CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WEATHER
Cold front persists
THE tail-end of a cold front and the northeast monsoon continues to bring cold weather in the country, the state weather bureau said on Sunday. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Mindanao will have
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Standard TODAY
Manila
Vol. XXVI No. 287 16 Pages, 3 Sections P18.00 Monday, January 21, 2013

Oil rms cut pump prices

AT least six oil rms on Sunday announced roll back in their fuel prices which will take effect on Monday. Major oil players Pilipinas, Shell Petron Philippines, Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex), and independent players Seaoil Philippine, Phoenix Petroleum will implement a rollback effective 12:01
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Drama in Algeria. Algerian soldiers (top left) secure the airport in Ain Amenas before the departure of the freed hostages (top right) that they rescued on Saturday after storming the natural gas complex where Islamist militants had held them hostage for three days. On top, in this image made from a video, a group of people believed to be hostages kneel in the sand with their hands in the air at an unknown location in Algeria. AP

De Lima: No reason to doubt witnesses

By Rey E. Requejo
JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima on Sunday stood by the testimonies of the witnesses under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation that the Jan. 6 incident in Atimonan, Quezon, where alleged jueteng operator Vic Siman and 12 other people were killed was not a shootout. She said the NBI would try its best to submit its initial report on the incident to President Benigno Aquino III before he leaves for Davos, Switzerland, for a conference on Wednesday. She said the version of what happened as told by the police and soldiers led by Supt. Hansel Marantan had already been negated by the testimonies of two civilian eyewitnesses who were said to have been at the site of the incident. We have no reason to doubt the credibility of our witnesses and their story, De Lima said in a text message. Their account of the incident negates or debunks the operatives and soldiers claim of a Next page shootout.

Algeria standoff ends in bloodbath

23 hostages, 32 militants killed in bloody finale

IN A bloody nale, Algerian special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the Sahara Desert on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to end a standoff with Islamist extremists that left at least 23 hostages dead and killed all 32 militants involved, the Algerian government said.
The same day, 39 Filipino workers who were far from the hostage-taking in Algeria arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after their employer sent them home for security reasons. We werent taken hostage, said Alex Aguja, 58, of Leyte, an electrical supervisor at the Perofac gas plant in Algeria. Our area was far from there. A Foreign Affairs spokesman said the government had been able to account for 52 Filipino workers, including some from the ill-fated Ain Amenas gas plant. Some 34 Filipinos who were working in the gas eld were on their way home to the Philippines, said department spokesman Raul Hernandez. He said a team from the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli in neighboring Libya was coordinating with Algerian authorities and employers to determine the whereabouts and condition of
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US Navy sends tug boats to haul ship

THE United States Navy has sent two tugboats to haul its minesweeper USS Guardian that ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, causing a still undetermined damage on the coral reef of the worlds heritage site. But. Maj. Oliver Banaria, commander of the Armed Forces 6th Civil Relations Group based in Palawan, declined to give details on the activities of the US Navy. As of now there are tugboats there, Banaria said. As [regards] their activity, I cant discuss [it] because it should be the US talking, and it seems those boats are civilian. They were probably contracted by the US. Naval Forces Western Command chief Commodore Rustom Pea said the grounded warship has turned [tilted] 90 degrees due to strong currents, apparently causing more damage to the corals there. Next page

Safe and home. These Filipinos working with other companies in Algeria are shown at the airport in Manila on Sunday after the government helped them to return home. ERIC B. APOLONIO

ANALYSIS

Is it the end of the Senate?

By Francisco S. Tatad
WHAT rst looked like an exchange of minor irritations between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on the constitutionality of cash gifts to the senators last Christmas has grown into a full-blown war that threatens the continued relevance ofthe Senate. For saying there was nothing wrong with the cash transfer, Sen. Panlo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on accounts, instantly won the tag, fugitive from justice and Enriles attack dog. The rst phrase obviously refers to Lacsons dropping out of public sight not too long ago until the court rescinded a criminal arrest order, which he maintained had no legal basis. The second phrase applies to his taking Enriles side. Exercising his right of reply, Lacson returned Santiagos compliment by calling her a crusading crook who pretends to be what she is not. Ask the people who have fallen victims to her verbal threats and they will tell you how much they shelled out, the former Philippine National Police chief said. Continued on page A5

Garcia joins Sinulog

EXACTLY a month after she started barricading herself at the Cebu provincial capitol, suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia left her ofce for the rst time on Sunday to celebrate the Sinulog Festival and to show her devotion to the Child Jesusand at the risk of being barred from getting back in. Garcia was joined by the bigwigs in the opposition United Nationalist Alliance led by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Earlier in the day, Binay and Enrile vowed to escort Garcia until she had returned to the capitol safely. Malacaang had
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Agri goods smuggling a poll issue

By Christine F. Herrera
TWENTY-FIVE of the countrys biggest competing agricultural producers have formed a united front to make rampant smuggling and the administrations pro-foreign policies election issues, a spokesman for the group said Sunday. The largest national federations of the pork, chicken, rice, sh, onions and allied industries with a membership of 7 million -- raised their demands of equal protection and subsidy last Friday to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, said Swine Development Council Director and Abono Chairman Rosendo So. Alcala promised to relay their concerns to President Benigno Aquino III, So said. Next page

Devotion. Hundreds of devotees raise their images of the infant Jesus during a procession to celebrate its feast day Sunday in Tondo, Manila. The largest celebration of the Santo Nios feast day was held in Cebu City. BULLIT MARQUEZ, AP

Vintage car. This

October 2012 photo provided by BarrettJackson/George Barris shows the original Batmobile in Los Angeles. Batmans original ride, from the 1960s TV series, sold at auction for $4.2 million on Saturday. AP

Peace pact with MILF still far offGovt

By Joyce Pangco Paares
AFTER failing to conclude a nal peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in a selfimposed deadline last month, the Aquino administration on Sunday admitted that much work is still needed to nish the four annexes needed to complete the landmark accord. The two panels resumed formal negotiations in Kuala Lumpur the same day, and government chief negotiator Miriam Ferrer described the talks as crucial. Much work is still needed to nd a middle ground on certain core issues, Ferrer said. Both parties are open to consider options on the remaining difficulties across the annexes, including the technical impasse pertaining to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. Next page

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

ManilaStandardToday

News
The network said Balmaceda was interviewed shortly before he was flown to London. The Algerian government said Sunday that 23 hostages and 32 militants were dead after Saturdays raid on the gas plant. With few details emerging from the remote site in eastern Algeria, it was unclear whether anyone was rescued in the final operation, but the number of hostages killed on Saturday seven was how many the militants had said that morning they still had. The government described the toll as provisional. Algerias response triggered an international outcry from countries worried about their citizens. Algerian military forces twice assaulted the two areas where the hostages were being held with minimal apparent mediation first on Thursday, then on Saturday. To avoid a bloody turn of events in response to the extreme danger of the situation, the armys special forces launched an intervention with efficiency and professionalism to neutralize the terrorist groups that were first trying to flee with the hostages and then blow up the gas facilities, Algerias Interior Ministry said in a statement about the standoff. Immediately after the assault, French President Francois Hollande gave his backing to Algerias tough tactics, saying they were the most adapted response to the crisis. There could be no negotiations with terrorists, the French media quoted him as saying in the central French city of Tulle. Hollande said the hostages were shamefully murdered by their captors, and he linked the event to Frances military operation against al-Qaidabacked rebels in neighboring Mali. If there was any need to justify our action against terrorism, we would have here, again,

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Algerian...
other Filipinos working in the gas field and to extend assistance, including repatriation, to the Philippines. But deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte declined to comment on reports that Filipinos were among the casualties after Algerian forces stormed the gas plant to wipe out Islamic militants who held foreign workers there hostage. The authorities there have been very strict about information going out, she said, adding that the reports remained unverified. At least two Filipinos were reportedly killed. Another was injured during a firefight between the hostage takers and the Algerian military forces. There are at least 2, 400 Filipinos working in Algeria, mostly highly-skilled workers. The militantsled by a Mali-

based al-Qaeda terrorist faction known as the Masked Brigadetook hostages last week in protest of the French governments military intervention in the northern part of Mali where the insurgents took camp. The reports from the survivors were dramatic. Ruben Andrada, 49, a Filipino civil engineer who works as one of the project management staff for the Japanese company JGC Corp., described how he and his colleagues were used as human shields by the kidnappers, which did little to deter the Algerian military. On Thursday, about 35 hostages guarded by 15 militants were loaded into seven SUVs in a convoy to move them from the housing complex to the refinery, Andrada said. The militants placed an explosive cord around their necks and were told it would detonate if they tried to run away, he said. coral reef. The full extent of any damage to the reef cannot be determined until the ship is freed from the reef, The US Embassy said. There are no reports of leaking of fuel or oil from the ship. The US Pacific Fleet, meanwhile, said it was investigating the incident. While the erroneous navigation chart data is important information, no one should jump to conclusions, US Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Darryn James told the US Pacific Fleet Public Affairs. It is critical that the US Navy conduct a comprehensive investigation that assesses all the facts surrounding the Guardian grounding. The USS Guardian, with a crew of 80, had just completed a port call in Subic Bay and was en route to Indonesia and then on to Timor-Leste to participate in a training exercise when it ran Inc.; Wilfredo Resoso, president of Philippine College of Swine Practitioners; Arturo Alejar Jr., president of Crop Protection Association of the Philippines; Napoleon Co, president of Association of Aqua Feed Millers Inc.; Joji Co, president of Philippine Confederation of Grains Association; Magtanggol Alvarez, president of Union of Onion Growers and Traders Association; Oftociano Manalo, president of Confederation of Irrigation Association; Roger V. Navarro, president of Philippine Maize Federation Inc.; Raymund Ilustre, president of Fertilizer Industry Association of the Philippines; and Danilo Sim, vice president of Northern Luzon Fertilizers, Pesticide, Feeds Distributors, Dealers and Outlet. The resolution said tax breaks extended by the Board of Investments to Charoen would result in the killing of the swine, livestock, aquaculture, and other allied industries in the Philippines. The group said the boards decision to grant pioneering status to the Thai company without consulting affected stakeholders would give Charoen a sevenyear tax holiday and duty-free incentives to import corn and other raw feed materials. The BOI move favoring Charoen Pokphand undermines our national sovereignty and food security. It will also result in the loss of employment for millions of Filipinos as the agricultural sector employs 33 percent of the entire Philippine labor force, the resolution read. The BOIs grant of preferential treatment to Charoen Pokphand reveals the national governments incoherent policy direction on agriculture, it added. Alcala himself earlier admitpeople are now enjoying, Enrile said. UNA senatorial candidates Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon flew with Binay and Enrile to join the festivities. Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale gave her word that Garcia would not be barred from reentering the Capitol. I did not issue an order to bar her from returning to the Capitol, Magpale saqid, and she made good her promise. Garcias camp said she would be dancing with the Rosquillos Festival contingent of Liloan town that won the provinces Pasigarbo festival competition

When we left the compound, there was shooting all around, Andrada said, as Algerian helicopters attacked with guns and missiles. I closed my eyes. We were going around in the desert. To me, I left it all to fate. Andradas vehicle overturned, allowing him and a few others to escape. He sustained cuts and bruises and was grazed by a bullet on his right elbow. He later saw the blasted remains of other vehicles, and the severed leg of one of the gunmen. In a TV interview with GMA7, Jojo Balmaceda, who worked for the British oil company BP, said he and three other Filipino workers were taken at gunpoint as they arrived for work, tied up and thrown into a truck with Japanese and Malaysian hostages. Balmaceda escaped when the truck was hit by an explosion but suffered a gunshot wound to his head, which affected his hearing, GMA-7 said. aground. Senator Loren Legarda expressed concern over what she said was a troubling pattern of environmental assault that has resulted from the visits by US naval ships to the country. Legarda, chairwoman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said US authorities had failed to coordinate the movements and route of the USS Guardian while it was on Philippine waters. What kind of coordination was carried out when when the officials on board the USS Guardian refused to respond to the radio calls made by Philippine authorities who were investigating their presence in our protected area? Legarda said. This incident behooves me to ask if our so-called military allies are even aware of the laws that they have to respect and observe while they our in our country. Florante S. Solmerin and Macon Ramos-Araneta ted that he was not consulted by the BOI when it arrived at a decision to grant tax breaks to Charoen. The government is targeting food self-sufficiency, but their policies are killing domestic producers. That is illogical. Do we want to leave the fate of our food security to a foreign country? So said. The resolution was adopted during the 6th Multi-Sectoral Agriculture Summit held at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan on Jan. 11. The 300 leaders of the organizations and key government officials, led by Alcala, agreed to protect local agriculture from the threats of rampant smuggling and the entry foreign firms like Charoen. During the summit, Alcala said the entry of the firm threatened to cause financial ruin to hundreds of backyard farmers and feed suppliers. Alcala, who challenged the validity of providing incentives to Charoen, said that even without the entry of a foreign firm, food self-sufficiency program is still attainable. This is a wake-up call to come up with united stand against the giant food conglomerate, Alcala said, even as he pointed out that any incentives granted to the foreign firm should be offset by the granting of similar incentives to local growers. The fight is not yet over. The position of DA is behind the position of the local industry to livestock raisers, Alcala said. So and other leaders said the survival of Philippine agriculture was being threatened by the entry of food conglomerates, a policy direction that would annihilate local farm producers and jeopardize food security last year. The suspended governor did not have time to rehearse with the contingent, but the choreographers went to the capitol to teach her the dance routine for the religious ritual. Garcias camp said she was made to stay inside an air-conditioned tent behind the grandstand to wait for her turn to dance with the contingent, one of the 40 participants at the Sinulog Grand Parade. She was accompanied by her brother Byron, son Paolo, daughter Cristina and son-in-law Duke, Garcias camp said. Christine F. Herrera

an additional argument, he said. President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday that the US stood ready to provide whatever assistance was needed in the wake of the attack. This attack is another reminder of the threat posed by alQaida and other violent extremist groups in North Africa. In the coming days, we will remain in close touch with the government of Algeria to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so that we can work together to prevent tragedies like this in the future, the statement said. In New York, the UN Security Council issued a statement condemning the militants terrorist attack and said all perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of such reprehensible acts must be brought to justice. Eric B. Apolonio, Joyce Pangco Paares, Sara Fabunan, Vito Barcelo and AP

US...
He said he had sent three boats there to help extricate the warship and avert a possible oil leak. Initial findings by the US Navy showed the accident was caused by inaccurate navigation data. Banaria said he had received an e-mail form the US Embassy in Manila saying the initial findings showed that faulty digital nautical charts caused the US Navy to misplace the location of the Tubbataha Reef. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it would be sending its own divers to Tubbataha Reef to check on the extent of the damage to it. Malacaang said there would be no problem helping the US Navy extricate the minesweeper from the area. On Saturday, US officials said every effort was being made to ensure the safety of the

De Lima...
De Lima said the witnesses had no links to the parties involved in the incident. And they further established their credibility when they helped the NBI team investigating the incident on Thursday last week. She noted that the testimonies of the witnesses, who have been placed under government protection, were supported by physical and forensic evidence. The operatives contrary claim will not affect the direction the NBI is now taking in concluding its reportat least on the aspect of what happened at the incident site on January 6 and the culpability of those involved, De Lima said. De Lima, who exercises administrative supervision over the NBI, said she believed that the claim of the security forces that it was Simans group that fired first was a mere assertion. By claiming that it was a shootout, the operatives/soldiers present during the incident admitted that they killed the victims, De Lima said. The burden of proof is on them. De Lima said the NBIs report on the incident would include animated computer graphics based on eyewitness accounts and other evidence. Earlier, Marantan and the members of his teams accused De Lima of preempting the findings of NBI after she announced that the Jan. 6 incident was not a shootout even before they could give their testimony to the NBI. De Lima said she did not preempt the investigation and was only relaying the statement of the two witnesses who aided the NBI investigators.

Agri...
In their resolution, the agricultural producers complained about rampant smuggling and the governments grant of tax exemptions to a Thai food conglomerate. This is the first time in the last 20 years that such a big group has come together to denounce the unabated smuggling of meat and other agricultural products, as well as the tax perks extended to the Thai-owned firm Charoen Pokphand Foods Corp., So said. We are hopeful that the President would take action once he sees how big these twin problems are. If the government does not address our concern, then our local agricultural players will die one by one, starting from the small backyard growers, he said. The resolution was also signed by So; AGAP Rep. Nicanor Briones; Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino; former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco; SDC directors Durian Tan and Alfredo Dy; Daniel Javellana Jr., chairman of National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc.; Edwin Chen, president of Pork Producers Federations of the Philippines Inc.; Eduardo So, president of Mindanao Alliance of Pork; Jesus Aranza, president of Federation of Philippines Industries Inc.; Javier P. Mateo, president of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association Inc.; Jose Elias Inciong, president of United Broiler Raisers Association; Gregorio San Diego Jr., president of Philippine Egg Board; Jayson Cainglet, president of Agri-Business Action Initiatives; Norman Ramos, president of Philippine Association of Feed Millers

Visit down south. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon inspects

the tuna catch in General Santos City, which he visited last week to check on his agencys industry protection measures in the area. He made his visit in the wake of his organizational reconguration of Customs to tighten his grip on smuggling and improve revenue collection. SONNY ESPIRITU

Peace...
The four annexes on powersharing, wealth-sharing, normalization and transitional arrangements and modalities will make up the comprehensive peace pact with the MILF. Ferrer said both parties were bringing technical experts to provide advice on matters relating to natural resources and transportation. This is to ensure that we will make informed decisions on these issues, she said. She expressed optimism it would take just one more round of negotiations before the annexes were signed. There may be some items over which we would have to confer once more with our respective principals before we seal the texts, Ferrer said. With conviction, goodwill and earnest partnership with the MILF, we can make this [the signing of the peace pact] happen very soon. Earlier, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the normalization process with the MILF would also result in the disarmament of other armed groups in Mindanao. You dont just talk about the arms of the MILF, but also of everyone else. That is part of normalization, Deles said. How can you ask the MILF to completely disarm if other groups or some families are armed? We are looking for a real partnership among the government, the MILF and other governance constituen-

Garcia...
suspended Garcia for alleged abuse of authority. She is a friend in need, Binay, a Santo Nio devotee, said in explaining his presence in Cebu. Enrile said politics had nothing to do with their wish to ensure Garcias participation in the festivities. She is the governor of Cebu, and it has been her practice to dance in the Sinulog and join the millions praising and thanking the Santo Nio for granting Cebu the prosperity that its

cies to look at this matter on how to make a life more secure, to trust in the state forces to make them secure, and be engaged in other productive activities. Deles said both parties would also work to reduce and control the firearms in Mindanao. As put in the framework agreement, decommissioning is phased and calibrated and will start once political commitments are delivered. We agreed that substantial decommissioning happens when the basic law is delivered, Deles said. The MILF shall undertake a graduated program for decommissioning its forces so that they are put beyond use. President Benigno Aquino III has said he wants a new law creating the Bangsamorothe new autonomous political entity embodied by the framework agreement with the MILFto be enacted by 2015. He said an interim authority should be in place by 2015, or a year before the next national elections. We need the organic act enacted into law by 2015. This will be passed through Congress and approved in a plebiscite and we hope to install the new government with a mandate after 2016 elections. There will be an interim authority from 2015 to 2016, Mr. Aquino said. The President acknowledged that the spoilers of the peace process would still be there, but he expressed optimism that they would be a spent force by the time the Bangsamoro was put in place.

Cold...
cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the tail-end of a cold front. Aurelio also said the northeast monsoon continues to affect the entire Luzon island which will experience ight rains aside from cool temperatures. The rest of the country including Metro Manila will continue to have a mixture of sunny to partly cloudy skies with possible light rains in the afternoon or evening due to localized convections. Aurelio added that temperature in Metro Manila ranges from 23-30 degrees Celsius while in Baguio City, the countrys summer capital, temperature ranges from 17-23 degrees Celsius for Sunday. Aurelio said the country will continue experiencing cooler days until the end of February, when the northeast monsoon or hanging amihan ends. In its advisory, PAGASA said that moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough PAGASA also issued a gale warning as gale force winds are expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves, PAGASA said. Meanwhile, the weather agency said that there is no major weather disturbance within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. (PNA)

Oil...
a.m. Monday by cutting P0.55 per liter for regular gasoline; P0.45 per liter for premium and unleaded; P0.25 per liter for diesel; and P0.20 per liter for kerosene. Another independent oil company UniOil Philippines said that it would slash its

diesel price by P0.25 per liter while P0. 55 per liter for both premium and unleaded gasoline. Oil companies said the rollback reflects movements in the international oil market. On Saturday, Flying V had rolled back prices for its premium and unleaded gas by 55 centavos per liter, and diesel by 25 centavos per liter. (PNA) CLTC

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News
Nieves said the rearms in private hands were low and high-powered guns that included shotguns, 357 and Magnum 44 revolvers, sub-machineguns, M-16, M-14, Garand,Carbine and Galil ries. He said police were able to recover 456 reamrs in checkpoints, in armed encounters and house searches but a total of 387 rearms were also surrendered by gun holders. Imagine, if we were not able to recover these guns, we might have a higher crime incidence, Nieves said. Police Supt. Peter Madria,

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

A3

N. Ecija reports 12,800 loose guns

By Ferdie Domingo

NUEVA Ecija, known as the rice granary of the Philippines, teemed with 12,800 loose rearms in private hands and the intense political rivalry among local ofcials have turned the province into a hot spot in elections in May, a senior police ofcial said on Sunday.
Sr. Supt Crisaldo Nieves, the police provincial director, said the guns were considered loose because of expired or revoked licenses, but it does not include unregistered or locally made rearms known as paltik. The gures are alarming considering that the province has been classied as an election hot

spot, Nieves told reporters. Ast least 15 of the 27 municipalties in the province were tagged as hot spots because of presence of private armed groups, intense political rivalries, proliferation of loose rearms and history of electionrelated violence. The towns and cities dubbed as dangerous were the cities of Cabanatuan, Gapan, Munoz, San Jose, and the towns of Aliaga, Bongabon, Cuyapo, Gabaldon, Gen. Natividad, Gumba, Jaen, Licab, Lupao, Quezon, Rizal, San Isidro, Talugtog, San Antonio and Sto. Domingo.

the deputy provincial director for operations, said out of a total of 10,806 rearm holders in the province only1.604 have renewed their licenses. In Cabanatuan City, the provinces commercial and trade center, the rivalry between re-electionist mayor Julius Cesar Vergara and Board Member Emmanuel Antonio Umali, brother of re-electionist governor Aurelio Umali, have heated up as both camps traded harsh words in the run-up to the polls, residents said. In Gapan, people expect trouble from rivalry of of re-

electionist mayor Christian Tinio and Maricel Natividad, daughter of three-term mayor Ernesto Natividad, who has gone into hiding for involvement in 2006 raid of a cockpit arena in which two sons of his political rival were among those killed. In Munoz, comebacking former three-term mayor Nestor Alvarez face vice-Mayor Esther Lazaro in a reprise of a power grab by the vice mayor, who occupied city hall following the brief disappearnace of Alvarez brother, who was involved in a criminal case.

GMA asks court to drop plunder case

By Rey Requejo
FORMER president Gloria Arroyo, who has been held under hospital arrest for several months on charges of plunder, said on Sunday the case against her was never established in preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman but the Supreme Court sat on her petition to stop her indictment. Arroyos lawyer, Rodolfo Jiminez, in a new petition to the Supreme Court, said they sought outright dismissal of the P365.9 million plunder case for lack of probable cause. There is no probable cause for the plunder charge against petitioner Gloria MacapagalArroyo. The charges against her should be dismissed outright, Jimnez said. Arroyo was linked to alleged misuse of P366 million intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofce and the Ombudsman claimed there was probable cause. But the Commission on Audit said the amount has been fully liquidated. The former president, who is now Pampanga representative, has been held under hospital arrest because a plunder charge is unbailable. She has been diagnosed of a serious illness that affects her spine. Jimenez, citing previous cases as precedents, said Arroyo should be released on presumption of innocence because the prosecution has failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. It is not the duty of an accused to prove his innocence before the prosecution proveds his guilt, he said. From the earliest years of the Court, it has emphasized the rule that reasonable doubt in criminal cases must be resolved in favor of the accused, Jimenez said. Last October, Arroyo asked the Supreme Court to issue a restraining order and stop her indictment on the basis of lack of probable cause, but the Court has not acted on her plea. But the court acted on a petition for intervention led by constituents of Arroyo who claimed that her incarceration has deprived them of representation in the House of \Representatives. The Court has asked the Ofce of the Solicitor General to answer the petition led the Arroyos constituents.

Odd man out. A strekeeper is the odd-man out in a display of womens wigs in a Divisoria store in Tondo Manila. DANNY PATA

Palace bares new appointments

By Joyce Pangco Panares
MALACANANG announced on Sunday appointments by President Aquino of new board members of John Hay Management Corp (JHMC), National Dairy Authority, and the Philippine Sugar Commission. Named to the JHMC board were Reynaldo Agranzamendez, Gloria Peralta, Teddy Esteban Rigoroso and Emeterio Perez Manalo. Aquino reappointed to the JHMC board Silvestre Afable Jr., Jamie Eloise Agbayani, Arnel Casanova, Caesar Oracion, Catherine Biazon, wife of Customs Commisioner Runo Biazon, and Antonio Tengco. At the National Dairy Authority the new board members were Grace Cenas, Julius Migraso, Teodoro Panaligan, Minerva Yuvienco, and Roberto Enerio. New board members at the Philippine Sugar Commission were Renato Salvatierra, Augusto Araneta Jr., Joseph Conrad Ledesma, Cornelio Toreja, Freddie Zayco, Robert Abello, Andrew Regalado, Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, Teotimo Ballesteros Jr., and Raymond Gomez. Aquino also appointed Feliz Marinas as board member of the Natiional Resources Development Corp.

Floods hit Davao del Norte anew

By Florante Solmerin
FLASH oods caused by heavy rains swept through seven barangays of Kapalong town in Davao del Norte at the weekend sending 331 people eeing to higher grounds, a bulletin issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Manatment Council said on Sunday. The oods happened at late afternoon and among the worse hit barangays were Maniki, Pagasa, Sampao, Sua-on, Semong, and Mamacao, the bulletin said. It said the oods were caused by heavy rains as a result of prevailing cold front in the area. The Civil Defense Ofce in the region also said the Libungan River overowed its banks and added to the oods, which rendered portions of the national high impassable to light vehicles. In Davao City, ood waters surged to several areas of the city and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called on private groups to help in rescue operations in the affected areas. Flooded areas were Gravahan in Mastina, Jade Valley, NCCC Subdivision, Deca Tegatto, GEM and Don Julian Maa in Buhangin District, and barangays San Rafael and Bankerohan. Kindly bring rubber boats directly to the ooded areas, the mayor said.

Beating the deadline. Thousands of Quezon City taxpayers line up to beat the Sunday payment deadline. MANNY PALMERO

200,000 OFWs purged from voters list

By Ronald Reyes
AT LEAST 200,000 overseas absentee voters have been purged from the voters list because of inadequate information dissemination by Philippine diplomatic posts abroad, the Migrante sectoral party-list said on Sunday. Migrante Vice chairman John Leonard Monterona said many of overseas workers were not aware that once a voter failed to vote in two consecutive elections, he or she will be delisted. Based on our monitoring, many absentee voters abroad have not been properly informed of the requirement to issue a manifestation of intent to remain in the list of overseas absentee voters so they can vote in the May 2013 elections, Monterona said. The Commission on Elections gave absentee voters a grace period that expired last December 21 to submit manifestation of intent to vote but at least 200,000 failed to comply. Absentee voters for this years mid-term elections have gone down to about 700,000 from the 915,000 in previous elections. Monterona said the advisory sent out by Philippine diplomatic missions abroad did not reach many overseas workers, and they should have coupled it with massive information dissemination. He said the nature of the election, which is mid-term senatorial elections, may have also caused many overseas workers to lose interest and many of our workers abroad, though they registered in the last two elections, are not that politically involved or active. May hatak din kasi kapag presidential elections at marami and nagparehistro and bumoto, Monterona said. He said many Filipinos overseas were just too busy earning a living but many of them are now more politically conscious and they follow issues that affect their sector in networking sites. Many of our overseas workers have access to the Internet and they have modern gadgets such as mobile phones and laptops, Monterona said.

Soldiers in community service. Ofcers and men of the 1001st Army Brigade led by Col Angelito De Leon (3rd from left) perform community service in New Bataan.

A4

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
Party and its allies in the majority coalition of the Nacionalista Party, the Nationalist Peoples Coalition, and the National Unity Party, have separately come out as either the most ardent champions or the most strident critics of the FOI bill. Between the pros and the cons in the FOI bill equation, that is where these political parties are: fencesitters with neither leadership nor clarity of purpose with respect to the constitutionally guaranteed state policies of transparency and accountability that the FOI bill upholds. Political will from all the political parties could yet assure the passage of the FOI bill in the remaining nine session days from Jan. 21 to Feb. 8, 2013, or before Congress adjourns for the elections. Calling for a conscience vote on the FOI bill is a clear cop-out by political parties and candidates now

mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Take a stand, dont cop out on FOI

passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. Over the last 15 years, from the 11th to the 15th Congress, the FOI bill has been stuck in the legislative wringer for lack of clarity and coherence in how lawmakers and their political parties stand on the issue. Even as President Aquino himself as a candidate in May 2010 had promised to push the FOI into law, members of his ruling Liberal aspiring to be elected into ofce. All voters must carefully scrutinize how these parties and their candidates for the 2013 elections will stand on FOI in their remaining nine session days. The countdown begins today. How they stand on the FOI bill, and if at all they will take a stand on this all-important reform measure, will give us an idea whether or not they deserve our vote in the coming May elections.

IT IS the season of elections and all political parties and candidates are wont to spin a slew of promises yet again in their drive for votes. But before they start courting voters yet again, the rst order of business is this: Political parties and candidates must deliver on a promise theyve made in elections past by taking and making known their party and personal stand on the

Doping and damning

LANCE Armstrong came cleanthat was what almost the entire sporting world talked about this past week. He did not seek the secrecy of a confessional nor the professional silence of a clinician. He admitted to doping in Oprah Winfreys talk show. She could not grant him sacramental absolution and I doubt very much that she could give him the closure that I can only surmise he had so ardently sought. (Or why would one want to come clean over national television?) And although it had been rumored for some time that Armstrong was into performance-enhancers and he had been stripped of virtually a lifetimes achievement, seven Tour de France golds, his televised confession whipped up quite a storm-surge of condemnation. Amid all the furor, it is good to ask the critical questions. We are upset about doping because? I am not sure we have a universal answer. If one is hooked to a habituating substance the common proscribed substances: heroin, cocaine, etc.then we sense character weakness. There are, to be sure, physiological downsides to substance dependence but it is not these that upset our moral sensibilities (or what we pass off to be our moral sense) but the personality aw we think we discern that diminishes personal autonomy insofar as one is a dependent. It is not too sure that all dependents have impaired or even diminished capacities for judgment, but we assume that to be the case, to a large extent, as a matter of denition. That is what dependent exactly means. Certainly the wretchedness that is so vividly portrayed by one who cannot as so much rise in the morning without a x and the slovenly appearance and unsteady gate of a known addict who lives in squalor and wallows in grime seem to make argument superuous. The wrecked humanity in many addicts we encounter either directly or through vivid portrayals and reports is ground sufcient for condemnation of substance dependence, or so we commonly think. But if it is the dependence itself in which the moral bankruptcy consists, should our disdain be any less for other forms, albeit subtle, of dependence? What, for example, of the moral dependence that paralyzes a person and renders her dysfunctional, for all intents and purposes, when separated from the object of affection? And yet it seems to be this kind of dependence that is romanticized in many a silly TV serial or popular, but mediocre, novel? In fact, when young actors and actresses bring to their swooning audiences their woes and despondency, their sighs and their tears, the very tell-tale signs of emotional dependence, do they not win the applause and sympathy of their fans who, themselves teary-eyed, hang on every languid expression from their tortured (perhaps self-tortured!) souls? It is certainly wrong to cheat ones way through what is supposed to be an honest competition. Pitting brawn against brawn, muscle against muscle. And that is what the Tour de France is supposed to be, as is any sporting event. And so it seems to be a very clear case of dishonesty for one who has been crowned champion repeatedly to have used performance-

PENSES

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

I am not an apologist for Armstrong.

enhancers. We do not count getting a good sleep days before the competition as a performance-enhancer, although it is; neither do we cast aspersions on one who pampers himself with the most nutritious diet that food-scientists can plan, although a deliberately planned intake of select food is certainly performance-enhancing. Although an aerodynamically designed bicycle is clearly performance-enhancing, we do not condemn the athlete who seizes the advantage that this mechanical contraption offers, nor do we prohibit donning aerodynamically designed suits that offer less wind-resistance, for example. And if an athlete downs two glasses of water into which two table-spoonfuls of sugar have been stirred, would we then complain that he had taken a performance enhancer, although it is well known that sugar energizes, provided one is not diabetic? Will munching on an energy bar while negotiating the twists and turns of the race course constitute the offense of using a performance-enhancer? Surely, the term itself suggestsand experience conrmsthat an energy bar energizes! And when one takes vitamins that boost stamina well before the race, and while doing the race, would this also count as cheating? I am not an apologist for Armstrong. I do not favor substance dependence, and I do not countenance dishonesty in sports. My problem is in the elds of logic as well as of ethics. What denition does one have for such terms as dependence a and performance-enhancers that have gured prominently in the damning of Armstrong (and others before him)? I am sure that the sporting associations and societies have their denitions. But these are nominal denitionsin other words, decisions about the way we use terms. One can, for instance, announce that whenever, in his essay, he uses the term dog that will include cat as well. To be sure, this would be an odd use of terms, but once he has given his denition (announced his decision about how he is to use his terms), then he his at perfect liberty to use the term as he has dened it. So, the issue then slips over to ethics: If some substances are listed as performanceenhancers and others, that factually enhance performance (sugared water, for one) are not, have we not been arbitrary in our denition and consequently arbitrary also in our condemnation? When we lock away substance-dependents in rehabilitation centers (if not in jails!) but seek with irrational frenzy the autograph or jostle to the death with other shrieking fans to catch the smile of an emotionally-dependent matinee idol, or glory in the patronage of a politician who seeks election to every position open to him because of some dependence (probably still medically uncategorized) on power, ofce, and prestige, does this not constitute discrimination that is as unfair and unjust as it is irrational? The fact is that in an epoch that assigns a premium to efciency, utility and success, forms of dependence abound, and enhancers admit of multifarious permutations. It might do us all some good then to bracket (in the sense familiar to phenomenology) our condemnation of Armstrong and go back to the conundrums of logic and of ethics that make the collective outcry against Armstrong and his tribe disturbingly hollow! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

Looming Mindanao power crisis

COUNTER-POINT
THE description of Mindanao as the Land of Promise coined during the Magsaysay administration when the government was trying to convince people from Luzon and the Visayas to migrate to this major southern island group is very appropriate. Indeed, after more than 50 years, Mindanao can still be described as the Land of Promise as the governmentpromised progress and development is still that mostly a promise. What is more lamentable is the fact that despite the festering insurgency problems from Muslim separatists and leftist rebels, Mindanao was on the verge of an economic take off when it got hit by a power crisis that is as bad as the one that hit Luzon and most of the Philippines during the Cory Aquino administration. At one point, many areas in Mindanao suffered rotating 12-hour blackouts that naturally adversely affected oncebooming businesses from tuna exports to internet shops and made life generally miserable to people living there. It is good to note, however, that the Mindanao power crisis that other national political personalities have joined Mindanao political leaders in asking the government to do something to address the situation in the light of prospects that the power shortage problem instead of getting better is growing worse. Among those who have expressed concern about the worsening power situation in Mindanao is San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada, who must have seen the situation in Mindanao rsthand in his trips to Mindanao in preparation for his senatorial bid.

ALVIN CAPINO

Ejercito Estrada said we should all realize that the problem of Mindanao affects the whole Philippines. He said: Mindanaoans are now reeling from the failure of the government to act on the power crisis two years ago, when the problem was easier to solve. The government wasted precious time. He supported the call of Mindanao leaders for the immediate rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex which supplies more than half of Mindanaos power supply. The hydropower complex is currently producing only 635 megawatts of its 982 megawatt capacity due to the heavy siltation of the rivers that power the complex. Ejercito Estrada cited the situation in Zamboanga City which will soon experience three-hour brownouts because of the announced decision of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to reduce power supply in the city by 10 megawatts. According to Ejercito Estrada, the brownouts, which have eased somewhat after the operation of the expensive power barges to augment Mindanao power supply, is expected to return as power in Mindanao was cut by 189 megawatts as of January 10 based on information coming from the National Grid Corp. He said the reduction of power supply to Mindanao could cripple business activities in the region. Power outages will lower the productivity of local businesses and harm Mindanaos economy. These power outages are denitely an injustice to businessmen and consumers alike. He said businessmen from Mindanao especially those from the Zamboanga area have told him that the power situation would worsen when sardine manufacturers resume full operation in March following the lifting of a threemonth ban on sardine shing imposed by the government in the Zamboanga peninsula.

Ejercito Estrada said that the Mindanao economic takeoff will succeed only if there is enough power to support increased commerce and industrial activities. It cannot afford power interruptions that drive away investors and lead to huge productivity losses. *** I have always been a Globe subscriber and I have always wondered if there is truth to all the talks that those who use Smart are getting a better deal than those who are loyal to Globe. Apparently it is true and no less than the National Telecommunications Commission has conrmed the edge of Smart over Globe. According to news reports based on NTCs 4th Quarter quality of service benchmarking results for mobile network service providers for blocked calls or grade of service which refers to the percentage of calls that were not given access by the network Smart was measured at 1 percent versus Globes 2 percent. On dropped call rate or the percentage of on-going calls that were involuntarily terminated, Smart had 1 percent dropped calls compared to Globes 1.2 percent. For average receive signal level which refers to the signal strength provided by the serving cell site to the cellular phone of the subscriber as indicated by the signal bars in the cell phone, NTC said Smart had an edge over Globe. Smart was measured at -64.49dBm while Globe registered at -71.78dBM. I am not giving up on Globe yet. Globe has not yet completed its multimillion dollar massive expansion program which will be in place in Metro Manila only in the rst quarter this year. But if Globes expansion program is completed and Smarts service is still superior, then the smart things to do might be to change service providers.

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ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
ANALYSIS
Continued from page 1
In the long history of the Senate, petty disagreements have from time to time marred routine cooperation between and among adversarial members. But no two senators have ever swapped barbs as sharp and as spirited as those, whatever their disagreement. On TV and before the press, Santiago is known to favor colorful though not necessarily parliamentary language in describing people she disagrees with. But this is the rst time she has been paid in her own coin by a Senate colleague. The fact that Lacson called her names without the protective mantle of parliamentary immunity, makes it all the more serious. This means all gloves are off, and the name-calling and more than the name-calling have just started. The former military ofcer would not shy away from a street brawl or its equivalent, if that was what the other party wanted. The protagonists are powerful personalities who know each others deepest secretssecrets, which the public does not know and cannot talk about. Any mutual unmasking of the one by the other, especially if it went unrefuted, could be both a genuine shock and an unexpected service to the electorate. But some independent sources apparently not amused by the whole episodeare reportedly preparing dossiers against the two warring parties. Some others are prepared to activate a previous move that had already failedto campaign for the abolition of the Senate. Either out of prudence or because she is physically indisposed, Santiago has not replied to Lacsons statement. She was reported to have suffered a mild stroke following an interview on a TV morning show last Thursday, and Enrile has expressed hopes that she would immediately recover her good health. But nobody can predict whether her state of health would end the dispute or diffuse the ill will that has spread. There are suggestions of a ceasere, from which both sides could benet. But public interest having been provoked, with the scandal-hungry media feeding it, and third parties wanting to bring the plague to both their houses, it would be difcult to quell or quench it, without indulging the curiosity that has been roused. Santiago may have opened a can of worms, or the proverbial Pandoras box, which contains more problems than she had anticipated. Asking about the constitutionality of additional maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) to the senators is not an illegitimate act. Santiago or Sen. Antonio Trillanes or Alan Peter Cayetano could have asked it without raising any hackles from the Senate President, had it not been done through the press, and had there been no suggestion of an ulterior motive. Or had there been any reason to believe that the senators were not using the MOOE as intended but had pocketed the money themselves. In that case it would have been necessary to invoke Section 8 of Article IX of the Constitution, which provides that no elective or appointive public ofcer or employee shall receive additional, double, or indirect compensation, unless specically authorized by law, nor accept without the consent of Congress, any present, emolument, ofce, or title of any kind from any foreign government. But without suggesting that the other senators had misused or were misusing the funds, Santiago accused Enrile of releasing the same for a personal motiveto bribe them into keeping him secure in his catbird seat. The situation got twisted when it was revealed that Santiago and a couple of other senators known for their anti-Enrile sentiments had received less than most of their colleagues. Enrile tried to explain the disparity, but failed to calm down the restive parties. In one TV interview, the male member of the dynastic Cayetano siblings in the 24-member chamber, detailed all his petty administrative grievances against Enrile, as though he had expected the TV audience to solve his housekeeping problems for him. One thing nobody cared to point out was that if the disbursement was illegal, someone like Sen. Franklin Drilon, the Liberal Party stalwart who used to be Senate president, is current chair of the Senate Finance Committee and fairly or unfairly continuously rumored to be after Enriles position, and Lacson, as chairman of Accounts, should have immediately pointed it out, and all the Senators who have received the additional MOOE should have rejected or returned the largesse. But Drilon has not said one word about it, and Lacson precisely got Santiagos umbrage for saying there was nothing wrong with it. Since the majority of the senators were saying nothing about it, Santiago should have asked all her colleagues to explain their silence, instead of singling out the Senate President. Lacsons attack has now shifted public attention from Santiagos query about the funds to her moral bonades. The attack is broad but sharp, and seems to have excited the public. They will want to know now just exactly what Lacson is talking about. If only for the benet of those who have long admired Santiagos spunk and speech habits, should Lacson not be asked to provide a bill of particulars to support his charge? And failing to do so, should he not be censured for calling a colleague a crook without concrete proof? Where Santiagos attack on Enrile and Lacson may have failed to attract attention beyond the countrys exclusive economic zone, Lacsons attack on her may have done just that. It could have serious and farreaching consequences. Santiago is, after all, a duly elected judge of the International Criminal Court at the Hague and her public behavior even now may be under close scrutiny by her relevant public. The ICC is the court established under the treaty adopted at an international diplomatic conference in Rome on July 17, 1998, and which entered into force on July 1, 2002. The treaty, called Rome Statute of the ICC, established four core international crimes which the Court can investigate in situations where states are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. These are: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. In December 2011, at the instance of the Philippine government, and with the support of the other Asian countries and all the others that have ratied the Rome Statute of the ICC, the 10th Session of the Assembly of States elected Santiago one of the six judges to replace the rst batch of six judges who were to retire in 2012 after serving the Court for nine years. The ve other judges came from Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Nigeria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom. Santiago, who holds a Master of Laws and a Doctor of the Science of Jurisprudence degree from Michigan University, was one of the two women candidates in that batch. The other one is from the Dominican Republic. Santiago had a relatively easy ride because of the Asian groups support for the Philippines, which prevailed upon the other Asian countries not to eld a rival candidate, and the Assemblys gender bias which facilitated support for her and the other woman-judge from the Dominican Republic. However, Santiago failed to take her

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

A5

Equal protection: a second look

OUT OF THE BOX
IF THERE is a book that boldly scrutinizesnearly under a magnifying glass--whether the Philippine laws and its judicial system give real meaning to the Constitutional guarantee of equality and social justice, it is the book written by former Supreme Court Chief Justice, Reynato S. Puno, entitled: Equal Dignity and Respect. Chief Justice Puno said that the Philippine Constitution provides in its Bill of Rights that no person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws. Equal protection has been traditionally dened by the Philippine Supreme Court as a guarantee that laws will treat alike persons who are similarly situated, and treat differently those who are differently situated. Classic examples of laws that mean to attain equal protection are tax laws. Everyone earning an income is taxed and the rates of tax are based on the same standards for persons similarly situated. Yet, says Puno, the Philippine Constitution, particularly Article XIII, Section 1, also orders Congress to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity, reduce social, economic and political inequalities and remove cultural inequalities. He said that the traditional interpretation of equal protection of the laws could, in fact, frustrate and dilute the Constitutions social justice imperative. To illustrate, Puno cited two laws that result in a clash between the concepts of equal protection and the social justice and equality imperative embodied in the Constitution. One is Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities. This law orders several government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Departments of Health, Education and other agencies and corporations engaged in social development to reserve ve per cent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions in their ofces to persons with disabilities. Now, suppose, an able-bodied person applies for the same position at the same time as a person with disability applies; and the able-bodied meets or even exceeds the requirements of the position. The able-bodied is then not hired because a different standard was used in the decision to hire, that is: giving preference to the one with disability to comply with the mandate of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities. Is this not discrimination by itself? Another illustration cited by Puno involves employment opportunities in government. To successfully qualify for a job in government, one has

Is it the end of the Senate?

oath with the other ve judges at the Hague last March, reportedly because of poor health. The term of a judge begins on the date set by the Statute. It is not a movable date. Sources have revealed that some quarters will try to persuade President Benigno Aquino III to propose that Santiagos election to the ICC be revoked for reasons of poor health. Under the Statute, a judge may be removed if he or she is unable to exercise the functions of his/her ofce. Since Santiago has not yet commenced service, the sources believe the Assembly of States could be swayed to revoke her election and declare the post vacant. That looks like a long shot, for Aquino may not want to embarrass himself by admitting to the Assembly he had made a serious mistake. But the fact alone that it is being talked about seems to reect the depth of antagonism that has developed in the Senate. The same sources point out that since Santiago is the sole substantial and direct beneciary of her ICC positionthe supposed benet to the country is purely psychic and speculativeshe should be made to reimburse the public funds she and the Philippine government had spent in campaigning for her candidacy, even as she continued to receive her salary and other emoluments from the Senate. These should include signicant travel funds and representation expenses which allowed her to pursue her campaign abroad, they said. This alone creates an ethical situation, which makes it difcult for the senator to assume any moral advantage over any of her colleagues, they pointed out. The situation does not augur well for Santiago or the other senators involved in the dispute. But how they will look in the end may not be as important as how the Senate as an institution will look like after all this. The Senate used to be the countrys highest deliberative assembly with a long tradition of civility, culture and competence to uphold and protect. Until a few years ago, it used to attract some of the countrys nest political leaders and men of culture and intellect. In two historic episodes last year, involving the impeachment trial of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and the passage of the highly controversial and divisive Reproductive Health Act, which is now facing serious constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court and at the grassroots, the Senates overall performance appeared to have revived misgivings about the need for its continued existence. Under then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, there was an attempt to propose a constitutional revision, by direct initiative, that would have sought, among other things, the abolition of the Senate. That project failed to prosper because of political reasons associated with Arroyos perceived political agenda, and obvious constitutional inrmities. Abolishing a constitutional organ like the Senate can be done only through a constitutional revision or amendment. At this point, the May senatorial elections, which would choose 12 new senators (including some reelectionists) to replace the outgoing one-half of the 24-member chamber, should discourage any talk about it. But public indifference to most of the current senatorial candidates(including the reelectionists) and dissatisfaction with many of the barnacles in the chamber could produce the opposite effect. The entire Senate stands on the dock. And John Kenneth Galbraiths famous quote at the onset of the Great Depression, recently recalled by Walter Russell Mead in an article in The American Interest, the journal he edits, seems apt: The end has come but it is not yet in sight. fstatad@gmail.com

RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

On former Chief Justice Punos latest book

to pass government examinations mandated by law. Now, suppose an elementary graduate possessing all the manual skills required of a particular government job applied. Because he did not complete high school or tertiary education which would have equipped him with the necessary competence to pass the government tests, he failed, and did not land the job. Can the elementary graduate argue that the law requiring the standardized tests failed to acknowledge that applicants with the ability to satisfactorily perform the manual job are differently situated from those with high school degrees? Can he further argue that requiring him to take the same standard examination violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution? Chief Justice Puno said that in the realm of education, reports show that there are more females in school than males. Yet, their education does not necessarily open for them job opportunities that have traditionally been maledominated. Thus, it was a media item when a Filipino woman became the rst jet aircraft pilot; the rst female general in the Philippine Army; the rst woman commander in the Philippine Navy, etc. This shows that the social justice and equality imperatives of the Constitution are still very much a dream to be achieved. Too, Chief Justice Puno cited the staggering and appalling disparities in social stratication and distribution of wealth. He said that in 1985, the richest one per cent of families in the Philippines earned the equivalent of the combined income of the poorest families comprising 32 per cent of the population. Twenty ve years later, or in 2009, the picture has not changed much, Puno said. Despite the social justice mandate of the Constitution, he said, the richest one per cent of Filipino families still earn as much as the total income of the 30 per cent poorest families. Chief Justice Punos book, Equal Dignity and Respect, shows that the meaning of the right to equal protection of the laws is a conundrum much more complex than the traditional meaning given to it by our judiciary which is, simply, to treat like cases alike and unalike case differently. The book demonstrates how the traditional interpretation of the doctrine of equal protection could, in fact, frustrate and dilute the Constitutions social justice imperative instead of giving it teeth and making our aspirations for a just and humane society a reality. Chief Justice Punos book proposes an interpretation of the equal protection clause that expands its meaning to give effect to the Constitutional imperative to reduce inequalities and to eliminate inequities and injustice. His book is a must-read for lawyers, legislators and the men and women in the Judiciary. E-mail: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

THE country is nally reaping the fruits of being endowed with many natural wonders after having been under-the-radar in the travel circuit for so long. It is chalking up endorsements from international travel magazines with their effusive pitch that it is the place to visit in 2013. No less than rival travel magazines Conde Nast Traveller Magazine and Travel+Leisure have made the glowing forecast that the country is the next big thing in global tourism and travel. Iconic guidebook Lonely Planet has also named Palawan, our countrys socalled Last Frontier, as among the top 10 best regions for this year. The venerable New York Times lists the Philippines as a must-see destination. Such endorsements are long overdue. The slow-boil has nally reached its climax. We should seize the opportunity. Our natural-made assets are nally dishing out dividends. But are we ready to match these with our man-made initiatives? *** For this year, the country hopes to lure

PLUMBLINE

PASTOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY

Natural assets, man-made initiatives

in 5.5 million tourists as against last years target of 4.5 million and from the 3.9 million recorded in 2011. The tourism agencys Its More Fun in the Philippines pitch is gaining solid traction with successful roadshows in Asia-Pacic, North America, Europe, India, Korea and China. The challenge now is to translate the hard-to-forget slogan into unforgettable visitor experience. First in the to-do list is to make tourists feel safe and cared for once they step out of the tarmac and collect their luggage. Thus, the red carpet treatment must start the moment they set foot on Philippine soil. It should begin by the fast egress out of Immigration and Customs, whose booths must be manned by poster boys and girls of Filipino hospitality and not by those who can give gruff-looking Army drill sergeants a run for their money. It means having adequate number of these courteous gatekeepers to avoid long queues. It means having brochures galore in arrival areas. And by warm hospitality and hottest destination, we dont refer to the thermostat of NAIAs habitually conking out air conditioners. Outside the airport, poachers disguised as taxi drivers should be dragged away from the arrival areas. And when roaming the streets or seeing the sights, tourists should feel safe with the presence of non-kotong cops and shielded from dugo-dugo, budol-budol and Ativan gang characters. When returning to their hotels or inns, they should nd their belongings at their right places and not a piece is missing or vandalized. The streets, aside from being clean with criminals, should also be spic- andspan with less garbage and walking poverty ads like taong-grasa. And should they suddenly collapse while touring the town or get into a freaky accident, their wallets and belongings should be left untouched. Hospitals, which are needed in tourist zones, should have competent doctors and nurses. *** One beef of tourists is the lack of clean restrooms. Outside of urban malls and private restaurants, one cant nd presentable toilets. Should one tour the countryside by car, one will be disappointed to see that no restrooms punctuate our road system. The solution is to use travel tax collection in building roadside toilets. Government rakes in P1.8 billion a year in travel tax collected from Filipinos leaving for abroad. A fraction of this can bankroll the construction of commodes. Speaking of tourism infrastructure, I am glad to note that outside of the DoTs P3 billion budget this year, there is P16.4 billion allotted for roads, bridges, heritage sites and manpower development. This is the kind of spending that should yank us out of 86th place in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. *** Davao City, for one, is a good place for tourists and as most people there would agree, is a safe tourist haven. A Davao-based blogger volunteered that the safety aura permeating from the city is being powered by the Dutertes who dont take criminals lightly. The tough-on-crime policy has even earned Davao the distinction of having the lowest crime rate in any Philippine city. Local government units may also have to take a cue on how to care for their tourists from the ofcials of Batangas province. As host to many good diving spots, the provincial government has issued a stern order to all its ofcials to make sure that tourists ocking to these diving sites would be cared foras I was told. Davao and Batangas and other provinces have nally solved the tourism riddle that has bedevilled us in the past - promise them sanctuary and they will come. The country is on the verge of a major tourism renaissance. The challenge is how to make the tourists safe and secure that they would come knocking again with more friends in tow. *** Next time you see a tourist nibbling on a balut, think of him as someone whos not only doing the gastronomic equivalent of a bungee jump but someone who will deposit P30,000 into the Philippine economy For that, or $710, is the average tourist spending in the country today. Do the math and youll come up with this: 100,000 tourists, or what 200 jumbo jets would disgorge, means P3 billion in tourism receipts. And if the taxman will be able to capture 10 percent of this, it will put P300 million in the public coffers, enough to fund 20 district hospitals for a year. Tourism also puts money in the pockets of our people and puts away their misery of being unemployed. One in 10 jobs today is in the hospitality sector.

A6

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TODAY MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

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Elite army group seeks head

By Florante S. Solmerin

THE top position of the Special Operations Command is up for grabs with the mandatory retirement on today of its chief, Maj. Gen. Romulo Bambao.
President Benigno Aquino III is yet to appoint a replacement. Brig. Gen. Jet Valeriano will take over in an acting capacity pending a replacement to be appointed by President Bengino Aquino III. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista will administer the turnover of command. Valeriano belongs to Class of 1982 of the Philippine Military Academy. He also became the Chief of Staff of the 1st Infantry Division; Inspector General, 7th Infantry DiviRepublic of the Philippines

sion; Defense and Armed Forces Attache to Malaysia and Inspector General, Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines. He also commanded the 51st Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division for two years. Early in his career, he led the 12 Special Forces Company, Special Forces Regiment Airborne which was deployed in Mindanao. After which, he became the Intelligence Ofcer and Operations Ofcer of the 6th Special Forces Battalion, SFRA in Visayas and eventually commanded the said battalion in 1996. Out of the Army Special Warfare Brigade that was organized in 1978, SOCOM continued to evolve and is now a home to the Armys elite forces--Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), the First Scout Ranger Regiment, and the Light Reaction Battalion. SOCOM was formed to plan, conduct, and support special operations of the Philippine Army. Its organic units include the First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces and the Light Reaction Battalion, Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said.
11. Contract ID : Contract Name : 13DC0021 Package 15

Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office No. IV-A Batangas 3rd District Engineering Office
Tanauan City

INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways - Batangas 3rd District Engineering Office, Tanauan City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to bid for the following contract(s): 1. Contract ID : 13DC0011 Contract Name : Package 11 a. Construction of Water System, Don Juan, Cuenca b. Construction of Water System, Barangay 7, Cuenca c. Construction of Water System, Bugaan West, Laurel d. Construction of Water System, Ticub, Laurel e. Construction of Water System, Sto. Nio, San Nicolas Contract Location: Cuenca, Laurel and San Nicolas, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction of Water Systems Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php1,050,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd

Php100,000.00 Php300,000.00 Php250,000.00 Php200,000.00 Php200,000.00

a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Ambulong FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Talaga FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Cale FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Tanauan City, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0460 km b. L = 0.0460 km c. L = 0.0460 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php900,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 12. Contract ID : 13DC0022 Contract Name : Package 16 a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Santol FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Sulpoc FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Mabini FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Tanauan City, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0605 km b. L = 0.0460 km c. L = 0.0570 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php900,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 13. Contract ID : 13DC0023 Contract Name : Package 17 a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Wawa FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Pantay Matanda FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Balele FMR, Tanauan City, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Tanauan City, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0495 km b. L = 0.0970 km c. L = 0.0605 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php900,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 cd 14. Contract ID : 13DC0024 Contract Name : Package 18 a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. San Antonio FMR, San Antonio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. San Bartolome FMR, San Bartolome, Sto. Tomas, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Sto. Tomas, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0380 km b. L = 0.0370 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php600,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 cd Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184. To bid for the contract, a contractor must submit Letter of Intent (LOI) together with the copy of the PhilGEPS Document Request List (DRL), 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 with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of the contract, (c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of ten (10) years, and (d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least equal to 10% of the ABC. The BAC will use nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: Procurement Activities 1. Receipt of LOIs from Prospective Bidders 2. Issuance of Bidding Registered Contractors 3. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids Documents to Dates/Deadlines Until January 31, 2013; 2:00PM Until February 6, 2013; 2:00PM January 25, 2013; 10:00AM Deadline: February 6, 2013 until 2:00PM February 6, 2013 after 2:00PM

Health care. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista seals a partnership with Fit for School Inc., a non-governmental organization, to implement the essential health care program for 100,000 schoolchildren in QC public elementary schools starting this year. Fit for School is represented by executive director, Alexander Schratz (seated second from right) along with Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Miss Universe 2012 rst runner-up Janine Tugonon, members of the city council, city health ofcer Dr. Antonieta Inumerable, barangay operations center chief Jorge Felipe and city schools superintendent Dr. Corazon Rubio.

Bureau pursues leads in hacking incidents

WHILE the Supreme Court has begun proceedings over questions on the legality of the cybercrime law, the National Bureau of Investigation is pursuing leads on who are hacking of government websites. A group calling itself Anonymous Philippines has claimed responsibility for the hacking, saying it was to protest the measure signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III on Sept. 12 last year. Amid petitions questioning the legality of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, a bureau ofcial said hacking and internet scam date to 2012 as top crimes tackled by the agency. Some offenses fall under RA 9995, or an Act Dening and Penalizing the Crime of Photo and Sotto Video Voyeursim. The latest government website to be defaced by computer hackers was that of the National Food Authority. The website of Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III had been hacked on several occasions. His homepage has been defaced with offensive messages. The most recent attack on Sottos website happened a week before the oral arguments on the law which denes and penalizes several internet-related offenses. Hackers of Sottos website called on the senator to revise the Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012. Macon Ramos Araneta

2. Contract ID : 13DC0012 Contract Name : Package 10 a. Rehabilitation of Multi-Purpose Building, Balagbag, Cuenca Php50,000.00 b. Repair/Rehabilitation of School Building, Balagbag Elementary School, Balagbag, Cuenca Php100,000.00 c. Rehabilitation of School Building, Bungahan National High School, Bungahan, Cuenca Php50,000.00 d. Repair/Rehabilitation of School Building, Tomasa Pasia Memorial School, Pinagkaisahan, Cuenca Php200,000.00 e. Improvement/Completion of Lying-in Center, Poblacion 5, Cuenca Php250,000.00 f. Repair/Rehabilitation of Multi-Purpose Building, Balagbag, Cuenca (Brgy. Hall) Php100,000.00 Contract Location: Cuenca, Batangas Scope of Work : Repair/Rehabilitation of Multi-Purpose Buildings/School Buildings; Improvement/Completion of Lying-in Center Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php750,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 3. Contract ID : 13DC0013 Contract Name : Package 11 a. Construction of Multi-Purpose Building, Berinayan Elementary School, Berinayan, Laurel Php100,000.00 b. Repair/Rehabilitation of School Building, San Gregorio Elementary School, San Gregorio, Laurel Php250,000.00 c. Construction of Multi-Purpose Building, Balakilong, Laurel Php200,000.00 d. Construction of Multi-Purpose Building, Niyugan, Laurel Php200,000.00 e. Construction/Repair/Rehabilitation of Multi-Purpose Building, San Gabriel, Laurel Php200,000.00 Contract Location: Laurel, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction/Repair/Rehabilitation of Multi-Purpose Buildings/ School Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php950,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 4. Contract ID : Contract Name : Contract Location: Scope of Work : 13DC0014 Rehabilitation/Reconstruction/Upgrading of Damaged Paved National Roads (MFO-2), (Intermittent Sections), Talisay-LaurelAgoncillo Road, K0119+296 K0119+560 Agoncillo, Batangas Rehabilitation/Reconstruction/Upgrading of Damaged Paved National Roads L = 0.262 km

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php1,710,405.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 5. Contract ID : Contract Name : Contract Location: Scope of Work :

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php9,950,000.00 Contract Duration: 150 cd 6. Contract ID : Contract Name :

13DC0015 Rehabilitation/ Improvement of Multi-Purpose Building (Covered Court), Municipality of Talisay, Batangas Talisay, Batangas Rehabilitation/ Improvement of Multi-Purpose Building (Covered Court)

Edsa rehab requires go signal of mayors

THE Department of Public Works and Highways needs the approval of all mayors of Metro Manila before rehabilitating Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the Metro Manila Development Authority said on Sunday. Chairman Francis Tolentino, in the agencys weekly radio program over dzBB, said he told Secretary Rogelio Singson the go signal must be obtained from the Metro Manila Council, MMDAs policy-making body composed of 17 mayors. We were able to talk briey, and that I had raised at least four concerns. Get the councils nod, provide alternate routes and ensure that these are in good condition, come up with a trafc management plan, include the construction of more yovers and pipe-laying and installation activities of various public The 24-kilometer Edsa from Baclaran to Monumento passes through the cities of Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon and Caloocan but any upgrade must be cleared by the executives of Las Pinas, Malabon, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Paranaque, Pasig, San Juan, Valenzuela and Pateros as well. Singson has announced Edsas makeover for P3.4 billion right after the elections. Rio N. Araja

Contract Location: Scope of Work : Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php995,000.00 Contract Duration: 35 cd

13DC0016 Construction/Rehabilitation of Road, Brgy. Pantay Matanda, Tanauan City Tanauan City, Batangas Construction/Rehabilitation of Road; L = 0.0615 km

7. Contract ID : 13DC0017 Contract Name : Construction of Line Canal, Brgy. Maugat, Tanauan City Contract Location: Tanauan City, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction of Line Canal; L = 339.00 lm Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php995,000.00 Contract Duration: 45 cd 8. Contract ID : 13DC0018 Package 12 Contract Name : a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Lumang Lipa FMR, Mataas na Kahoy Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Nangkaan FMR, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Solis FMR, Solis, Balete, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Mataasnakahoy and Balete, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0615 km b. L = 0.0348 km c. L = 0.0615 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php900,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 9. Contract ID : 13DC0019 Contract Name : Package 13 a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Bugaan West FMR, Laurel, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Niyugan FMR, Laurel, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Miranda FMR, Talisay, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Laurel and Talisay, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0615 km b. L = 0.0615 km c. L = 0.0428 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php900,000.00 Contract Duration: 60 cd 10. Contract ID : 13DC0020 Contract Name : Package 14 a. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Quiling FMR, Talisay, Batangas Php300,000.00 b. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Tranca FMR, Talisay, Batangas Php300,000.00 c. Construction of Farm-to-Market Road, Brgy. Tumaway FMR, Talisay, Batangas Php300,000.00 Contract Location: Talisay, Batangas Scope of Work : Construction Farm-to-Market Roads a. L = 0.0615 km b. L = 0.0615 km c. L = 0.0615 km Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php900,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 cd

Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-Procurement Office for Civil Works (DPWH-POCW) Central Office before the deadline set for receipt of LOIs. The DPWH-POCW Central Office will only process contractors applications, with complete requirements, for registration and to be issued the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the Bidding Documents (BDS) in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman, DPWHBatangas 3rd District Engineering Office. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, including the eligibility requirements. 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 post-qualification. Prospective bidders may download the Registration Form from the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The BAC will issue hard copies of Bid Documents at DPWHBatangas 3rd District Engineering Office, Tanauan City upon payment of nonrefundable fees based from the GPPB Resolution 4-2012 Series of 2012: Contract Reference Number 13DC0011 13DC0012 13DC0013 13DC0014 13DC0015 13DC0016 13DC0017 13DC0018 13DC0019 13DC0020 13DC0021 13DC0022 13DC0023 13DC0024 Cost of Bid Documents (Php) 5,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00

Interested contractors are also required to present the originals of their PCAB License and Contractors Registration Certificate to the BAC for authentication. The DPWH-Batangas 3rd District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept of reject any bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before the Contract Award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

(Sgd.) ERNESTO M. AMADA Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Tel. No. (043)7785134, Telefax No. (043)7780738

(PAID (MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

AD)

New book. Mindfulness in the Practice of Law was launched recently by Atty. Victor L. Chan, LL.M., a law practitioner for almost 30 years, joined by his best friend, Manny Tangco. He placed 7th in the 1984 Philippine bar examination. Available at Rex Booksotore and National Bookstore, his book shares insights on how to help people, especially lawyers and judges, make responsible choices and decisions; alleviate suffering; address corrupt practices in society; and enhance the quality of their consciousness and relations. JUN DAVID
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

ManilaStandardToday Riera U. Mallari, Editor

Sports
divided into two groups with the top two from each side advancing to the cross-over semis. The winners will dispute the crown in the event sponsored by Shakeys and organized by Metro Sports. Western Visayas, represented by Central Philippine University, squares off with Northern Luzon, composed of Baguio City National High and St. Louis University bets, at 1 p.m. opener while Central Luzon caps its two-game sked against Southern Luzon, represented by De La Salle-Lipa, at 6 p.m. While the Hope tossers, winners

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

A7

IN BRIEF Shakeys volleyball Tournament of Champs begins

Rose takes control
ABU DHABI, United Arab EmiratesJustin Rose extended his lead at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Saturday, shooting a 4-under 68 to take a two-shot lead over Jamie Donaldson and Thorbjorn Olesen. A day after top-ranked Rory McIlroy and secondranked Tiger Woods missed the cut, the fth-ranked Englishman made his third round look easy with seven birdies. After three-putting on the rst for a bogey, Rose had a stretch of six birdies over nine holes - including sinking a 20-footer on No. 5 that gave him back the lead and an approach shot on No. 9 that rolled to 4 feet from the hole for birdie. CENTRAL Visayas gets the rst crack at the fancied Victoria team from Australia today, while defending champion Hope Christian High School of National Capital Region-West kicks off its titleretention drive against Mindanao in the Shakeys Girls Volleyball Tournament-of-Champions at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Represented by Southwestern University, Central Visayas hopes to neutralize the taller, talent-laden Aussie squad in the featured 4 p.m. encounter in the 10-team, six-day tournament featuring the top nishers in various regional eliminations. The Hope tossers, meanwhile, face stiff challenge from the Mindanao side bannered by powerhitters from Davao City National High School at 5 p.m. while NCRSouth, bannered by Colegio San Agustin players and backstopped by two Angelicum mainstays, tangle with Central Luzon composed of stalwarts of Angeles University Foundation and Holy Angel University at 2 p.m. Two other matches are on tap at the start of the single-round elims of eight of 10 NCR crowns in the event sponsored by Tobys Sports, Mikasa as ofcial ball, Tune Hotels as ofcial residence of T-ofC, Asics and Volley Prep as chief backers, remain the top contender for the crown, the Aussies have been billed as the team to beat owing to their crack roster, composed of Kat Janssen, Kate Hutchinson, Lucy Konjarski, Katie Bacon and Eloise Leidle and setters Nikita Peril and Letitia Sindt along with Lucy Boyes, Hannah Wright and Tayla Mangles and liberos Vivien Maslov and Mikayla Faltyn.

Games today
1 p.m.Western Visayas vs Northern Luzon 2 p.m.Central Luzon vs NCR-South 4 p.m.Central Visayas vs Victoria 5 p.m.NCR-West vs Mindanao 6 p.m.Southern Luzon vs Central Luzon

Sharapova on a roll
MELBOURNE, AustraliaMaria Sharapova has lost only ve games in four matches on the way to the Australian Open quarternals, a record that seems to be immaterial to the 25-year-old Russian.
The No. 2-ranked Sharapova beat Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-1, 6-0 on Sunday to continue a dominant and unparalleled run. Well Im certainly happy to be playing this well but ... it only gets tougher from here, said Sharapova, who is playing her rst tournament of 2013 after withdrawing from an exhibition match in South Korea and a warmup event at Brisbane because of an injured right collarbone. Stef Graf conceded only eight games in her opening four matches here in 1989, when she won the second of her three straight Australian Open titles. Monica Seles matched that mark. Sharapova has been even more dominant. She started with a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins - the rst time that has happened at a major since 1985 - and then beat seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams 6-1, 6-3 in the third round. The reigning French Open champion is showing no signs of trouble with the collarbone in Melbourne, where she last won the title in 2008. The year that I won here I dont think there were many games that I lost, but I dont think it was ve or six, she said, reecting on a run to the title where she beat three players whod been ranked No. 1. Toughest draw in my career. It hasnt been as tough this year, but she next plays fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who ousted fth-seeded Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-4. Sharapova beat Makarova in the quarternals here last year on her way to the nal. AP

Falcons, Icons win

THE Adamson Falcons and the Informatics Icons turned back their foes to stay on track for quarternal slots in the 9th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball tournament. The Falcons struck hard with their outside shooting and repulsed the University of Perpetual Help-B Altas, 87-45, at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola. The Icons started strong and nished stronger as they waylaid the Mapua Cardinals, 81-71. Maui Bernabe made 15 points, while Harry Petillos and Eric Cabigao had 13 apiece for the Falcons, who marched to their third consecutive win in Group B.

Ladies golf proponents. Womens Golf Association of the Philippines president Marissa Romano (second from left) is shown poses with of-

cials of the organizing WGAP during the inaugurals of the Champion Innity Philippine Ladies Open 2013 at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. They are (from left) secretary Detsy Laurel, prizes committee chair Gie Bote, tournament chairman Marie Guerrero, vice president Lorna Tabuena, past president Remy Romero-Salas, membership committee chair Cora Sy and past president and tournament chief referee Cora Suntay.

Caloy is Erase coach

SPORTS patron Louie Gamboa, team owner of the Erase X Foliant team in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League, has announced the appointment of Caloy Garcia as the new head coach of the Erasers. Were happy to welcome to the Erase family Coach Caloy Garcia. Were already out of the running for the next round, and we have two games left, but Coach Caloy was gracious enough to accept our offer for him to take over the team after Coach Aric del Rosario said hes focusing on the training of his Perpetual Help team. We have two games left in the league (against Jose Rizal University and Blackwater), and we hope we will be able to win these so at least we can have a graceful exit from this conference, Gamboa said.

Romero wont seek another term

AIMING to give others a chance, businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero declared he wont be seeking another term as president when the Philippine National Shooting Association holds its elections on Feb. 16. Despite a strong clamor for him to seek a complete four-year term this time, Romero politely declined the offer to head one of the countrys most active sports associations, saying there are others who are also capable of running the association. He also cited that his involvement in several projects of his burgeoning business might limit his involvement in the various activities of the PNSA. I will be doing a disservice to the association if I will continue to cling on my position, while Im out most of the time, said the 41-year-old Harbour Centre owner, who served the association faithfully for a little over 18 months. Romero took over the remainder of the four-year term left by Olympian Art Macapagal in June of 2011 after he was overwhelmingly voted by the directors of the ve aggrupations shotgun, rie, pistol, practical shooting and non-ISSF. I will have no more time with my family if I will continue to lead the association, said Romero, who assured his allies within the PNSA of his continued help in propagating the sport in the country. Romero will be leaving the federation fully satised, saying he has fullled his responsibility the best way he can. He cited the installation of the rst electronic target system at the Marine Shooting Range and the expanding of the PNSA members as among his major contributions in the short time that he served as association president. Likewise, Romero also gave their member shooters the exposure they needed after establishing an excellent working relationship with the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. At the same time, Romero managed to convince Asian Shooting Federation president Shiek Salman to give shotgun specialist Brian Rosario a slot in last years Summer Olympics in London. With the help secretary general Col. Danilo Gamboa,

Romero

treasurer Marcia Cleofas and Executive Director Atty. Larry Paredes, Romero has professionalized its ofce by having a membership data base, and most importantly, the establishment of a merit system.

Cadayona, 67
EFREN B. Cadayona, father of Pilipino Star Ngayon sportswriter Russel Cadayona, died Friday due to a lingering illness. He was 67. He is survived by wife Mercy, children Rey, Ronald, Russel, and Efren, sister Nilda and brother Nestor. His body lies at the Loyola Memorial in Marikina City. Interment will be announced later.

Garcia mauls Salido to win featherweight crown

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WORLD Boxing Organization/ Ring Magazine and World Boxing Council Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaires prediction that his stablemate, friend and trainer Robert Garcias younger brother Juan Miguel Mikey Garcia would beat Orlando Siri Salido and win the WBO featherweight title proved right. Donaire had toyed with the idea of moving up in weight after WBO president Francisco Valcarcel said that the classy Donaire would beat Salido if he decided to go after the Mexicans title. But Donaire said there was no way Salido would beat Garcia and he would never ght his friend. The undefeated Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) looked terric when he battered Salido (39-12-2, 27 KOs) at New Yorks Madison Square Garden, but was denied a knockout or technical knockout win and had to settle for an eighth-round technical decision after his nose was broken in what some ringsiders felt was a deliberate head-butt by Salido in Round 8, which referee Benjy Esteves Jr. ruled as accidental. Garcia couldnt breathe and the ringside doctor examined Garcia after which the ght was stopped. The lanky Garcia was way ahead on the scorecards of all three judges when the ght was stopped with two judges, John Stewart and Julie Lederman scoring it 79-69, and the third judge Don Ackerman having him ahead, 79-70, Garcia dropped Salido twice in the opening round with precise left hooks and once more in Rounds 3 and 4, with a stinging uppercut in the process demonstrating his punching power.

6 Filipino wrestlers to train in Iran

Disgraced legend
AL S. MENDOZA

ALL THE WAY

I HAVE yet to hear a sports great, past or present, say a word of encouragement, let alone praise, for Lance Armstrong. While it may be properly all right, perhaps, to commend Armstrong after doing what he did, the world of sports continues to generally maintain a deafening silence over the stunning turn of events in the life of one whose rise from cancer to conquer the toughest cycling marathon on Earth has become a fairy tale of unimaginable success. In two days on TV last week, Armstrong, who won an unprecedented seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999-2005, admitted, nally, to having used drugs to enhance his chances of victory in the fabled bikathon. The admission made Armstrong, 41, reverse himself after more than a decade of saying his oft-repeated refrain, As long as I live, I will deny ever doping.

But in two taped TV interviews with the world-renown Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong confessed to his sin of doping through most of his cycling career. The native of Austin, Texas, even used a smorgasbord of drugs that included testosterone, cortisone, human growth hormone and the blood-booster EPO (erythropoietin). With his sensational feat of amassing his record-smashing Tour de France crowns, Armstrongs worth was estimated to be at no less than $100 million. But in the second part of the Winfrey interview, Armstrong said he lost $75-million worth endorsements after his doping scandal got exposed some months back that led to his lifetime ban from the sport. Even the $500,000 he won from a libel suit he led against the Sunday Times of London some years back was now being recalled by the newspapernot to mention that his more than $7 million in cycling prizes are also being asked to be returned by Armstrong. Such is the backlash and repercussion as a result of Armstrongs admission, including a pos-

sible stint for the disgraced legend in the slam. As for the sport itself, the International Olympic Committee is now also seriously considering removing cycling in the 2016 Olympic calendar in Rio de Janeiro. People close to Armstrong say the cycling cheat admitted his doping mistake in a bid to reclaim his status as a legible participant once more in cycling-related, Olympic-sanctioned events like triathlon. However, earlier reports say the littlest number of years that Armstrong may stay in prison could be eight years. To that, heres tennis No. 1 ranked Victoria Azarenkas take: He deserves everything he gets. From Serena Williams: Armstrongs confession, after vehement denials, cast doubt over other sports. Its also a sad day for all athletes in general. From Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 in mens tennis: Its a disgrace for the sport to have an athlete like this. To Armstrongs possible imprisonment, Djokovic said: He has to suffer for his lies.

If, indeed, Armstrong goes to prison, he might regain his freedom, maybe, by the time he turns 49, if not 50. If the ban on him is lifted upon his release, will he still be competitive at that age? Yesthat is, if he does dope again. ALL IN. For the record, Norman Black has now won all his six Finals coaching appearances in the last six years, adding the Talk N Text conquest in the recent Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup to the ve-peat achieved by Ateneo last year in the UAAP mens basketball Finals... Praise Dear Lord Jesus Christ for the miracle on Anna Orqueta, whose breast cancer she had suffered for almost 10 months had been cured, nally. Anna, whose brother, Fr. Nelson is parish priest at Della Estrada near Miriam College, said her daily devotion to St. Padre Pio at Libis, Q.C. for nine straight months was the key And, nally, heres a warm wedding anniversary wish to Ramon and May Uy. Missed during the party were Johnny and Sahlee Tan of Wheel Gallerys Concept One.

SIX wrestlers, led by 2011 Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Margarito Angana and Jason Balabal, are headed for Iran to undergo intensive training for future international meets this year and next. Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Jose Alberto Balde said their stint will last up to 10 months, helping Angana and Balabal prepare for their title retention bid in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar. Matagal ito. But this will make them ready for the SEA Games. Malakas kasi ang Iran sa wrestling, said Balde. The trip will be made possible with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission, through commissioner Jose Luis Jolly Gomez. Angana is the defending champion in 55-kg Greco Roman event, while Balabal wants to retain his crown in the 85-kg Greco Roman competitions. They leave on Feb. 15 with Alvin Lobriquito (55kg, freestyle), Joseph Angana (68 kg, Greco Roman), Johnny Morte (60 kg, freestyle) and Noel Morado (66 kg, Greco Roman). Meanwhile, the association received assorted equipment amounting to P.5 million donated by the Korean Wrestling Association last December. Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NBA HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Sacramento 97 CHARLOTTE 93 San Antonio 98 ATLANTA 93 Memphis 85 CHICAGO 82 (OT) Golden State 116 NEW ORLEANS 112 MINNESOTA 92 Houston 79 UTAH 109 Cleveland 98 Milwaukee 110 PORTLAND 104 LA CLIPPERS 94 Washington 87

Sports
Manila Standard TODAY

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LOTTO RESULTS
6/49 0 0 0 0 0 0 P11.7 M+ 3 DIGITS 0 0 0 2 EZ2 0 0

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8 MONDAY

JANUARY 21, 2013

Pacquiao-Marquez in Mexico?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum revealed that he and Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran are prepared to stage the fth battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in Mexico this September.
Arum told the Manila Standard they are saving Mexico for September. Pacquiao has said he is keen on returning to the ring in April following his sixth-round knockout at the hands of Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Dec. 8. Pacquiaos adviser Michael Koncz is, in the meantime, in Singapore trying to work out a deal for a ght for the eight-division world champion in April, but Arum is doubtful it will happen. Arum said Top Rank president Todd duBeof visited Singapore and was not able to get anything going that makes any sense. He said Macau was a real possibility. We could have gotten something going, but unfortunately, the dates were not available at the Venetian because of bookings by a Korean pop star, said Arum. He added the only date available was April 1. But you could not do payper-view because its the big college basketball in the US so that knocked it out, he reasoned out. Meanwhile, Arum leaves for Beijing on Sunday where he will announce the signing of Olympic yweight gold medalist Zou Shi Ming at a big press conference on Wednesday. Arum told the Manila Standard that our rst card in Macau will be on April 6 and Im putting together a couple of title ghts, while Zou will make his professional debut on the card. The Top Rank promoter said he plans to feature World Boxing Organization/World Boxing Association champion Brian Viloria on the card against Juan Francisco Estrada, who gave undefeated WBA light yweight champion Roman Gonzalez a big ght on November 17, 2012 on the same card, where the Filipino scored a 10th-round technical knockout to win the WBA yweight title from Mexicos Hernan Tyson Marquez.
Participants Justin (left) and Geanson Lumapas maneuver their boats in the Optimists division of the 11th Punta Fuego Regatta Boating Race in Nasugbu, Batangas. ROMAN PROSPERO

Sarmiento, Taylor lead regatta winners

By Jeric Lopez
SAILORS from all over the country raced various kinds of water vessels in the 11th Punta Fuego Regatta Boating Race in Nasugbu, Batangas yesterday. After three races, Fernan Sarmiento, Ridgely Balladares, Richly Magsanay and Harry Taylor emerged winners in the three different classes. Sarmiento came up strong to take the Optimists race, with Edgar Villapana nishing second and Froilan Boyano ending up in third place. I feel successful. It was difcult, but I managed. I did not expect to win. This win was surprising to me, said the 14-yearold Sarmiento, who won the rst tournament of his young career. In the Hobie 16 category, the pair of Balladares (skipper) and Magsanay (crew) took home the top honor. The duo of Joel Mejarito and John Albert Escalante grabbed second place, while the team of Mike Ngu and Lando Pahayahay were the third placers. In the Cruising division British Harry Taylor, in his boat Irresistible, conquered the eld. David Wheeler and his Freewheeler placed second and Santi Picornell and his Strawberry Hill was third. Its for fun, but its always better to win than to lose, said Taylor who has been residing in the country for over 30 years now. We had such a wonderful twoday race. We all had fun, no one got hurt and everyone nished. Taylor cruised away with the win as he controlled the race from start to nish in all three legs. Race chairman Gerry Rollins was quite happy with the turnout of the events 11th edition. Its been a really great event. We all had a fun and wonderful time here. Its been another great Regatta, said Rollins. Races 1-2 were held last Saturday and race 3 was held on Sunday. Water vessels such as Hobbie 16s, Keel Boats, Bravos and Optimists were paraded around the peninsula. A total of 26 boats participated in the different races.

Lances enemies nd vindication, sadness

FIRST shunned, then vilied by Lance Armstrong, Mike Anderson had to move to the other side of the world to get his life back. Now running a bike shop outside of Wellington, New Zealand, Armstrongs former assistant watched news reports about his former boss confessing to performance-enhancing drug use with only mild interest. If Anderson never hears Armstrongs voice again, it would be too soon. He gave me the rm, hard push and a shove, Anderson said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Made my life very, very unpleasant. It was an embarrassment for me and my family to be portrayed as liars, to be called a disgruntled employee, implying there was some impropriety on my part. It just hurt. It was completely uncalled for. Anderson is among the dozens, maybe hundreds, of former teammates, opponents and associates to receive the Armstrong treatment, presumably for not going along with the party line - that the now-disgraced, seven-time Tour de France cyclist didnt need to cheat to win. The penalties for failing to play along were punitive, often humiliating, and now that Armstrong has admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that hes a doper, a liar and a bully, many of those who saw their lives changed, sometime ruined, are going through a gamut of emotions. Some feel vindicated, others remain vengeful. Some are sad, while many others are simply wrung out. Hes damaged a lot of peoples lives, said Betsy Andreu, whose husband, Frankie, was culled from Armstrongs team for not agreeing to dope. He has damaged the sport of cycling. Frankie was red for not getting on the program. I never thought this day would come but its so incredibly sad. AP

Biggest-ever jungolf program launched

FOUR major events, including an international competition and a junior version of the PAL Interclub, will highlight a busy rst half of the year for local jungolfers being lined up by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. The 2013 schedule from January to May released by the JGFP includes Northern Luzon Junior Open in Baguio, the multi-nation Montecillo Cup on April 2 to 5 at the Orchard, the Pancake House Junior World Qualifying also in April in three courses, the Faldo Series Asia Philippine qualifying and the US Kids World Championship local qualier also at the Orchard and two summer circuits in Visayas and Mindanao. The JGFP has also nalized the staging of the inaugural jungolf version of the PAL Interclub, the countrys biggest amateur event, in Bacolod this coming May. Ten school season series events and two summer circuit legs will be intertwined with these major events plus a rules seminar and a performance clinic to complete the biggest ever rst half program of the JGFP since its founding in 1976. JGFP president Luigi Tabuena and chair Gerry Handog said that all these exciting developments in Philippine jungolf are all because of the outpouring of support from the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and other backers like the Pancake House Group and the local golf clubs. The pledges of commitment from various sectors are very encouraging and were optimistic about the future of jungolf, both said. The ultimate goal, they said, is making golf affordable and available for all kids in coordination with various stakeholders. The JGFP has been instrumental in the steady turnover of top caliber talents among them pro hotshots Angelo Que, Juvic Pagunsan and Miguel Tabuena and LPGA star Jenny Rosales as well as Dottie Ardina and Jayvie Agojo.

Tagaytay stages Asian Zone 3.3 chessfest tomorrow

SCENIC Tagaytay City will stage the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship through the initiative of Mayor Abraham Bambol Tolentino from Jan. 22 to 30 at Tagaytay International Convention Center. Tolentino will host the event for the second time in his capacity as president of Asian Zone 3.3. The city will make sure that all participants, especially the foreigners, will enjoy their stay here (Tagaytay), said Tolentino, also the secretary general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, who drew praises from foreign delegations for the smooth running of the 2011edition won by Indonesian Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto. Other than the cash prizes, participants will be vying for two slots to the World Chess Cup 2013 slated in Tromso, Norway, from Aug. 10 to Sept. 5. Megaranto will be back to defend his title against a strong eld to be led by top Filipino GM Wesley So, who took a break from his studies in the United States to seek another stint in the biennial World Cup. Wesley arrived Saturday and is raring to bring pride and joy to his countrymen, said Tolentino. Also expected to contend for the mens crown are the Vietnamese and the Indonesians. The top lady performer will advance to the Womens World Championship in September. GM Mark Paragua placed second to Megaranto in 2011 and also advanced to the World Cup. Singaporean International Li Ruofan ruled the distaff side and represented the zone in the Womens World Championship. Thus far, GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino assured of a slot to the World Cup after placing fth in the Asian Chess Championship held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, last May.

Tuacao eyes 2nd world title

FORMER World Boxing Council yweight champion Malcolm Tunacao goes after a second world title when he battles Japans undefeated WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka on April 8 in a big triple-header in Tokyo, promoted by businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda of Teiken Gym. The two other title ghts will feature former Olympian and current WBC yweight champion Toshiyuki Igarashi, who will clash with former champion Akira Yaegashi, while WBC super featherweight champion Gamaliel Diaz will defend his crown against another Japanese Takashi Miura. Tunacao, who avenged Manny Pacquiaos loss of the WBC yweight title to Thailands Medgoen Singsurat, with a seventh- round TKO on May 19, 2000 and regained the Oriental Pacic Boxing Federation vacant bantamweight title with a 12-round split decision over Seung-Suk Chae of South Korea on Feb. 6, 2010, earned the world title shot with a seventh-round technical knckout of Christian Esquivel of Mexico in a title eliminator on Dec. 22 last year. Ronnie Nathanielsz

Tolentino

Coach E Basketball School opens classes at Green Meadows

GOOD news to young Quezon City basketball enthusiasts willing to take their game to the next level. Coach E Basketball School, which is celebrating its 10th season, will open classes for the rst time at Green Meadows located along Lovebird St. Green Meadows will serve as the new venue of Coach E Basketball Schools fourth-quarter classes to cater to potential students who are residing in Quezon City The new venue will start its regular Saturday classes on Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Aside from Green Meadows, QC residents, who want to take part in the basketball academy that offers low
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

teacher-student ratio, can also attend classes at the Ateneo de Manila University covered courts. They will also have Saturday classes beginning Jan. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. Parents who want to enroll their kids and let them experience excellence can register early. They can call Coach-E Basketball School at tel. nos. 684347 and 6311195 or mobile no. 09088846947. Participants can also send e-mails to info@coach-e.com. To know more about Coach-E Basketball School, visit its website at www.coach-e.com or Facebook (www.facebook.com/coachebasketballschool) page and Twitter (www.

twitter.com/coachebball). On-line payments are already being accepted through the website via Paypal. Two other venues will also begin their Saturday classes on the same date. The Zone in Makati and San Beda in Alabang are scheduled to open the rst-quarter regular classes for the year from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. All Saturday classes will culminate on March 10. Weekday classes of Coach E Basketball will also be opened in Xavier School in San Juan beginning Jan. 24 Kids learsn the basics of basketball from a Coach E from 4 to 6 p.m. instructor.

ass will

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Business
Manila Standard TODAY
Ray S. Eano, Editor business@mst.ph Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor; extrastory2000@gmail.com

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

B1

Maynilad investing a record P17b in 13

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Meralco to renance P4-b loans, says Reyes

By Alena Mae S. Flores
MANILA Electric Co., the countrys biggest power distributor, will renance around P3 billion to P4 billion worth of loans within the second quarter, a company ofcial said over the weekend. Were in the process of discussing with investors, local banks. Were trying trying to talk to them, Meralco president Oscar Reyes told reporters, adding they might conclude the renancing before the end of the second quarter. The renancing is expected to augment funding for the companys capital expenditures this year. Reyes said the company planned to fund its P12.8-billion capital expenditure program this year mainly through internal funds. We may fund it through internally generally funds without prejudice to tap additional borrowing for that, he said. Meralco plans to address the distribution requirements of franchise in anticipation of a growth in demand. We need to be ahead of the curve... mainly transmission and generation requirements, Reyes said. Meralcos subsidiary Meralco PowerGen Corp. is pursuing the development of a 600-megawatt, coal-red power plant in the Subic Bay Freeport. Reyes said Meralco was nearing the awarding of the construction contract and securing the funding for the project. Thats likely to proceed in a relatively short period of time. Were hoping to be able to do it within the year, he said. Reyes said Meralco would look at opportunities for growth in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, to give the company a platform for growth. If there are opportunities in the region...I think the focus here... [is] generation, distribution. Those will essentially be funded by [long-term] borrowings, Reyes said. Equally important, we want the Philippines to be recognized up there with the strong track record both in generation and distribution. It will give the Philippines and Philippine players the opportunity to be recognized and accepted as a credible player in the region, he said.

water utility owned by Metro Pacic Investments Corp. and DMCI Holdings Inc., has earmarked a record P17.2 billion in capital expenditures for 2013, more than double it spent in 2012.
Maynilad said in a statement it would invest the amount mainly for water and wastewater projects. The gure is Maynilads biggest annual capital investment since the western zone concession of Metro Manila was privatized in 1997. Maynilad plans to secure funding for this years capital spending through internal funds and a loan recently obtained from the World Bank. It will allocate some P9.3 billion for the construction of wastewater facilities in several areas of the concession, such as sewage treatment plants and conveyance systems in Valenzuela, Pasay and Muntinlupa. Maynilad is earmarking P3.76 billion to lay new pipelines, build pumping stations and develope reservoirs that will provide potable water supply in unserved portions of north Caloocan, Valenzuela and Novaliches in Quezon City, Paraaque, Las Pias, Muntinlupa, Imus, Kawit and Bacoor in Cavite province

MAYNILAD Water Services Inc., the

and Cavite City. The company is also allocating P2.13 billion for the non-revenue water reduction program, P384 million for upgrading of water facilities such as pumping stations and reservoirs, and P960 million for water source development. The rest of the budget will go to other initiatives such as building other facilities for operations support programs. The previous years have been about water service transformation. Now that we have improved and expanded our water services in the West Zone, our next challenge is to accelerate our sewerage and septage coverage. This will require a lot of resources but we are committed to doing our part in protecting the health of our customers and the environment, said Maynilad president and chief

executive Victorico Vargas. Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the western zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the districts of the Holy Spirit and Batasan Hills) and Makati (west of South Super Highway). The concession includes Caloocan, Pasay, Paraaque, Las Pias, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon in Metro Manila; Cavite City, and the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province.

PLDT Group wants to bid for 3G license

By Lailany P. Gomez
A WHOLLY-OWNED unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. will seek the approval of the National Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission to bid for the 10MHz third generation frequency held by Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprise. PLDTs chief counsel Ray Espinosa said Smart Communications Inc., a subsidiary of PLDT, the largest telecommunications company, would offer P5 billion for the 3G spectrum, which CURE surrendered to the government in compliance with the regulators conditions to the PLDT-Digitel merger deal in 2011. We are willing to bid P5 billion for the CURE frequency. We will write to the NTC to ask them to allow us to bid for it. We should be allowed. [Regulators] should also ask how valuable

Risks of capital ows

BANGKO Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said capital ows should be converted into real economic assets such as investments in manufacturing and agriculture. Tetangco, speaking during the annual reception for the banking community Friday night, said monetary ofcials faced the challenge of dealing with capital ows. As Fed Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated, emerging markets have been attracting capital because we have remained resilient even at the height of the recent crisis. Essentially he was saying we are the victims of our own success. Of course, the nearzero interest rate regimes in the advanced economies have also been a factor behind the strong capital ows going to emerging markets, he said. Tetangco said the ideal scenario was to convert these surges in capital ows into real economic assets, such as factories in the manufacturing sector or storage facilities in the agricultural sector. In doing so, we would have leveraged the nancial resources into added productive capacity, he added. He said the Bangko Sentral needed to balance its role of containing speculative actions while not discouraging investments and maintaining nancial and macroeconomic stability while not stiing competition and growth. Tetangco said the country continued to have a strong external position with a balance of payments surplus of $9.2 billion in 2012 and gross international reserves of $83.8 billion. This continues to enhance condence in our ability to meet potential shocks, he said. Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

the frequency is to the user, Espinosa said. The NTC earlier said Smart was not allowed to bid for its own frequency. Its not a bidding by the government, but by a private company. Were only supervising it to ensure that the winning bidder will really use the spectrum, NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba earlier said. He said the government would not recover any amount in the bidding, but a mere fee for facilitating the auction. Smart cannot bid for the frequency because it has more than enough in its network, Cordoba said. The government distributed ve blocks of 3G frequencies, with Globe Telecom Inc. obtaining 10 Mhz and the other 10 Mhz pending with the Supreme Court. The PLDT Group secured 35MHz. Smart currently holds 15 MHz.

School forest park. Senator Loren Legarda (second from right) expresses her gratitude to (from left) Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas (representing Secretary Proceso Alcala), Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje for their support in the conduct of the Nationwide Search for the Best School Forest Park. The search is part of the governments efforts to encourage treegrowing activities in all parts of the country and promote awareness on making our environment lively and safe. Emerging as the grand prize winner is the Cauayan City National High School from Cauayan, Isabela (Region II), which was awarded a plaque and P1.2 million in cash prize for the establishment of a new school building.

Congress asked to pass reform bills ERC increases revenue

By Othel V.Campos
FOREIGN and local businessmen asked Congress to expedite the passage of business and economic reforms that are already in advanced stage of the legislative process. The Joint Foreign Chamber of the Philippines and other business groups said a number of these measures were passed by the House of Representatives but remained to be approved by the Senate. These measures include the Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments; Direct Remittance of Local Government Share in National Wealth Taxes; Enhancing the Curriculum of Basic Education (K+12); and Insurance Code amendments. They also called for the passage of measures: Institutionalizing the National Land Use Policy; amendments to several laws on professions to allow foreign reciprocity; Rural Bank Act amendments; Sustainable Forest Management bill; Universal Healthcare Coverage; and Whistleblowers Protection bill. Meanwhile, the House has yet to pass the Design Council bill and Freedom of Information bill that were approved in the Senate. Both chambers have not approved the Anti-Trust bill. The business groups noted the growing reform momentum in the Philippines, which was attracting attention in the international press and among foreign governments. They urged Congress to sustain the momentum by passing most of these measures when it resumes for a three-week session on Jan. 21 and before entering the election campaign period. The groups also called for the immediate implementation of the bills that were passed by Congress and scheduled for signing by President Benigno Aquino III. These bills include the AntiTrafcking Act amendments; Intellectual Property Code amendments; Tripartism, Conciliation and Mediation as a Mode of Dispute Settlement; and the removal of Common Carriers Tax and Gross Philippine Billings Tax. The business groups include the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, AustralianNew Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Financial Executives of the Philippines; Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Multinational Regional Headquarters, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, January 18, 2013
Indonesia Thailand UAE Euro Korea China India Malaysia New Zealand Taiwan Rupiah Baht Dirham Euro Won Yuan Rupee Ringgit Dollar Dollar 0.000104 0.033602 0.272264 1.338100 0.000945 0.160875 0.018399 0.331840 0.839913 0.034528 0.0042 1.3648 11.0583 54.3483 0.0384 6.5341 0.7473 13.4780 34.1139 1.4024
Source: PDS Bridge

ceiling of National Grid

By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Energy Regulatory Commission approved a P1.6billion increase in the maximum allowable revenue of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, although it would not translate into higher transmission charges. ERCs approved maximum allowable revenue affects the protability of National Grid, the countrys power transmission network operator. The ERC raised the approved maximum revenue of the power grid operator to P44.57 billion this year from last years P42.9 billion. It said the increase would not translate into higher charges on consumers. The effective MAR for CY 2013 increased by P1.664 billion. However, the rate impact to the customers decreased by approximately P0.00975 [per kilowatt-hour] due to the higher percentage of increase in the billing determinant than the percentage increase in the MAR, the ERC said. ERC director Francis Saturnino Juan said even if National Grids revenue cap was higher compared with the previous year, the company projected a lower transmission rate due to the expected increase in demand for transmission service. The ERC-approved rate translates into P0.67475 per kWh this year, lower than last years rate of P0.68450 per kWh. The performance incentive scheme rewards or penalizes National Grid to the extent that the actual level of the performance of the grid for the regulatory year exceeds or falls below the target level of performance.

Bronzeaoks partner
BRONZEOAK Philippines Inc., a renewable energy developer, tapped a new partner to help fund two more biomass power plants in the country. Bronzeoak plans to develop three biomass power plants with a combined capacity of 54 megawatts and costing $120 million to $180 million. One of these plants is the 18-megawatt San Carlos BioPower plant in Negros Occidental. Bronzeoak Philippines has not only completed its equity for the San Carlos BioPowers 18-MW plant but has also secured a development partner, Thomas Lloyd Investment Bank based in Zurich, Switzerland for two more power plants of the same size to complete a portfolio of three biomass powered 18-MW power plants utilizing agricultural residues and waste for clean energy, Bronzeoak Philippines president Jose Maria Zabaleta said. The 18-MW San Carlos BioPower project is located within the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental while the two other power plants will be located in Negros and Tarlac. Alena Mae S. Flores

E ATE PSE COMPOSITE INDEX F OREIGNUnitXCHANGE RPeso Currency US Dollar

Closing January 18, 2013
United States Japan UK Hong Kong Switzerland Canada Singapore Australia Bahrain Saudi Arabia Brunei Dollar Yen Pound Dollar Franc Dollar Dollar Dollar Dinar Rial Dollar 1.000000 0.011125 1.600000 0.128994 1.072501 1.014919 0.817461 1.052853 2.652520 0.266660 0.814133 40.6160 0.4519 64.9856 5.2392 43.5607 41.2220 33.2020 42.7627 107.7348 10.8307 33.0668 6500 5500 4500 3500 2500 1500 1000

P584-P695 LPG/11-kg tank

P47.15-P53.07 Unleaded Gasoline

OIL PRICES
TODAY

PESO-DOLLAR RATE
Closing JANUARY 18, 2013
40 42 44 46 48

P38.40-P41.05 Diesel P40.30-P52.20 Kerosene P27.20-P31.00 Auto LPG

P40.575
CLOSE

67.63

6,139.210

HIGH P40.550 LOW P40.595 AVERAGE P40.580 VOLUME 687.950M 630.700M

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B2 MONDAY

Business W Market seen testing 6,200-point territory

JANUARY 21, 2013 ManilaStandardToday
STOCKS

business@mst.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Stocks may hit a new peak this week, although some investors are likely to engage in prot taking to cash in on gains from the previous rally, analysts said over the weekend.
BPI Securities said stocks would continue to be robust this week, on positive economic indicators as investor appetite remained strong particularly for bargain shares. The PSEi may continue to press on towards uncharted territory associated with prottaking bias from investors who wish to pocket gains, BPI Securities said. Freya May Natividad, an analyst at online brokerage rm 2TradeAsia.com, said the local stock market would continue to benet from portfolio allocation from developed markets to emerging markets such as the Philippines. Having breached an intraweek high of 6,150, optimism in favor of Philippine shares will be supported, until industrialized markets heal from their scal decit bruises, Natividad said. Natividad, however, said investors should take advantage of pauses in the market to accumulate on stocks. Pauses within an upward trending market would be an opportune time to position, given uncertainties how long the US Fed would maintain its aggressive quantitative easing stance [QE3] raising its bond

purchase to $80 billion monthly versus the earlier $40-billion expectation, Natividad said. For now, portfolio allocation will be growth-selective, especially within the election, project bidding plus merger and acquisition season, she added. Immediate support is expected at 6,050 to 6,100 points, while the resistance level is at 6,200 to 6,300 points. The 30-company PSE index advanced 87 points, or 1.4 percent, over last weeks fiveday market trading to close at a new record high of 6,139.21 on Friday, as demand for Philippine stocks remained strong, buoyed by positive economic indicators. Foreign activities registered a net buy of P68 million. PSE president and chief executive Hans Sicat welcomed the markets continued rise and said the PSEi was expected to continue to attract potential investors

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Bankard, Inc. China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. Maybank ATR KE Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

Bishop Alfredo Verzosa (1877-1954)

WE HAD the privilege of attending the formal opening of the cause for canonization of the Servant of God Bishop Alfredo Verzosa at the Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur on Jan. 11, 2013. Bishop Verzosa was the rst Filipino bishop of Lipa and the founder of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart and his name is forever associated with the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lipa in the late 1940s. However, not too many people know that Bishop Verzosa was a very active promoter of the faith and that his life story was very much intertwined with the history of the Catholic Church in Luzon in the aftermath of Spanish rule. Filling the void In the wake of the Philippine independence movement that saw the development of the Aglipayan schism and the subsequent exodus of Spanish religious orders and missionaries that followed the short-lived rst Philippine Republic and American colonial rule, the Church found itself faced with a big pastoral void to ll. Nowadays, its hard to imagine the difculties that the local church had to undergo, but these were very real difculties indeed. Into this void Bishop Verzosa went to action, rst as a priest in Ilocos who helped keep and renew the faith there as an Ilocano himself (despite threats to his life), and subsequently, as Bishop of Lipa where he helped ll the void via the active promotion of religious vocations, the heavy emphasis on the teaching of catechism, the founding of seminaries to develop more clergy, and the administrative restructuring of the church in the Southern Tagalog region to improve its pastoral reach and care. As if the void wasnt a big enough problem, World War II came and brought widespread destruction, with war atrocities perpetrated in the Southern Tagalog area by Japanese forces that culminated in the massacre of thousands of people in Batangas and in Lipa in particular, including many priests and nuns. In the aftermath of this devastation, Bishop Verzosa leapt into action, helping raise funds and even using his inherited wealth to pay for reconstruction efforts and ensuring the spiritual development of his diocese. Finding relevance There is more to the life of this man, especially as regards the stories of the spiritual occurrences in Lipa that may have been central to his being asked to retire from his beloved Lipa and his subsequent dark night of the soul but a bigger question remains: who is Bishop Verzosa to us? Will we lay people nd it hard to nd relevance given that

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Calapan Venture Conc. Aggr. `A Chemrez Technologies Inc. Cirtek Holdings (Chips) DNL Industries Inc. Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. Federal Chemicals First Gen Corp. First Holdings A Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals LT Group Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. Manchester Intl. A Manchester Intl. B Manila Water Co. Inc. Mariwasa MFG. Inc. Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pancake House Inc. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings Salcon Power Corp. San Miguel Corp `A San MiguelPure Foods `B Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Indl. Abacus Cons. `A Aboitiz Equity Alcorn Gold Res. Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A DMCI Holdings F&J Prince A Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacic GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A Keppel Holdings `B Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings `A Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacica `A Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass A Seafront `A Sinophil Corp. SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

GREEN LIGHT

MARC BAUTISTA

Bishop Verzosa was of the clergy? As a Lasallian educator, I nd that he should in fact prove very relevant to us lay people. For starters, the opening of the cause for his canonization in this Year of Faith comes at the heels of the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod, a Filipino catechist martyr, and is a renewed prompting to all of us to follow the call of Pope Benedict XVI to re-evangelize and to catechize in our communities. In this sense, his life resonates with us when viewed in terms of faith, zeal for service, and a sense of community in pursuing this kind of mission: a steadfast faith in God in the face of constant challenges and adversity, zeal in evangelizing and promoting the faith, and working to zealously proclaim and live the faith together in our Filipino communities. Awakening faith in business and society So, here we have a Filipino candidate for sainthood who is more accessible to us in time and place, one who lived and accomplished his mission of propagating the faith not in some foreign land but in our very own country and communities, faithful to the Church to the end even as he suffered a different kind of martyrdom, that of rejection and the denigration of his lifes work, and one who lived in fairly recent memory at that! That makes him very relevant to us and to our own mission as well. May we therefore take courage and strength from the example given to us by the Servant of God, Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, in pursuit of this mission to re-awaken the Catholic faith even within our social and business communities, which we can accomplish through Jesus Christ and with the help of Mary, our Mother and Mediatrix of all Grace. Marc Bautista, CFA is head of research of Metrobank and teaches Finance and Statistics for the MSCF/MBA Programs of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. His website is marcbautista.webnode.com. The views expressed above are the authors and do not necessarily reect the ofcial position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B Belle Corp. `A Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A Cebu Prop. `B Centennial City City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Highlands Prime Interport `A Keppel Properties Megaworld Corp. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinsons Land `B Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Development `A SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes 2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Easy Call Common FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Information Capital Tech. Imperial Res. `A IPeople Inc. `A IP Converge IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPVG Corp. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Pacic Online Sys. Corp. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Puregold STI Holdings Touch Solutions Transpacic Broadcast Waterfront Phils. Yehey

D&L to distribute Omya products

By Jenniffer B. Austria
D&L Industries Inc. said it signed an agreement with Omya Mineral Philippines Inc. to be the latters authorized distributor of calcium carbonate products in the country. D&L said in a statement the agreement would further enhance the companys marketing reach, particularly in the eld of plastics. This will also benet our local industries as they will now have an easier access to the supply of world-class calcium carbonate that was processed in the Philippines using Omyas patented technology, D&L said. Calcium carbonate is one of the worlds most popular mineral llers used in the plastics industry. It is widely available around the world, easy to grind or reduce to a specic particle size, compatible with a wide range of polymer resins and economical. Omya Mineral Philippines, established in 2010, manufactures coated and uncoated ground calcium carbonate. The company, the local unit of Swiss-based Omya, is operating with two plant facilities in Quezon City and Dasmarias, Cavite. Its new plant in Cavite is the largest in the Philippines with a rated capacity of 60,000 tons per annum. Commercial operations for the coated products will start in rst quarter this year. Omya is a leading global producer of industrial minerals, mainly llers and pigments derived from calcium carbonate. The company, founded in 1884 in Switzerland, is now the market leader and has global presence in more than 100 locations in over 50 countries and over 7,000 employees.

STOCKS Oriental Pet. `A IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Philodrill Corp. `A Manila Mining `A Greenergy United Paragon Manila Mining `B Alcorn Gold Res. Zeus Holdings Abra Mining

VOLUME 3,271,800,000 2,756,100,000 2,097,570,000 2,054,190,000 927,700,000 832,700,000 803,010,000 584,950,000 517,263,000 398,000,000

WEEKLY MOST TRADED

STOCKS PLDT Common Ayala Corp `A Bloomberry Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Metrobank Alliance Global Inc. GT Capital Ayala Land `B

VALUE 3,138,200,520.00 2,157,129,490.00 1,973,171,160.00 1,880,061,501.50 1,664,432,172.00 1,600,840,000.00 1,471,504,978.00 1,350,071,798.00 1,288,461,005.00 1,240,449,215.00

Abra Mining Apex `A Apex `B Atlas Cons. `A Atok-Big Wedge `A Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp `A Benguet Corp `B Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A Lepanto `B Manila Mining `A Manila Mining `B Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A Oriental Pet. `B Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex `A PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A Semirara Corp. United Paragon ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `A First Gen G First Phil. Hldgs.-Pref. GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMPFC Preferred

Megaworld Corp. Warrants Megaworld Corp. Warrants2 Ripple E-Business Intl

M S T
JANUARY 14-18, 2013 CLOSE VOLUME
76.20 98.80 0.72 55.55 1.99 18.98 30.05 11.00 0.76 2.79 530.00 23.85 105.30 1.74 72.00 92.30 105.50 414.6 61.5 166 1040.00 115.10 2.47 38.1 8.14 1.98 1.34 19 4.3 65.00 2.95 27.4 5.37 6.98 11.02 1.83 11.50 24 99.9 16.70 0.0200 13.30 4 0.620 108.00 11.5 48.00 2.58 13.24 1.61 13.76 14.1 33.45 5 17.700 281.80 4.50 8.00 6.28 10.48 11.82 9.44 4.94 2.25 3 4.55 106.00 244 1.74 0.142 1.72 1.45 86.00 1.58 0.95 9.20 1.49

EEKLY

STOCKS REVIEW
VALUE JANUARY 07-11, 2013 CLOSE VOLUME
75.15 99.50 0.72 54.90 1.99 19 30.05 10.94 0.84 2.89 560.00 26 106.30 1.74 79.00 88.35 105.50 414 59.5 162.4 1038.00 113.80 2.46 38.05 8.3 2.04 1.35 18.8 4.3 65.00 2.95 27.3 4.98 6.99 10.60 2.00 11.50 24.3 98.05 17.50 0.0200 13.16 4.05 0.640 107.50 11.6 49.00 2.1 12.88 1.6 15.48 15.6 33.15 6.2 17.020 278.60 6.10 7.54 6.4 10.40 11.50 9.00 5.00 3 4.55 108.90 244 1.79 0.140 1.71 1.45 87.00 1.42 1 9.20 1.60 38,223,390 7,634,940 1,037,000 1,465,340 299,000 167,900 13,772,700 7,700 692,000 1,059,000 3,540 33,500 24,396,470 2,428,000 120 4,262,520 6,980 114,640 4,388,490.00 3,168,990 3,385 2,388,050 687,000

VALUE
2,872,043,077.00 764,592,493.00 742,030.00 80,467,128.50 602,860.00 3,180,082.00 429,813,510.00 81,954 567,880.00 3,059,470.00 1,869,440.00 854,885.00 2,549,051,194.00 4,233,720.00 9,410.00 383,723,142.50 730,705.00 47,540,374.00 260,465,728.00 510,792,021.00 3,460,620.00 271,776,204.00 1,678,890.00 393,524,030.00 1,465,774.00 20,066,910.00 9,731,010.00 552,822.00 1,399,350.00 42,900.00 4,695,100.00 7,538,440.00 469,259,390.00 834,965,624.00 45,702,350.00 759,320.00 2,599,162.00 516,972,000.00 842,110,561.50 501,230.00 40,140,800.00 8,883,540.00 1,615,700.00 349,450.00 261,390,470.00 44,346,650.00 125,800.00 24,923,990.00 23,926,530.00 12,800.00 11,473,560.00 3,917,280.00 545,804,615.00 12,264,930.00 31,941,402.00 825,381,884.00 610.00 423,672.00 41,084,231.00 144,009,620.00 1,692,566.00 12,214,875.00 58,444,259.00 939,500.00 682,160.00 363,395,485.00 20,664,346.00 263,180.00 1,936,560.00 1,271,330.00 263,488,440.00 538,546,372.50 29,225,090.00 4,146,310.00 235,012.00 14,754,500.00

24,647,390 6,253,520 336,000 705,090 40,000 478,800 10,422,100 25,200 579,000 832,000 1,310 13,100 13,849,760 7,868,000 1,970 5,762,870 10,700 197,850 3,413,980.00 5,466,390 2,875 2,323,070 814,000 16,224,100 41,800 6,527,000 2,555,000 7,300 117,000 100 579,000 762,900 134,166,600 98,314,700 15,361,900 125,000 6,400 13,963,400 5,702,200 60,200 927,700,000 841,800 158,000 5,317,000 5,060,050 2,945,500 2,700 13,749,000 2,580,100 27,000 699,700 440,800 13,340,300 835,200 5,556,400 2,042,880 1,019,000 110,800 15,147,500 14,904,000 271,900 1,608,400 20,527,400 20,000 260,000 126,000 2,408,900 102,350 379,000 16,340,000 155,000 100,188,000 7,367,900 95,576,000 7,404,000 20,500 5,938,000

FINANCIAL

1,880,061,501.50 624,056,399.50 244,170.00 191,636,656.00 79,600.00 9,082,024.00 310,616,270.00 273,332 445,420.00 2,354,930.00 700,480.00 319,285.00 1,471,504,978.00 13,763,820.00 143,185.00 519,653,150.00 1,089,635.00 81,782,150.00 208,190,626.00 898,745,951.00 2,979,740.00 266,777,635.00 1,987,840.00 618,283,765.00 337,288.00 12,941,850.00 3,440,600.00 140,208.00 503,100.00 6,500.00 1,687,050.00 20,403,630.00 686,944,547.00 688,343,970.00 169,448,486.00 235,010.00 74,824.00 334,425,205.00 569,054,182.00 1,015,532.00 18,536,400.00 11,120,624.00 631,610.00 3,638,260.00 541,661,636.00 33,798,342.00 132,200.00 34,622,160.00 33,622,690.00 43,470.00 9,618,748.00 6,148,150.00 445,654,430.00 4,447,319.00 97,157,186.00 549,414,232.00 4,588,200.00 888,431.00 95,972,502.00 155,819,096.00 3,419,620.00 14,966,846.00 100,910,093.00 45,000.00 780,460.00 573,220.00 259,416,272.00 24,940,274.00 674,020.00 2,290,940.00 263,830.00 144,141,830.00 636,255,412.50 147,497,080.00 7,051,940.00 190,441.00 9,122,910.00

INDUSTRIAL

10,348,400 183,000 9,999,000 7,253,000 29,000 328,000 660 1,599,000 281,300 100,970,000 118,956,000 4,389,900 343,000 209,300 21,620,300 10,371,450 29,400 1,984,900,000 684,300 395,000 542,000 2,433,770 3,904,300 2,600 10,657,000 1,831,200 8,000 748,700 257,900 16,503,600 1,911,700 1,782,200 2,999,280 100 56,100 6,296,900 13,814,000 154,400 1,361,900 11,624,400 316,000 150,000 3,344,330 84,810 150,000 13,460,000 742,000 190,023,000 6,226,010 20,324,000 4,141,000 26,600 9,495,000

0.68 57.00 0.1420 17.70 2.37 5.63 4.98 0.95 0.91 529 53.00 2.9 4.68 0.235 680 6.78 38.40 7.49 4.3 5.35 6.78 1 0.500 1.94 5.02 7.01 7.05 0.0510 1.330 0.610 2.5 1.90 0.320 967.00 2.21 1.08 479.00 0.2700 0.3050 0.670

14,701,000 9,023,750 584,950,000 77,436,600 19,270,000 570,000 421,600 646,000 807,000 4,070,680 12,691,400 170,000 1,604,000 200,000 1,948,430 552,000 10,829,700 11,400 353,600 24,000 36,561,900 7,035,000 2,338,000 3,874,000 112,412,200 6,247,400 15,512,000 38,690,000 2,322,000 12,161,000 62,000 225,000 20,030,000 1,712,200 4,075,000 862,000 30 12,060,000 16,460,000 517,263,000

HOLDING FIRMS

9,901,680.00 510,472,462.00 83,193,280.00 1,350,071,798.00 45,274,110.00 3,192,028.00 2,070,015.00 584,460.00 725,580.00 2,157,129,490.00 672,125,294.00 503,050.00 7,492,450.00 43,770.00 1,288,461,005.00 3,608,150.00 413,422,890.00 72,707.00 1,729,890.00 124,300.00 253,318,793.00 7,235,470.00 1,203,600.00 7,454,910.00 568,445,042.00 44,192,820.00 108,672,434.00 1,986,310.00 3,513,590.00 7,485,460.00 161,720.00 425,310.00 6,495,150.00 1,600,840,000.00 9,116,800.00 947,930.00 14,390.00 3,551,150.00 4,890,250.00 336,682,320.00 1,863,648.00 1,249,490.00 162,148,790.00 441,010.00 1,240,449,215.00 121,935,466.00 6,027,520.00 980.00 4,810.00 107,114,970.00 1,572,270.00 90,780.00 1,178,290.00 72,851,490.00 156,916,550.00 15,253,550.00 89,629,620.00 558,252,580.00 460,780.00 2,162,480.00 185,950.00 843,352,740.00 34,291,420.00 49,807,810.00 7,565,190.00 27,010.00 37,730.00 268,782,610.00 118,814,430.00 3,904,670.00 295,199,270.00 1,664,432,172.00 95,912,740.00 1,058,580.00 8,162,030.00 406,940,262.00

0.69 56.60 0.1420 17.26 2.32 5.65 5.08 0.95 0.94 550 54.20 3.3 4.72 0.240 645 6.56 39.75 7.4 4.8 5 6.9 0.99 0.460 1.93 4.86 6.8 6.15 0.0510 1.300 0.600 2.37 1.91 0.320 920.00 2.20 1.10

9,573,000 11,520,950 451,970,000 67,836,700 31,502,000 717,100 519,500 595,000 2,950,000 4,822,520 11,567,850 21,000 1,663,000 350,000 2,668,610 1,015,100 11,362,100 5,800 20,000 18,900 133,846,406 4,279,000 6,380,000 3,896,000 214,625,400 5,938,700 15,500 56,340,000 84,000 12,729,000 127,000 330,000 8,660,000 1,940,520 10,274,000 425,000 4,230,000 5,610,000 12,790,000

6,508,600.00 630,994,981.00 64,194,700.00 1,179,358,800.00 70,992,280.00 4,000,626.00 2,647,881.00 563,360.00 2,680,220.00 2,645,621,445.00 643,780,335.50 62,300.00 7,937,770.00 79,580.00 1,747,811,810.00 6,501,979.00 453,740,445.00 43,060.00 78,100.00 94,500.00 273,698,815.00 4,208,680.00 2,892,600.00 7,447,680.00 1,058,911,414.00 38,488,852.00 94,150.00 2,890,590.00 110,910.00 7,369,430.00 300,990.00 590,140.00 2,775,550.00 1,803,790,785.00 22,095,330.00 466,470.00 1,155,200.00 1,683,300.00 4,664,550.00

0.2800 0.2950 0.370

17.60 3.00 1.020 0.200 27.75 5.12 4 4.9 4.81 1.85 2.35 1.14 0.071 0.81 1.020 0.385 2.02 1.67 1.74 1.20 2.85 3.19 0.1130 0.6500 0.490 18.00 3.49 21.40 3.29 3.12 5.99 16.60 0.78 3.89 0.580 5.100

109,500 421,000 143,071,000 2,210,000 45,396,800 15,672,130 1,537,000 200 1,000 59,745,000 692,000 79,000 17,810,000 87,263,000 153,495,000 39,240,000 44,600,000 340,032,000 264,000 1,792,000 20,000 263,002,000 302,900,000 74,738,000 15,202,000 1,500 12,000 12,504,600 36,400,000 1,255,000 49,432,600 100,105,000 119,003,000 274,000 13,265,000 79,269,300

PROPERTY

17.00 3.00 0.800 0.190 25.85 5.06 4.03 5.1

57,900 2,157,000 4,589,000 12,020,000 213,577,780 60,633,600 8,539,000 22,400

985,290.00 6,558,830.00 3,648,820.00 2,506,740.00 699,097,555.00 309,122,067.00 33,606,420.00 114,240.00 243,478,080.00 1,371,240.00 1,695,830.00 9,620.00 6,747,080.00 155,313,580.00 50,089,750.00 58,552,310.00 447,687,550.00 64,000.00 3,357,450.00 46,000.00 1,894,940,060.00 21,080,020.00 20,954,520.00 41,050.00 148,890.00 300,693,780.00 21,802,440.00 3,596,360.00 73,726,384.00 1,243,685,828.00 1,531,330.00 884,500.00 937,120.00 735,074,700.00

1.79 2.32 1.13 0.074 0.80 1.050 0.390 1.94 1.62 2.00 1.17 2.30 3.16 0.1290 0.6400 0.455 2.71 21.40 2.79 3.21 5.97 16.88 0.68 3.99 0.560 5.070

142,132,000 602,000 1,496,000 130,000 8,513,000 145,028,000 121,480,000 29,425,000 278,445,000 32,000 2,836,000 20,000 591,627,000 160,490,000 32,142,000 90,000 54,000 13,844,900 7,631,000 1,224,000 12,265,700 73,453,800 2,481,000 223,000 1,665,000 150,341,000

1.72 40 1.3 0.840 10 26 13.12 0.1370 3.72 61.80 4.85 2.95 1052 1187 9.60 76 0.430 5.60 9 3.59 0.025 0.68 0.0520 2.2000 8.33 2.40 1.55 2.52 0.75 2.77 14 2.91 10.34 86.50 14.22 2800.00 0.335 31.80 1.03 9.12 2.4 0.420 1.270

281,000 1,080,400 194,000 39,715,000 17,500 5,000 150,075,700 215,610,000 4,226,000 1,373,210 3,054,300 51,000 122,395 946,265 4,054,000 3,467,050 17,930,000 73,700 441,500 953,000 2,756,100,000 20,863,000 41,410,000 948,000 1,835,600 218,000 78,000 2,603,000 444,000 5,320,000 2,443,200 3,097,000 6,259,400 58,430 14,747,000 1,145,975 1,920,000 21,112,600 74,295,000 1,694,200 398,000 6,960,000 382,000

SERVICES

504,290.00 43,660,965.00 252,300.00 33,211,150.00 172,920.00 130,025.00 1,973,171,160.00 29,531,230.00 16,015,150.00 84,623,434.00 14,534,688.00 146,400.00 134,110,665.00 1,049,570,640.00 39,081,222.00 265,735,320.00 8,296,800.00 392,952 3,951,166.00 3,432,740.00 68,960,000.00 13,516,060.00 2,270,390.00 2,093,560.00 16,223,107.00 535,130.00 117,250.00 6,557,980.00 330,510.00 15,319,220.00 34,205,196.00 9,063,650.00 62,524,652.00 5,118,498.00 208,116,480.00 3,138,200,520.00 310,000.00 681,690,505.00 75,668,190.00 15,608,042.00 854,810.00 2,818,000.00 494,220.00

1.74 39.85 1.32 0.840 9.75 26 12.96 0.1330 4 62.50 4.88 2.65 1070 1073 9.61 76.95 0.400 7.60 8.7 3.7 0.026 0.63 0.0510 2.4000 8.20 2.60 1.35 2.67 0.77 2.67 14 2.92 9.85 87.50 14.02 2688.00 0.340 32.05 1.00 9.18 0.410 1.310

88,000 1,471,800 710,000 33,482,000 57,200 9,700 59,882,100 145,880,000 2,787,000 1,104,250 659,000 47,000 30 877,895 1,463,900 4,536,530 1,430,000 3,300 89,200 1,071,000 1,821,800,000 9,730,000 28,370,000 433,000 2,587,000 246,000 106,000 161,000 125,000 1,346,000 1,183,200 3,777,000 17,406,900 10,500 16,860,600 816,165 16,080,000 22,594,300 187,605,000 2,568,000 910,000 1,290,000

156,330.00 56,884,040.00 924,300.00 27,910,040.00 558,300.00 252,250.00 560,203,148.00 20,114,640.00 11,101,380.00 68,459,177.00 3,098,680.00 125,530.00 32,100.00 941,158,440.00 13,979,851.00 347,646,440.00 587,850.00 25,080 845,170.00 3,573,280.00 49,222,200.00 6,263,440.00 1,534,320.00 997,370.00 21,398,118.00 602,090.00 172,970.00 428,460.00 92,690.00 3,725,060.00 16,581,354.00 11,030,530.00 174,219,363.00 941,950.00 227,379,460.00 2,168,690,570.00 5,709,900.00 744,906,035.00 187,503,480.00 24,347,294.00 365,600.00 1,697,270.00

0.0057 4.90 4.80 22.15 20.55 0.285 18.8 19 1.04 1.01 14.96 0.53 1.180 1.240 0.0640 0.0700 20.1 4.61 0.6200 3.600 0.0210 0.0220 6.33 18.20 34 0.044 242.60 0.0180

398,000,000 137,000 86,000 19,830,200 10,400 12,570,000 18,500 150,800 6,649,200 19,805,000 92,700 4,401,000 170,205,000 88,287,000 2,054,190,000 803,010,000 8,765,300 5,249,700 2,549,000 3,812,000 3,271,800,000 124,700,000 447,600 58,395,000 778,100 2,097,570,000 997,650 832,700,000

MINING & OIL

2,267,900.00 644,740.00 412,260.00 423,810,435.00 2,249,147.00 3,557,350.00 348,260.00 2,800,428.00 7,318,820.00 20,094,010.00 1,390,142.00 2,284,910.00 193,381,050.00 106,360,040.00 129,264,060.00 54,209,490.00 176,557,788.00 25,005,987.00 1,584,820.00 13,843,220.00 66,505,500.00 2,682,500.00 2,866,060.00 1,034,522,954.00 25,962,705.00 101,668,000.00 242,193,574.00 15,311,300.00

0.0057 4.46 4.49 20.70 20.45 0.280 18.5 19 1.15 1.01 15.20 0.53 1.090 1.180 0.0620 0.0650 20.25 5.07 0.5600 3.670 0.0200 0.0220 6.22 16.72 32.85 0.041 242.40 0.0190 41.5 530 102 100.7 9.6 108.2 75 75.25 74.95 1011

163,000,000 308,000 761,000 12,837,000 12,900 25,130,000 47,100 117,800 16,726,000 40,431,000 498,800 10,121,000 195,971,000 56,648,000 1,395,920,000 590,000,000 19,210,600 3,772,300 477,000 5,321,000 363,300,000 49,700,000 186,200 42,574,700 1,925,300 1,659,400,000 2,087,120 371,600,000 6,288,900 3,170 53,530 62,110 22,749,000 23,700 4,743,720 500 247,400 34,495 4,682,000 80,000 20,000

928,000.00 1,381,250.00 3,646,070.00 256,823,712.00 261,692.00 7,173,450.00 890,590.00 2,195,584.00 19,695,170.00 41,297,710.00 7,684,496.00 5,314,590.00 209,414,100.00 66,691,310.00 86,045,420.00 37,353,890.00 370,837,266.00 19,658,431.00 273,640.00 18,882,330.00 7,284,500.00 1,056,800.00 1,156,697.00 696,354,184.00 62,600,040.00 69,249,400.00 503,490,036.00 6,560,000.00 253,094,495.00 1,671,840.00 5,494,960.00 6,272,147.00 218,319,426.00 2,565,133.00 355,771,861.50 37,625.00 18,517,111.50 34,945,200.00

43.45 530 103.6 101.5 9.97 108.5 75 74.65 75.3 1020

3,498,300 3,730 75,770 7,030 20,916,500 204,120 7,711,450 1,750 983,310 65,390

PREFERRED

148,964,130.00 1,976,305.00 7,833,973.00 715,253.00 266,378,791.00 22,130,929.00 578,337,765.00 130,450.00 75,453,407.50 66,422,200.00

2.21 2.06

1,604,000 1,482,000 9,400

WARRANTS & BONDS

3,383,080.00 3,060,740.00 71,511.00

2.1 2.2

10,224,300.00 176,000.00 170,583.00

8.36

SME

8.99

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

adv.mst@gmail.com
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan

ManilaStandardToday

Classifieds
Section I. Invitation to Bid Republic of the Philippines Province of Northern Samar MUNICIPALITY OF LAOANG

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

B3

For fast ad results, please call 659-48-30 local 303 or 659-48-03

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

invitation to Bid foR

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY MATERIALS TO BE USED IN SOURCE DEVELOPMENT, POWER AND CONTROL STATION, RESEVOIRS AND PIPELINE FOR THE PROPOSED UPGRADING AND EXPANSION OF THE WATER SYSTEM OF LAOANG (LEVEL 111) DOH-CHD 8 SAGANA AT LIGTAS NA TUBIG SA LAHAT (SALINTUBIG) PROGRAM
1. The Local Government Unit of Laoang, Northern Samar through Trust Fund (a program funded by the GAA Provision of Portable Water System) intends to apply the sum of Three Million Three Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Four Pesos and Seventeen centavos (Php3,398,574.17) being the Approved Budget for the contract (ABC) to payments under the procurement materials for SALINTUBIG Project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automically rejected at bid Opening. The Local Government of Laoang now invites bids for supply and delivery of materials to be used in source development , power and control station, reservoirs and pipeline for the proposed upgrading and expansion of the water system of Laoang (Level III).1 Delivery of the Goods is required within 15 days upon receipt of Purchase Order. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) 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 a non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. (i) Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

2.

3.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU Laoang Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders starting on January 21, 2012 office hours from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php3,000.00. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Government Policy Board (www.gppb.gov.ph) provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the bidding documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

The Health Sciences Center
Tel. # 554-8400 loc. 3025/3026; 526-4359 E-mail Address: bac1.upm@gmail.com

The LGU Laoang Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 28, 2013, 10:00 o clock in the morning at the Conference Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Building, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 o clock AM, February 11, 2013 at the Conference Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Building. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on February 11, 2013, 10:00 o clock AM at the Conference Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Building. 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.

Taft Avenue, Manila

6.

INVITATION TO BID
1. The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) hereby invites UPM-PGH registered suppliers and interested parties to participate in the bidding for the supply of the following commodities as funded by UPM and PGH Fund 104-101 and 648-101: Description Replacement of CO-60 Gamma Source (Rebid) CH5 Curved Array Transducer and Printer (Rebid) Supply of Housekeeping Supplies (Rebid) Supply of Commercial Rice and Frozen chicken (Rebid) (PGH Canteen) Supply of Chemicals Contract Duration Single Bid only Single Bid only January-December 2013 April 2013-March 2014 Single Bid only Approved Budget PhP20,000,000.00 587,932.00 3,140,484.07 573,000.00 585,865.75 Dropping/Opening until 9:00 AM /10:00AM 04 February 2013 04 February 2013 04 February 2013 04 February 2013 018 February 2013 7.

The LGU Laoang reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: JAYKEEN SON ACEBUCHE Tel No. 09154231668/ 09997422257 (Sgd.) GENARO T. ADORA BAC Chairman

8.

Department of Public Works and Highways OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR Regional Office No. XII Cor. Alunan Ave.- Mabini Street, Koronadal City

Republic of the Philippines

INVITATION TO BID
1. The Department of Public Works and Highways Region XII, Koronadal City through the CY 2013 Regular Infra Program intends to apply the following sum to payments of the corresponding contracts listed hereunder. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Contract ID Contract Name/Location 13M00020 R oad Upgrading (Concrete Widening) of Cotabato- Lanao National Road, km. 1858+355.30 to km.1862+740, LamsanRebuken Section CY 2013 DPWH Regular Infra P167,026,000.00 P150,000,000.00 360 calendar days Concreting Widening of National Arterial Roads 13M00021 Road Upgrading (Gravel to Concrete)of Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada-Libungan Road, km. 1654+000 to km.1673+500 with exceptions, Alamada-Banisilan Section, Alamada, North Cotabato CY 2013 DPWH Regular Infra 153,575,000.00 P140,727,858.74 330 calendar days Concreting of National Secondary Roads 13M00022 Construction of Silway Bridge-Phase I along GSC Circumferential Road (Northern Section) km.1653+531 to km. 1653+711, General Santos City CY 2013 DPWH Regular Infra P70,000,000.00 P67,900,000.00 270 calendar days Construction of Bridge Substructures on Steel H-Pile Foundations 13M00023 Construction of Simuay River Flood Control (River Bank Protection with Earth Dike/Revetment) km. 0+000 to km. 1+540, Sultan Kudarat/Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao CY 2012 DPWH Regular Infra Project (Savings) P120,000,000.00 P116,400,000.00 306 calendar days Construction of Earth Dike w/Steel Sheet Pile Revetment

______________________ 1 A brief description of the type(s) of Goods should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation.
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

2. Interested parties not registered with UPM-PGH can secure application for registration at the BAC I Secretariat, Purchasing Office, PGH, any time during office hours. 3. Prospective bidders should have undertaken a similar project within the last two (2) years amounting to at least 50% of Approved Budget for the Contract. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated responsive bid shall be conducted. 4. All particular relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security. Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, 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. 5. Application for Eligibility and bidding documents containing general conditions and specifications including the schedule of pre-bid conference shall be issued starting 21 January 2013 at the PGH Purchasing Office any time during office hours upon payment of a non-refundable amount to be determined upon issuance to the UP Manila Cashiers Office. A Pre-Bid Conference shall be scheduled on 04 February 2013 at the Bidding room, Purchasing Office, 2nd Floor, near Ward 8, Philippine General Hospital. 6. Sealed bids in duplicate copies of the respective commodities shall be received on or before 9:00 AM of 18 February 2013, for the REBID & NEGO Items and on 18 February 2013 for the items at the UP Manila Internal Audit Office, 8th Floor, Central Block Bldg., PGH, Manila. Late bids will not be accepted. 7. Sealed bids will be opened on 04 February 2013 at 9:00 A.M. for the REBID & NEGO items and on 18 February 2013 for the non-rebid items at the Bidding Room, Purchasing Office, 2nd Floor, Right Service Wing Bldg., near War 8, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila by the Bids and Awards Committee I in the presence of the attending bidders. 8. The University of the Philippines Manila hereby reserves the right to reject any/and or all proposals, or to waive any formality therein and/or accept the bids or not to make an award as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila. 9. For further information, prospective bidders may call the BAC I Secretariat and look for Mrs. Teresita T. Venturina at Tel. Nos. 554-8400, local 2257, 2250, 3027. (Sgd.) Dean VICENTE O. MEDINA, III, D.DM, Ph.D. Chair, Bids and Awards Committee I

Republic of the Philippines Province of Northern Samar

MUNICIPALITY OF LAOANG
Excellence and Innovation in Local Governance, Social Justice, Lasting Peace, and Genuine Development Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP 2) ADB Loan No. 2465 & OFID Loan No. 1225P invitation to Bid
to-maRKet

Source of Funds CY-2013 Allocation Approved Budget Cost Contract Duration Scope of Work Contract ID Contract Name/Location

concRetinG of 1.742 Km. catiGBian-caBulaloan-siBunot faRmRoad, municipality of laoanG, pRovince of noRtheRn samaR

January 21, 2013

Source of Funds CY-2013 Allocation Approved Budget Cost Contract Duration Scope of Work Contract ID Contract Name/Location

The Republic of the Philippines has received a Loan from the Asian Development Bank and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) toward the cost of Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP 2), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for the Concreting of 1.742 km. CatigbianCabulaloan-Sibunot Farm to Market Road under the contract no. AIRC-101912-N19701-LAO-NSR-R008. The Municipality of Laoang now invites bids for Concreting of 1.742 km. CatigbianCabulaloan-Sibunot Farm to Market Road under the contract no. AIRC-101912-N19701-LAO-NSR-R008. Completion of the Works is required within 150 calendar days from the date of the official start of the subproject. Bidders should have completed in the last ten (10) years a contract for works that are similar to the works that are to be undertaken under the Contract that is the subject of this bid invitation. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Project Duration Minimum Bid Security Bid Closing Date : : : : Php 11,807,448.39 150 Calendar Days Php 295,190.00 February 19, 2013; Time: 10:00 A.M. Description of Works Item No. Scope of Work I. Implementation Phase 1. Direct Cost 1.1 Earthworks 104(1) Embankment (fr. Roadway excavation) 104(2) Embankment (fr. Borrow materials) 105 Subgrade Preparation 1.2 Surface Courses/Pavement 200 Aggregate Subbase Course 311 Portland Cement Concrete Pavement 1.3 Drainage & Slope Protection Structure 500 910mm dia. RCPC w/ Conc. HW & WW 505 Grouted Riprap Lined Canal Quantity Unit

Source of Funds CY 2013 Allocation Approved Budget Cost Contract Duration Scope of Work Contract ID Contract Name/Location

(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Mines and Geosciences Bureau

North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel. No. (+63 2) 928-8642 / 928-8937 Fax No. (+63 2) 920-1635 E-mail: central @ mgb.gov.ph

Source of Funds CY 2012 Allocation Approved Budget Cost Contract Duration Scope of Work

Request foR expRession of inteRest foR Geotechnical and hydRoloGical investiGation and pRepaRation of enviRonmental manaGement plan noRth davao mine tailinGs dam
1. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2013 intends to apply the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP2,550,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for GEOTECHNICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AND PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN NORTH DAVAO MINE TAILINGS DAM. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals. The MGB now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the geotechnical and hydrological investigation and preparation of environmental management plan for the North Davao Mine tailings dam. Interested consulting firms with a minimum of at least two (2) years experience in environmental risk assessment and/or mining rehabilitation and similar projects or assignments must submit their eligibility documents on or before January 30, 2013, Wednesday, 1:30PM at the Office of the Bids and Awards Committee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary pass/fail criterion. The MGB-BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of five (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: Quality of personnel who may be assigned to the project 40% Experience and capability of the Firm 40% Current workload relative to capacity 20% Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 5. The MGB shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation/ Selection (QCBE/QCBS) procedure. The MGB shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders. The contract shall be completed within four (4) months. The MGB reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Leopoldo T. Virtucio Executive Officer, BAC Secretariat Telefax No. 928-8649 Email Address: bacco@mgb.gov.ph Website: www.mgb.gov.ph

1,321.88 2,474.82 10,452.00 1,567.80 6,968.00 16.00 144.00

cu.m. cu.m. sq.m. cu.m. sq.m. l.m. cu.m.

2. The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office XII, Mabini St. corner Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City, now invites bids for the above-mentioned contracts. Bidders should have completed within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project, the description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in section II, instruction to Bidders. 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the IRR 9184, otherwise known as The Government Procurement Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino Citizen/sole proprietorship, partnership or organization with at least Seventy Five (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information from the Department of Public works and Highways, Regional Office XII, Koronadal City, and inspect at the address given below from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. 5. A complete set of Bidding Documents maybe purchased by interested bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents the amount of P50,000,00/project from January 21, 2013 to February 12, 2013 until 10:00 A.M. It maybe downloaded free of charge from the www.dpwh.gov.ph and PhilGeps websites, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the bidding documents not later than the submission of bids. 6. The Department of Public Works and Highways , Regional Office XII, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 1, 2013 at the DPWH Conference Room, DPWH XII Compound, Mabini Street corner Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City at 10:00 A.M which shall be open only to all interested Parties who have purchased the bidding documents. 7. Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 A.M. of February 12, 2013 at the Office of the BAC Chairman, DPWH Regional Office XII, Mabini Street corner Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened at 2:00 P.M. of the same day in the presence of the bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids will not be accepted. 8. The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office XII, Koronadal City, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid to annul the bidding process and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. 9. For further information, please refer to: Atty. Paisal A. Padate Attorney IV-Head BAC Secretariat Department of Public Works and Highways, Regional Office XII Mabini Street corner Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City (Sgd.) HADJI DIAMPUAN I. RANGIRIS, MPA Chief, Construction Division BAC Chairman
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

2.

Minimum Equipment Required: Bulldozer (1 unit)-leased/owned; Road Roller Vibratory Compactor (9 ton min. 1 unit)- leased/owned; Road Grader (1 unit)- leased/owned; Loader (1 unit)- leased/owned; Dump Truck (2 units)- leased/owned; Water Truck (1 unit)- leased/ owned; Concrete Mixer (1 unit)- leased/owned; survey instruments-(leased/owned). Bidding will be conducted in accordance with National Competitive procedures, and is open to bidders from eligible source countries of the Asian Development Bank. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the LGU-BAC of Laoang, Province of Northern Samar and inspect the Bidding Documents on January 21, 2012 at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders on January 21, 2012 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount Php 5,000.00. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Government Policy Board (www.gppb.gov.ph) provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The bidder may request that the Bid Documents be sent to them by mail or courier, and for this, the bidder shall pay the amount in Philippine Peso to cover the cost of mail or courier delivery. The fee for obtaining a copy of the Bid Documents and the cost of mail or courier shall be paid by the bidder thru s Cashiers Check or Managers Check issued in favor of the Municipality of Laoang. The Municipality of Laoang will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 7, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at the 2/f New Executive Building, Board Room of the Office of the Mayor, Municipality of Laoang, Province of Northern Samar, which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. of February 19, 2013 at the /f New Executive Building, Board Room of the Office of the Mayor, Municipality of Laoang, Province of Northern Samar. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of Bank Guarantee and in the amount of Php 295,190.00. 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 deadline for the submission of bids must not be later than 10:00 AM, February 19, 2013. The opening of bids will proceed immediately after the time set for the deadline of submission of bids as indicated above. The Municipality of Laoang reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. The Invitation to Bid is not an integral part of the bidding document. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Genaro T. Adora ARCP2-LGU-BAC Chairperson Municipality of Laoang Province of Northern Samar Mobile No. 09282641287 /09154231668 (Sgd.) Mr. Genaro T. Adora ARCP2-LGU-BAC Chairperson
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

3.

4.

6. 7.

8.

18 January 2012 (SGD) ELMER B. BILLEDO, Ph.D. BAC Chairman

(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WORLD
B4

Manila Standard TODAY

MONDAY

JANUARY 21, 2013

US, UK keeping troops off Africa

US DEFENSE Secretary Leon Panetta and British counterpart Philip Hammond said they have no plans to send soldiers to North Africa following the Algerian hostage crisis, though pledged to continue battling al-Qaeda. Were not planning to have troops on the ground in that area, Panetta said at a joint brieng with Hammond in London today. As we face this enemy weve to adapt the best efforts to be able to ensure we do this effectively. That involves working with the countries in the region to work with us to develop the capability in identifying where theyre located. They were speaking after Algerias special forces attacked a natural gas plant where alQaeda-linked militants held foreign captives. Eleven terrorists and seven hostages were killed in the raid, and the defense secretaries said they are seeking clarication from Algerian authorities. The Islamic militants who struck the gas plant on Jan. 16 called themselves Signatories by Blood. They had demanded that France end its military intervention in neighboring Mali, which began on Jan. 11. Bloomberg

Lance Corporal Carlos Lazano talks about a special training he underwent in which Marines were taught methods to quiet the mind and to reach an inner calm as a means to battle stress Jan. 15, 2013 at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Mindfulness is a Buddhist-inspired concept that emphasizes active attention on the moment to keep the mind in the present. AP

US Marine training includes yoga lessons

CAMP PENDLETON The US Marine Corps, known for turning out some of the militarys toughest warriors, is studying how to make its troops even tougher through meditative practices, yoga-type stretching and exercises based on mindfulness. Marine Corps ofcials say they will build a curriculum that would integrate mindfulnessbased techniques into their training if they see positive results from a pilot project. Mindfulness is a Buddhist-inspired concept that emphasizes active attention on the moment to keep the mind in the present. Facing a record suicide rate and thousands of veterans seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress, the military has been searching for ways to reduce strains on service members burdened with more than a decade of ghting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Marine Corps ofcials are testing a series of brain calming exercises called MindfulnessBased Mind Fitness Training that they believe could enhance the performance of troops, who are under mounting pressures from long deployments and looming budget cuts expected to slim down forces. Some people might say these are Eastern-based religious practices but this goes way beyond that, said Jeffery Bearor, the executive deputy of the Marine Corps training and education command at its headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. This is not tied to any religious practice. This is about mental preparation to better handle stress. The School Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton will offer the eight-week course starting Tuesday to about 80 Marines. The experiment builds on a 2011 study involving 160 Marines who were taught to focus their attention by concentrating on their bodys sensations, including breathing, in a period of silence. The Marines practiced the calming methods after being immersed in a mock Afghan village with screaming actors and controlled blasts to expose them to combat stress. Naval Health Research Center scientist Douglas C. Johnson, who is leading the research, monitored their reactions by looking at blood and saliva samples, images of their brains and problem-solving tests they took. AP

Stricter US gun control bucked

AUSTIN Thousands of gun advocates gathered peacefully at state capitals around the US to rally against stricter limits on rearms, with demonstrators carrying ries and pistols in some places while those elsewhere settled for waving hand-scrawled signs or screaming themselves hoarse.
The size of crowds Sunday at each location varied from dozens of people in South Dakota to 2,000 in New York. Large crowds also turned out in Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington state. Some demonstrators in Olympia, Washington, Phoenix, Salem, Oregon, and Salt Lake City came with holstered handguns or ries on their backs. At the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort, attendees gave a special round of applause for the ladies that are packin. Activists promoted the Guns Across America rallies primarily through social media. They were being held just after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals. The crowd swelled to more than 800 amid balmy temperatures on the steps of the pink-hued Capitol in Austin, where speakers took the microphone under a giant Texas ag with Independent stamped across it. Homemade placards read An Armed Society is a Polite Society, The Second Amendment Comes from God and Hey King O., Im keeping my guns and my religion. The thing that so angers me, and I think so angers you, is that this president is using children as a human shield to advance a very liberal agenda that will do nothing to protect them, said state Rep. Steve Toth, referencing last months elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn. Toth, a rst-term Republican lawmaker from The Woodlands outside Houston, has introduced legislation banning within Texas any future federal limits on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, though such a measure would violate the US Constitution. Rallies at statehouses nationwide were organized by Eric Reed, an airline captain from the Houston area who in November started a group called More Gun Control (equals) More Crime. Its Facebook page has been liked by more than 17,000 people. Texas law has some restrictions on where concealed handgun license-holders can carry rearms, but they are allowed at most places, including the Capitol. But Reed said rally-goers shouldnt expose their weapons: I dont want anyone to get arrested. A man who identied himself only as Texas Mob Father carried a camouaged assault rie strapped to his back during the Austin rally, but he was believed to be the only one to display a gun. Radio personality Alan LaFrance told the crowd he brought a Glock 19, but he kept it out of sight. At the New York state Capitol in Albany, about 2,000 people turned out for a chilly rally, where they chanted We the People, USA, and Freedom. Many carried American ags and Dont Tread On Me banners. The event took place four days after Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the nations toughest assault weapon and magazine restrictions. AP

Pakistan to free more detainees

IN BRIEF China seeks peaceful end to Daioyu row

CHINA said it wants to settle territorial issues peacefully and criticized US Secretary of State Hillary linton for comments she made after meeting Japans Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington. China expressed strong discontent with Clintons remarks that the US doesnt take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of islands in the East China Sea claimed by both China and Japan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Sunday. Qin said disputes should be resolved through discussions, in response to comments Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made during a visit to Indonesia last week. Abe, who took ofce last month, is boosting defense spending in response to Chinas increasingly assertive claims to the uninhabited Japanesecontrolled islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. The conict has damaged a $340-billion trade relationship and prolonged Japans recession, while stoking US concerns of an escalating confrontation. While Japan wont make any concessions over the islands, it will respond calmly so as not to provoke China, Kishida said Jan. 18 after holding talks with Clinton. Abe will send a personal letter to Chinas Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping to be carried by Natsuo Yamaguchi, the head of the New Komeito Party, a member of the prime ministers coalition, the Nikkei newspaper reported Sunday. Yamaguchi will visit China on Jan. 22. Abe visited Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia last week to strengthen bonds with southeast Asian nations, some of which are also involved in territorial disputes with China. Japans national interest lies in keeping Asias seas unequivocally open, free and peaceful, Abe said in a speech, which he was unable to deliver in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, because he cut short his visit on Jan. 18. At a brieng with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that day, Abe said the seas must be governed by laws and rules and not by might. Japans alliance with the US is vital toward ensuring that freedom, Abe said in his speech. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Indonesia, is an essential linchpin to Japans diplomatic strategy, he added. We hope that Japan will follow the historical trend, take responsibility and make efforts toward stability and development in Asia Chinas Qin said in his comments Sunday in response to a question from an unidentied journalist about Abes remarks. China signaled it may be seeking to reduce tensions over the issue. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Jan. 17 said China attaches great importance to its relationship with Japan and wants to resolve the dispute through dialogue, while reiterating Chinese sovereignty over the islands. Bloomberg

ISLAMABAD Pakistan plans to release more Afghan militant detainees in an attempt to boost the peace process in neighboring Afghanistan ahead of the departure of international troops next year, a top Pakistani ofcial said. Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said Pakistan has initiated the process of releasing those Afghan detainees in its custody who they think will help facilitate the reconciliation process. His comments were made during a press conference Friday in Abu Dhabi and relayed by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday. He did not give a timetable. In general, Kabul has pressed hard for Islamabad to release its detainees, with some ofcials saying that they hope the released Taliban can serve as intermediaries. But Washington is concerned about specic prisoners who they consider dangerous. Jilani did not specically mention whether Pakistan would release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the former deputy leader of the Afghan Taliban whom Kabul has been pushing Pakistan to release. AP

Gandhi takes No. 2 post

JAIPUR Rahul Gandhi, the scion of Indias Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, said he would work to transform the country after he was elevated Saturday to the governing Congress partys No. 2 post. Gandhi, a 42-year-old lawmaker, was appointed the party vice president, a position behind his mother Sonia Gandhi, who is the Congress party president, spokesman Janardhan Dwivedy told reporters. The elevation positions him to lead the party, which his family has long dominated, in parliamentary elections next year. He is expected to be the partys candidate for the post of prime minister in elections due early 2014. This decision will greatly strengthen the party, Dwivedi said in a statement after a meeting of the partys top policy making body in the western Indian city of Jaipur. Rahul Gandhi in his acceptance speech said he had acquired great experience over the past eight years while working for the party organization, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. AP

More than 140 nations agree to cut mercury

GENEVA A new and legally binding international treaty to reduce harmful emissions of mercury was adopted Saturday by more than 140 nations, capping four years of difcult negotiations but stopping short of some of the tougher measures that proponents had envisioned. The new accord aims to cut mercury pollution from mining, utility plants and a host of products and industrial processes, by setting enforceable limits and encouraging shifts to alternatives in which mercury is not used, released or emitted. Mercury, known to be a poison for centuries, is natural element that cannot be created or destroyed. It is released into the air, water and land from small-scale artisanal gold mining, coal-powered plants, and from discarded electronic or consumer products such as electrical switches, thermostats and dental amalgam llings. Mercury compound goes into batteries, paints and skin-lightening creams. Because it concentrates and accumulates in sh and goes up the food chain, mercury poses the greatest risk of nerve damage to pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and young children. The World Health Organization has said there are no safe limits for the consumption of mercury and its compounds, which can also cause brain and kidney damage, memory loss and language impairment. A decade ago, Switzerland and Norway began pushing for an international treaty to limit mercury emissions, a process that culminated in the adoption of an accord Saturday after an all-night session that capped a weeklong conference in Geneva and previous such sessions over the past four years. It will help us to protect human health and the environment all over the world, Swiss environment ambassador Franz Perrez told a news conference. AP

Roe v Wade: After 40 years, deep divide is legacy

NEW YORKBy todays politically polarized standards, the Supreme Courts momentous Roe v. Wade ruling that established a nationwide right to abortion in the U.S. by a 7-2 vote on Jan. 22, 1973 was a landslide. Forty years and roughly 55 million abortions later, however, the rulings legacy is the opposite of consensus. Abortion ranks as one of the most intractably divisive issues in America, and is likely to remain so as rival camps of true believers see little space for common ground. Unfolding events in two states illustrate the depth of the divide. In New York, already a bastion of liberal abortion laws, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged in his Jan. 9 State of the State speech to entrench those rights even more rmly. In Mississippi, where many anti-abortion laws have been enacted in recent years, the lone remaining abortion clinic is on the verge of closure because nearby hospitals wont grant obligatory admitting privileges to its doctors. Unlike a lot of other issues in the culture wars, this is the one in which both sides really regard themselves as civil rights activists, trying to expand the frontiers of human freedom, said Jon Shields, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. Thats a recipe for permanent conict. On another hot-button social issuesame-sex marriage theres been a strong trend of increasing support in recent years, encompassing nearly all major demographic categories. AP

Two women kneel in prayer at the US Supreme Court steps in Washington in this le photo. The tribunal on Jan. 22, 1973 handed down its controversial Roe vs Wade decision, which extended a womans right to privacy to include the right to have an abortion. AP

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Manila Standard TODAY

fashion beauty health wellness

Gianna Maniego, Editor Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor

MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

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NEW fashions are created every six months. But with every incarnation, theres always a hint of history in them. Theres always a period back in time that designers refer to for inspiration. For the past few years, the 1960s up to the 1980s have been a constant favorite. Those three decades have seen plenty of innovations, breakthroughs and revolutions in the world of fashion and beyond. Theyre memorable for bearing important messages, daring statements and liberated expressions.

Gucci Womens Spring/ Summer 2013 closeup and details

(A look at the new collections of Gucci, Raoul and Superdry)

By Ed Biado
As key dening eras, the mid- to late-1900s provide ample material to be explored, dissected and reinterpreted for todays increasingly individualized sense of style. No wonder Gucci, Raoul and Superdry have all taken a crack at it, in their own unique ways. Rekindling glamor Gucci creative director Frida Giannini might have been inspired by the 60s and 70s in designing the labels Spring/Summer 2013 output, but the artistry of former design head Tom Ford is palpable in many of the collections Halston-recalling pieces. With minimalist shapes, bold chunks of color and the return of glamor, Giannini interpreted the hallmark style in the most modern way possible. Bell sleeves, cocoon shapes and tiered waves are accentuated by clean and precise lines. Tunic effects are contrasted by linear outerwear while sculpted blouses are paired with soft streamlined pants. The mood is serious and playful at the same time, both red carpet-ready and t for the clubs. Variety is provided by distinct prints seen on different piecespython, sea anemone (from a Japanese wallpaper) and Oriental ora. Most of the pieces are in solid huesazalea, citrus yellow and electric blue, and many more in between demonstrating the houses mastery of details and purism tendencies. The evening dresses are alternating pieces of total black and total white. Alluring and sensual, the pieces ow with the body, not constrict it. Necklines that extend lower than the bosom, molded high collars, rufed elements, exposed shoulders through geometric nets and embellished collarbones give the batch an unmistakably updated feel. Artisan of nature In fashion, summer is the time to use bright colors that pop. But nature has a different idea: Exposure to the sun makes a saturated hue fade. Fabrics get bleached. Our skin gets dark. This is the idea behind the palette of Raouls Spring/ Summer 2013 offering. Nature-inspired prints go against other similar owery prints, or are layered against solid tones. Other times, theyre used singularly in top-tobottom garments. Multiple geometric patterns in pairs are this seasons version of color-blocking, as is the use of monochromatic laces appliqued over cotton poplin, crepe or stretch twill ground. Pleated accents traditionally seen on peplums are transferred to blouses and strapless evening dresses. Pique hems and silk yokes are scalloped. Leathers are either laser-cut onto lace pattern Tshirts and tanks or attached to cotton pique dresses as a yoke. Necklines of shantung cocktail dresses are beaded and collars of silk evening pieces are embellished with rhinestones. Artisanal techniques are a central theme in the collection, taking inspiration from lace-making, table-cloth embroidery, micro-pleating, tucking, beading and embellishment. Applied on contemporary cuts and silhouettes, the effect of the various techniques is fresh while nostalgic and evocative of decades past at the same time. Neo-vintage Superdrys Spring/Summer 2013 collection is an update that propels the brands vintage aesthetics into the future. Maintaining its integrity as an international child of fusion, the casual apparel house derives inuences from the 80s (zipthrough jersey dresses and mini preppy shorts) and incorporates them into contemporary London and New York styles and ts. From the womens line are summer dresses dip-dyed in contrasting colors of neon pinks and dusted blues, super-lightweight knits and a variety of denims in neon ashes and vintage-style distressing. Super-skinnies, straight legs and cut-offs are in an acid-washed palette. The gents can look forward to heritage fabrics, lightweight grandads and skinny-t shirts. London-inspired slim collars are an important detail this season. Classic leather jackets are reinvigorated with new brush techniques and biker styling while bombers come with leather ribbing and new slim ts. New-style pea coats, on the other hand, are cropped. Mens denim gets an update with loose ts and dirty washes. Copperll jeans are decorated with auburn turn-ups and the ofcer slim is reissued and updated with new nishes, like the red cast version that boasts a brighter shade of blue. Shorts and espadrilles are thrown in the mix for an effortless and airy summer look. Meanwhile, the swim range for both men and women is continued with block color detailing and oversized logos on retro styles. Gucci is located at Greenbelt 4 and Rustans Tower Shangri-La Plaza Mall; Raoul boutiques are at Greenbelt 5 and Shangri-La Plaza Mall; and Superdry can be found at Bonifacio Highstreet Central. All three brands are exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc. in the Philippines.
Superdry Mens Spring/ Summer 2013

Updating the classics for Summer 2013

Raoul Genevieve dress, Janice shoulder bag, and Ribbon footwear

From left: Rey Melendres, SEAOIL vice president for Sales in Mindanao; Senator Lito Lapid and Meynard Lapid, SEAOIL Best in Station Audit Awardee; and Ton Alcruz, SEAOIL vice president for Franchise Support and Development

From left: Ogie delos Santos, SEAOIL head of Retail Solutions; Faustino and Marian Calimon, SEAOIL Overall Franchisee of the Year and Metro Manila Franchisee of the Year.; Mars Magtanong, SEAOIL assistant sales manager; and Art Cruz, SEAOIL vice president for Marketing

From left: Joe Dilag, SEAOIL Business Development manager; Stephen Yu, SEAOIL chief operating ofcer; Damian Tison and Tricia Rodriguez, SEAOIL Visayas Franchisee of the Year; Lawrence Yu, SEAOIL external vice president; and Jesus Balmes, SEAOIL Business Development manager

From left: Mark Yu, SEAOIL chief nancial ofcer; Alvin Sajoyan, SEAOIL South Luzon Franchisee of the Year; and Glenn Yu, SEAOIL president and chief executive ofcer

Milestones of triumph
TWO recent events I attended had all the trimmings of victory and the ambience of success, as these occasions celebrated glorious milestones in the entities respective existence. Needless to say, the metros party people were there, enjoying the feeling of being a part of such momentous events. Sinag Awards SEAOIL Philippines recently paid tribute to its top franchisees with its annual Sinag Awards which was jointly hosted by beauty queen Shamcey Supsup and singer-actor Christian Bautista. The occasion also marked another fruitful year for the company, having established more than 50 stations this year. Leading the awardees were Faustino Calimon of Muntinlupa, the Overall Franchisee of the Year, and Metro Manila Franchisee of the Year. Meynard Lapid of Pampanga was the North Luzon Franchisee of the Year, while Alvin Sajoyan of Laguna was South Luzon Franchisee of the Year. Damian Tison of Negros Occidental was Visayas Franchisee of the Year, and Ellen Agustin of Davao was Mindanao Franchisee of the Year. SEAOIL is the countrys largest independent

From left: Manny Martinez, SEAOIL Station Roll-out senior manager; Cristina Viola, SEAOIL vice president for Finance; Sherwin and Mayhaida Lao, SEAOIL New Station of the Year Awardee; Abby Alegado, SEAOIL Franchising and Site Acquisition manager; and Nick Gayondato, SEAOIL Station Roll-out assistant manager From left: Rey Melendres, SEAOIL vice president for Sales in Mindanao; Stephen Yu; Ellen and Letlette Agustin, SEAOIL Mindanao Franchisee of the Year; Mark Yu; and Phoebe Gabutan, SEAOIL Business Development manager

A toast to 20 years of Success (from left) Jimmy Thai, Primer Group of Companies president and chief executive ofcer, with Board of Directors, Jerry Sy, Mentor Gary Yeag, Thomas Lim, Willy Sy, Johnny Thai and chief operating ofcer Jacky Quintos

Primer Group of Companies Evelyn Thai with Angel Aquino

Rovilson Fernandez, Ruby Palma- assistant vice president for R.O.X. (Recreational Outdoor Exchange) and Anthony Suntay

Francis Kong, Tessa Prieto and Anthony Suntay

TWEET THE WEIGHT AWAY

Wanna shed those extra pounds? Tweet about it.

oil player and now has over 260 stations all over the country. 20th Anniversary The Travel Club, the countrys rst concept store for travel and the rst one-stop travel shop in Manila, notched its second decade of service to the Filipino travellers. The momentous occasion was marked with elaborate festivities at its SM Megamall outlet, its very rst store here in the country. Since its inception, The Travel Club has grown so diverse in its offerings as it now carries various international brands known for their luxurious quality yet affordable pricesTumi, Ace, World Traveller, Victorinox, Delsey, Mendoza , and casual, yet very attractive brands like JanSport, Timbuk2, Hedgren, High Sierra, Eastpak, and Healthy Back Bag. Also launched during the event was The Travel Club Platinum Mastercard, a joint offering with Allied Bank, giving the companys customers easier access to the brands carried by its 40 outlets nationwide. Moreover, the company also gave special recognition to deserving employees who have been the backbone of its operations, ensuring consistent world-class dedicated service to its

customers. Bulletin Board USC-BHSD Class 63 Reunion. The University of San Carlos-Boys High School Department Class 1963 will hold its Golden Anniversary Reunion this Saturday, January 26 in Cebu City. Among the scheduled activities are: Holy Mass with the class favorite former mentor, Fr. Val Darunday, SVD as celebrant; and a Grand Reunion Dinner at the Casino Espanol de Cebu. Contact the following class members for reservations and other details: (CEBU) Raymond Kokseng, rkokseng@yahoo. com, 09173225501; Rene Avila, renavilaren@ gmail.com, 09173202525; Bunny Pages, bunpages@yahoo.co.uk, 09173216224; and Patrick Jovellanos, patrikjove@yahoo.com, 09209028381; (MANILA) Eric Mondragon, eamondragon@ gmail.com, 09178255101; and Bob Zozobrado, bobzozobrado@gmail.com. ---------O---------YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE: Why do croutons come in air-tight packages? Arent they just stale bread to begin with? ---------O---------For feedback, Im at bobzozobrado@gmail.com CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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IDE INS

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ManilaStandardToday Gianna Maniego, Editor Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2013

#lovemy
beauty memo
By Dinna Chan Vasquez

fashion beauty health wellness

standardlifestyle@gmail.com

WANNA shed the pounds more effectively? Tweet about it. A new study found that tracking your diets progress on Twitter and similar social networking services may actually help you lose more weight by getting informative tips, positive feedback and encouragement on your development from peers. After all, you wouldnt want to disappoint your x-number of followers with mediocre results, would you?

Conducted by the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, the paper reveals that engagement in a social network, such as Twitter, mainly provides

How do you blush?

TWITTERS role in
By Ed Biado

weight loss
A recent study suggests that tracking your diets progress on Twitter may help you lose more weight. informational social support, which may assist with weight loss, when taking part in a behavioral weight loss program. Researchers Gabrielle M. Turner-McGrievy PhD, MS, RD and Deborah F. Tate PhD analyzed the success of 96 overweight and obese participants of a six-month remotely delivered weight loss program that is implemented with the use of biweekly podcasts on nutrition and exercise. Half of the group, or 47 individuals, were also given a dietmonitoring app and a Twitter app on their mobile device, on which an online counselor interacted with them regularly. After six months, all of them lost weight, but the group that used Twitter were found to have lost more weight. The research reported a 0.5-percent weight loss with every 10 tweets. The 47 weight-loss tweetfolks posted a total of 2,630 tweets, including messages to and from the counselor and among themselves. Of which, 75 percent were determined to be informational, dened as tweets that provide information on the development and practices. The rest was emotional, which were tweets that highlighted feelings, moral support and compliments. Engagement with Twitter was related to weight loss and participants mainly used Twitter to provide information support to one another through status updates, the papers authors wrote. These ndings suggest that interaction with individuals in similar situations can be benecial in setting and reaching goals, and that support groups, even social-media-based ones, can assist in staying focused, motivated and driven. The study, Weight loss social support in 140 characters or less: use of an online social network in a remotely delivered weight loss intervention, is published in the Translational Behavioral Medicine journal.

Boost energy minus the extra calories

TODAYS young professionals are all about getting the most out of life, beating deadlines and accomplishing big projects while making time for personal pursuits and interests. Always seeking to learn, grow, and do more, they set high goals and push themselves to their full potential. Helping this generation of go-getters keep up with their endless list of goals is Cobra Fit, a lower calorie energy drink that lets them live an active, t, and healthy lifestyle. Containing apple juice that refreshes and revitalizes, Cobra Fit is free of articial sweeteners, fat, and has 39% less calories. Apart from the immediate energy boost, Cobra Fit also helps burn calories with its ActivBURN ingredients, a unique blend of L-carnitine, ginseng, caffeine, and vitamins B1, B3, B6, and B12. This powerful mixture helps convert fat into energy, release energy from food and prevents conversion of calories into fat, for a tter body. From blazing through an action-packed workday to pursuing dynamic passions, upwardly-mobile professionals can turn to Cobra Fit to get a much-needed jolt of energy that will help keep them in shape and energized from sunrise to sunset. Stay t and get going with Cobra Fit, available for only P21 (suggested retail price) in leading supermarkets and sari-sari stores nationwide.

Tory Burch launches Chinese New Year collection

TORY Burch is launching a special capsule collection in honor of Chinese New Year. It includes handbags, wallets, cosmetic cases and iPhone covers in bright red, the traditional color of the holiday, symbolizing good fortune. These limited edition designs will be available January 2013 at Tory Burch freestanding stores in Beijing, Tianjin, Hong Kongifc, Hong KongHarbour City, Hong KongTimes Square, Makati City and Singapore. They will also be offered at 14 select locations in North America, including New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Toronto boutiques. The Tory Blog will highlight Chinese New Year as well with a special feature. Please visit blog.toryburch. com for further information. This is the brands second year designing custom product for Chinese New Year, marking the important role of China in the companys global expansion plan it opened its Hong Kong ofce when the brand launched in 2004 and there are now eight stores in Greater China. In the Philippines, Tory Burch is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is located at Greenbelt 5 and Rustans Makati.

WHEN we think of blush, we usually mean the makeup that gives your cheeks color in powder form. While it is true that powder is the most popular blush, this cosmetic miracle comes in different forms. If you are young, powder blush is the best as your skin is still soft and supple. Tints like The Body Shop's iconic Lip and Cheek Tint provide a very natural ush and this usually works for young ladies. I normally don't wear blush because it makes me look dirty. But last year, a friend told me that she wears only cream blush because it looks very natural and it's wellsuited for mature skin. So I went on a quest for the best cream blush. My friend uses Smashbox so I wanted to try something else so that I would have a variety to choose from. Last summer, MAC came out with its Casual Colour collection, which included allin-one Lip and Cheek Colour Pots. I was lucky to buy one in Out for Fun (I use the word "lucky" because this was the most in-demand color. I was so lucky that I got the last pot in stock at MAC Glorietta). After using Out for Fun for the rst time, I realized what my friend meant about cream blushes being well-suited for mature skin, which is on the dry side. Cream blushes are easier to blend and denitely look more natural. Its just pigmented enough to tap your brush in, tap it on your cheeks and blend. A new favorite is Benet's Fine One One, a cream stick with three colors.The palest color is a pale, white gold beige with pale gold shimmer; the middle color is a pop of light-medium pink with a hint of coral while the bottom color is a tangerine orange. You swipe this on your cheeks in a zigzag pattern with the palest color at the bottom. At rst, I was afraid that this would show up on me but it did! The great thing about Fine One One is that you can build its intensity. if you are fair-skinned, you'd need only one swipe. I normally use two swipes. I sometimes swipe three times if I want more intense color.

Marks & Spencer opens Harbor Point Subic outlet

MARKS & Spencer has unveiled its brand new store in Harbor Point Subic. This is the brand's second Marks & Spencer Outlet store in the Philippines. Marks & Spencer Outlet stores are popular with customers looking for fantastic quality coupled with great value. The new 300 square metre store will offer quality M&S clothing products across womenswear, menswear, lingerie and food but with discounts off the regular prices including up to 70 percent off womenswear products. The clothing ranges will be regularly refreshed with quality products from recent M&S collections. Customers can choose from timeless wardrobe staples such as knitwear and suits, as well as great qualitydresses and shoes. Customers can also choose from a range of outstanding quality foods. The new store is the 20th Marks & Spencer store in the Philippines all Marks & Spencer stores in the country are run under an existing franchise agreement with Rustan Marketing Specialists Inc. Harbor Point Subic is a popular shopping center offering the best and the latest choices in shopping, dining, and entertainment. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Classifieds
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Region VI Western Visayas ILOILO CITY DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City
Republic of the Philippines

MONDAY

JANUARY 21, 2013

C3

Department of Public Works and Highways OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Second Cotabato Engineering District Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato Fax No. (064) 2298925 Tel. No. (064) 2298494

Republic of the Philippines

Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office No. IV-A (CALABARZON) OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Quezon 3rd District Engineering Office Catanauan, Quezon

INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Cotabato Second Engineering District, Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s): 1. a. Contract ID: b. Contract Name: c. d. 13-MD-0009 Repair/Rehabilitation/Improvement along Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada-Libungan Road Location of the Contract: Poblacion Libungan, Libungan, Cotabato. Km.1699+639-639-km. 1700+908 w/ exceptions (400 ln.m. bothside) Scope of Work: Removal of Existing Pavement, Surplus Excavation, Structure Excavation, Embankment, Sub-grade Preparation, Aggregate Sub base Course, PCCP, Reinforcing Steel Bar, Structure Concrete, Stone Masonry, Tree Planting, Construction of Safety & health, Mobilization/ Demobilization. Cost of bid documents: P10,000.00 ABC : P 9,818,145.42 Duration: 127 CD Source of Fund: GOP-MVUC-2012

INVITATION TO BID for

Contract ID:13GJ0006- Rehabilitation/Reconstruction/Upgrading of Damaged Paved National Roads, Muelle Loney Marginal Wharf Road K0000 + 096K0000+600, Iloilo City The Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City District Engineering Office, through the FY 2013-Regular Infra intends to apply the sum of SEVENTEEN MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT PESOS AND 08/100 (P 17,880,268.08) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Contract ID:13GJ0006Rehabilitation/Reconstruction/Upgrading of Damaged Paved National Roads, Muelle Loney Marginal Wharf Road K0000 + 096-K0000+606, Iloilo City. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City District Engineering Office, now invites bids for the Damaged Paved National Roads, Muelle Loney Marginal Wharf Road K0000 + 096-K0000+606, Iloilo City (Concreting). Completion of Works is required ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN (147) 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified 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 the citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City District Engineering Office, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 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 non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 25,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City District Engineering Office will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 31, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at the Office of the BAC, Iloilo City District Engineering Office, Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 12, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo City District Engineering Office, Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. LOIs and/or applications for eligibility and latest Class A 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. Bids will be opened on February 12, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The Head of the Procuring Entity, DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office, Iloilo City, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to the contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidders. For further information, please refer to: FEMA G. GUADALUPE Department of Public Works and Highways Iloilo City District Engineering Office Fort San Pedro Road, Iloilo City Tel No. : 033-3373263 Fax : 033-3378387 (Sgd.) FEMA G. GUADALUPE BAC Chairman
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

BID BULLETIN NO. 2013-01

SUBJECT: RE-BID OF TWO (2) PROJECTS DUE TO FAILURE OF BIDDING This Bid Bulletin is issued as per BAC Resolution Nos.2013-01 dated January 11, 2013, for the schedule of opening of bids due to failure of bidding conducted on January 10, 2013 for the followng projects: Name of Project 1. Contract ID: 12DM0110 Contract Name: Const. of 2-storey, 4-cl San Vicente Kanluran NHS (San Isidro NHSSan Vicente Kanluran Ext.) Contract Location: Catanauan, Quezon Scope of Work: Construction 2-Sty, 1-bldg, 4-cl and 1-Sty, 1-bldg, 1-cl Target: 2.00 B Approved Budget for the Contract: Php5,524,000.00 Source of Fund: CY 2013 Regular School Building Program Contract Duration: 200 Calendar Days Cost of Bidding Documents: Php10,000.00 2. Contract ID: 12DM0113 Contract Name: Const. of 2-storey, 4-cl at Sto. Nio NHS (Pagsangahan NHS Ext.) Contract Location: San Francisco, Quezon Scope of Work: Construction 2-Storey, 2-bldg, 4-cl Target: 2.00 B Approved Budget for the Contract: Php10,548,000.00 Source of Fund: CY 2013 Regular School Building Program Contract Duration: 200 Calendar Days Cost of Bidding Documents: Php25,000.00 The new schedule are as follows: First Day of Posting Last Day of Posting Pre-bid Conference Dead Line of Submission of Eligibility Docs Submission of Bid Opening of Bids It shall form an integral part of the said bidding documents. For guidance and information of all concerned. (Sgd.) MARCELITO G. FERRER Assistant District Engineer BAC-Chairman
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

Reasons One bidder is ineligible while other is non-complying.

Lone Bidder is ineligible.

e. f. g. h.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulation. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with the DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen of 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative or joint venture with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity of at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment of at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration, with complete requirement, and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC) . The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. 2. 3. 4. BAC Activities Issuance of Bidding documents Pre-bid Conference for Contract ID No. Receipt of Bids Opening of Bids Schedule January 16 to February 5, 2013 Date: January 24, 2013 Deadline: 10:00 AM Date: February 5, 2013 2:00 PM Date: February 5, 2013 From:

1/18/2013 1/25/2013 1/30/2013 @ 10:00 AM 2/7/2013 @ 10:00 AM 2/11/2013 @ 10:00 AM 2/11/2013 after 2:00 PM

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the Bidding Documents (BDs) in two (2 separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman, The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, including the eligibility requirements. 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 the post-qualification. Prospective bidders may download the Registration from the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at DPWH Cotabato Second Engineering District, Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato. Prospective Bids must accompanied by a bid security in any acceptable form in the amount stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents (BDs), if available, from the DPWH website. The BAC will also issue hard copies of the BDs at the same address to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable fees of the amount stated above for Bidding documents. Bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids. The DPWH-Cotabato Second Engineering District, Midsayap, Cotabato reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract Award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. APPROVED BY: (Sgd.) BARTOLOME T. PAGADUAN (BAC Chairman)
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

Department of Public Works ad Highways 2nd Surigao del Norte Engineering District Dapa, Surigao del Norte

Republic of the Philippines

INVITATION TO BID
The 2nd Surigao del Norte Engineering District, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s): Contract ID : 13NG0001 Contract Name : Const. and/or Repair/Rehab. of Hall of Justice Contract Location : Dapa, Surigao del Norte Brief Description : Construction Approved Budget for The Contract (ABC) : Php.5,000,000.00 Contract Duration : 90 calendar days Contract ID Contract Name : 13NG0002 : Completion of Multi Purpose Building (Siargao Manpower Training Center) TESDA : Osmea, Dapa, Surigao del Norte : Completion

Contract Location Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php.1,500,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 calendar days Contract ID : Contract Name : Contract Location : Brief Description : Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Contract Duration : Contract ID Contract Name

13NG0003 Const. of the Hall of Justice (completion) Dapa, Surigao del Norte Completion Php.1,000,000.00 30 calendar days

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office Sindalan City of San Fernando (P)

Republic of the Philippines

INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways - Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to bid for the following contract/s: 1. a. Contract ID b. Name of Project c. Location d. Brief Description e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) f. Duration g. Source of Fund h. Cost of Bid Documents : : : : : : : : 13CG0008 Construction of Administration Building Extension (Phase 1) DHVTSU, Bacolor, Pampanga Construction of Building Php 9,999,836.52 150 calendar days Php10,000.00
1. Contract ID Contract Name : :

Department of Public Works ad Highways Northern Samar 2nd District Fngineering Office OTFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Cor. Balite and Garcia Streets Catarman, Northern Samar Telephone No./Fax No. (055) 251-8254

Republic of the Philippines

INVITATION TO BID
13II0003 Construction of School Building under cluster SB-2013-01 @ Catubig Valley National High School - P 11,793,137.18 Osang Primary School - P 1,894,899.98 Contract Location : both of Catubig, Northern, Samar Brief Description/Scope of Work : Construction of School Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php 13,688,037.16 Contract Duration : 180 calendar days Cost of Bidding Documents : P 10,000.00 The DPWH NS 2nd District Engineering Office, Catarman, N. Samar, through the Government of the Philippines (GOP), intends to apply the sum above stated being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the abovementioned contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The DPWH NS 2 nd District Engineering Office, now invites bids for the abovementioned description of works. Completion of the Works is required for the above stated contract duration. 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 Eligibility Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Contractor/applicants who are interested in the DPWH civil works are required to register prior to the set scheduled of submission of bid while those already registered shall keep their records current and updated. Contractors eligibility to bid on the project will be determined using the DPWH Contract Profile Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualification. Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Interested bidders may obtain further information from The DPWH NS 2nd District Engineering Office, Catarman, N. Samar and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. 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 Ten Thousand Pesos Only (P10,000.00) will be on January 21, 2013 - February 11, 2013 @ 5:00 P.M. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement 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. 6. The DPWH Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 31, 2013 @ 2:00 pm-DPWH-NS 2nd DEO, Sub Office, Rawis Laoang, N. Samar 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 February 12, 2013 - 8:30 Am.-9:00 Am NS 2nd DEO Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis, Laoang, N. Samar. 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 on February 12, 2013 at 2:00 P.M 2nd DEO Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis Laong, N. Samar in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a a Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC before dropping of bids. Bidders shall likewise submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liason Officer only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). Submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) is no longer required to partcipate in the bidding, per D.O. No. 64, Series of 2012. Notice is hereby given that the deferment in the implementation of Sec. C. of DO # 64, Series of 2012 as instructed under the 15 Nov. 2012 Memorandum of the Department, is henceforth LIFTED. 9. The DPWH NS 2nd DEO, reserves the right to accept of 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 or obligation to the affected bidders. Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office Sub Office, Brgy. Rawis, Laoang, N. Samar (Sgd.) ROMULO D. GONZALES Engineer III BAC Chairman

Contract Location Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php.10,000,000.00 Contract Duration : 150 Calendar days Contract ID Contract Name

: 13NG0004 : Repair/Rehabilitation/Improvement of Jct. Del Carmen-Sta. Monica-San Isidro Road (BurgosBaybay Section) : Burgos, Surigao del Norte : Repair/Rehab./Impvt.

1.

Contract Location Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php.10,000,000.00 Contract Duration : 150 Calendar days

: 13NG0005 : Repair/Rehabilitation/Improvement of Jct. Del Carmen-Sta. Monica-San Isidro Road (PacificoSan Isidro Section) : San Isidro, Surigao del Norte : Repair/Rehab./Impvt.

2.

Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use 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: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids From: Jan. 18, 2013 to Feb. 7, 2013 Jan. 23, 2013@ 9:30am January 25, 2013 Deadline: Not later than 2:00 pm February 7, 2013 February 7, 2013 @ 2:30 pm

Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations To bid for this/these contract/s, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen of 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within period of 10 years, and (d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids, evaluation of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their application to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH-POCW Central Office will only process contractors application for registration with complete requirements, and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bid Documents January 17 February 6, 2013 2. Pre-Bid Conference January 25, 2013 2. Receipt and Opening of Bids February 6, 2013 until 10:00AM only; Opening of Bids at 10:00 AM 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 the eligibility requirements. 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 the post-qualification. Prospective bidders may download the Registration from the DPWHwebsite www.dpwh.gov.ph. The BAC will issue hard copies of Letter of Intent Documents (LOIS) at the BAC Secretariat, DPWH-Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office, Sindalan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Prospective bidders can download the LOI Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security in any form in the amount stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs, if available, from the DPWH website. The BAC will also issue hard copies of the BDs at the same address to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable fee. Bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees upon the submission of their bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways - Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. Approved by: (Sgd.) NOMER ABEL P . CANLAS BAC Chairman
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

3.

5.

7.

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at 2nd Surigao del Norte Engineering District, Dapa, Surigao del Norte upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P5,000.00 each for 1st and 2nd project, P1,000.00 for 3rd project and P10,000.00 each for 4th and 5th project for Bidding Documents. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH web site, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as 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 post-qualification. The 2nd Surigao del Norte Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders. (Sgd.) GERARDO M. METANTE BAC Chairman NOTED: (Sgd.) CYRIL A. ARANAS, SR. OIC-District Engineer
(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

10. For further information, please refer to:

(MST-Jan. 21, 2013)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C4

MONDAY

JANUARY 21, 2013

Manila Standard TODAY

Isah V. Red, Editor standard.showbiz@gmail.com

showbitz
lovers can look forward to evenings of great music as featured artists perform their greatest hits as well as hottest chart-toppers, standard favorites, and party anthems. Expected to return on stage are GSMIs band endorsers The Itchyworms, Kenyo, Callalily, Rocksteddy, and dance sensation Jhong Hilario. Joining them in some of the Greater Manila Area runs are the companys brand ambassadors: Anne Curtis, Maja Salvador, Solenn Heussaff and 2013 Ginebra calendar girl Georgina Wilson. A total of P100,000 in prizes for each leg is up for grabs for lucky game participants. Ginuman Fest is GSMIs way of thanking its millions of kalahi for making its agship product, Ginebra San Miguel, the worlds largest-selling gin. Ginebra San Miguel was introduced in 1834 and will be celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2014. Concert-goers will also be able to sample and purchase other GSMI liquor products such as Gran Matador Brandy, Antonov Vodka, and non-alcoholic beverages at the venues. From Tarlac, Ginuman Fest moves to Davao (Feb. 1); San Fernando, La Union (Feb. 16); San Pedro, Laguna (Feb. 23); Cebu (March 1); Antipolo (March 9); Pampanga (March 16); Tuguegarao, Cagayan (March 22); Kalibo, Aklan (April 12); Dasmarias, Cavite (April 19); Lipa, Batangas (April 26); Solano, Nueva Vizcaya (May 17), Lucena, Quezon (May 24); Naga, Camarines Sur (May 31); and Metro Manila (June 8). Last year, some 100,000 music lovers from 11 locations attended the Ginuman Fests maiden run. More are expected to attend this year. For more details, check out the events print ads and posters.

Nina
reborn
mark lan and style. Viewers were already introduced to the duos quirks on the Race but a show dedicated to documenting their lives presents a different kind of challenge. The dynamic duo will get to rub elbows with some of the countrys most prominent personalities, as they embark on daily missions and tackle a variety of topics. The Alabang Housewives offers viewers a peek into Pamela and Vanessas lives as they balance their roles as homemakers, mothers and celebrities. Unknown to most people, mother-of-two Pamela has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and has been a beauty consultant for quite

Nina goes live at the Music Museum

SOUL Siren Nina, who mesmerized Filipinos with her dreamy hits like Love Moves In Mysterious Ways, Someday, and others, returns to the concert stage in Nina Reborn at the Music Museum in Greenhills on Friday, Jan. 25.
Aside from Malaysia and CamWhen it comes to Philip- bodia, pine drama series that cross other borders, ABS-CBN Corporation has proven that it is the premier provider in Asia. Out of the 30,000 hours of various content it has sold worldwide since 2000, ABS-CBN International Distribution has sold approximately 40 percent of these to eleven Asian countries, enabling non-Filipino, Asian viewers to enjoy topcalibre Filipino programs on their own television screens. Among these, Malaysia is the top buyer of ABS-CBN dramas with more than 3,000 hours of content sold to Malaysian TV networks Astro Bella and TV3 since 2000. Magkaribal, Prinsesa ng Banyera, Dahil May Isang Ikaw, Impostor, Imortal, Budoy, and Asian Iisa Pa Lamang were some of t e r r i the titles sold to Astro Bella, t o r i e s Malaysias rst in-house pay TV w h e r e channel for telenovelas. These A B S account for the 850 hours of C B N content bought from ABS-CBN titles have by this TV channel owned by been sold the Malaysian satellite provider for a nonAstro. Dahil May Isang Ikaw is F i l i p i n o Astro Bellas highest-rating Fili- a u d i e n c e pino drama, registering an amaz- are Brunei, ing 67 percent audience share. M y a n m a r, TV3, Malaysias rst com- China, Inmercial television station, d o n e s i a , meanwhile, has bought 95 Hong Kong, hours of content from ABS- Singapore, CBN through Malaysias lead- Vi e t n a m , ing integrated media invest- Korea and ment group, Media Prima. Taiwan. One of the shows it has acA quired is Mara Clara, which business proved to be a big hit during unit of its run in TV3 after it successfully gained an average of 1.5 million viewers. The Malaysian network is set to air My Girl in January 2013 and this early on, is expressing a strong interest to acquire My Binondo Girl and Be Careful with My Heart. ABSCambodians are likeCBN, wise shaping up to be avid Internaviewers of ABS-CBN drational Distrimas. ABS-CBN has sold 28 bution has been recogcanned shows to Cambodian TV channels capped by the re- nized in the global arena as a recent landmark deal made with liable foreign content provider Cambodian Television Net- and has been a premier source work (CTN) to localize the hit of high quality Filipino proprimetime series Pangako Sa gramming in over 50 territories all over the world. Yo by 2013.

Presented by Viva Concerts and Events, Reborn marks several milestones in Ninas career. This is her rst under her contract with the Viva Artist Agency. This is her rst concert in nearly a year. She was last seen also at the Music Museum in Timeless: Tribute To A Diva where she performed the songs of the late Whitney Houston. The event will also be the launch of her rst Viva album, All Good. Nina was a singing contest winner and former band singer whose soft, chill-out singing style set the trend for the acoustic craze that dominated the hit charts early in this past decade. Her album Nina Live sold over 300,000 copies, a record in the

Premiere source of Filipino dramas in Asia

GINEBRA San Miguel, I n c . (GSMI) opens 2 0 1 3 with a bang as the muchtalke d about a n d highl y anticipated Ginuman Fest opened its 15-leg tour on Jan. 19 at the Plazuela in Tarlac City. On the events second year, music

Ginuman Fest

Pamela Spella and Vanessa Ishitani return to TV5 in a reality showThe Alabang Housewives

Forever goes up on early evening primetime

THE Kapuso series Forever gets an upgrade. Instead of airing right after EatBulaga! on the networks afternoon prime, it goes up to the early evening slot before 24 Oras replacing Paroa, Ang Kwento ni Mariposa, which ends on Friday. Forever reunites the former love team of Heart Evangelista and Geoff Eigenmann in a story of love that transcends the boundaries of time. The former movie queen Gloria Romero plays the older Adora (played in the present time and in the past by Evangelista) who uses a timepiece to bring her youth back in a bid to continue an abortive love affair with Ramon (Eigenmann who also plays in the present time Patrick, an artist). The change in time slot is due perhaps to a clamor to put the series on primetime due to its theme and impressive production values, like the design, costume, and make up, but most importantly the performances of the lead actors. Romero is a heavy weight in drama, while Evangelista is similarly building up a portfolio that is highlighted by work acclaimed by critics. Eigenmann is the scion of a dramatic clan that include his mom, Gina Alajar, dad, Michael de Mesa, uncle Mark Gil, and aunt Cherie Gil, not to mention his grandparents, Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. Forever goes up against TV5s Kidlat and ABS-CBNs Munting Pangarap. Now, lets see who the audience will favor in this three-way ght for ratings leadership.

local music industry. Among her big sellers were Heaven, Foolish Heart, Jealous and Make You Mine. Reborn is directed by Paul Basinillo and features former Freestyle vocalist Jinky Vidal as Ninas special guest. Tickets are available at Ticket World, 891-9999 and at the Music Museum box ofce. Call Viva Concerts, 687-7236 for inquiries.

Two fan favorites from the rst season of The Amazing Race Philippines return to Pinoy TV with their very own reality showThe Alabang Housewives!Mondays, 10 a.m., featuring Pamela Spella and Vanessa Ishitani. The two face a different set of new challenges as they take on the world with their trade-

Alabang Housewives on TV5

some time. She also spends her free time writing poetry and painting. Vanessa, on the other hand, has always been enamored by the spotlight having auditioned for a couple of television competitions before. When not supervising their familys poultry business and her own buy-and-sell venture, the self-confessed shopaholic spends time with her two young children. Pamela and Vanessa represent a new breed of modern Filipinasdriven to succeed and committed to the wellbeing of their families like never before, said TV5 FVP for Creative and Entertainment Production Perci Intalan. We are optimistic that the housewives misadventures will not only make our viewers smile but also inspire them to achieve their dreams, he added.

Music, madness welcome new network, new phone

IT was a star-studded affair at the New Glorietta in Palm Drive last December as some of the countrys top bands, artists, and performers took part in some music and merrymaking to mark two important milestones for Globe Telecom: the celebration of a faster and stronger Globe network in Makati and the midnight countdown to the best Christmas gift ever, the much-anticipated iPhone 5. The new hip place at the heart of the Makati Business District was lled with over 3,000 spectators, eagerly waiting for the nights festivities, surprises, and celebrity sightings. Dubbed as Pamasko ng Globe, the event was indeed the biggest Christmas present of Globe to its subscribers, which comprised of performances and greetings from the brightest stars, games, and rafe activities. Makati Mayor Junjun Binay led the list of guests who graced the affair to celebrate the modernized Globe network in Makati. Makati City can now look forward to crystal-clear calls, prompt SMS exchanges as well as super-fast data delivery on their phones and gadgets, even at peak times and critical business hours, said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. Adding glitz and glamour to the event are some of the countrys premier artists and celebrities who entertained the crowd with their enthralling performances such as child stars Xyriel Manabat and Zaijan Jaranilla, bands 6CycleMind, Bamboo and Parokya ni Edgar, premier vocal group The Company, teenstars Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio, balladeers Jed Madela and Christian Bautista, heartthrobs Dingdong Dantes, Paulo Avelino and Robi Domingo, hosts Cesca Litton, Nikki Gil, Billy Crawford, Rovilson Fernandez and Marc Nelson, mother and daughter tandem Zsa Zsa Padilla and Zia Quizon, actor and TM endorser Cesar Montano, and the Queen of All Media and newest Globe ambassador Kris Aquino. This is the gift of Globe to all of you, a brand-new network to strengthen ties, connect lives, and enhance relationships, enthused Kris, who, as a Globe subscriber since 1996, testies to the bright future of Globe and its millions of subscribers with its massive network transformation program that will build a brand-new Globe network. Further drawing excitement from the audience were the long list of rafe items given away such as gift certicates, overnight accommodations, out-of-town trips, home appliances, and gadgets. Videos from Globe endorsers such as Sarah Geronimo, Angelica Panganiban, Bianca Gonzalez, Gerald Anderson, Vice Ganda, Pokwang, and Coco Martin were also shown as they shared their fondest Christmas memories and greetings. At the strike of midnight, sports icons and hosts Rovilson Fernandez and Marc Nelson, together with Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Peter Bithos unveiled the newest iPhone 5, complete with reworks and celebratory music much to the delight of the audience. Lawyer Atty. Leo Dominguez became the rst Globe subscriber to experience the iPhone 5 from Globe under its innovative roster of genius offers. Carrying the iPhone for the past ve years, Globe sets itself apart from competition with its most affordable and fully-customizable plans with unlimited surng and free calls and texts. For as low as P1,799 monthly under Unli Surf 999 with monthly cash out of P800, subscribers can maximize the features of the latest iPhone with unlimited mobile surng and a call and text freebie. The iPhone 5 is also available at P1,999 monthly under Unli Surf P1799 with P200 monthly cash out complete with unlimited data, P800 monthly consumable for calls and texts, and three call and text freebies. Aside from superior plans, Globe offers easier payment terms for monthly cashouts, where subscribers can enjoy 0 percent installment of up to 24 months using major credit cards*. *0 percent installment at three, six, 12 and 24 months oered to Allied Bank/PNB, American Express, BDO, BPI, Citibank, EastWest Bank, HSBC, Metrobank, RCBC Bankard, Security Bank/Diners Club, and UnionBank credit cardholders.

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