yesterday, advancing 1.3 percent to $31.72 in New York. As concerns ease over the social networks ability to boost revenue, the stock has rebounded 79 percent from a record low in September. Facebook is still in the early stages of developing ads for users who access the social network via mobile devices instead of desktops, Doug Anmuth, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co., wrote in a research report yesterday. Features such as Facebook Exchange, which helps companies target ads based on users past Web activities, will help boost sales this year, he said. We expect continued ad growth acceleration, Anmuth said. We do not believe Facebook shares are well-owned. Bloomberg

Saudi king grants women seats on advisory council

RIYADH, Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabias king granted women seats on the countrys top advisory council for the rst time on Friday, giving them a long-awaited toehold in the ultraconservative kingdoms male-dominated political system. King Abdullahs decrees come against the backdrop of heavy restrictions on women, who are not allowed to travel, work, study abroad, marry, get divorced or gain admittance to a public hospital without permission from a male guardian. Recently, airport authorities were instructed to send text messages to the phones of male guardianshusbands, fathers or brotherswith information about the movements of their wives, daughters or sisters. The decision is good but women issues are still hanging, said Wajeha al-Hawidar, a prominent Saudi female activist. For normal women, there are so many laws and measures that must be suspended or amended for women to be dealt with as grown-ups and adults, without a mandate from guardians. AP
LUNGSOD NG MAKATI Bids and Awards Committee
J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988 www.makati.gov.ph
REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS

Department of Public Works and Highways Zamboanga del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Labason, Zamboanga del Norte
January 11, 2013

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION SOUTH MANILA ENGINEERING DISTRICT
8th Street, Port Area, Manila

Invitation to Bid for;

1. Contract ID No. Contract Name: Contract Location: Scope of Work: Source of fund and year: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Cost of Bid Documents: 2. Contract ID No. CONTRACT NAME Contract Location: Scope of Work: Source of fund and year: Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Contract Duration: Cost of Bid Documents: 1) 13OH0003 Proposed Repair/Rehab. of Road Railings along Electrical Road, Pasay City Pasay City Repair/Rehab. of Road Railings MVUC 2012 (Ph. P 9,923,675.42) 90 cal. days Ph. P 10,000.00 13OH0004 Proposed Road Lighting along Roxas Blvd. from Russel St. to Vito Cruz St., Manila and Pasay City Manila and Pasay City Road Lighting MVUC 2012 (Ph. P35,423,520.80 ) 90 cal. days Ph. P 25,000.00

InvItatIon to BId
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways, through the (FY 2013) Infrastructure Project) invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: 1. a. Contract ID: No. b. Contract Name: 13JC0037 Proposed Removal of Landslides along Gutalac-Baliguian-Siocon-Sirawai Road Km. 2042+080-Km. 2087+800(intermittent sections) Contract Location: Zamboanga del Norte Scope of Work: Maintenance Roads & Bridges or its equivalent Approved Budget for Contract : P 7,133,188.91 Contract Duration: ( 50) Calendar Days Cost of Bid Docs.: P 10,000.00

c. d. e. f.

The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid.
2)

The South Manila Engineering District, through the [above indicated source of funding and year] intends to apply the sum of [Phil P 46,347,048.51], being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for [the above indicated name/no. of contract]. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The South Manila Engineering District, now invites bids for [various construction projects indicated above]. Completion of the Works is required [90 calendar days]. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion 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 five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. LOI and/or Application for Eligibility and latest Class A Documents (Contained in the Contractors Registration Certificate) (CRC), 1.1 Legal Documents: a) Department of Trade and Industry Business Name Registration (DTI) or SEC Registration Certificate or CDA; b) Valid and Current Mayors Permit/ Municipal License; c) Tax Clearance; 1.2 Technical Documents; a) Valid Joint Venture Agreement, in case of (J.V.) and Eligibility Docs for each member; b) Valid PCAB License and Registration c) Certificate of Materials Engineer Accreditation and Identification duly certified by the Authorized Managing Officer (AMO) d) Latest copy of Authorizing Managing Officer e) Certificate of Safety Officer Seminar from DOLE f) Phil-GEPS Order Form (Document Request List) g) CPEs rating for the 1st Quarter; 1.3) Financial Documents; are to be accepted by the BAC together with the Bids and other relevant documents on or before the deadline for submission of Bids.

INVITATION TO BID
The City Government of Makati, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites registered suppliers/manufacturers/ distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder projects: NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LOCATION APPROVED BUDGET ICT Facilities Management Program (Data, Servers & Computer UDD P35,283,476.00 Equipment) for the use of Urban Development Department for one (1) year 2 ICT Facilities Management Program (Network Maintenance) for the use of UDD P34,357,800.00 Urban Development Department for one (1) year Prospective Bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examinations of Bids shall use nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria. Post-Qualification of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall be conducted. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: NO. 1 ACTIVITIES 1. Pre-Bidding Conference at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor 2. Opening of Bids at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor SCHEDULE January 22, 2013 (02:00 P.M.) February 05, 2013 (02:00 P.M.)

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 non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: Issuance of Bidding Documents: Pre-Bid Conference : Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders : Receipt of Bids : Opening of Bids : January 14, 2013 February 4, 2013 January 24, 2013 January 24, 2013 February 4, 2013 10:00 A.M. February 4, 2013 2:00 P.M.

3)

4) 5)

Interested Bidders may obtain further information from South Manila Engineering District, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from [8:00-12:00 A.M. and 1:00-5:00 P.M.]. 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 [indicated above]. 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.

Bidding Documents will be available only to Prospective Bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of ______________________to the City Government of Makati Cashier. (fee for Bid Documents) (Procuring Entity) The City Government of Makati assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for (Procuring Entity) any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. The City of Makati reserves the right to disqualify any or all proposal, to waive any defects or informalities therein and to accept such proposal as may be considered most advantageous to the Government. Approved by: (Sgd.) Atty. ELENO M. MENDOZA, JR. Chairman

6)

The South Manila Engineering District, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on [Jan. 18, 2013- 10:00 A.M.] at [SMED-BAC OFFICE, PORT AREA, MANILA], which shall be open to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before [Jan. 31, 2013- 09:00 A.M.] at [SMED-BAC OFFICE, PORT AREA, MANILA]. 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. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: Issuance of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of LOI Receipt from Prosperctive Bidders Deadline of Bid Receipt Opening of Bids 10:00 A.M. 12:00 noon 9:00 A.M. 2:00 P.M. Jan. 11-31, 2013 Jan. 18, 2013 Jan. 25, 2013 Jan. 31, 2013 Jan. 31, 2013

(MST-Jan. 13, 2013)

LUNGSOD NG MAKATI Bids and Awards Committee

J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988 www.makati.gov.ph

REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS

INVITATION TO BID
The City Government of Makati, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites registered suppliers/ manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder projects: NO. 1 NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION VITEK 2 GN Reagents and other laboratory supplies for the use of Ospital ng Makati LOCATION OSMAK APPROVED BUDGET P16,126,880.00

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at Department of Public Works and Highways, 2ndDistrict Engineering Office, Labason Zamboanga del Norte, upon payment of a non-refundable fee. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH website 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 bids Documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and postqualification. The Department of Public Works and Highways, 2nd District Engineering Office, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process at anytime prior contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s. Approved by: (SGD) WILFREDO L. DE GUZMAN OIC-Asst. District Engineer (BAC-Chairman)
(MST-Jan. 13, 2013)

7)

8)

9)

Prospective Bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examinations of Bids shall use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria. Post-Qualification of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall be conducted. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES 1. Pre-Bidding Conference at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor 2. Opening of Bids at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor SCHEDULE January 17, 2013 (02:00 P.M.) January 31, 2013 (02:00 P.M.)

The South 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. For Further information, please refer to: Engr. RUPERTO H. PINGOL Head, BAC Secretariat/Procurement Staff South Manila Engineering District, NCR, DPWH 1018 -8TH Street corner Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila Tel. no. 023044020 rupertopingol@yahoo.com Fax no. 025279727 (SGD.) GUILLERMO D. SALASAC Officer in Charge Office of the Assistant District Engineer BAC Chairperson

Bidding Documents will be available only to Prospective Bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of ______________________to the City Government of Makati Cashier. (fee for Bid Documents) (Procuring Entity) The City Government of Makati assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for (Procuring Entity) any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. The City of Makati reserves the right to disqualify any or all proposal, to waive any defects or informalities therein and to accept such proposal as may be considered most advantageous to the Government. Approved by: (Sgd.) Atty. ELENO M. MENDOZA, JR. Chairman

NOTED: (SGD.) MIKUNUG D. MACUD District Engineer

(MST-JAN. 13, 2013)

(MST-Jan. 13, 2013)

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Manila StandardTODAY

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business@mst.ph

A8

SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

Purisima dreams higher

The nancial market, he says, already acknowledges the countrys strong fundamentals. According to the credit rating agencies own metrics, we should be two notches above investment grade, making us one of the most underrated countries in the world, the 52-year-old former chairman and managing partner of SGV & Co. says. Citing an example, Purisima says Fitchs credit default swap implied rating for the Philippines is BBB, which is two notches lower at BB+. This is one of the largest positive gaps in its peer group, Purisima says. While the market already grants the Philippines favorable interest rates, government economic managers still want the international credit rating agencies to validate that with an ofcial investment-grade rating for the sovereign, which is seen to unlock more opportunities in the country. An investment-grade credit rating is viewed as a seal of approval and a testament to the economic stability of a country, which means it has the ability to generate funds and settle its debt. Finance minister of the year Purisima, the head of the Aquino administrations economic team, knows what an investment-grade rating will do for the economy and for the image of the government. It will also substantiate his being named Finance Minister of the Year by the leading global banking and nance magazine Euromoney in October 2012 for his careful and successful stewardship of the local economy. It is the second Cabinet position for Purisima, who rst served as trade secretary in 2004, before named as nance secretary the following year by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A part of the Cabinet team who resigned in 2005, Purisima was appointed by President Aquino as his nance secretary on July 1, 2010. His expertise is looking at numbers and making a sense out of them. Top notch accountant He obtained degrees in Accounting as well as Management of Financial Institutions from De La Salle University in 1979 and was among the top placers in the board examinations for certied public accountants that year. He took his MBA at the prestigious JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in Chicago in 1983. He worked as an account here and abroad, rising to become the area managing partner and head of the Asia Pacic Assurance Practice of Andersen Worldwide from 2001-2002. He was member of the global board of Andersen Worldwide from 1999-2002 and the global executive board of Ernst & Young from 2002-2004. Purisima also served as chairman and managing partner of SGV & Co. until January 2004. Purisima believes that in his calculation, the numbers are aligned towards an investment-grade rating for the Philippines. The market already allows us to borrow at very lost cost, comparable if not better than investment grade countries. For example, the 10-year Treasury bonds for the Philippines have a lower yield than Indonesia, which is currently ranked investment grade, he says. He says when the government issued P30.8 billion ($750 million) in 10-year global peso notes in November, it fetched a low yield of 3.9 percent, even lower than the 4.1 percent price guidance. We are the

CESAR Purisima does not only believe the Philippines deserves an investment-grade credit rating. The Finance Minister of the Year awardee in 2012 says the country should be rated at least two notches above that desired level.

only Asian sovereign to do so, he says. The progress we have achieved in the last 30 months have been signicant and unprecedented. They show that structural changes are taking root. All our metrics are moving in the right direction, he adds. Economic fundamentals, he says, are strong. He says with the gross domestic product expanding 7.1 percent in the third quarter, average growth in the rst nine months reached 6.5 percent. This is much higher than trend growth of 4.7 percent in the past 10 years. Also, it happened despite a decline in mining of 2.1 percent and a difcult global environment, he says. Purisima says on the governments scal performance, the budget decit was contained to 1.4 percent of the gross domestic product, which was well within the 2.6 percent full-year program. Revenue effort improved to 14.7 percent of GDP in 2012 from 14.5 percent the year before. Prices are also stable. Ination rate was at 2.8 percent in December and averaged 3.2 percent in 2012, lower than the 3 percent to 5 percent target range the Central Bank. The peso is also one of the strongest performing currencies in Asia, he says. Meanwhile, the general government debt declined to 42 percent of GDP in 2011 from a high of 68 percent in 2003. The external debt component has also declined over the years, from a high of 45.3 percent in 2003 to 25 percent in 2011. A vote of condence Purisima says the stock markets performance was a vote of condence in the economy and the present administration. The Philippine Stock Exchange index has sustained its bullish trend with 62 record highs in the 30 months of the Aquino administration, he says. More importantly, the unemployment rate has gone down to 6.4 percent in 2011, from a high of 10.9 percent in 2004, he says. Purisima says the Aquino administration has reversed in two years a decades worth of credit rating decline, with all three major credit rating agencies Standard & Poors, Fitch Ratings and Moodys Investors Servicerating the country just one notch below investment grade. We have had 10 positive ratings actions since this administration took over, he says. With the credit rating agencies looking for robust trends of reform required of an investment grade country, I am condent that this milestone will be a reality sooner rather than later, given the strong political capital and the unprecedented popular support of the programs in the transformational agenda of President Aquino, he says. Investment grade soon Purisima says an investment grade rating means the Philippines can and is likely to pay back what it borrows. Put simply, it is the international communitys nod on the countrys economic and political stability. He says an investment grade rating at the bottom line gives the country the ability to attract more investors. Several companies only invest in investment grade countries for a variety of reasons, thus by reaching investment grade, the country opens to a bigger investor base: both foreign and domestic. An investment grade rating lowers our borrowing cost, widens our scal space for productive expenditures, increases private sector appetite for investments and in turn leads to higher growth and more jobsin a virtuous cycle that the country is currently in, he says. Truly, we are reaping the dividends of the Presidents platform that good governance leads to good economics. We are working hard to deliver and communicate with our partner credit rating agencies the consistent trends in which the Philippine story has unfolded, he says. RTD
Administration, says the private sector raised P99.3 billion in corporate bonds in 2012, up by 373 percent from just P21 billion in 2011. Among the largest fundraising activities last year were San Miguel Brewery Inc.s P20-billion issue; Ayala Corp.s P10 billion; SM Investment Corp.s P10 billion; and First Metro Investment Corp.s P7 billion. Meanwhile, the government raised P758.9 billion worth of retail treasury bills and xed rate bonds in 11 months to November 2012, which was about 34 percent higher than the previous year. Foreign currency denominated transactions, on the other hand, amounted to $9.35 billion, also up by 42 percent from a year ago. At the stock market, companies raised P228.3 billion in 2012, climbing 81.3 percent from the year before. This was recorded as the PSEi rewrote record highs 38 times last year and ended 33 percent higher than the previous years close. One of the largest successful equity capital raising in 2012 was GT Capitals P21.6 billion initial public offering. Another notable issuance was San Miguel Corp.s P80-billion series 2 preferred shares., the largest private capital raising transaction ever, he says. Ocampo says in 2013, the recent tax regulation will spur renancing activities. The new tax rules will tend to further promote bonds vs. notes. He says there is further growth opportunity for the bond market. Among the companies that are expected to raise funds this year are banks, exchange traded funds and property developers. Reynaldo Montalbo, the senior vice president and group head of treasury of First Metro Investment Corp., expects the xed-income market to further grow, despite the lower yields. Montalbo, who graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Business Economics and completed his Master in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management, says 25year and 20-year yields are expected to fall below 5 percent in 2013. Treasury-bill interest rates are projected as follows: 91-day at 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent; 5-year at 3.5 percent to 3.625 percent; 10year at 3.75 percent to 3.925 percent; 20-year at 4.75 percent to 4.9 percent; and 25-year at 4.925 percent to 5 percent. He says this is because supply of funds will continue to overwhelm demand. He estimates the gap at about P1 trillion, with supply of funds reaching P4 trillion and demand, P3.1 trillion. RTD

Economists and bankers see 2013 as a better year

ECONOMISTS and investment bankers are optimistic about the economic prospects in 2013. In a recent roundtable brieng, six of them gathered in front of journalists to share their forecasts and insights about the economy and the nancial market. Victor Abola, one of the countrys top economists known for his nearly precise forecasts, sees the countrys gross domestic product growing between 7.5 percent and 8 percent this year. GDP growth will accelerate due to higher public spending and robust private sector consumption, says Abola, the current program director of the Strategic Business Economics Program at the University of Asia and the Pacic. Abola, who once served as the chief of party of the scal policy analysis activity of the Finance Department, sees the industry sector expanding 8.2 percent and the services sector, 8 percent this year. He says despite the strong growth, ination rate is expected to soften to 2.8 percent in 2013 from 3.2 percent in 2012. He says the external environment may be friendlier this year, with the resolution of the so-called scal cliff issue in the US and recovery in Europe. Global growth is expected to pick up to 3.6 percent in 2013 from around 3.3 percent in 2012. Gross international reserves are expected to climb further to $95 billion by end-2013, as the Central Bank manages the exchange rate at 41 to 43 pesos per US dollar. Francisco Sebastian, an investment banker, shares a very optimistic outlook for the Philippine economy. With a 7.1-percent increase in GDP in the third quarter of 2012, a lower than expected ination rate of 3.2 percent, gross international reserves rising rapidly that has reached $84.1 billion, and a debt-to-GDP ratio that has fallen below 50 percent, the Philippines is denitely now on the rise, he says. Sebastian, currently the chairman of First Metro Investment Corp. and vice chairman of the Metrobank Group, says the economy is in an unprecedented growth momentum, supported by solid fundamentals. He says the countrys GDP growth in 2013 will be driven by heavy election spending, increased infrastructure projects, robust consumer and service sector and stronger tourism and gaming. He says the national government is spending more money in agriculture in the form of rehabilitation and construction of more irrigation systems, farm-to-market roads, and storage facilities. This will contribute to stable ination. Sebastian, who graduated magna cum laude with an AB degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1975, says a further softening of oil prices is expected as a result of larger surplus capacity with the continued expansion of shale oil and gas output in the US and Russia. Oil price forecast is $93 per barrel this year. He says remittances will remain resilient this year, growing 4 percent to 5 percent despite the IsraeliPalestine conict, Eurozone debt problem and the scal cliff in the US. Demand for Filipino workers will be sustained, which will continue to stimulate and intensify domestic consumption. Imports are expected to rise between 10 percent and 15 percent, supported by high domestic growth as well as resurgence of the strong manufacturing sector. Interest rates are anticipated to further compress attributable to lower ination, credit upgrade, massive inow of funds and limited supply of papers, he says. Roberto Juanchito Dispo, currently the president and a director of First Metro Investment Corp., says with robust economic growth, the governments anticorruption stance that has improved tax administration and with new tax revenue sources, budget decit is expected to remain low and may not reach P200 billion or 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent of GDP. Debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to fall further and it will be lower than Thailand, says Dispo, who had an extensive experience in government as deputy treasurer. He also served in the Defense, Trade and Finance Departments as well as the Central Bank. Dispo says the equities market will remain bullish this year, with the benchmark index expected to hit 6,800 and price earnings ratio reaching 17x. This is because with a projected GDP growth of 7.5 percent to 8 percent, corporate earnings will likely grow by another 20 percent in 2013, he says. He says there are growth opportunities in real estate properties specically those serving tourism, gaming and retailing; construction; infrastructure/utilities; consumerrelated manufacturing; gaming and tourism. A revival of the existing mining companies in order to sustain the resurgence of the manufacturing sector is also in the ofng. We expect a robust corporate bond market this year, he says. Bede Lovell Gomez, the assistant vice president and deputy group head of investment advisory group of First Metro Investment Corp., says while Philippine stocks look expensive at present, given the new record highs achieved in the past several months, they are not too expensive at all. In fact, he says there is further room for the benchmark PSEi to climb to 6,800 points, supported by a 20-percent improvement in earnings per share. Gomez, who graduated from Loyola University of Chicago (USA) and took postgraduate course in investment management from the Wharton School of Business in University of Pennsylvania, says among the sectors that have scope to rise are nancial, property, holdings rms, services and industrial stocks. He says these stocks will be driven by strong economic growth on the back of robust household spending. The low interest rates and expanding afuent mass market will also boost stocks. Among his stock picks in 2013 are consumer-oriented issues such as Puregold Price Club Inc., Pepsi Cola Products Philippines Inc. and San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc. For holding companies, he recommends GT Capital Investments and Alliance Global. Justino Ocampo, the head of investment banking of First Metro Investment Corp., says more companies are expected to raise capital from the domestic debt market this year to nance their operations and expansion plans. Ocampo, who graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Business

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She
"WHO is Sarah Lahbati?" was the question on many people's minds when it all started. Sarah, after all, is not yet a household name in the same way that reality stars Jennlyn Mercado, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson are.
"She is the girlfriend of Richard Gutierrez," is the usual answer to the question. Sarah Azol Lahbati is 19 years old. She is a Swiss-Filipino reality show star who has gained popularity in the past few months because of her involvement with Richard, who is about nine years her senior. But this time, Sarah isn't being talked about because of her lovelife but because of a professional battle against the group that discovered her and made her a star. As a solid sign of the times, the war started on Twitter. It all started on Jan. 2 with several long tweets from Sarah: To all my friends and supporters, I'd like to thank you for the love and loyalty you've given me. I've been very blessed last year and I'm grateful to all of you but unfortunately you will be seeing less of me this year for reasons that are hard to explain through Twitter... I've had misunderstandings with the people who are handling my career. I am still thankful to them for the efforts they have shown in the past but now I feel neglected and my back is against the wall... Therefor I have to do something. Just to clarify this issue that's been going around, I signed a contract with Royal Artist (Tita Annabelle Rama) as a co manager with GMA Artist Center because I needed someone to protect and help my well being in this cut throat industry. Tita Annabelle only wants the best for me, with her years of experience and success in this industry I know that she's the right person to help me. Sarah went on: When my family made this decision, we were already sure that an artist tied up with GMA Artist Center such as myself can be comanaged by another talent company because I was offered by top management of GMA to sign a contract with ICONS management just a few months before i signed with Tita Annabelle. I didn't sign with ICONS because they wanted to deduct another 15 percent on top of the 25 percent that is being deducted by GMA Artist Center. We found that too steep of a deduction for someone who just started such as myself. ICONS is a GMA-afliated talent management agency run by Bebong Munoz, the former boyfriend of Jolina Magdangal. Because of the brouhaha, Sarah further tweeted that she decided to go back to Switzerland, take a break from showbusiness and study. Following is the statement issued by GMA Network after Sarah's rst barrage of tweets: "Last December, Sarah Lahbati unilaterally decided to take a leave of absence for one month from GMA Network, because she said she wanted to de-stress and unwind. Because her reasons were vague, they were not accepted by management. While we understand that work in our industry can be stressful (as in any business), we believe that this is not only unavoidable in most cases, but also a part of what one does as a professional and/ or performing artist. "Her leave of absence was also disapproved by management because of her pending obligations (i.e. Party Pilipinas, on-going promos and other endorsement commitments). However, on the evening of Jan 2, she tweeted that she will be going to Switzerland to study, despite the disapproval given to her last December on taking a leave. This is in violation of her contract, because she has to perform and appear in programs and events assigned to her,

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SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

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THEY SAID
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
She retaliates

SAID,

and make herself available to faithfully and promptly fulll all engagements contracted for her by GMA. "At the same time, she has yet to address the issue of her walking out during taping, which caused the production team to pack-up, and incur an additional cost of 500k. She is therefore, currently under investigation and the network is still studying on what actions to take. On Jan. 7, Sarah unleashed new accusations, saying there were "under the table deals between GMA Artist Center and ICONS. She went as far as implicating GMA Artist Center executives lawyer Annette Gozon-Abrogar and Arsi Baltazar. Gozon-Abrogar is the daughter of network chairman and chief executive lawyer Felipe Gozon. On that day, Sarah had 21 tweets! Because of double bookings and a messed up schedule and other unsolved issues, I needed proper management... and protection with my career, that's why I asked for Tita Annabelle's help. After a few days I was asked by GMA to void my contract with... Tita Annabelle or else they will le a lawsuit against me," said the young star on Twitter. Sarah went as far as questioning why ICONS can comanage talents. "The Network maintains its stand that Sarah Lahbati violated its contract," said GMA. The network said Sarah's relationship is not with GMA Artist Center. "It must be claried that GMAAC has no legal personality apart from the Network, and that Sarahs contract is with GMA Network and not with GMAAC. In the same way that a contract requires the mutual consent of the two parties, there cannot also be a unilateral cancellation of the contract by Sarah alone," added the network. GMA also addressed the young star's accusations about the alleged shady deals between GMA Artist Center. "The Network found no proof of her allegation that there was an 'under the table' deal between GMAAC and ICONS Management. The Network has a policy of prohibiting and penalizing any such deal between any of its executives and employees and others dealing with the Network. This policy is strictly enforced and implemented," said GMA. It added, "If Sarah can prove later her accusation against ICONS and GMAAC, the Network will not only stop dealing with ICONS but will also penalize those who are guilty of such anomaly." At press time, the network had led a civil case for Specic Performance with Damages against Sarah Lahbati with the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. The complaint states serious breach of management and program contracts because of Sarahs failure and refusal to comply with her obligations and undertakings under the Management Contract she had signed up with GMA-7 and appearances in her program assignments despite notice and advice. The complaint includes liquidated damages amounting to P7 million caused by Lahbatis refusal to perform her obligations under the Management Contract and other program contracts coupled with her formal notice to take a leave of absence for one (1) month from the network without prior agreement or approval of GMA-7.

The beginning

Sarah Lahbati was discovered via a reality star search.

Final answer

GMA answers

ABCs
BORN decades apart, Pandy Aviado, Max Balatbat and Ross Capili share a common denominator in their artistic pursuits: the contemporary form of abstraction they produce on canvases. In the 60s, Virgillio Pandy Aviado carved a name for himself in printmaking through his painting oeuvre, which comprise a series of calligraphic strokes. He was conferred the 13 Artists Award in 1970, and the Patnubay ng Sining awardee for Graphic Arts, Araw

A gold for St. Pauls Pasig HS Chorale

Windows 2009 by Pandy Aviado painter, his signature acrylic layering technique connotes water as it drips freely on and all over his canvases. Aviado and Capili have travelled and exhibited together in Fukuoka, Japan and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while Balatbat joined them in last years 26th AIAE in Seoul Synopsis by Pandy Aviado Korea. Here, the three formed a bond over a shared love for the abstract sensibility. The ABCs of Abstraction opens on Jan. 23, 6 p.m., simultaneously at The ArtPrints Alley and Sindo ArtWall located on the 3rd and Ground levels respectively at LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St, Bel Air II Makati City. THE St Pauls (Pasig) High School Chorale garnered the gold prizes in the Youth Chorus Of Equal Voices Event during the Second Vietnam International Choir Competition, held in Hue, Vietnam Dec. 12-16, 2012. This was the very rst international event joined by ST. Pauls after garnering First Places in all nationally held school chorale contests. The 30 voice choir was conducted by Shiela Marie B. Fetalvero.The annual event is being sponsored by Germany Interkulture. The group is now qualied to compete in any Interkulture international events, including: The World Choir Games; The Champions Competition; World Choir Championships and the Championship Round. Representatives of Vietnam. Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines took part in the annual choral contest.

OF ABSTRACTION
ng Maynila, 1988. Max MaxBal Balatbat coasted along with architectural abstraction in the 90s. While forms of abstraction are often associated with representations of obscure personal emotions and experiences, Max transcends such expectations by creating works which assemble arresting narratives. Since the 80s, Ross Capili has been experimenting with multi-media art. He uses paint, pigment inks, and pixels in order to deliver message and insight. As a

Esquinita 001 by Max Balatbat

Esquinita 004 by Max Balatbat

The Colors of Water 2 by Ross Capili

The Colors of Water by Ross Capili

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ARTS & LIFE
ManilaStandardTODAY ManilaStandardTODAY ManilaStandard StandardTODAY

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SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

pink, coral and sheer watermelon

By Dinna Chan Vasquez

Paint the town

Albert Martinez is Dr. Feel Good

BEFORE Benet Cosmetics opened its rst store in the Philippines on Dec. 15, 2011, fans of the brand would order its cult products like Benetint, a lip and cheek stain); Boxed Powders like Bella Bamba and Coralista; and The Porefessional, which minimizes the appearance of pores, from friends and relatives abroad.
The rst Benet boutique opened with much fanfare. Sales went beyond expectations in the rst two weeks, says Benet Philippines Chief Fun Ofcer/brand manager Aubrey Bautista. Among the top-selling products was Bathina, a silky, glimmering scented body balm. In 2012, Benet opened two more branchesat Rustans Makati and Shangri-la Plaza Malland gained more fans not only because of its great products but also because of its Brow Bar, which is staffed with staffed with professionals who are highly trained in the art of brow shaping. To mark its rst anniversary in the country, Benet hosted a party at Greenbelt 5. Aside from Bautista and her staff who took care of the guests and made sure that everyone was primped and well-fed, present were Karen Raghavan, general manager for Southeast Asia; Naomi Neo, Southeast Asia boutique manager; and Tiffany Chen, Southeast Asia regional trainer. The event also served as the launch of Fine One One, a new product which will be available in the market at the end of this month. Fine One One is a sheer brightening color for cheeks and lips. Unlike Benets iconic tints, Fine One One is in stick form. The tri-color design features three shades of color which are pink champagne, sheer watermelon and soft coral. Bautista also revealed standees of Benet personas as represented by celebrities like Maggie Wilson (SPYgal), Bianca Valerio (Bathina), Ruffa Gutierrez (Hello Flawless), Alyanna Martinez (Peggy and B. Right), Phoemela Barranda (Honest Leah), Albert Martinez as Dr. Feel Good and Cristine Reyes as Fine One One.
Bianca Valerio as Bathina

th Karen Raghavan Aubrey Bautista wi Chen (right) (left) and Tiffany

Alyanna Martinez as Peggy

Maggie Wilson as Spygal

Karen Raghavan with Bene-babes Maggie Wilson, Bianca Valerio an d Phoemela Barra nda

Ruffa Gutierrez as Hello Flawless

Building houses, promoting growth

REAL estate services company KMC MAG Group completed a successful outreach activity with Gawad Kalinga (GK) last December. The rms employees worked with GK to paint the housing projects and spend time with the GK children. KMC MAG Groups chairman and founder Greg Kittleson, managing director Michael McCullough, and GKs head of Volunteer Management Raul Ramiterre welcomed the participants to the days activities. KMC is all about helping clients nd the best piece of real estate where their businesses or families can grow. Gawad Kalinga, on the other hand, builds homes for families and communities. We believe their purpose is closely linked with ours and we want to play an active part in making GKs projects as livable and as beautiful as possible, says McCullough. The event was held in Brgy. Pinagsama, Taguig City, neighboring the companys headquarters in Bonafacio Global City. Alongside the building efforts done by KMC MAG, they also spent with

Asiana Airlines completes Aeta village project

ASIANA Airlines (OZ) has announced the completion of the nal stage of its Self-Sustaining Village Project for the Aeta tribal community in Pampanga. Through the Asiana Welfare Corps, in cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the airline has taught corn and sweet potato farming techniques and goat stock breeding technologies to residents. Asiana hopes to help them achieve economic independence as their present livelihood involves selling and collecting charcoal. Asiana rst began building public sanitation facilities and child welfare institutions for the community in June 2011. The second stage involved relocating village residents and home improvement projects. Asiana has vowed to support the thriving community of about 300 Aeta villagers. The village is located 30 kilometers from Clark Aireld, one of Asianas Philippine destinations. Asiana, a multi-awarded Korean carrier, ies out of Manila, Cebu and Clark. The airline vows to continue supporting the community CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

KMC directors clear the pavement for newly mixed cement

the children from the community through SAGIP, a community-based program for children ages 7 to 13 years old. It seeks to nurture the new found hope of GK youth through weekly value-formation activities.

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email: tech@mst.ph

MARLON C. MAGTIRA, Section Editor CHRISTIAN CARDIENTE, Asst. Editor

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TECH

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JANUARY 13, 2013

B3

Mobile phones with fingerprint ID coming this year

demand from Japan has prompted Fingerprint Cards to open a sales and support ofce in Tokyo. The news sent the companys stock soaring to its highest level in more than ve years. For Japans electronics makers, the big bet on biometrics could be an attempt to differentiate their phones from the myriad other black rectangles on the market. Those companies could use some help. Kyocera, Panasonic, Sharp and Sony are among the nations largest phone makers, yet none of them has captured enough global market share to rank among the top ve mobile or smartphone manufacturers, according to research rm IDC. Fingerprint Cards declined to name its customers in a press release last month. But the Japanese companies may have some competition from the worlds second-largest smartphone maker. In August, Apple agreed to pay about $350 million for AuthenTec, which has its own ngerprint authentication and encryption technology. The Cupertino, Californiabased company has also led patents of its own for biometric technology. Silicon Valleybased SecuGen and Validity Sensors are showing off their ngerprint tools this week at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. As we cram ever more sensitive information into our smartphones, stronger security should be a welcome addition. But lets make sure that, like with the passcode lock on todays smartphones, there is some way to get around these biometric walls in case of emergencies, or when I accidentally mangle my thumb in the car door. Bloomberg

MOBILE phones will soon know your touch.

Fingerprint Cards, a Swedish biometricsecurity company, said a Japanese electronics maker plans to introduce mobile phones with ngerprint sensors in the third quarter of this year. The technology, which identies a persons unique ngerprint when placed on a reader, can be used to prevent unauthorized access to a device.
Japanese phone makers placed a total of three orders for Fingerprints components in the fourth quarter of last year. One of those purchases was for at least a million phones, my colleague Niklas Magnusson reported. The

Fingerprint sensors will identify a users unique ngerprint to prevent unauthorized access. Bloomberg

Rebound of video game consoles seen as new platforms arrive

A NEW study from research rm IDC has forecast that demand for Microsofts Xbox 360, Nintendos Wii and Wii U, and Sonys PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 is expected to rise in four global regions through 2016. The console ecosystem is in a state of ux since these platforms need to support an ever-growing array of non-gaming features and services at the same time that game distribution and monetization is moving in a digital direction, said Lewis Ward, research manager of IDCs Gaming service. At the same time, it doesnt appear that alternative platforms set-top boxes from cable companies, Web-connected smart TVs, and so on are positioned to materially disrupt the trajectory of the big 3 console OEMs in 2013 or 2014. Discs will remain the console game revenue mainstay for years to come. In December 2012, PS3 system shipments eclipsed the number of Xbox 360s shipped worldwide, despite the PS3 launching a year later than the Xbox 360 (an estimated 77 million bundles versus approximately 76 million bundles shipped). Nintendos Wii U will nd an audience global bundle shipments will exceed 50 million by year-end 2016. The volume of packaged game discs shipped will decline an average of roughly 3 percent per year through 2016, as console spending shifts into digital channels. 2011 and 2012 were tough for many console game disc developers and publishers, added Ward. With the advent of eighth-generation consoles, starting with the Wii U, historical norms strongly imply that game disc revenue will stop bleeding in 2013 and rise substantively in 2014, said Ward. The regional breakdown includes North America, Western Europe, Japan, and a combined Rest of World (ROW). Console bundle and packaged game disc shipments, console installed bases, hardware and packaged software ASPs, total hardware and packaged software revenue, and total console gamers are some of the key metrics considered. Newsbytes.ph

Dual-identity phones helping separate work-home lives

RESEARCH In Motion, VMware and Red Bend Software are working to give phones a split personality, seeking an edge in the emerging market for tools that let employees use their own gadgets on the job. RIM in coming weeks will unveil an enhanced version of BlackBerry Balance, software to help employees seamlessly use their smartphones and tablets for work tasks without compromising their privacy. The software also promises to help businesses cut security risk and save money on hardware and device management. VMware and Red Bend are also building products for the estimated 28 percent of workers who use personal electronics for work, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. The market for such software and related products reached a projected $67.2 billion in 2011. We think theres a seismic shift in terms of usage paradigm, said Srinivas Krishnamurti, a senior director for mobile solutions at VMware. The old school of management of the devices doesnt quite work. The stakes are especially high for RIM, which has been struggling to compete with Apple and Google in smartphones. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company, whose products were once the leader among corporations looking for the most secure system, saw total subscribers drop to 79 million in the quarter that ended Dec. 1, from 80 million in the previous period. RIM is introducing BlackBerry Balance as part of the new operating system that is set to be released on Jan. 30. Double Identity Dual-identity phone products have the potential to reduce the risk and cost to businesses of letting employees use their own phones and tablets for work. Monthly charges for these devices are typically 14 percent higher than for corporate- issued devices, an Aberdeen Group survey of 100 businesses found last year, and the use of personal devices can also expose companies to more security threats. VMwares dual-use software runs on Googles Android mobile platform and will let one phone act as two: With the tap of an icon, the phones home screen will switch from showing personal wallpaper, contacts, schedule and applications such as Facebook Inc. to a business screen, with only an employers apps and contacts, all secured and managed by corporate engineers. In addition to RIM and VMware, 13-year-old Red Bend also has a new software tool that it expects to be part of several phones labeled enterpriseready and sold in carrier stores this year, Red Bend Executive Vice President Lori Sylvia said. Segregated Data The new tools all have the ability to segregate personal and business information on one device. They can restrict corporations ability to access employees personal data, such as texts, photos and posts on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, ensuring greater privacy. They also let companies wipe business data from the phones remotelywhen an employee resigns, for examplewithout damaging personal content or apps on the device. One potential downside for employees: if the phone breaks, its still your personal phone, which means workers would be responsible for getting it xed, unless the company has a repair or replacement policy. Even so, installing dual-personality software may emerge as the most popular way to make devices serve both purposes, said Chenxi Wang, an analyst at Forrester Research. Favored by VMware and Red Bend, the software approach works by putting business applications and data on a second, virtual operating system on the phone. Corporate data and apps are completely walled off from the rest of the device. Bloomberg

Samsung shows bendable phone screen

LAS VEGASBy showing off a phone with a exible screen, Samsung is hinting at a day when we might fold up our large phone or tablet screens as if they were maps. The Korean electronics company provided a glimpse of such a device at a keynote speech Wednesday at the International CES gadget show in Las Vegas. Its an annual showcase of the latest TVs, computers and other consumer-electronic devices. WHAT IT IS: Brian Berkeley, head of Samsung Electronics display lab in San Jose, Calif., demonstrated a phone that consists of a matchbox-sized hard enclosure, with a paper-thin, exible color screen attached to one end. The screen doesnt appear exible enough to fold in half like a piece of paper, but it could bend into a tube. The company also showed a video of a future concept, with a phone-sized device that opens up like a book, revealing a tablet-sized screen inside. HOW IT WORKS: The screen uses organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Only a thin layer of these chemicals is needed to produce a bright, colorful screen. Theyre used in many Samsung phones already, though with glass screens. For the bendable phone, Samsung laid the chemicals over thin plastic instead of glass. Thats a trick you cant pull off with liquid crystals in standard displays. WHY YOUD WANT IT: You could pack a bigger screen in your pocket. In a more conventional application, Berkeley demonstrated a phone with a display thats rigid, but bent around the edges of the device, so it can show incoming messages even with a cover over the main screen. In short, OLEDs free designers to make gadgets with curved screens. WHY IT MIGHT NOT WORK: Its tough to use a touch screen if it bends away from your nger. Flexible OLED screens have been demonstrated for years, but the OLED chemicals are extremely sensitive to oxygen, so they need to be completely sealed off from the air. Volume production of exible displays that remain airtight has so far stumped engineers. Samsungs screens arent yet exible enough to fold, just bend. AVAILABILITY: Samsung didnt say anything about when exible displays might be commercialized. The concept of the exible screen has been around for some time, but it nally looks as if Samsung is really going to deliver on that technology, said Steve Bell, a technology consultant and president of KeySo Global. AP (Photo caption: Eric Rudder, chief technical strategy ofcer of Microsoft, holds a prototype Windows smartphone with a exible OLED display during Samsungs keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. AP

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Sports

B4

SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

Nonito Donaire won four of four ghts in 2012 while Manny Pacquiao lost two of two ghts. By the end of last year, the 30-year-old Talibon, Boholborn overtook compatriot Pacquiao as local and the worlds ring icon.

Five month later on June 7, he sent Jeffrey Matbeubla kissing the canvass in the fourth on the way to a unanimous decision and unifying the WBO/ International Boxing Federation 122-pound belts and on October 13. Donaire resumed his winning ways October 13 by technically knocking out Toshiaki Nishioka in the ninth round to keep his WBO super bantam title besides adding the vacant Ring Magazine linear title and WBC Diamond belt in to his collection. He gave up his IBF crown though. And as if wearing three world crowns in as many weight divisions wasnt enough,

DONAIRE OVERTAKES PACQUIAO

By Eddie G. Alinea

Donaire, second child in the brood of four out of the union of Nonito Sr., a former soldier and Imelda, a teacherturned caregiver, ended his busy year with a sensational third round KO of Mexican Jorge Arce, who he knocked down thrice to remain the WBC superbantam king and keep Philippine boxings head above water. In contrast Pacquiaos career as a boxer may be close to its finish with back-to-back losses this year to Timothy Bradley and then to Juan

Manuel Marquez. The Pambansang Kamaos year-long woes began right in the rst month of the second quarter when the Bureau of Internal Revenue Region 12 led complaint against the Sarangani Congressman for allegedly failing to submit documents to support his income tax returns involving his business interests and income sources. Pacquiao called it plain and simple harassmen designed to distract him during his preparation for his ght which he eventually lost. Getting support from his fellow lawmakers in the Lower House and several cabinet members, the Department of Justice later dismissed the case on the eve of his fourth meeting with Marquez in November. His stand against same-sex marriage and the Reproductive Health Bill, likewise, wrought havoc on his popularity although, if some writers were to be believed, those issues affected his not-so-impressive performance against Bradley. On a brighter side, as a congressman representing the lone district of his wife Jinkees Sarangani Province, Pacquiao, father of four, led a bill creating Philippine Boxing Commission aimed at, among other things, giving benet to past and present professional ghters. Pacquiao. Likewise, continued giving away nancial assistance to countrymen in distress, especially those suffering serious illnesses, and giving away prizes in terms of products to his listeners in his tv program. But the biggest setbacks for Pacquiao were on the ring with Pacman losing both his ghts in 2012. First a split decision to undefeated Americn welterweight Timopthy Bradly and then the devastating sixth round KO to longtime Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. The year 2012 proved a really bad year for Pacquiao and a banner year for Donaire.

BOXING is now a seven-letter word. Its spelled D-O-N-A-I-R-E.

Fil-American Nonito Donaire Jr. is not only a boxer. Hes an athlete. A full-blown superstar athlete. By the end of last year, the 30-year-old Talibon, Bohol-born looked to have overtaken compatriot Manny Pacquiao as local and the worlds ring icon.
Pacquiao as its Athlete of the Year awardee, would probably, too, choose Donaire as the honor recipient for the year just ended. Again, it could be a start of what is expected to be many more awards. But the 34-year-old Pacquiao, despite taking a nosedive in his 17-year boxing career, which many believe is only temporary, still remains a Philippines ring hero. To the world boxing community, he is still the rst and only man to win 10 world crowns in eight weight divisions. The only ghter, too, to own four lineal belts. But in 2012 Donaire achieved more than Pacquiao. Donaire, otherwise known as the Filipino Flash, fought four times in 2012 and sent two of his opponents to the canvas to warm the seat of their pants. This is a great feat in this era when boxers normally climb the ring two times a year. He won all four bouts, two by stoppage. Donaire keyed off a successful 365day campaign with a split decision triumph over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. last February 4 to annex the vacant World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight plum in Alamodome in Texas where he knocked down his opponent in the ninth round.

He was ESPN, Yahoo and Sports Illustrateds Fighter of the Year. An honor bestowed upon him lately by Ring Magazine, acknowledged as bible of the sport of sweet science. And, most-likely, soon by the Boxing Writers Association of America. And it could only be the beginning. Pacquiao won the BWAA Fighter of the Year award three times. The rst time in 2006. Then back-to-back in 2008 and 2009. He is one of a handful who have won the accolade more than twice. The Philippine Sportswriters Association, which, for the past decade or so, had named the eight-division champion

The past year proved a really bad year for Manny Pacquiao who suffered back-toback losses rst to Timothy Bradley and then to Juan Manuel Marquez.

Basketballs loss is beauty pageants gain

By Reuel Vidal
LOCAL basketballs loss turned out to be a blessing after Rizzini Alexis Gomez, daughter of former Alaska Aces star and now University of Cebu coach Rhoel Gomez, brought honor to the Philippines by winning the 2012 Miss Tourism International crown last New Years eve. This is because as a young girl Rizzini followed in the foosteps of her dad and became an accomplished basketball player. The 510 tall Rizzini was so good as a player that his father Rhoel often said that she could become the female local Michael Jordan. She was good enough in basketball and became a standout player of Saint Paul College in Quezon City and was recruited to play collegiate basketball for University of Cebu. It was her own father though who suggested that she pursue her studies instead and the rest is history with Rizzini focusing on her studies and eventually bringing home the coveted international crown as the countrys latest beauty queen. Rizzini was the Alaska Aces
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Rizzini Alexis Gomez

muse during the opening ceremonies of the 2012-2013 Philippine Basketball Association season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. She made history when she became the rst daughter of a PBA player to become team muse. Rizzini is a registered nurse and won the pageant Monday evening in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She earned the honor to represent the country after being chosen Mutya ng PilipinasTourism. The 21-year-old Cebuana stunner is the eldest of three children of Rhoel. She also won Best in Swimsuit and two other special awards during the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant held last August. Hindi ko akalain talaga (I did not expect this), said Rhoel. We knew she had a good chance to win. Doon sa other nalists maikli lang ang interview samantalang siya ang tagal kinausap (The other nalists had brief interviews while she was allowed to talk a long time). Other than Cebuano and Filipino she also speaks English and Spanish. Shes a wide reader. Madali sa kanya ang interviews (Inter-

views are easy for her). The elder Gomez said the whole family followed the contest via live streaming through the Internet. He could not help but recall memories of her daughter as a child during the tense proceedings. We were already very happy when she made it to the Top 10, said Rhoel. Naalala ko bigla noong bata pa siya at nanonood ng PBA games at napaluha talaga ako ( I recalled when she used to watch PBA games as a young girl and I could not help but cry tears of joy). I remember her watching the games wearing an E. Cow jacket. Ewan ko, tumatanda na yata talaga ako (I dont know, I must be really getting old). Rhoel was Alaskas secondround draft pick and ninth overall in 1991. He went on to play nine PBA seasons with the Uytengsu franchise. He has two sons who are both making names for themselves in basketball. Arvin Kim, 20, won the three-point shootout contest in the recent Cesa All-Star Game while playing for his father who is also the head coach of the University of Cebu. Sixteen-

year-old Keanu Sean, who was named after former Alaska import Sean Chambers, plays point guard for James Madison High School in the US. The last time a Filipina won the prestigious international award was back in 2000 with Maria Esperanza Manzano. Venezuelas Marielis Alejandra Castellanos Perez (Miss Tourism Global) was 1st Runner-up to Rizzini. Australias Monika Rodulovic (Miss Tourism Metropolitan International) was 2nd Runner-up. Paraguays Lourdes Maria Del Carmen Motta Rolon (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International) was 3rd Runner-up. Malaysias Jun Yong Wan Jun (Dreamgirl of the Year) was 4th Runner-up. The Cebuana beauty bested 54 other beauty queens from all over the world to grab the 16th Miss Tourism International crown. She became only the second Filipina to win the title after Maria Esperanza Manzano in 2000. Other contestants who advanced to the Top 10 were the delegates from New Zealand, Russia, India, Thailand and China.