Manila Standard Today - Thursday (January 03, 2013) Issue

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Court of Appeals defers
action on TRO petition
Anti-RH
fight now
shifts to
judiciary
World markets register relief
as US staves off fiscal cliff
Govt intends to pursue
ill-gotten wealth cases
Palace extends truce
with Reds until Jan. 15
Girl hit by stray bullet dies; 40 injured
By Rey E. Requejo
THE battle over the controver-
sial Reproductive Health law
shifted to the judiciary on Tues-
day after two people against it
asked the Supreme Court to stop
Malacaang from implementing
the measure that President Beni-
gno Aquino III signed into law
last week.
James Imbong, an educator,
asked the high court to issue a
restraining order against the RH
law and eventually declare it un-
constitutional.
He named Executive Secre-
tary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., Budget
Se c r e t a r y
Fl o r e n c i o
Abad, Edu-
cation Sec-
retary Armin
L u i s t r o ,
Health Sec-
retary En-
rique Ona,
and Interior
Se c r e t a r y
Mar Roxas
as respondents in his petition.
Congress passed the law on
Dec. 19 despite the strong op-
position to it by the Catholic
Church, which sanctions only
natural family planning meth-
ods. President Aquino signed it
two days later, and it will take
effect 15 days after its publica-
tion in two newspapers of gen-
eral circulation.
Imbong, son of Catholic Bish-
ops Conference of the Philip-
pines legal counsel Jo Imbong,
was joined by his wife Lovely-
Ann in ling the petition ques-
tioning the legality of Republic
Act 10354.
The couple, both practicing
lawyers and owners of the Cath-
olic School Magnicat Child
Development Center Inc., said
they led the petition as a class
suit in representation of other
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OLDEST MAN
TURNING 115,
THANKS TO
GOOD GENES
TODAY
Standard
Vol. XXVI No. 272 18 Pages, 3 Sections
P18.00 Thursday, January 3, 2013
Standard
www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com
Cebu standoff persists
Story on A5
The court set on January 10
the oral arguments on Garcias
petition to stop her suspension
for alleged abuse of authority,
which the governor claimed was
illegal and arbitrary, said a senior
court ofcial, who asked not to
be named for lack of authority to
speak on the issue.
The Court gave the Ofce of
the President and the Department
of Interior and Local Government
ve days to submit their response
to the petition, the ofcial said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said they submitted the
courts order to the Solicitor Gen-
eral, which will le the necessary
pleading in the same manner as
it has previously led an opposi-
tion in behalf of the Ofce of the
President.
But Garcia welcomed the courts
decision and said it would give her
an opportunity to expound on
Still holed up. Suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, whom
Malacaang suspended for alleged abuse of authority, talks to her
supporters inside the Provincial Capitol even as the stalemate over her
case continued on Wednesday.
First trading day. Philippine Stock Exchange chief executive Hans Sicat, second from right, gestures as
PSE treasurer Maria Vivian Yuchengco rings the bell to signal the start of the rst trading dayin 2013 at the
bourse in Makati. Stock markets in Asia registered relief Wednesday over the US congressional vote to stop
hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that risked plunging the worlds
biggest economy into recession. AARON FAVILA, AP
Tapes out. Manila Police Chief Alejandro Gutierrez removes the tapes from the muzzles of his mens guns
that he had put to stop them from ring their weapons on New Years Eve. DANNY PATA
WEATHER
South warned
of flashfloods
RH law ne-
gates and frus-
trates the foun-
dational ideals
and aspirations
of the sovereign
Filipino people
as enshrined in
the Constitu-
tion.
By Joyce Pangco Pa-
ares and Florante
Solmerin
MALACAANG on Wednesday
said that it has extended its cease-
re with communist rebels until
January 15, despite the Commu-
nist Party of the Philippines-Na-
tional Democratic Fronts deci-
sion to cut short the agreed truce
today (Thursday).
Presidential spokesman Ed-
win Lacierda said that in reducing
the number of days of the cease-
re, the CPP-NDF and the New
Peoples Army has come up with
stumbling blocks to peace
The original holiday truce was
scheduled from Dec. 20, 2012 to
Jan. 2, 2013.
The government, however, ex-
tended the truce until Jan. 15 fol-
lowing a two-day meeting under
a special track of the peace pro-
cess in Oslo on Dec. 18 month.
The government of the Phil-
ippines side (GPH) was led by
Ronald Llamas, Mr. Aquinos
chief political adviser.
During the meeting which
was brokered by the Norwegian
government, a joint ceasere was
agreed. Both sides also discussed
the possible resumption of peace
talks that have been stalled since
February 2011, and are expected
By Joyce Pangco Pa-
ares, Rey E. Requejo,
Maricel Cruz and Ma-
con Ramos-Araneta
THE government will still pursue
ill-gotten wealth cases against
the Marcos family and their cro-
nies even if Congress abolishes
the Presidential Commission on
Good Government, the Palace
said Wednesday.
Presidential spokesman Ed-
win Lacierda said the PCGG itself
has suggested that it start winding
down its operations, but President
Benigno Aquino III has yet to act
on the recommendation, which
also provides for the transfer of its
cases to the Justice Department.
Assuming that Congress
would abolish the PCGG, the
ill-gotten wealth cases will be
transferred to the Department of
Justice. Our hunt against those
with ill-gotten wealth cases will
continue. If the ofce is abolished
by Congress, it does not mean the
cases will die, Lacierda said.
The commission was estab-
lished in 1986 by the Presidents
mother, then President Corazon
Aquino, to recover the ill-gotten
wealth of ousted President Ferdi-
nand Marcos and his cronies.
A bill pending in the House of
Representatives, citing the com-
missions failure to produce sub-
stantial results, seeks to abolish it
and transfer the powers and func-
tions exercised by the commis-
sion to the Justice Department.
Civil cases would then be han-
dled by the Ofce of the Govern-
ment Corporate Counsel.
These include the management,
administration and the disposition
of the assets, as well as the seques-
tration of the properties considered
to be ill-gotten.
THE seven-year-old girl who went
into a coma after being hit by a stray
bullet on New Years Eve died on
Wednesday, a doctor at the East Av-
enue Medical Center said.
Stephanie Nicole Ella died at
2:26 p.m., following four-year-
old boy Renjelo Nimer who was
killed after being shot in Man-
daluyong City on New Years
Eve. Ella was shot as she and her
family were watching reworks
in Caloocan City.
The National Police said 40
people were injured by stray bul-
lets, while disaster ofcials said
680 people were injured by re-
crackers.
The Health Department, mean-
while, said it had recorded 697
recracker-related injuries as of
Wednesday.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona
said he would be discussing with
stakeholdersincluding the po-
lice and remenhow to reduce
the number of recracker injuries
if not eliminate them.
He said he would be proposing
stricter laws on the sale of recrack-
ers because many of those being in-
jured by those were children.
Police ofcials said 18 people
had been arrested for ring their
guns indiscriminately, including
a 37-year-old man suspected of
ring his homemade shotgun and
killing Nimer.
National Police spokesman
Generoso Cerbo called on the
public to help arrest people sus-
pected of having red their guns
during the New Year revelry.
We urge the public to pro-
vide information leading to the
arrest of people suspected of hav-
ing red their weapons illegally,
Cerbo said.
By Jonathan Fernan-
dez and Joel Zurbano
THE state weather bureau
on Wednesday warned of
ashoods and landslides in
Eastern Visayas and Mind-
anao after a low pressure area
entered the Philippine area of
responsibility.
Weather forecaster Aldczar
Aurelio said the LPA, which
was estimated at 790 km east
of Mindanao as of 8 a.m., may
become a tropical cyclone that
will be locally named Auring,
the rst tropical cyclone to hit
the country this year.
The weather disturbance,
Aurelio said, was expected to
bring heavy rains of up to 2.5
to 10 millimeters per hour in
Mindanao and the provinces
of Samar and Leyte which, in
turn, could trigger ash oods
and landslides.
He said that there was also
a possibility that the LPA will
make landfall on Thursday
morning in the boundary of
Agusan Del Sur and Davao
Oriental. It will, however,
weaken and may not intensify.
Aurelio advised residents in
the affected areas to take neces-
sary precautionary measures.
By Joyce Pangco Paares, Maricel Cruz
and Bart Ochea
THE Court of Appeals on Wednesday deferred
action on a petition for restraining order and ef-
fectively extended for 10 more days the efforts of
Gov. Gwen Garcia to ght off Malacanangs bid
to suspend her from ofce. For 15 days now, Gar-
cia has locked herself inside the Cebu Provincial
Capitol with scores of supporters to shield her
from possible police assault.
BANGKOKWorld markets reg-
istered relief Wednesday over the
U.S. congressional vote to stop
hundreds of billions of dollars in au-
tomatic tax increases and spending
cuts that risked plunging the worlds
biggest economy into recession.
Benchmarks in Australia and
Hong Kong boomeranged on the
rst trading day of the year, just
before Congress passed an emer-
gency measure to avert much of
the impact of tax-and-spending
changes that were so steep they
were dubbed the scal cliff.
Asian markets had slipped on
Monday, fearing that negotiations
over the measure might collapse.
Economists have been warn-
ing that the tax increases and
spending cuts could take a
chunk out of the U.S. economy;
some experts predicted nancial
markets would plunge unless a
clear-cut deal was reached. (Re-
lated stories on B1 & B3)
Instead, markets in Asia and Eu-
rope blessed the stopgap measure
approved late Tuesday in Washing-
ton to retroactively counter some
of the scal cliff effects. The bill
Congress passed awaits President
Barack Obamas signature.
Hong Kongs Hang Seng in-
dex shot up 2.9 percent to close at
23,311.89, its highest nish since
June 1, 2011. Australias S&P/ASX
200 surged 1.2 percent to close
at 4,705.90, its strongest nish in
19 months. South Koreas Kospi
jumped 1.7 percent to 2,031.10.
European stocks jumped shortly
after opening. Britains FTSE 100
rose 1.6 percent to 5,989.24. Ger-
manys DAX advanced 1.7 percent
to 7,740.12 and Frances CAC-40
also gained 1.7 percent at 3,701.90.
People are very relieved this
morning because the U.S. is very
likely to x its own problems in
the next few days, so investors in
Hong Kong are pretty optimistic,
said Jackson Wong, vice president
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News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
A2
Girl...
Environmentalists on
Wednesday joined the calls to
ban recrackers nationwide as
the number of recracker-relat-
ed injuries during New Years
Eve revelries remained high.
The Miriam PEACE, a
non-government organization
based at Miriam College, said
it fully supported President
Benigno Aquino IIIs call to
ban all types of firecrackers
to prevent injuries.
Blasting pyrotechnic de-
vices is against the rights of
everyone to a healthful envi-
ronment, said Tess Oliva, one
of the groups leaders.
We cannot continue such
an extremely polluting practice
at this critical stage of global
warming that is already bring-
ing devastating effects to our
country and elsewhere.
The Philippine Earth Justice
Center said the stricter enforce-
ment of laws coupled with
more educational campaigns
were needed to discourage the
public from using recrackers.
Since 2000 over 11,000
people have been injured,
mostly children, while dozens
have died due to recracker
explosions and accidents, said
the groups coordinator Gloria
Estenzo-Ramos.
The revelers also dis-
charged toxic pollutants into
the atmosphere.
Rene Pineda, president of
the Partnership for Clean Air
and a member of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Na-
tional Capital Region Air-
shed Governing Board, said
the Constitution required the
government to stop anything
endangering people.
The waste and pollution
watchdog EcoWaste Coalition
said the lighting of recrackers
to welcome the New Year was
harmful to health and the envi-
ronment.
EcoWaste coordinator Ed-
win Alejo said the people using
recrackers were violating the
Clean Air Act, the Clean Water
Act and the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act and the
Animal Welfare Act.
Without a shred of doubt,
this injurious and wasteful
tradition is at odds with the
state vision of health for all
and a green Philippines amid
the global climate crisis,
Alejo said.
The proposed recracker ban
is supported by House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte, who has
said such a prohibition will
spare Filipinos from recrack-
er-related deaths and injuries.
Macon Ramos-Araneta,
Francisco Tuyay, Ferdinand
Fabella and Gigi Muoz
Palace...
to meet again this month for the
formal resumption of the peace
talks.
The NDF, however, accused
Mr. Aquino of failing to issue a
formal order extending the sus-
pension of offensive military op-
erations or SOMO until Jan. 15.
NDF chief negotiator Luis Ja-
landoni said they were forced to
cut short the truce period after
President Benigno Aquino III
failed to reciprocate to their
own separate ceasere.
Armed Forces spokesman
Col Arnulfo Burgos Jr. admitted
that the order was not signed
until yesterday (Wednesday)
but added that even without the
formal order, the military was
aware that the truce has been
extended.
The AFP operational direc-
tive readjusts the termination of
the previous GPH (Government
of the Philippines) unilaterally
declared SOMO from Jan. 3 at
00:01 a.m. to Jan. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
in view of the GPH-NDF agree-
ment to implement a nationwide
ceasere from Dec 20 to Jan. 15,
Burgos said in a statement.
The AFP will implement the
extension of SOMO in support
of the peace initiatives of the
government. The objective of the
implementation of the extended
SOMO is to further demonstrate
the AFPs commitment, sincer-
ity and resolve for peace in spite
of conicts with the insurgent
group, he added.
Burgos said that with the ex-
tended SOMO, the AFP will
maintain activities supporting
the government and civil authori-
ties peace, development, and hu-
manitarian assistance programs.
We will also continue our proac-
tive defense countermeasures to
ensure our peoples safety and
security during the conduct of the
extended ceasere.
The NPA and the military have
traded accusations of violations
of the truce, with the AFP claim-
ing to have recorded at least three
violations of the NPA against it
own ceasere in Mindanao and in
Leyte province.
Lacierda said it was unfortu-
nate that the CPP changed its
mind on the extended ceasere.
That is expected from some-
body who cannot blame them-
selves, and they know that a
ceasere of that effect would be
detrimental to them so they de-
cided to cut it short and blame
government, Lacierda said.
CPP-NDF-NPA has always
been making excuses. The rst
excuse was they wanted the num-
ber of their political consultants
freed, we said we agreed on a
Jasig (Joint Agreement on Safety
and Immunity Guarantees) list
but their Jasig list was corrupted.
Now, theyre coming up with
other stumbling blocks to peace,
Lacierda added.
Govt...
More than 20 years and four
administrations have passed,
PCGG has not produced signi-
cant accomplishments that would
justify its continued existence,
said the explanatory note of the
bill, which was introduced by
Reps. Sergio Apostol and Pedro
Romualdo.
Through these years, the work
performed by the commission is
not commensurate to the annual
expenses needed to maintain the
ofce. The time is ripe to abolish
the PCGG in line with the cost-
saving efforts of the government,
the note added.
The bill has been pending before
the committee on government reor-
ganization since January 2011.
PCGG chairman Andres Bau-
tista, citing diminishing returns,
has recommended the commis-
sions abolition.
The bill designates the Finance
Departments Privatization Ofce
as the custodian of all sequestered
assets previously controlled by
the PCGG.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
said her department would be ready
to pursue the ill-gotten wealth cases
handled by the PCGG.
If there is residual duty the
PCGG has left to perform and
which will be turned over to a com-
petent agency and if its the DOJ
we can assume it, De Lima said.
De Lima said if the PCGG
functions were transferred to her
department, she would review its
performance to determine lapses
that led to failure in some of the
big cases.
If there are cases needed to
be redeemed, perhaps we should
pursue them, she said.
Since its creation, the agency
has recovered P164 billion, some
invested in prime New York real
estate, jewelry, and about $600
million stashed in secret num-
bered Swiss bank accounts.
The jewelry, including a 150
carat giant Burmese ruby and dia-
mond tiara, is locked in a vault at
the central bank, and at one point
the international auction house
Christies estimated it could fetch
up to $8.5 million.
This is reportedly less than half
of the supposed $10-billion for-
tune originally targeted by PCGG.
In the House, some lawmak-
ers welcomed the plan to abolish
the PCGG, but Eastern Samar
Rep. Ben Evardone questioned
the commissions reason for giv-
ing up the hunt for the ill-gotten
wealth of the Marcoses, calling
them misplaced.
The PCGG should not give
up just like that because its not
only the amount of the wealth
that needs to be recovered that is
important but also justice to the
Filipino people, Evardone said.
The PCGG should vigorously
pursue the quest for justice for the
Filipino people.
ACT Teachers party-list Anto-
nio Tinio urged Bautista resign for
lack of desire and will to pursue
the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.
What is necessary is politi-
cal will and commitment from
President Aquino himself, said
Tinio, saying that the onus was
on Aquino to nish the task his
mother started in 1986 but failed
to complete.
Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citi-
zens Battle Against Corruption
party-list said the PCGGs aboli-
tion was logical because weak
cases should be discontinued so
as to cut expenses.
House Minority Leader Danilo
Suarez added that the government
had done enough to recover the
ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.
Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Da-
tumanong added: The decision
of the PCGG is a right move, be-
cause the longer the government
will look for the Marcos wealth,
the higher the cost.
Senator Francis Escudero, on
the other hand, said the PCGG
must account for all assets it re-
covered since its creation in 1987
and turn these over to the Finance
Department.
We want a full audit and ac-
counting of all the sequestered
assets and its value at that time,
especially those that have since
been dissipated, said Escudero.
He urged the PCGG to present
to the public the current value of
its forfeited assets to address long-
standing allegations against that its
ofcials helped squander the few
assets the agency had recovered.
The senator said the PCGG
should also make public all the
compromise deals it has made in
the past, and how much did the
state gain or lose.
The last thing we want to dis-
cover is a tale of the fabled loot be-
ing looted twice over, said Escude-
ro as he expressed disappointment
over the PCGGs decision to end its
search for the Marcos loot.
That it was difcult to recover
the Marcos loot should not be an
excuse if there was indeed a cause
of action, Escudero said.
The senator, who is also the spon-
sor of the bill seeking compensation
for victims of human rights abuses
under the Marcos regime, said it
was disappointing that the PCGG
was now giving up the search for
billions of pesos suspected to have
been stolen by the late strongman
Ferdinand Marcos, his cronies, and
his family.
Everybody agrees that the hunt
and recovery was not going to be
a walk in the park. But its disap-
pointing that they are throwing
in the towel now and saying that
they cant prove the case against
the Marcoses anymore, he said.
Last year, Escudero backed a
plan to abolish the PCGG.
Bautista cited several reasons
for ending the commissions
search for an estimated $10 bil-
lion in ill-gotten wealth of the
Marcos family, including the re-
turn to power of some members
of the Marcos
family, and the governments
belt-tightening measures, which
now made the pursuit costly and
prohibitive.
Bautista said he already gave
his recommendations to the Presi-
dent to wind down its operations
and transfer its work to the Justice
Department.
There have been pending bills
in Congress seeking its abolition.
This is actually a good move, one
less funding for the government
which can appropriate funds to
other important programs, the
PCGG chief said.
Bautista, who took over the
commission two years ago, ad-
mitted that the long-term chronic
mishandling of the PCGG that
led to an unmanageable paper
trail and evidence went missing,
which led to bitter losses in litiga-
tion.
South...
Pagasas bulletin Wednesday
afternoon said the provinces of
Samar and Leyte and Mindan-
ao will have cloudy skies with
light to moderate rainshowers
or thunderstorms.
Davao Oriental and Compos-
tela Valley, the areas hardest hit
by Typhoon Pablo last month,
will also experience moderate
rain of 2.5 to 7.5 millimeters per
hour, the weather bureau said.
The rain, Pagasa said, may
become heavy or ve to 15 mi-
limeters per hour on Thursday.
Also, winds will be light to
moderate with slight to moder-
ate seas.
Northern Luzon will continue
to experience light rains due to
the effects of the northeast mon-
soon.
The rest of the country, in-
cluding Metro Manila, will still
be partly cloudy with brief rain-
showers or thunderstorms
As this developed, Coast
Guard commandant Rodolfo
Isorena directed all district
commanders in the affected
areas to coordinate with their
counterparts in the Regional
Disaster Risk and Management
Council for possible rescue and
assistance.
Isorena also advised port in-
spectors to be vigilant in their
areas of responsibility and ad-
vised operators of small vessels,
motor bancas and shing boats
to avoid sailing into the south-
eastern and eastern section of
the country where sea condition
was rough.
He reminded boat operators
with open deck vessels and
shermen in the areas not di-
rectly affected by the weather
disturbance to exercise extra
diligence in sailing and to mon-
itor weather development as sea
condition will be rough, and to
always wear safety gear while
at sea.
The Coast Guard chief also
reminded that all shipping ves-
sels are not permitted to travel
once the low pressure area de-
veloped into a tropical depres-
sion and public storm warning
signals are already hoisted in
the areas which will be directly
affected by the LPA.
World...
of Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong.
But some analysts said that ex-
pectations for a compromise were
so low that any deal was viewed as
positive.
Among business leaders, Im
gonna say this deal isnt enough to
move the needle on condence. It
may improve consumer condence
a little, investors obviously are cel-
ebrating a tentative deal but you
know how transitory investor con-
dence can become, said Jack Ab-
lin, chief investment ofcer at BMO
Group.
Benchmarks in Singapore, Tai-
wan, India, the Philippines, Thai-
land and Indonesia posted solid
gains. Markets in Japan and main-
land China reopen Friday.
Uncertainty about the outcome of
negotiations drove down Asian re-
gional stocks Monday, the last trad-
ing day of 2012.
Australias S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5
percent to close at 4,648.90, as inves-
tors sold off stocks to lock in prots.
Hong Kongs Hang Seng closed mar-
ginally lower. Singapore, New Zea-
land and India also declined. Japan
and South Korea were closed.
The bill that Congress approved
calls for higher taxes on incomes
over $400,000 for individuals and
$450,000 for couples, a victory
for Obama. Earnings above those
amounts would be taxed at a rate
of 39.6 percent, up from the cur-
rent 35 percent. It also delays for
two months $109 billion worth of
across-the-board spending cuts that
had been set to start affecting the
Pentagon and domestic agencies this
week.
Lorraine Tan, director at Standard
& Poors equity research in Singa-
pore, said she believes U.S. growth
in 2013 will be able to offset the
impact of the tax increases and that
companies would feel freer to spend
now that the U.S. has taken a step
back from the edge of the cliff.
Companies can start to move
ahead with any expansion plans
they may have, Tan said. Youll
see some of that pent-up spending
in 2013. And I think theres a lot of
relief related to that.
Even if Washington bypasses
the scal cliff, the next crisis is just
around the corner, in late February or
early March, when the government
reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the
amount of money it can borrow.
Republicans say they wont go
along with raising the limit on gov-
ernment borrowing unless the in-
crease is matched by spending cuts
to help attack long-term debt. Fail-
ing to raise the debt ceiling could
lead to a rst-ever U.S. default that
could roil nancial markets and
shake worldwide condence in the
United States.
Republicans vow not to raise the
limit without sharp cuts in spending
and Obama vows not to cut spending
without further tax hikes. Two more
months of shenanigans and wafing
/ seasick markets? It certainly looks
that way, analysts at DBS Bank
Ltd. in Singapore said in a market
commentary.
U.S. stocks shot higher Monday
on the belief that lawmakers would
work out a deal. The Dow Jones in-
dustrial average rose 1.3 percent to
13,104.14. The Standard & Poors
500 rose 1.7 percent to 1,426.19.
The Nasdaq composite index rose 2
percent to 3,019.51.
Political gridlock has been rattling
U.S. markets and shaking consumer
and business condence the past two
years.
To end a 2011 standoff over rais-
ing the federal debt limit, lawmakers
agreed to a Jan. 1, 2013 deadline to
reach a deal over taxes and spend-
ing. If there was no agreement, more
than $500 billion in tax increases
would hit the economy in 2013
alone, along with $109 billion in
cuts from the military and domestic
spending programs hence the s-
cal cliff.
After a ght over raising the debt
limit last year, the credit rating
agency Standard & Poors took the
unprecedented step of lowering the
U.S. governments AAA bond rat-
ing because of the lack of a credible
plan to reduce the federal govern-
ments debt. AP
Cebu...
the case and to demonstrate to the
Court of Appeals that this case is
based on imsy charges.
We can now defend our stand
that the suspension order is patent-
ly illegal. The court has already
taken cognizance of the case and
the suspension order should not
be served until the court decides
on our petition, she said.
Garcia said hundreds of people
responded to her calls for people
power support to shield her from
possible police assault to remove
her from the premises.
Hundreds of people arrived at
the capitol early dawn, Garcia
told the Manila Standard in a tele-
phone interview.
She declined to give an esti-
mate of the number of people in-
side and outside the capitol for
security reasons, but she said the
human shield that responded to
her call for help was enough to
protect us.
On Sunday, Garcia walked
out of the Capitols main door,
crossed the quadrangle and ad-
dressed a crowd of several thou-
sands that staged a rally support-
ing her cause. She has been living
in her ofce with some members
of her family and an undeter-
mined number of supporters since
December 19.
All doors in the Capitol were
padlocked and tied with chains.
The east wing, where the Gover-
nors Ofce is located, looked like
a bunker. The French windows
are boarded up with plywood and
tied with aluminum wire.
The locks and chains were re-
moved on Wednesday morning as
work resumed at the Capitol, but
Hilario Davide, the LP candidate
for governor, said Garcia should
be billed for her stay in the Capi-
tol since December 19.
Vice Governor Agnes Mag-
pale, who has been designated by
Malacaang as Acting Governor,
said she was not bothered by Gar-
cias presence in the east wing of
the capitol.
Let me not be bothered by her
presence, Magpale said. I am in
control. I just red the provincial
treasurer.
Magpale, who holds ofce in
the nearby Justice Hall building,
said she has asked the Bureau of
Local Government Finance to
replace Provincial Treasurer Roy
Salubre and to examine the cash
ow of the provincial govern-
ment.
We are requesting for a review
of all cash transactions. We also
want to know if public funds, the
taxpayers money, were properly
used in accordance with law,
Magpale said.
She said she had lost her trust
on Salubre for submitting to her
an erroneous report on the prov-
inces nancial state.
The court was expected to
make a decision on Garcias peti-
tion after the oral arguments and,
while the case is still pending, the
suspension order issued to Garcia
remained, the court ofcial said.
The court may decide on
whether or not to issue a Tempo-
rary Restraining Order after the
oral arguments and after hearing
the side of the respondents, the
ofcial said.
The suspension order was
based on charges that Garcia
abused her authority for slashing
and withholding the budget for
the salary of contractual employ-
ees of the late Vice Governor Gre-
gorio Sanchez.
Garcia argued that the suspen-
sion order was illegal because
it was issued on December 17,
which was two and a half months
beyond the 30-day deadline. The
order, she said, was not served on
her but was merely posted on the
bulletin board.
But Solicitor General Francis
Jardeleza said Garcias suspen-
sion was an exercise of admin-
istrative power by the President
and his decision was nal and ex-
ecutory, which could not be over-
turned by a TRO.
Anti-RH ...
parents and individuals similarly situated.
They said the RH law negates and frustrates the
foundational ideals and aspirations of the sovereign
Filipino people as enshrined in the Constitution.
They cited Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution
that says The State recognizes the sanctity of family
life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a
basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally
protect the life of the mother and the life of the un-
born from conception. The natural and primary right
and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for
civic efciency and the development of moral char-
acter shall receive the support of Government.
The petitioners added: As regards the value of hu-
man life and its sustenance, the Constitution upholds
the ideal of an unconditional respect for life and as-
pires for the establishment of policies that create op-
portunities to harness the economic potential of every
Filipino.
The petitioners claim that at least 11 provisions of
R.A. 10354, which allow couples to choose to sup-
press life, violate the provision they cited.
They also claim that the new law violates Article XV
of the Constitution, which imposes on the government
the duty to strengthen [family] solidarity and actively
promote its total development and provides for invio-
lable marriage and right of spouses to found a family
in accordance with their religious convictions and the
demands of responsible parenthood.
The couple similarly claim that the new law vio-
lates constitutional freedom of religion and expres-
sion of those who will continue to oppose it, and that
it creates doubtful or spurious rights called reproduc-
tive health rights.
They claim there is a need to stop the implemen-
tation of the new law that mocks the nations Fili-
pino culture.
JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com
IN BRIEF
LTO execs in a spot
over infotech deal
Isla LPG cheaper by 50c
Solons press
for action
on info bill
STARTING today, Isla LPG Corporation will
cut the price of its cooking gas by P0.50 per
kilo or P5.50 per 11-kilo tank to reect the
decline in contract price of liqueed petro-
leum gas in the world market.
Our Solane branded LPG price will be
reduced by P0.50 per kg VAT exclusive ef-
fective 00:01 am Thursday, January 3, Isla
LPG said in an advisory.
The contract price of LPG in the world
market declined by $13 per metric ton due
to low demand.
Isla also cut the price of LPG by P1.50 per
kilo or P16.50 per 11-kilo tank in December.
An 11-kg tank now costs around P668 to
P810 depending on the brand, location and
market forces.
Demand has been going up in the past few
months but Korea and Japan, who are among
the biggest consumers of LPG, have already
procured their requirements ahead thus lessen-
ing demand for December. Low demand trans-
lates to low prices in the world market, Anna
Barrios, Brand and Communications Manager
of Isla LPG said.
Other oil rms have not announced a simi-
lar price adjustment as of press time.Oil play-
ers adjust LPG prices every rst week of the
month. Alena Flores
No room for private armies
in security tradesolons
A CIVIL society group led graft charges
against six ofcials of the Department of Trans-
portation and Communications in connection
with the P8.2 billion Road Transportation Infor-
mation Technology Infrastructure Project of the
Land Transportation Ofce before the Ofce of
the Ombudsman.
The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philip-
pines charged the following ofcials with con-
spiring to extend LTOs information technology
contract with private contractor Stradcom until
10 February 2013: Transport undersecretaries
Rene Limcaoco and Jose Perpetuo Lotilla; as-
sistant secretaries Ildefonso Patdu, Dante Lan-
tin, and Catherine Gonzales; and, and LTO Ex-
ecutive Director Alfonso Tan.
The six ofcials wereaccused of violating the
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Procure-
ment Reform Act, and the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards of Public Ofcials.
According to ATMPs convenor and com-
plainant Leon Peralta, the project bidding,
conducted last November, was rigged to ac-
commodate Stradcom for an additional three
months. Digitext Asia Corporation won the
bidding for the RTITIP with the lowest bid of
P3.8 billion. Merck Maguddayao
THE House of Representatives has ap-
proved on second reading a bill which
seeks to strengthen the private security in-
dustry in the country.
House Bill 6737, authored by several party-list
lawmakers led by Emmeline Aglipay and Juan
Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo and Nueva Ecija Rep.
Rodolfo Antonino, wants to professionalize the
private security industry by strengthening the re-
quirements for training and professional certifica-
tion of security practitioners.
The measure also seeks to improve the ef-
ciency of the security industry by making
more efcient bureaucratic processes with
respect to licensing, operation and regulation
of private security agencies.
Under the bill, private security industry
refers to those engaged in the business of
providing private security and detective,
security training, K9 security and VIP pro-
tection services; and those in the manage-
ment and administration of company guard
forces. Maricel V. Cruz
House Speaker Feliciano Bel-
monte Jr. and the main propo-
nent of the bill, Deputy Speaker
Lorenzo Tanada, have expressed
condence that the discussion
on the bills transparency provi-
sion will be smooth and will
not be as emotional as the de-
bate on the newly signed Repro-
ductive Health Law.
The House has only nine ses-
sion days to discuss the FOI bill
since Congress will adjourn on
February 8 to make way for the
campaign period for the May
midterm elections.
The bill requires public disclo-
sure of all government transac-
tions involving public interest and
provides access to information
being used for decision-making.
Belmonte said the FOI bill is
among the measures listed in
the priority agenda of the House
when it resumes session after
more than a month-long Holi-
day break.
Together with the RH Law
was the Sin Tax Actboth were
approved by Congress before
the 2012 ended.
Unlike the RH and Sin Tax
Bill, Malacanang is not keen
on supporting the FOI bill,
which provides that all govern-
ment transactions, contracts and
agreement should be opened to
the public for scrutiny.
The FOI is already on the
table, Tanada said.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben
Evardone, chair of the public in-
formation committee, said there
was enough time to discuss and
vote on the bill.
Last December 17, Evardone
was supposed to deliver his spon-
sorship speech on the measure but
it did not push through for lack of
quorum, prompting the House to
suspend the session.
Evardone said he might deliv-
er his sponsorship speech on the
rst of the resumption of session
on January 21 so that debates on
FOI will nally commence.
On the other hand, lawmak-
ers led by Nueva Ecija Rep.
Rodolfo Antonino, who are
pushing for the inclusion of the
right of reply provision vowed
to insist on line by line period
of amendments.
The RoR, a separate measure
authored by Antonino, requires
the media to allot newspaper
spaces or air time for the reply
of individuals who were alleg-
edly aggrieved for being sub-
jects of news stories.
Meanwhile, House Assistant
Majority Leader and Rep. Sher-
win Tugna of Citizens Battle
against Corruption appealed to his
colleagues to give importance to
the FOI, and if possible pass it be-
fore the end of the 15th Congress.
The government ended 2012
with a series of good and im-
portant bills being passed and
successfully ratied. Why not
continue the streak and debate
and vote on the Freedom of In-
formation bill in plenary before
the 15th Congress adjourns?
Tugna said.
Like the RH and Sin Tax, the
FOI has been languishing in
Congress for years now.
The House was able to mus-
ter the courage to pass the con-
troversial RH bill last Decem-
ber. Im sure it can do that again
for the FOI bill. 2012 was a ban-
ner year for good governance
and it ended on a high note. I
hope it continues this January
with the debates and the vota-
tion on the FOI bill nally push-
ing through, he said.
By Maricel V. Cruz

ANOTHER controversial measure,
the Freedom of Information bill, will
be taken up by the House of Repre-
sentatives when session resumes on
January 21.
THE Social Security System has
granted P2 billion in loans to its
members through its calamity re-
lief programs.
At least 134,000 members and
pensioners all over the country
beneted from the early renewal
of SSS salary loans and advance
release of three months worth of
pensions in 2012.
SSS president and chief execu-
tive officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said
the SSS disbursed over P2.1 billion
to 108,300 calamity-hit members
through the salary loan early renewal
program, while 25,500 pensioners re-
ceived advance pensions of P179.99
million in 2012.
Early last year, the SSS offered
the SLERP and advance release of
pensions in declared calamity areas
due to Typhoon Sendong, which
hit the country in December 2011.
It reopened the programs after the
southwest monsoon or habagat
caused widespread destruction in
mid-2012.
The SLERP allows members to
renew their loans ahead of the pre-
scribed schedule. The SSS recorded
9,064 SLERP availments amount-
ing to P149.02 million after Send-
ong, 90 percent of which was dis-
bursed to members in the badly-hit
cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
SLERP loan releases to 99,230
members affected by heavy monsoon
rains reached P1.95 billion, he said.
Moreover, we granted P159.93
million in advance pensions to
23,722 pensioners due to Sendong
and P20.06 million to 1,777 pen-
sioners affected by the monsoon.
De Quiros said the SLERP and
early pension releases are part of the
current Calamity Relief Package for
members in declared and may be
declared calamity areas by the Na-
tional Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council in the wake
of Typhoon Pablo.
SSS members
get P2b in
calamity loans
By Ferdie Domingo
SENATOR Edgardo Angara
has claried that he didnt
chicken out of the gubernato-
rial race in his province amid
claims of his detractors that he
was afraid to lose.
In a media brieng, Angara
said he was sure he would be
elected governor but did not
want to be an absentee ofcial.
Firstly, if I went on with
my gubernatorial bid, I would
surely have won. For me to rule
as a good governor, I have to
stay in Aurora and will be tied
up here and would be unable
to fulll my international com-
mitments, he said.
Angara made the clarica-
tion amid the avalanche of
reactions from a social net-
working site claiming that he
was afraid of losing in a face-
off with incumbent
Vice Gov. Gerardo
Noveras.
Members of
the Aurora Fam-
ily Community, a
vocal critic of the
Angaras, said the
senator is making
his supposed interna-
tional commitments
as a convenient excuse to back
out of the race where they be-
lieve he is at risk of losing.
Political observers also gave
Noveras more than an even
chance of winning over Angara
in the David-versus-Goliath
match not only because of the
vice governors populist image
and because of the solid Ilo-
cano votes.
At least 60 percent of the vot-
ing population in the province
belongs to Ilocanos who consid-
er Noveras as their
favorite son.
But Angara said
he had no doubt he
would win. Then,
in an obvious
dig at Noveras,
he said : Ang
totoong mabait ay
yung nakakatu-
long sa kapwa (One
who is really kind is one who
is able to help his fellowmen).
He however reiterated that
he had two major international
commitments, rst as elected
member of the International
Executive Board of Christian
Democrats International or
Centrist Democratic Interna-
tional and as sponsoring head
this month of the Anti-Corrup-
tion Conference of the Global
Organization of Parliamentar-
ians Against Corruption.
Angara said he is the CDIs
Vice President for Asia Pacic
and he will be hosting an Exec-
utive Meeting in Manila either
in May or June.
He said he expected 450
members of parliament all
over the world as well as
non-government organiza-
tions involved in anti-cor-
ruption programs to attend
the conference.
This is the only internation-
al body based in Canada that
is focused on anti-corruption
measures. Right now, I am the
Vice Chairman of this and I just
got back from Mexico and I
have been asked by the Execu-
tive Board if Im prepared and
willing to assume the leader-
ship of this international anti-
corruption body immediately
after the Manila Conference,
he said.
I didnt chicken out, says Angara on abortive bid
By Dexter See

THE more than 1 million for-
eign and local tourists who
ocked to the Summer Capital
during the prolonged Christ-
mas and New Year weekends
have contributed around P5
billion to the local economy,
according to city ofcials.
With 300,000 vacation-
ers, the citys tourism of-
ce chalked up a 30 percent
increase, Mayor Mauricio
Domogan said.
Hotels and restaurants
posted a 100-percent occu-
pancy rate, according to the
250-member Hotel and Res-
taurant Association of Ba-
guio. The 700 registered tran-
sient houses in the Summer
Capital also did brisk business
in a short span of time, Domo-
gan said.
Every local tourist
spends at least P2,500 per
day of stay in the city while
their foreign counterparts
are said to spend P5,000 per
day, exclusive of lodging.
Thus, local businessmen
denitely surpassed their
projected income during the
Christmas break because of
the sudden surge in tour-
ist arrivals, especially dur-
ing the extended weekend,
Domogan told the Manila
Standard Today.
Anthony de Leon, gen-
eral manager of the Baguio
Country Club and president
of the HRAB, said the tour-
ist arrivals this year was
almost double that of last
years arrivals during the
Yuletide season considering
improved road conditions
among other new attractions
like the Christmas Village
and new shops within Camp
John Hay such as the Ayala
Techno hub and childrens
playground.
Dispatchers at the bus
stations servicing the Ba-
guio route also noted the
tremendous inux of tourists
considering that the interval
of arrivals were at least 10
minutes and departures at 5
minutes intervals.
Contributing to the citys
chilly mornings and after-
noons, according to Dr.
Salvador Olinares, weather
specialist of the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysi-
cal and Astronomical Ser-
vices Administration is the
prevailing overcast skies
which is part of the ef-
fect of the active northeast
monsoon and the stronger
cold front.
Dr. Florence G. Reyes,
city health ofcer, report-
ed a slight increase in the
number of individuals suf-
fering from cough, colds,
and respiratory diseases
among other ailments.
From the usual 50 individu-
als who seek medical atten-
tion daily from the start of the
month, Reyes said the number
had increased to around 60
daily most of them children
aged 1 to 10.
Baguio tourists kick in P5b
Lingering effects. Residents of New Bataan in Compostela Valley have to endure dust and other lingering effects of typhoon Pablo since it
struck Mindanao on December 4, 2012. DANNY PATA
Never too late. Airport authorities begin to repair busted pipes at the Naia terminal 1 after experiencing low-pressure water
supply since Christmas. ERIC APOLONIO
Angara
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
A4
WE AGREE with the recommendation
of the ofcials of the Presidential
Commission on Good Government to
abolish the agency.
No less than PCGG Chairman Andres
Bautista has said that the operations of the
commission are costly to the government
despite the fact that no new cases are being
led in search of allegedly ill-gotten Marcos
wealth. No new evidence to bolster existing
cases have been found, either.
It is understandable that the proposal has
elicited emotional responses from various
sectors. After all, its creation was the rst
executive issuance of the late President
Corazon Aquino when she assumed ofce
after the Edsa Revolution in 1986.
For example, the victims of human rights
violations during Martial Law vehemently
disagree with the proposal. Bayan Muna
party list Rep. Neri Colmenares says that
abolishing the PCGG will send the message
that one can get away with stealing money.
Others have called for the resignation of
Bautista, saying he is not t to lead the
agency because even he does not believe it
can accomplish its objective.
Those who have worked in the
commission for many years also do not
want to see their ofces closedand this is
aside from the obvious economic reasons.
Some also do not agree that the body
should be abolished during the term of
Mrs. Aquinos son, President Benigno
Aquino III.
But the President has not yet acted on the
recommendation even as his spokesman
has indicated that the quest for the
Marcoses wealth will continue although
under Justice Department. It will then be
under an alter ego of Mr. Aquino that the
search and recovery of the Marcos wealth
will be executed. It would be a shame if
the Executive Department performed a
lame job on this one.
The President would likely have a
difcult time deciding on the matter
precisely because of the emotional
implications of an abolition.
Nonetheless, a swift decision after a
thorough evaluation of the commissions
26 yearsan entire generationis in
order. Over the years, the commissions
reputation has suffered accusations
ranging from superuous overseas trips
for its commissioners to inefcient day-to-
day operations.
Indeed, if the commission had done its
job half as well as it should have done,
the cases would have been stronger
and the results would have been more
compelling. It would have achieved its
goals long ago.
In the end, the PCGG story should serve
as an example should a need for similar
bodies in the future arise. Cases are made
strong by evidence gathered efciently.
They are pursued with consistent zeal.
Success is determined not by emotional
appeals but by making sure that cases are
airtight and are resolved soon instead of
made to drag for a generation or more.
A generation of gaps
Pork for Kaka
but none for Mitos
EDITORIAL
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN Managing Editor
CHIN WONG/ RAY S. EANO Associate Editors
JOEL P. PALACIOS News Editor
ROGELIO C. SALAZAR President & CEO
MEMBER
Philippine Press Institute
The National Association
of Philippine Newspapers PPI
can be accessed at:
www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE
MST
Manila
Standard
TODAY
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THE year has barely started and
yet another leader of the powerful
Akbayan party-list is once again being
accused of cashing in on the groups
great inuence over President Noynoy
Aquino. No, this isnt about Risa
Hontiveros throwing a hissy t at a
security guard while riding in her oh-
so-bourgeois white Toyota Fortuner.
This is about porkand lots of it,
to aid the political plans of a leader of
a most favored group. Akbayan Rep.
Arlene Kaka Bag-ao, a native of the
island-province of Dinagat, reportedly
received nearly P140 million in pork
barrel funds from the Department of
Budget and Management in the name
of Dinagats unseated congressman,
fugitive cult leader Ruben Ecleo
Jr. in the last month alone.
Bag-ao, said to be
a close associate
of presidential
political adviser
Ronald Llamas
and a prosecutor in
the impeachment
trial of former
Chief Justice
Renato Corona,
was appointed
caretaker of the
abandoned district
after the conviction
of Ecleo. Bag-ao
has since decided
to run for that
regular Congress
seat, apparently using the funds set
aside for Ecleos projects as her own
pork.
What rankles here is Bag-aos
wangling of the caretaker assignment
in a district where the Akbayan
congressman was planning to run from
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte
Jr. Vacated Congress posts are, by
practice, either lled by holding a
special election or by the appointment
of a caretaker, usually the congressman
from a neighboring district.
Bag-ao, being a party-list
representative and, later, a candidate
for the seat vacated by Ecleo, should
have been the last person given the
post. And Budget Secretary Florencio
Abad Jr. should not have completed the
conspiracy to make it easier for Bag-ao
to run for Ecleos seat by allowing the
release of pork barrel funds allocated
for a Congress member who no longer
held ofce but which beneted the
Akbayan caretaker.
But Bag-ao is with Akbayan,
the most powerful party-list in the
Aquino administration which is also
the recipient of direct contributions
from the siblings of President Noynoy
Aquino. She is also supposed to be
a human rights lawyer and agrarian
reform advocate, apart from being no
slouch in the pork department.
If Bag-ao makes it to Congress as
a regular member by May, she will
have Belmonte, Abad, Llamas and
Aquino to thank, as well as Ecleo,
whose funds she so liberally used for
a road, bridges, buildings and water
projects, 77 multi-cabs, ambulances
and four-wheel-drive vehicles and
nancial assistance for hospital, burial
and scholarship expenses. And then,
perhaps, she, too, will be able to buy
her own white Fortuner, from which
she can sneer at lowly security guards
who impede her progress.
* * *
Malacaang Palace has distanced
itself from the Bag-ao controversy,
saying it is up to Abad to say why
the Akbayan leader was given such
largesse. Prevaricator-in-chief Edwin
Lacierda also disingenuously added
that the budget secretary should be the
one to explain why some congressmen
all of them identied as members
of the opposition in the Housestill
have not tasted any pork from the
Palace.
Abad has already explained that the
pork released to Bag-ao does not go to
her but for projects already identied
for the district. But I will bet anything
that Bag-aos assumption facilitated
the fund releasesand that she is now
claiming Ecleos projects as her own,
to further her bid for the fugitive cult
leaders post.
As for the
House members
who dont get
any money, Abad
has explained to
at least one of
them, the feisty
Zambales Rep.
Milagros Mitos
Magsaysay, that
providing pork
can be a very
personal thing
for Aquino: the
budget secretary
reportedly told
Magsaysay that
she has not gotten any pork funds
and not to expect any for the rest of
her termbecause the President has
been told that the congresswoman
once called the Chief Executive
retarded.
According to the story, Magsaysay
confronted Abad during the last House
budget deliberations and demanded
a straight answer from the Cabinet
member about why she never gets any
fund releases from DBM. Is it because
of her anti-administration statements,
her identication with the previous
administration or anything shes
done to Aquino, whom she does not
personally know?
At rst, Abad refused to tell
Magsaysay anything, taking refuge in
his usual bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo
about how some districts get priority
for disbursements while others arent
so high up in the hierarchy of what
this administration wants to spend
taxpayers money on. But Magsaysay
was adamant and refused to let Abad
off the hook so easily.
So, in an unusual t of candor,
Abad intimated to Magsaysay
that the President had specically
instructed him to make sure that the
congresswoman never got any pork
because she publicly declared that
Aquino was a few bottles short of a
case of San Mig Light. Magsaysay
denied calling Aquino a retard, but
Abad was unconvinced.
And thats the way it will be for
Mitos, who has about as much chance
of getting pork as she has of being
inducted into Akbayan. I just hope that
Magsaysay already has a white SUV,
as bets her exalted position.
Top ten issues for human rights
MARLON C. MAGTIRA Online Editor/Tech Section Editor
Turn to page 5
1. PASSAGE of the Anti-Enforced
Disappearance Law. Unfortunately,
the passage of this law was
overshadowed by the passage of
the Reproductive Heath Law. I say
unfortunate because unlike the RH
Law which in jurisprudence says is a
penumbra of the due process clause,
the crime of desperacidos, which
unlike violations of international
humanitarian law is not considered
a crime under customary public
international law.
This means that a domestic law is
actually required to make enforced
disappearances criminal. Now that we
have this law, victims of desperacidos
can actually le criminal charges
for enforced disappearances without
relying on kidnapping, if their loved
ones survive; or murder, if their loved
ones are found dead.
2. Passage of the Reproductive
Health Law. The passage of this
law has made jurisprudence on the
right to privacy unnecessary. Prior to
passage of the law, womens rights
advocates relied on the United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women in
arguing that failure of the state to
provide family planning implements
to those who cannot afford them is a
form of discrimination.
They also relied on the US
Supreme Court decision that states
that the right to limit ones family size
is covered by the right to privacy and
is a penumbra of the due process
clause. With this domestic law in
place, it has now become the business
of government to ensure that its
citizens can freely choose the size of
their families.
3. Passage of the Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012. This is in
the list not because it promotes and
protects human rights, but precisely
because it will violate them. Unless
declared unconstitutional, libel in
cyberspace, which has already been
pronounced as infringing on freedom
of expression by the United Nations
Human Rights Committee, will be
even more severely punished under
the new law. All future convicts will
be guaranteed time in jail as the new
penalties for cyber libel make them no
longer eligible for parole.
Furthermore, the laws so-called
take-down provision, which enables
the Justice secretary to unilaterally
shut down Web sites, will enable the
state to act as investigator, prosecutor,
judge and executioner. Its not on top
of the list because of the temporary
restraining order issued by the
Supreme Court enjoining the laws
implementation.
4. The Philippines ratication of
the Domestic Workers Convention.
Our ratication of the convention
literally enabled the treaty to come
into effect. This is the rst convention
that seeks to standardize the terms
and conditions of employment of an
estimated 50 million to 100 million
domestic workers worldwide.
Under this convention, domestic
workers are entitled to protection
available to other workers, including
weekly days off, limits to hours of
work, and minimum wage and social
security coverage. The convention
also obliges governments to protect
domestic workers from violence and
abuse, and to prevent child labor in
domestic work.
This will benet at least 2 million
domestic helpers locally, and millions
more overseas. A domestic law that
seeks to implement this convention was
also passed by Congress this 2012.
5. The Philippines ratication of the
Optional Protocol to the Convention
Against Torture. This will enable
private individuals now to submit
their individual communications
to the Committee Against Torture
whenever they feel that the country
has failed to protect and promote the
absolute prohibition on torture. We
are the rst Southeast Asian country
to have ratied this optional protocol.
ATTY. HARRY
ROQUE JR.
VIEW FROM MALCOLM
This is about
pork and lots of it,
to aid the political
plans of a leader
of a most favored
group.
JOJO
A. ROBLES
LOWDOWN
A5 Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
THIS being a new year, it is natural for
people to ask: What awaits us in 2013?
First I must admit that the Aquino
administration has managed to turn
around the economy in 2012. Gross
domestic product grew by 7.1 percent
in the third quarter. Most likely, the
country will end up growing by 6.5
percent.
Indeed, the Philippines is no longer
the sick man of Asia.
The problem though is that to the
man on the street, especially to the
unemployed and to people who can
hardly keep body and soul together,
statistics dont
mean a thing.
What most
people need are
jobs and food
on the table.
Poverty is still
very much
present.
The Aquino
admi ni st rat i on
must keep this
m o m e n t u m ,
notwithstanding
the onset of the
campaign season
for the 2013 elections in May.
Our leaders must not be distracted
as they make the Philippines more
competitive with its neighbors like
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Vietnam and of course China.
What we need most this year are
foreign direct investments which
create industries and provide more
jobs.
Yes, our economy as a whole is
growing, but manufacturing, agriculture
and other businesses that create job
are still weak. Our economy is fueled
mostly by consumption and services
and the construction boom. This is in
turn due to increased remittances from
migrant workers, which have received
$30 billion through both ofcial and
informal channels.
***
There are several areas that the
Aquino administration must focus on
this year in order to attract foreign
investments.
I refer rst to the Supreme Court
decision which includes as foreign
equity all shares in a corporation
whether or not they are voting. This
effectively negates the 60-40 provision
in the Constitution where Filipinos
should have the majority equity,
leaving the minority to foreigners.
If this Supreme Court ruling were to
be implemented, foreign investments
amounting to trillions would be
affected, and it would take some time
for businesses to adjust.
The joint Foreign Chambers of the
Philippines have in fact shown concern
about this Supreme Court ruling and
have sought a review of restrictions on
foreign quality investments.
Admittedly, our momentum for
growth has fueled speculation among
investors that the Philippines is ripe for
investments. Credit institutions have
in fact acknowledged this by raising
our credit ratings which would make
borrowing abroad easier and cheaper.
But, my gulay, while our neighbors get
the windfall on foreign investments, we
can only settle for the crumbs.
There have been efforts by no less
than Senate President Juan Ponce
Enrile and House Speaker Sonny
Belmonte to amend the 60-40 equity
provision of the 1987 Constitution. It
seems however that President Aquino
is cool to the idea.
I believe that right after the May
polls, there be will renewed efforts to
amend the Constitution. In what form,
I dont know. But, its important for
Malacaang to realize that so long as
we have restrictions on foreign equity
h o l d i n g s ,
investors will
shy away.
Who is
the Aquino
administration
trying to
protect? Does
not the President
realize that the
country would
be better off if
he opens up our
economy?
***
Two pieces
of legislation have the potential of
becoming major issues in the coming
May 2013 elections. These are the
Reproductive Health Law and the Sin
Tax Law.
I am certain that leaders of the
Catholic Church would go against
candidates who supported the RH
measure, euphemistically called
Responsible Parenthood Law but in
fact a population control law.
Bishops and priests will tell the
poor not to vote for candidates who
are anti-life.
Administration officials say
there is no such thing as a Catholic
vote. I disagree. And I think the
backlash would be most felt at the
local level.
The Sin Tax Law, on the other
hand, hits the Ilocanosnumbering
about 4 milliondirectly between the
eyes. They have been part of the local
tobacco industry for generations.
Cigarette smuggling can also be
expected. The increased price of
locally-made cigarettes gives premium
to smuggled cigarettes instead.
Peripheral issues are more smuggling,
upsurge in criminality, and the inability
of the government to stop jueteng.
***
Criminality can only get worse with
the mid-term polls coming up. And
it does seem that Malacaang is not
addressing the problem. Right here in
Metro Manila, crimes are committed
with impunity and the police do not
seem to have control. Nationwide,
political violence is on the rise, and with
other crimes on persons and property,
making people wonder if Malacaang
realizes it.
Is the government still in control?
What to expect
this year
Back to the PCOS machines
IN SPITE of the vigorous protestations
of Commission on Elections Chairman
Sixto Brillantes, I think Archbishop
Jose Palma is absolutely right in asking
questions about the Smartmatic precinct
count optical scan machines.
Brillantes has gone so far as
to connect the issue of the PCOS
machines to the aggressive efforts of
the government to push for the passage
of the RH Law. This is a cheap shot.
He even asked if the good bishop knew
anything about computers.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines through Bishop Palma
is not the only one questioning the
integrity of the PCOS machines. Other
sectors including the Senate are asking
a lot of questions.
Is Brillantes really that naive that just
because he says that the PCOS machines
can be trusted, everyone should believe
him? He must be living in Never Never
Land.
The Comelec, despite all the
legitimate questions, went ahead in
reacquiring the PCOS Machines used
in the 2010 elections. This arrangement
was basically between Comelec and
Smartmatic without due regard to
opening the process to outside scrutiny
to ensure transparency and prove that
everything is above board.
From what could be gleaned
from many Comelec statements, the
primordial reason for reacquiring the
Smartmatic PCOS Machines was cost.
It is cheaper than acquiring new sets of
machines. I thought the principal reason
should be to ensure the integrity of the
elections. Costs should not have been
the main reason. There must be other
reasons.
I believe that the Smartmatic PCOS
machines are severely compromised due
to what happened in the 2010 elections.
I have information that more than 800
CF cards were duplicated in 2010 which
are still available for use this year.
In an earlier article, I tried to show
that based on information provided
to me, the Comelec and Smartmatic
conspired to manipulate the 2010
elections. And I am shocked that
considering that Brillantes was
provided with some of the information
acquired by the intelligence group of
the Aquino campaign regarding the
activities of the Comelec, he did not act
on this information. One would think
that as chairman, Brillantes would be
more suspicious and hence willing
to investigate. It seems he has now
been co-opted by the four remaining
commissioners who have not yet retired.
I am also almost certain that it is
Brillantes who does not know anything
about computers. Bishop Palma is just
raising questions and Brillantes and the
Comelec must demonstrate to the public
the integrity of the PCOS machines.
Instead, they are simply digging in.
I saw Brillantes being interviewed
by one TV station and he was saying
that the PCOS machines were good
enough to perform their functions. So
far, according to him, the gures from
the machines have not been disproven
in the many protests that have been
decided.
This came as a total shock to me.
This simply shows that Brillantes has
not opened the national server. Can you
imagine the chairman of the Comelec
not having seen the gures or results
contained in the national server? It is
like a priest not opening the Bible!
If he has bothered at all to open
the server, he will nd out the many
discrepancies in the election data. This
also shows that he perhaps does not
know how the whole system works.
Heres a bit of a tutorial: As soon as the
PCOS machine in the precinct receives
the last ballot, the votes are counted
and then transmitted simultaneously to
the municipal server, provincial server,
national server, Parish Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting server and the
Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng
Pilipinas server. It stands to reason that
the three serversthe Comelecs, the
PPCRVs and KBPsshould have the
same data. But they dont. Why?
It is because of the manipulations
done by the Comelec and Smartmatic.
Brillantes probably does not know this, I
have been informed that there is a fourth
server that the public was never made
aware of. Smartmatic had a server in the
2010 elections which actually contained
the more complete and reliable election
data. Shocking, isnt it?
This is the reason why the public
should support the quest of Bishop
Palma to question the integrity of
the PCOS machines. I for one have
completely lost my belief that in the
Comelec can conduct fair and honest
elections.
I have been saying all along that
all that Brillantes has to do is open the
national server and look at the election
data contained there. Compare the data
to the KBP and PPCRV server. The
Comelec server, I have been reliably
informed, contains the election returns
of two or four provinces that the
Comelec and Smartmatic were not able
to edit in 2010. One of these provinces
is Isabela, as I mentioned in an earlier
article. For one reason or another,
the data in these provinces have been
protected. Former Comelec Chairman
Jose Melo and Renato Garcia, Melos
information technology adviser, as well
as the commissioners know about this.
They are most likely terried that the
public would nd out.
All these allegations can be proven
by simply opening the Comelec server
used in 2010 elections. It is so simple.
So why does the poll body refuse to do
it?
EMIL
P. JURADO
TO THE POINT
By Kanoko Matsuyama
and Meg Tirrell
JIROEMON Kimura, who became the
worlds oldest man on record last week,
can thank a combination of luck early in
life and, later, good genes for surviving
seven decades longer than most of his
peers.
Kimura, a former postman who is 115
years and 258 days old and still greets
visitors with a warm smile, dodged
childhood killers such as tuberculosis
and pneumonia that kept life expectancy
in Japan to 44 years around the time he
was born in 1897. As an adult living in the
town of Tango, he had no major illnesses,
his granddaughter-in-law Eiko Kimura
said in an interview. He followed sumo
wrestling on television and read two
newspapers a day until the last few years,
she said.
As Kimura ages, his DNA is giving him
an edge. Scientists say specic genes that
protect against heart disease, cancer and
other old-age ailments foster longevity.
Knowing the biological mechanisms
involved may provide clues to counter a
rising tide of non-communicable diseases
predicted to cost the global economy $47
trillion over the next 20 years.
Getting the right combination is like
winning the lottery, said Thomas Perls,
director of the New England Centenarian
Study at Boston University. Some of
Kimuras genes are likely protective
against damaging cellular processes that
contribute to aging and even protective
against genetic variants that may not be
good for him.
Genetic inuences
Genetic factors may account for
about 30 percent of a persons chances
of living to their late 80s, with behavior
and the environment contributing the
remainder, according to Perls. The reverse
is true in people who survive to 105 years,
when genetic inuences become more
signicant, he said.
As people age, cells accumulate
potentially harmful mutations as
mechanisms to repair defective DNA
become less efcient, said Dario Alessi, a
cell biologist at the University of Dundee
in Scotland. Kimura may have no major
disease-causing mutations and-or a
superior ability to repair defective genes,
he said. Scientists are making conclusions
about Kimura based on the medical history
of the centenarian and his relatives; they
havent studied his genome.
Another cellular aging mechanism
involves DNA sequences at the ends of
chromosomes known as telomeres which
help determine how often cells can divide.
While telomere lengths vary from person
to person at the time of birth, centenarians
tend to have longer ones, said Carol
Greider, professor of molecular biology
and genetics at Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, who won a Nobel prize in
2009 for her research.
Every time your cell divides, the
telomeres get to be a little bit shorter
Greider said in an interview. You may
be born with telomeres that are ne and
healthy, but those will erode over the
lifespan of the individual.
Long telomeres?
Those born with the shortest telomeres
tend to suffer at higher rates from age-
related degenerative diseases, she said,
adding that Kimura may have long
telomeres.
Though Kimuras parents died at
ages 78 and 65, four of his ve siblings
lived to be more than 90 years old and
his youngest brother, Tetsuo, died at 100,
nephew Tamotsu Miyake said.
Kimura has deed the odds against
his gender as well. Men make up only
15 percent of centenarians, according to
Boston Universitys Perls.
Genes and hormones benecial for
aging may differ between the sexes
and work better in women, giving them
a longevity advantage, said Nir Barzilai,
director of the Institute for Aging Research
at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at
Yeshiva University in New York.
Dina Manfredini
Kimura eclipsed the male longevity
record by Christian Mortensen of
California, who died on Dec. 28, 1998,
according to Guinness World Records.
Kimura, who also became the worlds
oldest person after Dina Manfredini
of Iowa died last month, is among 22
Japanese listed on the worlds 64 oldest
people compiled by the Los Angeles-
based Gerontology Research Group.
Born on April 19, 1897, the third
of six children to a couple of rice and
vegetable farmers, Kimura married his
neighbor, Yae, and helped deliver his
towns mail for more than 40 years,
during a period marked by malnutrition-
causing food shortages. He also spent
several months in a government
communication unit in Korea in 1920
during Japans occupation.
Kimuras main health challenges have
been cataracts and a bout of pneumonia
years ago, said Eiko Kimura, the
granddaughter-in-law who cares for him
in the two-story wooden house he built in
the 1960s. He has normal blood pressure
and a good appetiteeating three meals a
day consisting of porridge, miso soup and
vegetables.
During a brief visit to his home
recently, Kimura said he appreciated
being called on by a reporter traveling to
see him from Tokyo. He no longer hears
well and spends most of his days in bed,
Eiko said.
Eat light
Kimuras motto is eat light to live
long, and says the key to his longevity
is to be a healthy, small eater, Guinness
World Records said in a Dec. 28 statement
in which it acknowledged his status as the
oldest male on record and oldest living
person.
Grandpa is positive and optimistic,
Eiko said. He becomes cheerful when he
has guests. Even when he falls ill, I can
tell hell recover.
Kimura, who has 14 grandchildren, 25
great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-
grandchildren, had few work stresses
and was always very sensible, serious
and disciplined, his nephew Miyake said.
Even when enjoying a drink with his
brothers, he would sit straight, keep quiet
and remain composed, he said.
He has an amazing strong will to
live, said Miyake, 80, in an interview.
He is strongly committed to living right
and well.
Lean for Longevity
People who survive at least 100 years
tend to be lean and not have diabetes or
diseased arteries, according to Nobuyoshi
Hirose, director of geriatric medicine
at Keio University in Tokyo, who has
studied Kimura and at least 500 other
Japanese centenarians.
Female centenarians have twice the
level of the hormone adiponectin than
younger women, Hirose and colleagues
found in a study published in 2006.
The hormone is secreted by fat cells
that regulates the metabolism of lipids
and glucose, and inuences the bodys
response to insulin.
Typically centenarians are more
open and optimistic about life, Hirose
observed. The women tend to be more
conscientious and extroverted, while the
men are less likely to be neurotic than non-
centenarians, according to his research,
published in the journal Age in 2006.
Land of centenarians
Japan, with the worlds highest
proportion of elderly and most
centenarians, had 51,376 people older
than 100 years as of September, 7.6
percent more than a year earlier, the
health ministry said. The nation has
40 centenarians per 100,000 people,
compared with 25 per 100,000 people
in the U.S., according to the Okinawa
Centenarian Study.
The oldest person ever to have lived
is the late Jeanne Calment of France,
who survived 122 years and 164 days,
according to Guinness World Records.
Since Kimuras birth, life expectancy
has been extended by 39 years to become
the worlds longest. Babies born in Japan
today can expect to reach 83 years. Infant
mortality now stands at 2.3 deaths per
1,000 births, compared with 155 per
1,000 when Kimura was born, according
to the National Institute of Population and
Social Security Research.
Even still, Japans population is
shrinking thanks to falling fertility. It fell
by 212,000 last year, the nations health
ministry estimates.
Thats the largest reduction since the
ministry started collecting the data in 1947
and a sixth-straight year of declines. The
number of births in 2012 fell by 18,000 to
a record low of 1.03 million, the ministry
said in a statement yesterday.
Bloomberg
Oldest man turning 115
can thank lottery win-like genes
FLORENCIO
FIANZA
DUTY CALLS
Statistics dont
mean a thing to the
unemployed and
the hungry.
Top...
From A4
Ms. Ortuostes column will resume
soon.
6. The periodic review of the
Philippines in the Human Rights
Council. Done once every four
years, it is described by the UN
High Commissioner as such: The
[Universal Periodic Review] is a state-
driven process, under the auspices of
the Human Rights Council, which
provides the opportunity for each
State to declare what actions they
have taken to improve the human
rights situations in their countries
and to fulll their human rights
obligations. As one of the main
features of the Council, the UPR is
designed to ensure equal treatment
for every country when their human
rights situations are assessed.
In its concluding observations, the
Human Rights Council highlighted
the need for the Philippines to take
action against those who perpetrate
violations to the right to life as
evidenced by the high number of
extralegal killings and enforced
disappearances.
7. The periodic review of the
Philippines in the UN Human Rights
Committee. Also conducted every
four years, this periodic review aims
to promote state compliance with
the treaty principles and it should
be an honest appraisal of their
conformity to the treaty obligations.
It is also a venue where state parties
to the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights report
on the measures [that the State
has] adopted which give effect
to the rights recognized under
the Covenant. In its concluding
observations, the Committee asked
the Philippine government to ensure
the binding and self-executory
nature of the ICCPR and to inter-
alia, also address the issues of libel
as an infringement of freedom of
expression, reparations of victims
of trafcking, and also to end
impunity for those behind extralegal
killings and enforced disappearances.
8. Five media killings in 2012. This
highlights that impunity, particularly
against media practitioners, continues.
9. Four victims of enforced
disappearances. This highlights the
need to implement the new anti-
enforced disappearance law.
10. Failure of the Aquino
administration to adopt human rights
agenda. This last item highlights
that while it has supported crucial
legislation to protect and promote
human rights, the absence of a
national human rights agenda is proof
that human rights is not a priority.
Classifeds
ManilaStandardToday adv.mst@gmail.com JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
A6
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Public Works and Higways
DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga
INVITATION TO BID
FOR
12PH0062 Road Upgrading (gravel to pave) of
Mt. Province Bdry-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road,
K0449+027-K0472+760 (ls)
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Office, through CY 2013
REGULAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM intends to apply the sum of
Php42,324,900.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to
payments under the contract for Contract ID No. 12PH0062-. Bids received
in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce now invites bids for the
Improvement of Road with roadway widening, construction of PCCP,
slope protection, drainage facilities & other structures.
1
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 a non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known
as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or
organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding
capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH-Kalinga
District Engineering Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at
the address given below during 8:00AM to 5:00 PM.. Deadline for the
submission of the Letter of Intent shall be on January 11, 2013.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested
Bidders on January 04 January 15, 2013 from the address below and
upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the
amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00)
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 nonrefundable
fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce will hold a Pre-Bid
Conference on January 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM at DPWH-KDEO, Conference
Hall, which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before January 16, 2013,
at 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the
acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.
Bid opening shall be on January 16, 2013 after 10:00 A.M. at DPWH-
KDEO Conference Hall. 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 DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce 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:
BAC Secretariat
DPWH-KDEO

(Sgd.) MANUEL P. MADIO
BAC Chairman
INVITATION TO BID
FOR
12PH0061 Road Upgrading (gravel to pave) of Mt. Province
Bdry-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road, K0 430 + 068 K0441+761,
K0443+013-K0443 + 624 (ls), K0446+ 596 K0447+ 538
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce, through CY 2013
REGULAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM intends to apply the sum
of Php46,489,357.51, being the Approved Budget for the Contract
(ABC) to payments under the contract for Contract ID No. 12PH0061-.
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at
bid opening.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce now invites bids
for the Improvement of Road with roadway widening, construction
of PCCP, slope protection, drainage facilities & other structures.
1
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 a non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed
in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA)
9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships,
partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent
(75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the
Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH-
Kalinga District Engineering Offce and inspect the Bidding Documents
at the address given below during 8:00AM to 5:00 PM.. Deadline for
the submission of the Letter of Intent shall be on January 11, 2013.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by
interested Bidders on January 04 January 15, 2013 from the address
below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding
Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00)
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 nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the
submission of their bids.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce will hold a Pre-
Bid Conference on January 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM at DPWH-KDEO,
Conference Hall, which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before January
16, 2013, at 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security
in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

Bid opening shall be on January 16, 2013 after 10:00 A.M. at
DPWH-KDEO Conference Hall. 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 DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce 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.
BAC Secretariat
DPWH-KDEO

BAC Chairman
INVITATION TO BID
FOR
12PH0060 Road Upgrading (gravel to pave) of Balbalan-Pinukpuk
Rd, K0504+090-K0504+820
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
REGULAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM intends to apply the sum
of Php20,368,264.29, being the Approved Budget for the Contract
(ABC) to payments under the contract for Contract ID No. 12PH0060-.
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at
bid opening.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce now invites bids for
the Improvement of Road with roadway widening, construction
of PCCP, slope protection, drainage facilities & other structures.
1
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,
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.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships,
or organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or
outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

District Engineering Offce and inspect the Bidding Documents at
Bidders on January 04 January 15, 2013 from the address below
and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents
in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00)
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 nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than
the submission of their bids.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce will hold a Pre-
Bid Conference on January 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM at DPWH-KDEO,
Conference Hall, which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before January 16,
2013, at 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security
in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.
KDEO Conference Hall. 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 DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce 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.
BAC Secretariat
DPWH-KDEO

BAC Chairman
INVITATION TO BID
FOR
12PH0059 Road Upgrading (gravel to pave) of Balbalan-
Pinukpuk Rd, K0502+260-K0504+090
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
REGULAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM intends to apply the sum of
Php47,877,590.68, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to
payments under the contract for Contract ID No. 12PH0059-. Bids received
in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce now invites bids for the
Improvement of Road with roadway widening, construction of PCCP,
slope protection, drainage facilities & other structures.
1
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.
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.
organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding
capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

District Engineering Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at
Bidders on January 04 January 15, 2013 from the address below and
upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the
amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00)
Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website
of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable
fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
The DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce will hold a Pre-Bid
Conference on January 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM at DPWH-KDEO, Conference
Hall, which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before January 16, 2013,
at 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the
acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.
KDEO Conference Hall. 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 DPWH-Kalinga District Engineering Offce 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.
BAC Secretariat
DPWH-KDEO

BAC Chairman
Department of Public Works and Highways
Region VIII
Leyte 2
nd
District Engineering Offce
Brgy. Barugohay Central, Carigara, Leyte
Tel/Fax No. (053) 331-2808
Email Address: bacsecretariat_2ndled@yahoo.com
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
December 26, 2012
1. a. Contract ID Number: 13ID0016
b. Name of Project:/Location : Road Upgrading of Burauen-Albuera Road including
Bridges, Burauen Side
c. Scope of Work : Road Upgrading
d. Approved Budget for the
Contract( ABC ) :
Php 48,989,480.16
e. Contract Duration: 235 Calendar Days
f. Cost of Bid Documents : Php 25,000.00
1. The DPWH 2
nd
Leyte Engineering District,Brgy. Barugohay Central,Carigara,Leyte
through GAA for CY 2013 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.
2. The DPWH 2
nd
Leyte Engineering District,Brgy. Barugohay Central,Carigara,Leyte
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 at least one
(1) contract that is similar to this project/s, equivalent to at least ffty percent ( 50 % ) of the
ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents,particularly,
in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.
3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-
discretionary pass/fail criterion in the Eligibility Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids
as specifed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 ( RA
9184),otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted
to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy fve
percent ( 75 % ) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
4. Contractors/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 Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualifcation.
Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Interested
bidders may obtain further information from DPWH,2
nd
LED, Carigara,Leyte and inspect the
Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. -5:00 P.M.
5. 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 stated above. Bidders can make payments for the purchase of the Bidding
Documents at any DPWH District Offces. 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.
The signifcant date and time of procurement activities are shown below:
PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY D A T E/T I M E
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents December 26 to January 16, 2013
2. Pre-bid Conference January 4, 2013 @ 10:00 A.M.
3. Deadline for Receipt of LOIs and Receipt/
Submission of Bids
January 16, 2013 @ 9:00 A.M.
4. Opening of Bids January 17, 2013 @ 1:30 P.M.
6. The DPWH 2
nd
Leyte Engineering District,Brgy. Barugohay Central,Carigara,Leyte will
hold a Prebid at the BAC Offce, DPWH 2
nd
LED, Brgy. Barugohay,Carigara,Leyte. which
shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.
7. Bids must be delivered at BAC Offce,DPWH 2
nd
LED, Brgy. Barugohay Central,Carigara,Leyte
All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the
amount stated in ITB Clause 18, or a Bid Securing Declaration in lieu of a bid security
as an additional form, pursuant to GPPB Resolution No. 03-2012. Bids will opened 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 the following: 1) DPWH Standard Form
of Letter of Intent (LOI ) on or before the deadline for submission of bids (per Department
Memorandum dated November 15, 2012 with Subject: Deferment in the Implementation
of Section C.3 of D.O. No. 64 Series of 2012); 2) Net Financial Contracting Capacity
(NFCC) at least equal to ABC or Credit Line Comitment at least equal to 10% of ABC.
Bidders shall likewise submit their bids personally or through their duly Authorized
Liaison Offcers only as specifed in the Contractors Information (CI of the Contractor
Registration Certifcate (CRC) .
9. The DPWH 2
nd
LED,Brgy. Barugohay Central, Carigara,Leyte 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 or obligation to the affected bidder or bidders.
10. For further information,please refer to:
FRANCISCO E. ROBIN, JR.
Chief, Maintenance Section
(BAC Chairman)
Attention:
Head, BAC Secretariat
DPWH 2
nd
LED,
Brgy. Barugohay Central,
Carigara,Leyte
Fax No: (053)331-2808
Telephone: (053)331-1107
Email Address:bacsecretariat_2ndled@yahoo.com
(Sgd.) FRANCISCO E. ROBIN, JR.
Chief, Maintenance Section
(Chairman, BAC)
NOTED:
(Sgd.) MA. MARGARITA C. JUNIA
District Engineer
ALBAY 2
ND
DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE
Rediras Building, Regional Equipment Services Compound
Airport Site, Legazpi City
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The Department of Public Works and Highways Albay 2
nd
District Engineering Offce, through its
Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the aforementioned projects:
Contract ID: 12FB0054
Contract Name: Ouster 17 - Construction of Roads & Flood Control Structure inAlbay
a) Construction of Roads in Albay, Pandan-Quidaco, Daraga, Albay
b) Construction of Roads in Albay, Dinoronan-Tabon-Tabon, Daraga,
Albay
c) Construction of Roads in Albay, Rapu-Rapu (Phase II), Rapu-Rapu,
Albay
d) Construction of Flood Control Structure, Maroroy, Daraga, Albay
Contract Location: Daraga & Rapo-Rapu, Albay
Scope of Work: a) Road Opening, Construction of Drainage & Slope Protection
b) Road Opening, Construction of Drainage & Slope Protection
c) Road Opening
d) 172.00 1m Lined Canal & 213.5 1m Road Widening
ABC: Php 19,998,182.98
Contract Duration: 180 CD
Cost of Bid Docs: Php 25,000.00
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184.
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and 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. To purchase bid documents 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, (f) latest CPES rating preferably with a SATISFACTORY RATING. The BAC
will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-
POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW Central Offce will only
process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors
Certifcate of Registration (CRC), Registration form may be downloaded at DPWH website
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement are shown below:
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents From December 31, 2012 to January 21, 2013
2. Pre-Bid Conference January 4, 2013, 10:00 a.m.
3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective
Bidders
January 21,2013, 10:00 a.m.
4. Deadline of Receipt of Bids January 21,2013, 10:00 a.m.
5. Opening of Bids January 21, 2013,2:00 p.m.
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH Albay 2
nd
Engineering
Offce, upon payment of a non-refundable fee stated above for LOI and Bidding documents. Prospective
bidders may also download the BDs from DPWH web site, if available. Prospective bidders that will
download the BDs from DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids
documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who have purchased the BDs.
Bid must be accompanied by a bid security or Bid Securing Declaration, in the amount and
acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the revised IRR and GPPB Resolution No. 03-2012 as
amendments of Section 27.5 of the IRR of R.A. 9184.
FORM AMOUNT OF BID
SECURITY
(% of ABC)
Validity
Period
Cash or cashiers / Managers Check issued by a Universal
or Commercial Bank
Two Percent (2%) 120 CD.
Bank draft/ guarantee Irrevocable LC, issued by a
Universal or Commercial Bank
Surety Bond callable on demand issued by a surety
or insurance company duly certifed by the Insurance
Commission as authorized to issue such security
Five Percent (5%) 120 CD.
Any combination of the foregoing. Proportionate to share
of form with respect
t o t ot al amount of
security.
In lieu of a bid security mentioned in Sec.27.2, the bidder
may submit this form that is an undertaking which states,
among others, that the bidder shall enter into contract with
the procuring entity and furnish the required performance
security within ten (10) c.d., or less. as indicated in the
Bidding Documents, from receipt of the Notice of Award.
and committing to pay the corresponding fne and be
suspended for a period of time from being qualifed to
participate in any government procurement activity in the
event it violates any of the conditions stated therein as
required in the guidelines issued by the GPPB
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in the BDs in two
(2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical
component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the
fnancial component of the bid. Submitted Financial and Technical documents, original and two (2)
photocopies as copy one (1) and copy (2)are required to be properly book bounded, numbered and
paginated in compliance with D.O.#90 s. 2012. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated
Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post qualifcation.
The Albay 2
nd
District Engineering Offce reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the
bidding process at any time prior contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidder/s.
(Sgd.) ELIGIO J. ARBOLEDA
OIC Chief, Construction Section
BAC Chairman
Approved:
(Sgd.) WALTER F. LUBIANO
OIC District Engineer
A7
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ManilaStandardToday
adv.mst@gmail.com
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan
Region IV-A (Southern Tagalog Region)
DPWH-Rizal I District Engineering Offce
Government Center, Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal
Telephone #: 652-3652/652-3657/652-5093
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Rizal I District Engineering Offce,
through the M.V.U.C. Fund 151 CY 2012, intends to apply the sum stated hereunder to payments
under the contract for the aforementioned projects:
1. Contract ID No. : 13DN0001
Contract Name : Repair/Rehab./Improvement of Antipolo Circumferential
Road A, K0025+(-398) K0025+100 (with Exception)
Brgy. San Roque,
Contract Location : Antipolo City
Scope of Work : Asphalt Overlay and Pavement Marking
Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 4,950,055.48
Contract Duration : 60 calendar days
Cost of Bidding Documents : Php 5,000.00
Contract Name : Repair/Rehab./Improvement of Cainta-Kaytickling-
Antipolo-Teresa Road, Km. 26+540 to Km. 26+850 (with
Exception)
Contract Location : Antipolo City
Scope of Work : Asphalt Overay and Pavement Marking
Contract Name : Repair/Rehab./Improvement of Cainta-Kaytickling-
Antipolo-Teresa-Morong Road, Km. 21+104 to Km.
21+746
Contract Location : Taytay, Rizal
Scope of Work : Widening of Concrete Pavement and Improvement of
Drainage System
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Rizal I District Engineering Offce,
now invites bids for the above stated projects. Bidders must have an experience of having completed
at least one (1) contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in
the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instruction to Bidders.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary
pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act
9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at
least seventy fve (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH, Rizal I District Engineering Offce,
BAC Secretariat Offce, Brgy. Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal and inspect the Bidding Documents
at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Interested bidders are also required to present the originals of their Contractors Registration
Certifcate to the DPWH, Rizal I District Engineering Offce BAC for authentication. Submission of
Letter of Intent is from January 3-21, 2013.
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 stated above.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic
Procurement System (PhilGeps) and the website of the DPWH, if available, provided that bidders
shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.
The DPWH, Rizal I District Engineering Offce will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 9, 2013
at 2:00 A.M. in the DPWH, Rizal I District Engineering Offce (Conference Room), which shall be
open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.
Bids must be delivered to the address below on January 22, 2013 until 10:00 A.M. All bids
must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated
in ITB Clause 18;
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the
address below. Late bids shall not be accepted;
The DPWH reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject
all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected
bidder or bidders.
DPWH, Rizal I District Engineering Offce likewise assumes no obligation whasoever to compensate
or indemnify any bidder or winning bidders, as the case may be, for any expenses or loss that said
party(ies) may incur in its participation in the pre-bidding and bidding process nor does it guarantee
that an award will be made.

ENGR. ELISOR M. NIERVA
Head, BAC Secretariat
DPWH-Rizal I District Engineering Offce
Brgy. Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal
Tel. No. (02) 652-36-52 / 652-36-57

Approved by:
(Sgd.) FERDINAND T. MONAKIL
Chief, Construction Section
BAC Chairman
Noted by:
(Sgd.) EDGARDO P. PERALTA
District Engineer
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & HIGHWAYS
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
QUEZON CI TY FI RST ENGl NEERl NG DI STRI CT
Sta. Catalina St., Brgy. Holy Spirit Quezon City
Tel. Nos. 431-4597 931-1652 931-1568 431-4598 Fax No. 951-4696
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The Department of Public Works And Highways-Quezon City First Engineering
District through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply
to bid for the following contract:
Contract Name Amount
1. Preventive Maintenance (Intermittent Section) of Visayas
Ave., Q.C.(K0013+233 - K0014+441) P 17,556,815.09
2. Preventive Maintenance (Intermittent Section) of Fairview
Ave., Q.C. (K0020+700 - K0022+600) P 14,549,050.08
3. Preventive Maintenance (Intermittent Section) of Tandang
Sora Ave., Q.C. (K0012+688 - K0014+140) P 11,639,917.74
4. Preventive Maintenance (Intermittent Section) of Payatas
Road, Q.C. (KOO23+900 - K0027+737) P 16,732,254.93
5. Preventive Maintenance of Del Monte Ave., Q.C. P 22,351,329.45
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) together with
their Class A Documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with the DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation. cooperative, or joint venture 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 a 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
nondiscretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check, preliminary examination of
bids;
Unregistered contractors, however. shall submit their applications for registration to the
DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH-
POCW Central Offce will only process Contractors applications for registration, with
completes requirements. and issue the Contractors Certifcate of Registration (CRC).
Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents Dec. 28, 2012 to Jan. 16, 2013
2. Pre-Bid Conference January 4, 2013, @ 2:00 P.M.
3. Submission of LOIs from Prospective
Bidders
Deadline: January 13, 2013 until 10:00 A.M.
4. Receipt of Bids January 16, 2013 until 10:00 A.M.
5. Opening of Bids January 16, 2013 @ 2:00 P.M.
Prospective bidders may download the LOI Forms from DPWH website:
www.dpwh.gov.ph. (allowing the flling of Letter of Intent free of charge and prescribing
fxed costs of bidding documents as per D.O. No. 52 dated October 3, 2011).
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH Quezon
City First Engineering District Sta. Catalina St. Brgy. Holy Spirit Q.C., BAC
Secretariats Offce. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs, if available.
from the DPWH website. Bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website
shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bid documents. Bids must
be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in
Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in the BDs
in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope
shall contain the technical component of the bid which shall include the eligibility
requirements. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component of the bid.
Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive bid as determined in
the bid evaluation and the post qualifcation.
Interested contractors are also required to present the originals of the following
documents for authentication and issuance of Bid Documents: a) PCAB License;
b) Contractors Registration Certifcate (CRC); c) Certifcate of Materials, Engineer
Accreditation; d) Authorizing Managing Offcer (AMO); e) Certifcate of Safety Offcer
Seminar from DOLE; t) Phil-GEPS Order Form (Document Request List).
The Quezon City First Engineering District assumes no responsibility whatsoever
to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of
the bid.
The Quezon City First Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any
bid and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract
award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidder or Bidders.
(Sgd.) LOIDA S. BUSA
Engineer III
(BAC-Chairman)
Noted:
(Sgd.) ROSELLER A. TOLENTINO
District Engineer
National Capital Region
METRO MANILA II DISTRICT ENGINEER OFFICE
Bonifacio Drive cor. 8th Street, Port Area, Manila
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D FOR
1. The Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region-Metro
Manila II District Engineering Offce (DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO), through the General
Appropriation Act (GAA) FY-2012 and FY-2013 intends to bid out the projects
listed below:
(1) a. Contract ID : 12OC0172
b. Contract Name : Slope Protection/Bank Improvement
of (UPS Proper) from Villanueva
Creek to Manila Memorial
c. Contract Location : Paraaque City, Metro Manila
d. Scope of Work : Slope Protection and Bank
Improvement of River
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php 17,124,694.04
f. Contract Duration : 180 calendar days
g. Amount of Bid Documents : Php 25,000.00

of Baliwag Creek (Phase II)
including Upgrading of Box Culvert
c. Contract Location : Barangay Merville, Paraaque City,
Metro Manila

of Baloc-Baloc Creek (Phase II)
c. Contract Location : Barangay Moonwalk, Paraaque
City, Metro Manila

of Sapang Buwaya Creek Tributary
(Phase IV)
c. Contract Location : Barangay San Antonio, Paraaque
City, Metro Manila

b. Contract Name : Installation/Application/Construction
of Road Safety Devices along C-5
Road from Commando Bridge to
Pasig with Exception
c. Contract Location : Makati City, Metro Manila
d. Scope of Work : Installation/Application/Construction
of Road Safety Devices
2. 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.
3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-
discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing Rules and regulations
(IRR) of the Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government
Procurement Reform Act.
organizations with at least seventy fve (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock
belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO and
inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. - 12:00
NN and 1:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M.
5. 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 prescribed in the above mentioned list of projects.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Electronic
Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the DPWH, provided that
bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission
of their bids.
6. The DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 10, 2013
at 10:00 A.M. at the Conference Room of DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO, Bonifacio Drive
corner 8
th
Street, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open only to interested parties
who have purchased the Bidding Documents.
7. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before January 22, 2013,
10:00 A.M. at DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO, Bonifacio Drive corner 8
th
Street, Port Area,
Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable
forms and in the amount stated in ITB.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to
attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.
8. Prospective bidders shall submit their sealed envelopes duly accomplished in forms
as specifed in the BDs on or before the deadline of dropping of the bid documents at
the DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO by the Authorized Managing Offcer (AMO) or authorized
liaison offcer of interested parties as stated in their Contractors Certifcate of
Registration (CRC). The liaison offcer shall submit a letter from the AMO authorizing
her/him to drop their bid, attend the bidding process and also submit a copy of
company I.D. for verifcation. No Special Power of Attorney (SPA) shall be allowed.
9. The DPWH-NCR-Metro Manila II District Engineering Offce reserves the right to
accept or reject any bid, to annul the biding process, and to reject all bids at any time
prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidders.
10. For further information, please refer to:
NILA T. LIBRANZA
Chief, Quality Assurance Section
BAC Chairman
DPWH-NCR-MMIIDEO
Bonifacio Drive corner 8
th
Street
Port Area, Manila
Tel. No. (02) 3049388
(Sgd.) ARLEEN D. BELTRAN
Offcer-In-Charge
Offce of the District Engineer
INVITATION TO BID
PUBLIC BIDDING NO.: VMC-2012-030
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER invites all eligible bidders to bid on:
DESCRIPTION PROJECT ALLOCATION NON-REFUNDABLE FEE
Procurement of
Various Medical
Supplies CY 2013
P 16,463,168.00
P25,000.00
1M-5M- 5,000.00
5M up-10M - 10,000.00
The bidding documents shall be available to interested bidders at the BAC Secretariat,
BAC Offce, 2/F, VMC, Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City from 9:00AM to 3:00PM,
starting December 22, 2012 upon payment of non-refundable fee as indicated above. The
pre-bidding conference will be on January 4, 2013, 9:00 am at the BAC Mini-Conference
Room, 2/F, VMC Annex Bldg., Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. Only those who have
purchased the bidding documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre bid conference
and raise or submit written queries (see revised IRR of RA 9184). Bid opening will be on
January 18, 2013, 9:00AM at the 2/F, VMC BAC-Mini Conference Room, Padrigal St.,
Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.
All particulars relative to bid evaluation and award of contract shall be governed by
the provisions of R.A. 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) shall be automatically
rejected at bid opening. LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ALTERNATIVE BIDS
SHALL BE REJECTED.
Bid bond shall be in form of cash, cashiers check or managers check equivalent to
two percent (2%) of the approved budget of the contract.
This invitation is also advertised with the Government Electronic Procurement System
(G-EPS) at www.procurementservice.org and posted at the VMC BAC bulletin board.
For inquiry, please call the BAC Secretariat Offce at Telephone No. 294-4625 and
294-6711 local 104.
VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO 1) REVIEW ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS; 2) REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS; 3) CONFISCATE THE BID BOND AND/
OR PURSUE APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION SHOULD A BIDDER BE FOUND TO HAVE
VIOLATED R.A. 9184; 4) WAIVE ANY DEFECTS CONTAINED THEREIN; and/or 5) ACCEPT
THE OFFER MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. ANY DECISION MADE
BY THE VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER IS FINAL AND EXECUTORY.
FURTHER, VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION
WHATSOEVER TO COMPENSATE OR INDEMNIFY THE BIDDER OR WINNING BIDDER.
AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR ANY EXPENSE OR LOSS THAT SAID PARTY (IES) MAY
INCUR IN ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE PRE-BIDDING AND BIDDING PROCESS NOR
DOES IT GUARANTEE THAT AN AWARD WILL BE MADE.
(SGD) DONA D. SALMOS, RN, MAN
Chairman, BAC
Department of Health
CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT-METRO MANILA
VALENZUELA MEDICAL CENTER
Padrigal St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
Tel. No. 294-6711 to 14, 292-0604, Telefax 294-6718, 294-5090, 292-0431
Email address: vmc_hrd@yahoo.com
(MST-Dec. 20, 27, 2012 & Jan. 3, 2013)
Department of Education
The Department of Education (the "DepED") invites interested parties to apply to
pre-qualify to bid for the design and construction of one-storey, two-storey, three-
storey, and four storey school buildings under the following Contract Packages:
Regional Contract
Package
Expected
Number of
School Sites
Expected
Number of
School Buildings
Expected
Number of
Classrooms
I 72 80 241
II 353 355 547
III 262 262 1,017
IV-B 630 630 1,108
V 488 524 1.061
VI 334 343 732
VII 455 472 1,037
VIII 645 649 903
IX 286 286 476
X 499 530 1,222
XI 134 139 355
XII 300 316 637
CARAGA 314 353 708
CAR 395 395 635
Total 5,167 5,334 10,679
The number of school sites, school buildings, and classrooms is still subject
to change. Each school building will consist of the following components:
Component I - Classroom Builingds, Component II Toilets, and Component
III - Classroom Furniture, all to be designed and constructed or provided
in accordance with the prescribed Minimum Performance Standards and
Specifcations to be released by DepED. Each Contract Package will be bid out
separately. Interested parties may apply to pre-qualify to bid for any, some, or all
Contract Packages, as described in greater detail in the Invitation Documents.
The Project will be awarded through competitive public bidding, as a Public-
Private Partnership ("PPP") project, in accordance with applicable laws, including
the Build-Operate-and Transfer ("BOT") Law (R.A. No. 6957, as amended by
R.A. No. 7718), and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The bidding will follow the two-stage system: (a) Prospective Bidders shall frst
be pre-qualifed by the DepED based on legal, technical and fnancial capacity
requirements; and (b) the Prospective Bidders which pre-qualify shall be invited
to submit their bids.
Prospective Bidders may obtain the Invitation Documents, consisting of (a)
this Invitation to Pre-Qualify to bid, (b) the Instructions to Prospective Bidders,
including the required Qualifcation Documents, (c) the Draft Minimum Perforance
Standards and Specifcations, and (d) the Information Memorandum, from the
offce of the PBAC for PPP Projects, at the DepED Complex in Meralco Avenue,
Pasig City, 1600 Philippines, c/o PBAC Secretariat- Procurement Service,
2
nd
Flr., Dorm-B with Telephone/Fax No. (+632) 633-9343/6366542 starting
10 January 2013, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of PhP100,000.00.
This fee may be paid in cash or by manager's check issued by any bank in
the Philippines payable to the Department of Education. Only persons or frms
who have purchased the Invitation Documents shall be allowed to participate in
the pre-qualifcation process. The DepEd may release updates, clarifcations,
amendments, or additions to any or all of the Bidding Documents at any time.
Prospective Bidders must submit their applications for pre-qualifcation, together
with duly accomplished Qualifcation Documents in the required format, to the
DepED-PBAC Secretariat not later than 10:00 a.m. on 12 February 2013, at the
abovementioned Offce of the PBAC through its Secretariat.
The DepEd-PBAC reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and declare
failure of bidding, not award the contract, or annual the bidding process without
thereby incurring any liability to the affected parties.
(Sgd.) FRANCISCO M. VARELA
Undersecretary for Finance and Administration
and Chairman, PBAC for PPP Projects
Prequalifcation, Bids, and Awards Committee (PBAC) for
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects of the DepED
School Infrastructure Project
INVITATION TO PRE-QUALIFY TO BID
FOR PPP FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT 2012-2
Tanggapan ng Kalihim
Offce of the Secretary
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
Region IV-A
LAGUNA II DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE
Los Baos, Laguna
INVITATION TO BID/REQUESTS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
ITB No. 2013-01
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH-Laguna II District Engineering Offce , Los
Banos, Laguna invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects:
1. a. Contract ID : 12DI0121
b. Contract Name: Construction of classroom at Sto. Domingo NHS
c. Contract Location: Santa Rosa City
d. Scope of Work : Construction of classroom
e. Approved Budget for Contract (ABC): P 7,951,680.00
f. Contract Duration : 135 c.d.
g. Cost. Of Bidding Documents: P 10,000.00
b. Contract Name: Rehabilitation of Binan River Control
c. Contract Location: City of Binan
d. Scope of Work : Rehabilitation of river control
b. Contract Name: Widening of Mayapa Bridge & approaches,
Manila South Road Calamba Section
c. Contract Location: Calamba City
d. Scope of Work : Widening of bridge and approaches
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184.
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents
and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with the DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen
or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB License applicable to
the type and cot of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of the 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, preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration, to the DPWH
POCW Central Offce before the deadline set below for the receipt of LOIs. The DPWH POCW-Central
will only process contractors application for registration with complete requirements and issue the
Contractors Certifcate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH
website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents January 03-22, 2013
2. Pre-Bid Conference 10:00 am January 10, 2013
3. Receipt of LOIs from Prospective Bidders January 17, 2013
up to 2:00 P.M. only
4. Receipt /Submission/Dropping of Bids: Before 10:00 A.M. January 22, 2013
5. Opening of Bids 2:00 P.M. January 22, 2013
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDS) at Dpwh-Laguna II District
Engineering Offce, Brgy. Bambang, Los Banos, Laguna upon payment of a non-refundable fee.
Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. if
available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said
fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only
to interested parties who have purchased the BDs. Bids must accompanied by a bid security in the
amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed in the BDs in two
(2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst envelope shall contain the technical
component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the
fnancial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as
determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualifcation.
Interested contractors are also required to present the originals of their PCAB License and updated
Contractors Registration Certifcate, Tax Clearance, Mayors Permit and other pertinent documents
to the BAC for authentication.
The DPWH-Laguna II District Engineering Offce reserves the right to accept or reject any bid
and to annul the bidding process at any time prior contract award, without thereby incurring any liability
to the affected bidder/s.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) RAUL S. ARCETA
BAC Chairman
DPWH-Laguna II District Engineering Offce
Brgy. Bambang, Los Banos, Laguna
Telefax.No. (049)536-3714
E-mail address : laguna2deo&@yahoo.com
NOTED :
(Sgd.) JOEL F. LIMPENGCO
OIC-District Engineer
News
ManilaStandardToday
mst.daydesk@gmail.com JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
A8
Judicial afdavits held

IN BRIEF
QC eyes
new infra
projects
19 congressmen running unopposed
3 choppers delivered to PH by 2014
Court Administrator Jose Midas Mar-
quez has issued a circular directing all
justices of appellate court, all judges in
trial courts and ofcials of judicial bodies
to refrain from implementing Adminis-
trative Matter No. 12-8-8-SC or the Judi-
cial Afdavit Rule, which was supposed
to take effect on January 1.
The suspension was made pending
action from the SC en banc on the letter
of appeal signed by Region X Regional
Prosecutors and Prosecutors League
of the Philippines President Jaime
Umpa, and sent to Chief Justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno and the justices of the
High Court.
The letter appealed for the defer-
ment of the Judicial Afdavit Rule un-
til all its provisions are reviewed and
revisited by an ad hoc committee.
According to Circular No. 146
2012, SC justices will tackle the appeal
of PLP in their rst session for the year
on Tuesday next week.
Marquez said the magistrates will
study the proposal of Associate Justice
Roberto Abad for the deferment of the
application of the Judicial Afdavit Rule
for one year from 1 January 2013 to 1
January 2014 under certain conditions.
Abad, together with Associate
Justices Diosdado Peralta and Lucas
Bersamin met with PLP ofcers last
December 21 and agreed to defer the
implementation of the new rule pend-
ing action of the full-court on the pro-
posed one-year suspension.
Considering that the Court will not
By Priam Nepomuceno
THE Department of National De-
fense expects to take delivery
of the three AugustaWestland
AW109 naval helicopters in
2014, a year after the govern-
ment submits a letter of credit to
the British-Italian manufacturer
within the rst quarter of this
year.
Upon acceptance of the letter
of credit, the helicopter builder
and supplier has 365 working
days to deliver the aircraft to the
Philippines.
The DND announced that
the contract of agreement for
the three naval helicopters were
signed last Dec. 20 with Au-
gustaWestland S.P.A. The three
rotary wing aircraft has a net
price of P1,337,176,584.
The acquisition of these na-
val helicopters is one concrete
step towards the fulllment of
our goal to modernize the Phil-
ippine Navy, and our Armed
Forces in general, DND Sec-
retary Voltaire Gazmin said,
adding that the helicopters were
bought through negotiated pro-
curement.
On Nov. 28, AugustaWest-
land was declared by the Naval
Helicopter Acquisition Project
Negotiating Committee as the
single calculated and responsive
proponent after going through
the negotiated procurement.
The Italian Ministerio Della
Difesa conducted a review of
AugustaWestlands proposal
for the procurement of AW109
Power Helicopter, including re-
lated logistic support and found
out that the price per helicopter
seems to have been progres-
sively reduced, meaning they
were sold cheaper.
The AW-109 a twin-engine,
eight-seat multipurpose chop-
per.
First own as the Agusta
A109 in 1971, the craft has
proven itself in light transport,
medevac, search-and-rescue,
and military roles.
It has a crew of one or two
pilots and is capable of carrying
seven to eight passengers and
length of 42 feet 9 inches (13.04
meters). The AW-109 has a rotor
diameter 36 feet 2 inches (11.00
meters). It has height of 11 feet
6 inches (3.50 meters).
The AW109 is powered by
two Pratt & Whitney Canada
206C or Turbomeca Arrius 2K1
turboshafts, 567 hp or 571 hp
(423 kW or 426 kW) each. It
has a maximum speed of 285 ki-
lometers per hour, a ferry range
of 964 kilometers and a service
ceiling of 19,600 feet.
The AW-109 also has a rate
of climb: 1,930 feet per minute
(9.8 meter per second).
Upon the recommendation of
the DND Bids and Awards Com-
mittee, Gazmin issued a notice
of award last Dec. 4.
With the other projects in
the pipeline and our planned
acquisition, we are now loud-
er and clearer in our intent to
upgrade the capability of our
AFP to address its constitu-
tional duty to secure the sov-
ereignty of the state and the
integrity of the national terri-
tory, Gazmin said. PNA
By Rey E. Requejo
The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the
implementation of its new rule mandating the
submission of judicial afdavits in place of the
direct testimony of witnesses in criminal cases.
meet until 8 January 2013, Justice Abad
is of the considered view that it may be
more prudent for the justices, judges
and arbiters concerned to suspend the
implementation of the Judicial Afda-
vit Rule in criminal cases and await the
resolution of the Court En Banc on the
request of the Prosecutors League of
the Philippines, the Court Adminis-
trator said, in his order.
The Ofce of the Court Administra-
tor issued the circular upon receipt of
the PLPs letter on Dec. 12 seeking for
deferment of the new rule.
The new rule, which was approved
by the high court unanimously last
September, provides that when a
party (whether plaintiff or defendant)
questions his own witness, he no lon-
ger needs to place the witness on the
witness stand. As a substitute, the par-
ty or his lawyer may only submit the
written sworn statement of his witness
in a question-and-answer format.
It also requires each party to the
case to attach all documentary evi-
dence to the judicial afdavit, which,
in turn, must be submitted at least ve
days before the pre-trial or prelimi-
nary conference in the case.
The JAR was said to be effective in
reducing the time used for presenting
the testimonies of witnesses by about
two-thirds after a pilot program was
launched in Quezon City courts.
But the PLP objected, saying that
they have limited time to prepare ju-
dicial afdavits because they were al-
ready saddled with heavy workloads,
such as trial, including criminal and
special proceedings cases, preliminary
investigation, inquest proceedings and
summary investigation (direct ling).
The preparation of the judicial af-
davit takes more time than conducting
direct examination in court because
afants have to be subpoenaed and in-
terviewed before the prosecutor could
prepare their judicial afdavit.
They also argued that a single af-
davit could not be completed in two
hours, more so if the witness is a child.
This, they explained, makes it dif-
cult to submit the afdavits before the
court not later than ve days before the
pre-trial or preliminary conference or
before the hearing as required by the
new rule.
12 cops in reworks melee named
New tollway opens May
ITS all systems go for the opening of
the Tarlac-Carmen section of the 88.15-
kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union
Expressway (TPLEX) on May 31.
The construction of this section, which
runs 48.6 km, is 71.18 percent nished as
of December. We are on track with our tar-
get date, said Marilou Camua of the De-
partment of Public Works and Highways
Project Management Ofce.
There is still ongoing works in the
Agno Viaduct on the 13.72 km Carmen-
Urdaneta stretch while construction of
the 25.832 km Urdaneta-Rosario part
will commence on March this year,
Camua added.
An all-Filipino consortium, com-
posed of R.D. Policarpio and Co. Inc.,
C.M. Pancho Construction Inc., New
Kanlaon Construction Inc., D.M. Wenc-
eslao and Associates Inc., J.E. Manalo
and Co. Inc., and D.M. Consunji Inc., is
building the new tollway.
The P12.469-billion road is initially
eyed to have two lanes and subsequently
expanded to four when capacity reaches
25,000 vehicles per day. PIA
SSS now on YouTube
SOCIAL Security System members can
now get instructions on how to transact
with the SSS by visiting its YouTube
channel at https://www.youtube.com/
user/mysssphilippines.
Netizens can also access the channel
through the agencys website at sss.gov.
ph and going to the publications menu
on the homepage and choose the multi-
media materials tab.
The pension fund said that by visiting
the site online, members will be taught
how to: ll up forms, submit their ap-
plications, access their MySSS account,
compute their benets or know about
the agencys latest programs. PIA
Name your natl artist
THE National Commission for Culture
and the Arts and the Cultural Center
of the Philippines extended the period
of nominations for the 2012 National
Artists Award until January 15.
The Order of the National Artists
Award (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang
Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national
recognition given to Filipino arindividu-
als who have made signicant contribu-
tions to the development of Philippine
arts: music, dance, theater, visual arts,
literature, lm and broadcast arts, and
architecture and allied arts.
It is jointly administered by NCCA
and CCP, and conferred by the President
of the Philippines upon recommenda-
tion by both institutions.
Nomination forms and guidelines may
be secured from the Order of the National
Artists Award Secretariat at the NCCA.
For more information, please contact
Frances Alincastre of NCCA at tele-
phone numbers 527-21-92, loc. 503 or
527-2214, e-mail at haraya_naaw@
ncca.gov.ph. Mylene Henson of CCP
at telephone numbers 832-11-25, loc.
1121, 1122 or 832-36-69, e-mail to:
hensonmy@yahoo.com. PIA
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
Province of Eastern Samar
Municipality of Quinapondan
Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP 2)
ADB Loan No. 2465&OFID Loan No. 1225P
InvItatIon to BId
Concreting of 2.84 km. San Pedro-Palactad Farm to Market Road with 6.65 l.m. Flat Slab Bridge Located at
Quinapondan ARC, Municipality of Quinapondan, Province of Eastern Samar
January 3, 2013
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 ReformCommunities 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 2.84 km. San Pedro-Palactad Farm to Market
Road with 6.65 l.m. Flat Slab Bridge under the contract no. AIRC-112912-N229-01-QPN-ESR-R008.
The Municipality of Quinapondan, Eastern Samar now invites bids for Concreting of 2.84 km. San Pedro-Palactad Farm to
Market Road with 6.65 l.m. Flat Slab Bridge under the contract no. AIRC-112912-N229-01-QPN-ESR-R008.
Completion of the Works is required within 210 calendar days fromthe date of the offcial 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,
Approved Budget
for the Contract (ABC): : Php18,856,419.38
Project Duration : 210 Calendar Days
MinimumBid Security: : Php. 471,410.48
Bid Closing Date : January 31, 2013; Time: 9:30 A.M.
Description of Works
Item No. Scope of Work Quantity Unit
I. Implementation Phase
1. Direct Cost
A. Roadway
1.1 Earthworks
100 Clearing and Grubbing 11,333.40 sq.m.
102 Roadway Excavation (surplus) 5,181.85 cu.m.
103 Structure Excavation (labor based) 90.72 cu.m.
104 Embankment(fr. Roadway excavation) 860.79 cu.m.
105 Subgrade Preparation 17,000.00 sq.m.
1.2 Surface Courses/Pavement
201 Aggregate base Course 2,500.00 cu.m.
311 Portland Cement Concrete Pavement 11,333.40 sq.m.
1.3 Drainage & Slope Protection Structure
500(3) 760mm dia. RCPC w/ conc. HW& WW 42.00 l.m.
B. Flat Slab Bridge
103 Structure Excavation (Eqpt. Based) 39.00 cu.m.
400 Pre-cast RC Regular Pile, Furnish & Driven 96.00 l.m.
401 Concrete Railing 14.30 l.m.
404 Reinforcing Steel 4,450.41 Kg.
405 Structural Concrete 20.40 cu.m.
411 Painting of Railing 65.00 sq.m.
505 Grouted Riprap Slope Protection 38.13 cu.m.
TOTAL
Minimum Equipment Required: 4cu.m Transit Con. Mixer (1 unit)-leased/owned; Concrete Vibrator (2 units)-leased/owned;
Bar Cutter (1 unit)-leased/owned; One Bagger Mixer (1 unit)-leased/owned; D6 Bulldozer (1 unit)-leased/owned; Loader
(1 unit)-leased/owned; Prime Mover (1 unit)-leased/owned; Grader (1 unit)-leased/owned; Vibro Road Roller (1 unit)-leased/
owned; Crane w/ gravity hammer (1 unit)-leased/owned; Backhoe (1 unit)-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 fromthe LGU-BACof Quinapondan, Province of Eastern Samar and inspect
the Bidding Documents on January 3, 2013 at the address given below from8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Acompleteset of BiddingDocuments may bepurchasedby theinterestedbidders onJanuary3, 2013fromtheaddress below
and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount Php5,000.00.
It may also be downloaded free of charge fromthe 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 themby 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 Cashiers Check or Managers Check issued in favor of the Municipality of
Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.
TheMunicipality of Quinapondanwill holda Pre-BidConferenceonJanuary18, 2013at 10:00A.M. at theConferenceRoom,
3
rd
Flr., Municipal Hall, Municipality of Quinapondan, Province of Eastern Samar, which shall be open to all interested parties.
Bids must be delivered to the address belowon or before 9:30 A.M. of January 31, 2013at the the Conference Room, 3
rd
Flr.,
Municipal Hall, Municipality of Quinapondan, Province of Eastern Samar.All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the
formof Bank Guarantee and in the amount of Php. 471,410.48.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall
not beaccepted. Thedeadlinefor thesubmissionof bidsmust not belater than 9:30a.m., January31, 2013. Theopening
of bids will proceed immediately after the time set for the deadline of submission of bids as indicated above.
The Municipality of Quinapondan 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.
Mr. PIONIOA. CAMPO, JR.
ARCP2-LGU-BAC Chairman
Municipality of Quinapondan
Province of Eastern Samar
Contact No. 09994421077
E-mail: pioniojr@yahoo.com
(Sgd.) PIONIOA. CAMPO, JR.
ARCP2-LGU-BAC Chairman
Sin no more.
A saleswoman
arranges
bottles of liquor
at a store on
Mabini Street in
Manila a day af-
ter the new tax
on cigarettes
and liquor came
into effect.
DANNY PATA
By Rio N. Araja
QUEZON City is set to spend
P1.2 billion in government
projects in 2013, including the
renovation and restoration of
the Quezon City General Hos-
pital on Seminary Road.
City engineer Joselito
Cabungcal said the city al-
located close to P2 billion in
infrastructure expenditures
in 2012 for school buildings,
health centers, multipurpose
halls, markets, roads, drain-
age and ood control system in
various barangays of the city.
Of the P1,821,626,552.02
budget for infrastructure
projects last year, 183 were
already completed amount-
ing to P656,524,621.47, he
noted.
At least 77 projects, cost-
ing P649,913,742.50, are still
ongoing while 47 projects,
worth P506,944,754.66, were
suspended due to problems
over squatters and right of
way, he added.
Four project, worth
P8,243,434.29, were bidded
out for 2012, but have not yet
started construction, he said.
By Francisco Tuyay
THE Nastional Capital Region Police
Ofce is now investigating at least 17
policemen who were caught on video
squabbling over illegal recrackers that
were seized on December 30.
Senior Superintendent Florendo
Quibuyen, head of the Regional Inves-
tigation and Detection Management
Division, said they have identied only
12 cops but they have the images of ve
other policemen who were not yet identi-
ed at press time.
The 12 identied policemen are Chief
Inspector Michael Sanchez, SPO1 Ri-
cardo DL Llena Jr., PO3 Jay Bonifacio
V. Raz, PO3 Boy Clarito M. Blancad,
PO3 Robert F. Rodillas, PO2 Winston B.
Quintos, PO1 James B. Bareo, PO1 Eric
P. Bote, PO1 Richard E. Paz, PO1 Gerald
S. Coronel, PO1 Raymar G. Consejo and
PO1 Jaypee T. Tabo.
The policemen were shown on the
news program dzMM Teleradyo squab-
bling over seized recrackers that were
presented before the media at Camp Kar-
ingal on December 30.
Quibuyen said administrative charges
of grave misconduct and neglect of duty
will be led against them.
There is probable cause because we
saw them squabbling on video. It was
not ugly to look at and it certainly looked
ugly to the public, Quibuyen said in an
interview with dzMM.
Quibuyen also admitted that there may
have been supervisory lapses in the inci-
dent because no one was apparently tasked
to put away the recrackers after they were
presented to the media. There are at fault.
They have to punished, he added.
By Christine F. Herrera
ONLY 19 lawmakers, including two neo-
phytes, are considered sure winners as they
were running unopposed in the 2013 polls.
The number went down from the pre-
vious 70 unopposed after the ruling Lib-
eral Party revived the inactive Aksyon
Demokratiko at the last minute and put up
and backed candidates against administra-
tion allies, LP coalition leaders said.
The LP has got the most number of the
uncontested seats. Of the 17 reelectionist-
lawmakers, at least eight were from LP,
four from Nationalist Peoples Coalition
and two each from Nationalista Party, Na-
tional Unity Party.
The opposition had its share of unop-
posed. Lakas candidates House Deputy
Minority Leader Ferdinand Martin Ro-
mualdez of Leyte and Davao Oriental Rep.
Thelma Almario did not have any oppo-
nent.
The United Nationalist Alliance has
got one unopposed candidate in Sarangani
Rep. and world boxing champion Manny
Pacquiao.
At least ve women turned out unchal-
lenged. Apart from Almario, the four others
were Reps. Josephine Lacson-Noel of Mala-
bon from NPC, Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David
of Manila from NUP, Maria Rachel Arenas
of Pangasinan and Maria Carmen Zamora of
Compostela Valley from the LP.
The two neophytes were lawyer Christo-
pher Belmonte, nephew of House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Belmonte is running
under the LP banner in the newly-created
sixth district in Quezon City.
Another neophyte is Gerald Anthony
Gullas Jr., son of Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gul-
las. The younger Gullas is running under
the NP banner.
The allies of President Benigno Aquino
III in the LP coalition complained that the
Liberals revived the Aksyon Demokratiko
to eld LP-backed candidates against them
in areas where the administration party did
not have incumbent congressmen.
To this day, the NPC, NUP and NP lead-
ers have not heard any word from the LP to
discuss the accumulating such complaints
as shabby treatment and underhandedness
by the Liberals.

A9 Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
2011 Spingold Revisited
DENVERDuring
an undefeated ve-
week run by the Los
Angeles Clippers, the
Denver Nuggets were
just another team they
beat along the way. The
second time around, the
Nuggets were the team
that ground the Clippers
streak to a halt.
IN MY previous column last August, 2012. I had
written about how Team Monaco (Fulvio Fan-
toni. Claudio Nunes; Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness;
Franck Multon, Pierre Zimmerman won the 2012
Spingold for the second time.
I am now featuring the account of the Bridge
World (May 2012) the exciting deals in the last
quarter of Team Monacos match vs. Nickell
(Bob Hamman. Zia; Ralph Katz, Nick Nickell,
Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell.) Team Monaco
won for the rst time.
Fourth Quarter
Nickells hopes took a big blow on the rst deal of
the last quarter: East dealer, neither side vulnerable.
North
AQ973
AQ
AJ74
KQ
West East
102 K8
10762 K83
K95 32
J965 A108743
South
J654
J954
Q1086
2
Open Room
South West North East
Hamman Helgemo Zia Helness
- - _ 1
Pass 1 Double Redouble*
1 Pass 4 (All Pass)
*three hearts
Closed Room
Fantoni Meckstroth Nunes Rodwell
- - - 2*
Pass 2NT Double 3
Pass Pass Double Pass
3 Pass 3 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass
*long clubs; minimum-range opening
puppet to three clubs; often a weak raise
In the Closed Room, declarer (North) received
a diamond lead. He won in dummy and took a
losing spade nesse. Rodwell continued dia-
monds. Nunes later lost the club ace and the heart
king to score what looked to be a normal 420.
In the Open Room, against Hammans (Souths)
four spades, a club was led to the ace and the suit
was continued. Declarer discarded a diamond and
then played the ace and another spade.
He now had an entry to hand for either red-suit -
nesse-and he would need to nd only one red king on-
side. Also, East was semin-endplayed. He did the best
he could by leading the diamond three. Hamman played
the queen, but Helgemo ducked smoothly. Declarer still
did not know which (if either) red king was onside. He
continued with a diamond to the ace and another dia-
mond. This would work if East held the diamond king.
It wasnt to be; West took his king and played a heart:
down one, minus 50; 10 imps to Monaco.
Along string of flat deals followed. With Nickell in
need of a pickup, this potential swing deal hit the tables:
South dealer
Neither side vulnerable
North
1063
A
J752
AKQ109
West East
K9 A2
109 KJ862
AK64 Q1083
J8765 32
South
QJ8754
Q7543
9
4
Open Room
South West North E ast
Zia Helness Hamman Helgemo
2 Pass 4 (All Pass)
Closed Room
Nunes Rodwell Fantoni Meckstroth
Pass 1 2 2*
2 Pass 3 Pass
4 Pass Pass Pass
*hearts
double would have suggested a nonheart lead
In the Closed Room, Rodwell led a high diamond
and continued the suit. Declarer ruffed and played the
top clubs. On the third club, Meckstroth found the killing
defense: He ruffed with the spade ace and played another
spade. Rodwell won with the king and continued trumps,
leaving declarer a trick short: down one, minus 50.
In the Open Room, Zia started the same way,
but after the second high club, he temporarily
abandoned the suit.
He played the heart ace and ruffed a diamond to
ruff a heart in dummy. Another diamond ruff fol-
lowed by another heart ruff would see him home,
but how was he to know to ruff that fourth diamond
rather than to go back to clubs? He wasnt. He
played a high club, and Helgemo matched Meck-
stroths defense by rufng with the ace and continu-
ing trumps: down one, minus 50; a push.
With Monaco leading the quarter 12-3 (and the
match by 29), this board virtually sealed Nickells fate:
Comments to: sylvia@globelines.com.ph
SYLVIA LOPEZ
ALEJANDRO
Danilo Gallinari led six Nuggets players
in double gures with 17 points and Denver
stopped the Clippers franchise- record win-
ning streak at 17 games with a 92-78 victory
Tuesday night.
The Clippers streak was the longest in the
NBA since the Boston Celtics won 19 in a
row from Nov. 15-Dec. 23, 2008.
We were all a step slower today, said
Blake Grifn, who had 12 points for the Clip-
pers. Weve got to be better than that. Were
not going to sit and cry on the plane and get
beat down. Were not going to cause ourselves
to lose our condence, despite what people
want us to do. Thats the best thing about the
NBAyouve got another game.
Grifn went 4 of 11 from the eldthe rst
time hes shot below 50 percent in 18 games.
Andre Iguodala said the victory against
the NBAs hottest team could help Denver
build our condence, our swagger.
The Clippers have been playing with that
the last 18 games. That builds into them win-
ning. They have the mentality every night
theyre going to go out there and win. Weve
got to build the same thing and try to string
along the same type of win streak.
The loss was the rst for the Clippers
since a 105-98 setback against New Or-
leans on Nov. 26. It also marked the end
of a franchise-record seven-game winning
streak on the road.
Kenneth Faried added 14 points and 11
rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their
eighth in a row at home. AP
Nuggets end Clippers run
IN BRIEF
Ferrer makes 2
nd
round
DOHA, QatarTop-seeded David Ferrer
rallied to defeat German qualier Dustin
Brown 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round of
the Qatar Open on Tuesday.
The fth-ranked Spaniard struggled early
against Browns serve and net play. With the
rst set even at 5, Brown hit a drop volley and
then broke Ferrer when the Spaniard hit a shot
into the net. Brown closed out the set with a
crosscourt volley winner.
Ferrer gured out Browns serve and the
German began making unforced errors. Ferrer
broke Brown to go up 3-1 on the way to win-
ning the second and easily won the nal set.
Three seeded players were upset, includ-
ing Jeremy Chardy at No. 5.
Chardy was beaten by German qualier Dan-
iel Brands 6-4, 6-4. Earlier, Lukas Rosol beat
eighth-seeded Pablo Andujar of Spain, 6-2, 7-6
(2). Lukasz Kubot of Poland topped seventh-
seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain, 6-4, 6-2.
Fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Rus-
sia struggled, but rallied to beat Benjamin
Becker of Germany 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1. Rich-
ard Gasquet, seeded second, beat Czech vet-
eran Jan Hernych 6-3, 6-4. AP
Santiago, 2 others gain
in Andarda Cup opener
FRANCES Angela Santiago hung tough in
the second set to hack out a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory
over Samantha Um while Chloe Mae Saraza
and Monica Therese Cruz scored walkover
wins at the start of the 24th Andrada Cup ten-
nis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis
Courts yesterday.
Santiago took control early with her base-
line game but had to toughen up in the second
frame to complete the straight-set win and set up
a second round duel with fth seed Khim Iglu-
pas, who drew a rst-round bye along with the
other seeded bets in the girls16-and-under class,
including No. 1 Roxanne Resma, second seed
Maia Balce, No. 3 Nicole Amistad and fourth-
ranked Isabelle Orteza.
Cruz and Saraza, meanwhile, hope to buck
the odds when they resume their campaign
after default wins over Ysay Jardelesa and
Kathrine Manuela, respectively, against No. 6
Ma. Dominique Ong and Resma, respectively,
tomorrow (Friday).
Joseph Michael Abellanosa, meanwhile,
defeated Ivan Lazaro, 6-4, 6-3, Vincent Ala-
nis trounced Edward Choy, 6-3, 6-1, and
Jose Nicholas Cano turned back Marc Agner,
7-6(4), 6-1, to lead the early winners in the
boys 18-and-under class of the weeklong
event sponsored by Dunlop Fort All Court
Balls, Philippine Sports Commission, First
Solid Group, St. Lukes Medical Center and
Sagip Bayan Foundation.
In other results, Devie Pearl Patoc subdued
Julia Mae Co, 7-5, 6-3, Patricia Corporal dom-
inated Nadine Ramirez, 6-1, 6-0, and Megan
Reyes overpowered Maria Patricia Lim, 6-2,
6-0, in the girls 12-and-under of the ranking
tournament held in honor of Philippine sports
commissioner Buddy Andrada.
KAPALUA, HawaiiEven with-
out the top four players in the world
around to kick off the season, every
new year in golf is shrouded in mys-
tery like clouds over Molokai across
the channel from Kapalua.
Among the most pressing ques-
tion: What will Bubba Watson serve
for dinner at the Masters?
When you show up for dinner on
Tuesday night, thats when youll
nd out, Watson said.
With a wink and a smile, he walked
over to the rst tee and smashed the
rst of what gures to be several 400-
yard tee shots. There were 67 tee shots
that went at least 400 yards last year on
the PGA Tour, and 41 of them were on
the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
There are more serious issues going
into 2013. What follows is the front nine
of what to look for in the new season.
* * *
1. EUROPEAN CAPTAIN: The
biggest news in Abu Dhabi later this
month that it is where the European Tour
traditionally selects its Ryder Cup cap-
tain, and the choice became a little more
complicated when the Americans went
back in time by picking Tom Watson.
Watson is beloved in Scotland, site
of the 2014 matches. Does that mean
Europe needs to answer with a larger-
than-life gure for its captain? That has
led to suggestions Colin Montgomerie
would return as captain, though Darren
Clarke and Paul McGinley were said
to be next in line.
2. RORY AND THE SWOOSH:
Players changing equipment companies
is nothing new. Its different when that
player is No. 1 in the world. Nike is not
likely to announce its deal with McIlroy
until he starts his season in Abu Dhabi,
and thats when the scrutiny begins.
McIlroy gives Nike another world-
class athlete in its stable. But whatever
recognition his clubs receive might be
akin to an offensive lineman who gets
his name called only when theres a
penalty. Remember, McIlroy is known
to have a bad patch of two. Even last
year, when he won ve times and
swept all the major awards, he missed
four cuts in ve starts in the summer.
When he plays poorly, critics will
blame the equipment. And when he
plays great, well, hes Rory McIlroy.
3. SHORT SEASON: The PGA
Tour season might feel more like a
sprint than a marathon this year. The
season, in effect, ends with the Wynd-
ham Championship on Aug. 18, the
cutoff for qualifying for the FedEx
Cup playoffs. And once the playoffs
end at the Tour Championship, the
2013-14 season starts in October.
That might mean more players
competing more often, which could
put the squeeze on Q-school and
Web.com Tour graduates by limiting
the number of tournaments they can
play to try to qualify for the playoffs.
4. ANCHORS AWAY: The R&A
and USGA announced late last year
that anchored strokes used for the
belly putter and long putter will be
banned starting in 2016. The question
is whether the PGA Tour, which has
the right to set its own rules, will enact
the new rule much sooner.
5. MASTERS INVITATIONS:
For the last six years, the Masters has
been awarding invitations to winners
of PGA Tour events that offer full Fe-
dEx Cup points. The Fall Series didnt
count, nor did the events opposite a
major or World Golf Championship.
One problem. Starting later this year,
there is no Fall Series. When the tour
goes to the wraparound season, there
will be an additional six tournaments
that under the previous policy would
award the winner a spot in the Masters.
The concern for Augusta National is
keeping a small eld - it has not had
more than 100 players since 1966. The
question is whether the tours change
will mean an end to tournament win-
ners driving down Magnolia Lane.
6. ALL-MALE CLUBS: Just be-
cause Augusta National now has two
women in green jackets doesnt mean
the debate over all-male clubs is going
away. If anything, it might be more in-
tense than ever when the British Open
returns to Muireld. There are no fe-
male members in the Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers, nor
are there any female members of the
Royal & Ancient Golf Club.
That received cursory criticism over
the years, though most of the scrutiny
was on the Masters. Now that the Brit-
ish Open is the only major played in
which the host club has no women on
their membership rolls, R&A chief Pe-
ter Dawson might have some explain-
ing to do. If hes not too busy talking
about changes to the Old Course.
7. DISTANCE DEBATE: Those
concerned that distance is ruining the
game and making golf courses obsolete
might appreciate a prediction in Golf Il-
lustrated magazine that if the carrying
power of golf balls is to be still further
increased all our golf courses will be ir-
retrievably ruined as a test of the game.
That was in 1910, and the game
has been evolving since.
The R&A and USGA have leaned
on their Joint Statement of Princi-
ples in 2002 when it comes to dis-
tance. Even so, Dawson sounded an
ominous tone while announcing the
ban on anchored strokes.
8. MINORS VS. MAJORS: With
the PGA Tour starting a new season in
October, the only way to earn a card
will be through a series of four tourna-
ments called The Finals that will in-
clude the top 75 players from the Web.
com Tour and the next 75 players from
the PGA Tour who fail to qualify for
the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Privately, the brass at PGA Tour
headquarters is curious to see how
the Web.com Tour players will fare
against the second-tier PGA Tour play-
ers who faced stiffer competition and
tougher golf courses all year.
9. TIGER: Woods and Jack Nicklaus
were talking about rivalries a decade ago
when Nicklaus told him it was important
to always be part of the conversation.
Thats never been a problem for Woods.
Even with McIlroy assuming the role of
golfs No. 1 player, Woods is part of ev-
ery conversation in golf.
The only difference is the context.
Can he end a four-year drought in the
majors? Can he get back to No. 1? Will
he ever dominate as he once did?
The new season should provide
some answers.
9 questions for golfs 2013 season
PERTH, AustraliaThe
United States rallied past
France 2-1 Tuesday, with
John Isner and Venus
Williams capturing the
decisive mixed dou-
bles to win a second
straight series at the
Hopman Cup.
France won the open-
ing singles when Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga overwhelmed Isner 6-3,
6-2. Williams then tied it after
trailing by a set and 4-1 to defeat
Mathilde Johansson 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
The Americans won the mixed
doubles 6-7 (5), 6-2 10-8 by tak-
ing six of the last seven points in
the match tiebreaker.
The US, which defeated South
Africa in its opening series, next
plays Spain.
Williams played listlessly
before recovering. After mak-
ing the only break of the nal
set to lead 4-3 she faced two
break points in the following
game before holding for 5-3.
She would not elaborate on her
obvious discomfort.
Im OK, thank you; Im OK,
she said. She hits the ball hard
and low and Im tall so it was hard
to get down that low all the time.
I have to give her a lot of
credit for a tough match.
Tsonga gave up just
seven points on serve
and committed only
four unforced errors
against 21 from Isner
to win easily.
Its never easy
against John usually, so
Im really happy with the
way I played today, said Tsonga,
who had lost three of his previous
four matches against the Ameri-
can. Its a really good start for
2013 and I hope I will have some
more like this. I was a bit quicker
on court than before so I think
its a good sign for the rest of the
competition and for Melbourne.
The Australian Open begins
in Melbourne on Jan. 14.
Isners right knee was wrapped
because of what he said was a
little tendinitis. He said he was
not concerned at losing both his
singles so far at the Hopman Cup.
Normally, it takes me a while
to get going, he said. Im not
worried about it though. I re-
member three years ago when
I rst played this event I didnt
play so well here but I won the
next tournament. AP
US edges France, stays
clean in Hopman Cup
Lingayen Open chess on
THE Lingayen Open Chess Tournament,
dubbed as Mayor Josena Castaneda Chess
Cup, gets under way on Jan. 5 and 6 at Lingay-
en Municipal Hall in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Pangasinan Chess Federation President
Juan Sison and Lingayen Chess Club ofcial
Tom Ferrer, with Mayor Josena Castaneda,
will grace the opening ceremonies.
The Open category champion of the event
will receive P4,000, while the U-12 and
U-16 category champion gets P2,000.
For further details of the tournament inter-
ested parties may contact,Pangasinan Chess
Federation President Juan Sison, 0920-503-
7104, and Lingayen Chess Club ofcial Tom
Ferrer at 0906-429-4334 for complete details.
LOS ANGELESThe Philadelphia 76ers
demonstrated how much of an advantage
youth and fresher legs can be sometimes
against a team of veteran All-Stars.
Jrue Holiday had 26 points and 10 as-
sists, Evan Turner added 22 points and 13
rebounds, and the 76ers rang in the new
year with a 103-99 victory over the Los
Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
I think they had all their star power out
there, but we came out and played, and
really played together, Holiday said. It
feels awesome. This is actually my rst
win against the Lakers, so I cant start off
the New Year a better way.
Kobe Bryant, who shifted from shooting
guard to small forward ve games ago in
coach Mike DAntonis redesigned rota-
tion, led Los Angeles with 36 points.
The Lakers (15-16) have matched their
worst start after 31 games since the 2002-
03 season, when they began defense of their
third straight NBA title with a 12-19 record.
They are 10th in the Western Conference, 1
1-2 games out of a playoff spot a revolt-
ing development for a team that missed the
postseason only twice times in the previous
36 years and not since 2005. AP
Lakers lose again
To be continued
McIlroy Woods
Isner
Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
San Mig Coffee will try to
live for another day by forc-
ing a rubber match, but Rain
or Shine will shoot for that
elusive fourth win in their
best-of-seven semifinal series
in the Philippine Basketball
Association Philippine Cup at
the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game 6 between the two
talent-laden semifinalists is
scheduled today at 6:45 p.m.,
with the Elasto Painters still
holding a 3-2 series lead.
After regaining a lot of their
lost condence winning Game
5, the Coffee Mixers are eager
to pull off another one to force
a sudden- death match.
San Mig Coffee coach Tim
Cone strongly thinks that his
squad has what it takes to
force a deciding Game 7, al-
though he also admitted that
it is going to be tough.
This will be one tough
game and were doing this
one at a time. They beat us
twice in a row and I believe
we can also win two in a row
against them, said Cone.
The Mixers kept their con-
ference run alive with a 79-67
drubbing of the Elasto Paint-
ers last Saturday.
With two more chances left
to book a finals seat, Rain or
Shine remains optimistic, but
cautious as well.
We still have the lead, but
we want to nish the series
right away because its just too
dangerous if we allow this one
to go the distance, said Rain
or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
The four-day rest heading
to tonights continuation of
the series is a slight cause of
concern for Cone.
We didnt handle it well
when we went to Game 2 from
a break. Well try to do it dif-
JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY A10
Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
By Jeric Lopez

THERE are times when a new lease
on life is what one team needs to regain
its condence.
Donaire looks forward to a better 2013
NBA HOME TEAM IN CAPS LOTTO RESULTS
6/55 000000000000
6/45 000000000000
4 DIGITS 00000000
3 DIGITS 000000
P0.0M+
P0.0M+
Painters try
again today
ONE-hundred-sixty-eight
players, including standouts
from the Del Monte leg, re-
turn to the course today for
the grand nals of the ICTSI
Inter-School golf champion-
ships at the Player course of
the Orchard Golf and Coun-
try Club in Dasmarinas,
Cavite.
Tee off will be in two sepa-
rate batches the rst at 6:30 a.m.
and the second at 12:15 p.m.
Heading the eld are the
team and individual champi-
ons of the four-month series
organized by the Junior Golf
Foundation of the Philip-
pines, with ICTSI as its main
backer.
These are Ateneo and
Aidric Chan in Midgets 1,
Ateneo and Riggs Illescas
in Midgets 2, La Zobel and
Bernice Ilas in Girls 2, Miya
Legaspi and St. Pauls Pasig
in Girls 1, La Salle Green-
hills and Miggy Yee in Ju-
niors and Marvin Mendoza
and La Salle-Taft in seniors.
There are 18 schools rep-
resented in the tourney also
supported by Pancake House
Group, Teriyaki Boy, Siz-
zlin Pepper, Golf Depot, and
Philippine Airlines among
them Xavier, Assumption,
Brent, OB Montessori, Col-
lege of St. Benilde, South-
ville, Miriam College, Del
Monte School, Xavier Ca-
gayan, School of the Holy
Spirit and Elizabeth Seton.
The Frankie Minoza
Foundation also sent Pamela
Mariano, Jelbert Gamolo,
Coby Rolida, Marlon Santi-
ago, Miggy Linaac and Soa
Chabon to compete against
the Big City bets.
JGFP president Luigi
Tabuena said that the grand
nals is expected to be very
competitive with the serious
challenge coming from the
Del Monte bets.
ICTSI inter-school finals at Orchard
A SERIES of training
stints in China, exposure
in a summer tournament
and participation in a FI-
BA-Asia womens cham-
pionship are in store for
the Discovery Perlas Pili-
pinas womens national
basketball team in 2013.
The teams schedule will
prepare the national team
for the 2013 Southeast
Asian Games in Myanmar.
National coach Haydee
Ong said the national
team once again goes for
the gold medal in the bi-
ennial meet.
This rms up our prep-
aration for the Games,
said Ong.
In 2011, Perlas Pilipi-
nas had a shot at the gold
medal.
But, it slipped from
their hands when Thai-
land beat the Filipinas,
75-73, with 1.3 seconds
left in regulation.
Ong said exposing the
team to games against Chi-
nese squads will help the
Filipina cagebelles get in
shape.
Competing against ju-
nior teams, which will
participate in the Fr. Mar-
tin Cup summer cagefest
will also keep the squad
sharp.
Lastly, Ong is keeping
her ngers crossed that
organizers in Thailand will
allow them to join the FI-
BA-Asia Championships
in October, which will be
held two months before the
SEA Games.
Since the games are
two months away after
the FIBA cagefest, Ong
feels that their partici-
pation will offer them a
chance to get a glimpse
of their rivals from the
Southeast Asian region.
Peter Atencio
Cagebelles eye SEA Games title
Dallas 103 WASHINGTON 94
Portland 105 NY KNICKS 100
DETROIT 103 Sacramento 97
Atlanta 95 NEW ORLEANS 86
DENVER 92 LA Clippers 78
Philadelphia 103 LA LAKERS 99
By Peter Atencio
FORMER Sta. Lucia Realty point
guard Teodorico Boyet Fernandez
will formally call the shots for the
San Beda Red Lions, who will resume
practice next week.
School ofcials of San Beda College
have accepted patron Manny V. Pang-
ilinans move recommending Fer-
nandez to the job, which used to
belong to Ronnie Magsanoc.
It has been decided before
the New Year na si Boyet
na. Finally, the school has
accepted MVPs recom-
mendation, said Red Li-
ons team manager Jude
Roque.
Rector Fr. Aloysius
Maranan and school vice
president for nance Fr. Raffy
Alaras said yes to Pangilinan dur-
ing a meeting last Dec. 31. Pangilinan
recommended Fernandez for the job last
Dec. 22.
Fernandez, who is taking holiday
break, will meet with the team as soon
as he gets back from vacation in Bacolod
City, his hometown.
Roque added that he has recom-
mended the retention of assistant
coaches of the team, Britt Reroma
and JB Sison.
Theres too much pressure because I
have to ll the big shoes of Ronnie. This
is a new challenge for me, Roque quot-
ed Fernandez, who expressed excitement
to coach San Beda.
This will make Fernandez the fourth
head coach to handle the Red Lions in
the last seven years.
The Red Lions other coach-
es were Koy Banal (2006),
Frankie Lim (2007-2011)
and Magsanoc (2012), who
stepped down as the teams
coach for personal reasons
last Dec 15.
Magsanoc tendered
his resignation last
month, saying he wants
to spend more time with
his family and concen-
trate on his job as an as-
sistant coach of the Meralco
Bolts. Fernandez is also assis-
tant coach of Meralco.
Fernandez kept a low prole last year
when he served as team consultant dur-
ing Magsanocs one-year stint as coach
for the Red Lions, who claimed a third
straight NCAA mens basketball crown.
Fernandez is also expected to stay on
as coach of Pangilinans NLEX squad,
which leads the team standings in the
ongoing Philippine Basketball
Association D-League.
Fernandez named
Red Lions mentor
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WORLD Boxing Organiza-
tion, Ring Magazine and
World Boxing Council super
bantamweight champion No-
nito Donaire expects to have
an even better year following
what he called an incredible
year in 2012, when he won
the 122-pound title and suc-
cessfullyand impressive-
lydefended it three times.
In an overseas telephone
conversation with the Ma-
nila Standard, Donaire said
that to begin with, he would
want to fight WBC cham-
pion Abner Mares or Guill-
ermo Riogondeaux or who-
ever it is out there.
I want (Top Rank promoter)
Bob Arum to make that ght
(vs Mares) happen in April,
said Donaire.
Voted as Fighter of the
Year by the prestigious Ring
Magazine, ESPN and the
widely read internet boxing
site Boxing Scene, Donaire
said he also wants to try
to move up in weight, but
made it clear well see how
my body is.
Donaire indicated he would
know in a month or so after
weight lifting to see whether
he can really be comfortable at
that weight.
I want to ght the best out
there, whoever is willing to
ght me, said Donaire.
The skilled champion with
remarkable hand-speed and
deceptive punching power,
said he would probably
start a little bit of weight
lifting and then a month af-
ter, do my cardio and box.
He said coach Mike Bazzel
handles his weight training.
Donaire expressed confi-
dence that 2013 will be an
even better year, saying he
might be able to have three
fights should he start in
March. But if he starts ear-
lier, he may be able to do an-
other four fights like he did
in 2012.
The four-division world
champion said he was hon-
ored by being named Fighter
of the Year and hopes to live
up to the hopes of his coun-
trymen in the Philippines.
ferently and do better this
time, Cone said.
One thing that Cone likes
is that his teams balanced at-
tack is starting to return to its
old approach.
What I liked about us last
game was that everybody
stepped up for their leader
James (Yap). Several guys
stepped up when we needed
them and I hope we can carry
that. Well see what we can
do for this game.
Yap only managed a sea-
son-low two points in the
said win, but the Mixers were
still able to pull it through
and survive.
James is going to be ready
for Game 6. Thats for sure,
Cone said.
Last conference in the Gov-
ernors Cup, where both teams
also gured in a best-of-seven
nale, the Elasto Painters also
held a 3-1 series lead before
the Mixers won two straight to
force a Game 7.
However, it was still Rain
or Shine, which reigned su-
preme to gain its first fran-
chise championship in the
league.
KAPALUA, HawaiiNick Wat-
ney was in the local Honolua
Store at Kapalua earlier this week
when he saw a familiar face and
quickly placed his hand over his
chest, covering up the swoosh on
his shirt. Add that to the les of
worst-kept secrets.
Nike made it ofcial Tuesday
with separate announcements
that it has signed Watney and
Kyle Stanley to equipment deals.
Both had been with Titleist.
The biggest Nike acquisition
in the offseason, off course, was
Rory McIlroy. Nike will make
that announcement in Abu Dhabi,
where McIlroy will start his sea-
son in a couple of weeks. It also
landed S.Y. Noh of South Korea.
The bigger surprises were
Stewart Cink, who in October said
he had one year left on his Nike
deal, switching over to Taylor-
Made. Also going to TaylorMade
were former U.S. Open champion
Lucas Glover (formerly Nike),
Ryan Moore (formerly Adams
Golf) and John Huh, who had
been playing Ping last year but
didnt have an endorsement until
well after he won the Mayakoba
Classic in Mexico.
Chris Kirk and Gary Wood-
land (both formerly Titleist)
are headed to Callaway.
Watney will be using a high-
speed cavity back driver and
Nike VR Pro Combo irons, a
similar look to the AP2 irons
he used at Titleist. Stanley is
using blades. AP
New year,
new golf
equipment
2 EZ2 0000
Fernandez
Donaire
San Mig Coffees James Yap (left), shown here working on the defensive end against Rain or Shines Beau
Belga, is expected to improve on his paltry two-point output in Game 5 when their teams clash again today
at the Mall of Asia Arena.
B1
Business
Ray S. Eano, Editor business@mst.ph
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor; extrastory2000@gmail.com
IN BRIEF
Trans-Asia acquires 50%
of Holcims power stake
CebuPac cancels deal with US airline
Bourse
suspends
7 stocks
Markets up on 1
st
trading day
VOLUME 687.950M VOLUME 931.800M
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX
Closing January 2, 2013
OIL
PRICES
TODAY
P584-P695
LPG/11-kg tank
P47.15-P53.07
Unleaded Gasoline
P38.40-P41.05
Diesel
P40.30-P52.20
Kerosene
P27.20-P31.00
Auto LPG
FOREI GN EXCHANGE RATE
Currency Unit US Dollar Peso
United States Dollar 1.000000 41.0780
Japan Yen 0.011533 0.4738
UK Pound 1.625100 66.7559
Hong Kong Dollar 0.129034 5.3005
Switzerland Franc 1.091465 44.8352
Canada Dollar 1.007049 41.3676
Singapore Dollar 0.818867 33.6374
Australia Dollar 1.043841 42.8789
Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 108.9660
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266645 10.9532
Brunei Dollar 0.815528 33.5003
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000104 0.0043
Thailand Baht 0.032690 1.3428
UAE Dirham 0.272287 11.1850
Euro Euro 1.319700 54.2106
Korea Won 0.000941 0.0387
China Yuan 0.160424 6.5899
India Rupee 0.018288 0.7512
Malaysia Ringgit 0.327118 13.4374
NewZealand Dollar 0.827609 33.9965
Taiwan Dollar 0.034429 1.4143
Source: PDS Bridge
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
40
42
44
46
48
40.860
CLOSE
Closing JANUARY 2, 2013
5,860.99
48.26
HIGH P40.850 LOW P41.000 AVERAGE P40.898
5200
4460
3720
2980
2240
1500
1200
Dubai oil rm mulls over Bataan industrial park
PHILIPPINE nancial
markets surged on the
rst trading of 2013,
with the Philippine Stock
Exchange index record-
ing a new high and the
peso returning to the 40
territory against the US
dollar.
The Phisix gained 48.26 points, or
0.8 percent, on Wednesday to 5,860.99
points, eclipsing the previous record
high of 5,832.83 posted on Dec. 26,
2012. The rest of stock markets in Asia
registered relief Wednesday over the
US congressional vote to stop hundreds
of billions of dollars in automatic tax
increases and spending cuts that risked
plunging the worlds biggest economy
into recession.
The peso closed at 40.86 against
the US dollar on speculation overseas
remittances picked up during the
holiday period. Bonds gained. The peso
appreciated 6.8 percent last year, its best
performance since 2007. Local nancial
markets were shut Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for
the New Year holidays.
This is the normal buildup of
dollar supply over the long weekend
from overseas remittances that have
been converted into pesos, said Joey
Cuyegkeng, an economist at ING Groep
NV. Thats going to be temporary. Then
the markets will focus on risk factors,
including whats happening in the US.
Gainers overwhelmed losers at the local
stock market, 128 to 46, with 29 issues
unchanged. All sectoral indices rose,
led by holding companies, services and
mining.
SM Investments Corp., now the
countrys most valued stock, advanced 2
percent to P900. SM Investments, owned
by the family of retail tycoon Henry
Sy Sr., leapfrogged Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Co. to become the
most valuable stock, as the Philippines
fastest economic growth prompted a
shift in consumer spending to property
and leisure.
PLDT, the biggest telecommunications
company and a member of Hong Kong-
based First Pacic Co. Ltd., added 1.2
percent to P2,560.
GT Capital Holdings Inc., owned by the
family of tycoon George Ty and which
owns Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.
and Toyota Motors Philippines Corp.,
climbed 5.5 percent to P654.
Conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 1.7
percent to P526, while Metro Pacic
Investments Corp., which is into tollways,
hospitals, water utility and power
distribution, advanced 3 percent to P4.59.
Bloomberry Resorts Corp., owned by
port magnate Enrique Razon Jr., rose 2.9
percent to P13.58.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said
favorable US Congressional vote might
benet the nancial markets in the short
term. Anna Leah Estrada
Filipino traders toast in front of the electronic board before the opening of the rst day of trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange
in Makati. The PSE index posted a new record Wednesday while the rest of stock markets in Asia rallied. AP
By Jenniffer B. Austria
THE Philippine Stock
Exchange on Wednesday
suspended the trading of seven
companies that failed to comply
with the required 10-percent
minimum public oat.
The PSE said Alphaland
Corp., Southeast Asia Cement
Holdings Inc., PAL Holdings
Inc., Allied Banking Corp., San
Miguel Brewery Inc., PNOC
Exploration Corp., and San
Miguel Properties Inc. were
suspended as of Jan. 2.
It said trading of three other
companies remained suspended,
including Philcomsat Holdings
Corp., Cosmos Bottling Corp.
and Nextstage Inc. for other
disclosure violations.
We urge companies to
comply as this will also
encourage good corporate
governance, PSE president
and chief executive Hans Sicat
said.
These companies are still
undecided on whether they
would remain listed in the local
bourse or they would opt for
delisting.
The trading suspension
covers a period of not more
than six months, or until June
30. The PSE said it would
delist companies that failed to
raise the public oat by June
30.
The trading suspension
would be lifted if the concerned
listed company could present
proof of compliance with the
public ownership requirement.
San Miguel Brewery
said in a disclosure to the
stock exchange the delisting
remained an option for the
company after its request
for an extension to comply
with the minimum public
ownership rule was denied by
the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Alphaland president Mario
Oreta said in a text message
the company had not yet
come up with a decision on
whether it would comply with
the 10-percent public oat
requirement.
PNOC-EC earlier said
it planned to remain listed
with the PSE and would sell
shares to comply with the
ownership rule by the rst
quarter of 2013. PNOC-EC
is the petroleum and coal arm
of state-owned Philippine
National Oil Co.
By Lailany P. Gomez
CEBU Pacic terminated a deal to sell
10 aircraft to Allegiant Travel Co., an
American company that operates low-
cost airline Allegiant Air.
Cebu Pacic president and chief
executive Lance Gokongwei said
the proposed transaction to sell the
companys entire eet of 10 Airbus A319
aircraft to Allegiant Travel would not
push through.
Gokongwei said the cancellation
stemmed from the failure of both parties
to reach an agreement on certain terms
of the transaction.
It is unfortunate that we were not
able to nalize the sale agreement. We
have been unable to agree on certain
conditions that would have made the
transaction workable, both operationally
and nancially, he said.
Cebu Pacic earlier agreed to deliver
the 10 A319 to Allegiant over a 15-
month period starting March 2013. The
Airbus A319s were the budget airlines
oldest and smallest jet aircraft and were
on service for the last six years.
Without the A319 sale, our current
eet expansion planwhich includes
delivery of 8 Airbus A320 aircraft over
the next 2 yearswill enable us to
grow seat capacity by an average of 10
percent to 15 percent per year, which is
in line with our demand outlook for air
travel in the Philippines, allowing Cebu
Pacic the exibility to accommodate
the growing demand for air travel in the
Philippines, Gokongwei said.
Cebu Pacic earlier said it would take
delivery of 15 brand new Airbus A320
and four Airbus A330 aircraft between
2012 and 2014.
It also explores options to take delivery
of its Airbus A320 orders between 2015
and 2016 to accommodate the growing
demand for air travel.
The budget airline also plans to begin
its long-haul services in the third quarter
with the delivery of up to eight Airbus
A330 aircraft.
The Airbus A330 has a range of
up to 11 hours which would enable
Cebu Pacic to serve markets such as
Australia, Middle East, parts of Europe
and the US.
The aircraft is one of the most
commonly used wide-body aircraft in
operation today, given its highly reliable
operating statistics.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
DUBAI-BASED Kampac Oil
Middle East FSZO Inc. will
conduct a feasibility study on
developing about 125 hectares
in Bataan owned by PNOC
Alternative Fuels Corp. i n t o
an industrial and energy hub.
PAFC and Kampac Oil is
currently discussing/negotiating
on the time frame that will be
spent on the conduct of the
feasibility study by Kampac for
the proposed development of about
125 hectares of land as industrial
and energy city, documents from
Philippine National Oil Co. show.
PNOC is the mother of PNOC
Alternative Fuels
Kampac Oil signed an agreement
with the Bataan Freeport Authority
in 2011 to pursue the development
of a super oil storage tank farm at
the port.
Kampac Oil, established
in 1988, is an international
oil company with diversied
activities, including oil
exploration and trading. Kampac
Oils annual revenue is estimated
at around $3.4 billion.
An industry source earlier
disclosed ongoing talks between
PNOC Alternative Fuels and an
unidentied foreign company
to put up a petrochemical plant
within the complex.
Former Energy secretary Jose
Rene Almendras earlier said
the investor was a Dubai-listed
petroleum company but did not
provide additional details.
A local company with
international partner is also
negotiating with PNOC
Alternative Fuels to put up a
liqueed natural gas facility
under a lease agreement within
the industrial park in Bataan.
PNOC Alternative Fuels
is now focused on enticing
investors to the industrial park
and its biofuels mandate. A local
company with foreign presence
is interested, the source said.
BDO in Singapore
BDO Unibank Inc. said Wednesday it established
a representative ofce in Singapore in a bid to further
boost relations with companies doing business in one of
Asias most booming economies.
Conveniently situated at the newly constructed
One Rafes Place, the representative ofce is seen to
promote the bank in Singapores nancial community,
acting as a point of contact for Singaporean companies
interested in the Philippine market, and conversely,
Philippine companies looking to penetrate Singapore,
BDO said.
The bank added the opening of the Singapore
representative ofce was expected to enhance
relationships further and nd ways to better serve and
work alongside Singaporean rms.
BDO has one of the largest distribution networks,
with over 750 operating branches and 1,800 ATMs
nationwide. BDO is the countrys largest bank in terms
of total resources, customer loans, total deposits and
assets under management as of June 30, 2012.
Anna Leah Estrada
EastWest expands
EASTWEST Banking Corp., owned by the family of
tycoon Andrew Gotianun Sr., said Wednesday branch
network reached 245 as of end-2012, after opening
123 new ones in in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.
EastWest said a disclosure to the stock exchange the
branches exceeded the end-2011 total of 122.
EastWests commitment to its shareholders was to
open new stores around the country at a rapid pace,
which it has fervently pursued. The bank plans to
continue with its store expansion and grow its network
to at least 350 by 2014, EastWest bank said.
The bank was recently included in the MSCI Global
Small Cap indices list. MSCI is a leading provider of
investment decision support tools to investors globally,
including asset managers, banks, hedge funds and
pension funds.
EastWest in October 2012 was named by The Asian
Banker as the sixth strongest bank in the Philippines.
Anna Leah Estrada
Premiere buys hotel
LISTED Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp. acquired a
40-percent stake in the soon-to-open boutique serviced
hotel in Makati City.
Premiere Horizon said in a disclosure to the stock
exchange it subscribed to 25.6 million primary shares
equivalent to a 40-percent interest in First Ardent
Development Corp.
First Ardent is developing Y2 Residence Hotel along
Makati Avenue in Makati City. The hotel is scheduled to
open in August this year.
The transaction is an opportunity for the company
to further its diversication efforts and venture into the
booming tourism-related real estate business, Premiere
Horizon said.
The company said it expects the project to contribute
to its income and revenue stream.
Premiere Horizon, formerly Premiere Entertainment
Philippines Inc., was previously engaged in the
production of motion pictures. Jenniffer B. Austria
CEMENT manufacturer Holcim
Philippines Inc. sold its 50-
percent stake in a power producer
to Trans-Asia Oil and Energy
Development Corp.
Trans-Asia, a unit of the
Phinma Group, said it bought
out the entire 50-percent stake of
its joint venture partner Holcim
in Trans-Asia Power Generation
Corp.
Trans-Asia Power owns and
operates a 52-megawatt diesel
power plant in Norzagaray,
Bulacan that was supposed to
deliver electricity to Holcims
cement plants.
Please be informed that
Trans-Asia Oil and Energy
Development Corp. and
Holcim Philippines Inc. signed
today [Wednesday] a share
purchase agreement for the
purchase by Trans-Asia of
Holcims 50-percent stake in
Trans-Asia Power Generation
Corp., Trans-Asia said in a
disclosure.
The company, however, did
not provide details on the cost
of the transaction.
Trans-Asia Power signed a
power supply agreement with
Holcim in August 2011. It
agreed to supply the electricity
requirements of Holcims cement
plants in Norzagaray, Bulacan
and Bacnotan, La Union for 15
years starting Dec. 26, 2013.
Alena Mae S. Flores
SM Investments
outperforms PLDT
Business
ManilaStandardToday B2
52 Weeks Previous % Net Foreign
High Low STOCKS Close High Low Close Change Volume Trade/Buying
MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013
M
S
T
FINANCIAL
70.50 46.00 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 72.80 73.20 72.60 73.00 0.27 3,592,580 85,070,861.00
77.45 50.00 Bank of PI 95.00 95.50 94.50 95.00 0.00 585,030 2,832,303.50
1.82 0.68 Bankard, Inc. 0.70 0.71 0.70 0.71 1.43 8,000
595.00 370.00 China Bank 54.60 54.70 54.40 54.50 (0.18) 69,710 209,867.50
2.20 1.42 BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. 2.00 2.05 1.99 2.05 2.50 18,000
28.50 27.80 Citystate Savings 28.00 27.50 27.50 27.50 (1.79) 500
23.90 13.80 COL Financial 19.48 19.46 19.00 19.00 (2.46) 27,400
20.70 18.50 Eastwest Bank 29.00 29.25 29.10 29.25 0.86 183,800 189,665.00
22.00 7.95 Filipino Fund Inc. 11.20 10.26 10.26 10.26 (8.39) 1,000
3.26 1.91 I-Remit Inc. 2.79 2.79 2.77 2.79 0.00 34,000
650.00 420.00 Manulife Fin. Corp. 505.00 520.00 510.00 515.00 1.98 1,650
39.20 3.00 Maybank ATR KE 24.60 24.70 24.60 24.70 0.41 11,900
102.50 60.00 Metrobank 102.00 102.50 101.70 101.80 (0.20) 1,922,090 (9,542,056.00)
94.50 56.00 Phil Bank of Comm 72.00 79.80 78.50 79.80 10.83 1,450
77.80 41.00 Phil. National Bank 91.00 92.00 90.00 91.90 0.99 454,170 12,288,280.50
95.00 69.00 Phil. Savings Bank 100.00 101.00 96.00 101.00 1.00 20
500.00 210.00 PSE Inc. 416.00 418.00 415.00 415.00 (0.24) 12,080 265,806.00
45.50 29.45 RCBC À 60.00 60.00 58.80 59.00 (1.67) 172,860.00 152,803.00
155.20 77.00 Security Bank 156.00 160.00 157.00 159.90 2.50 320,840 23,234,776.00
1100.00 879.00 Sun Life Financial 995.00 1010.00 995.00 1010.00 1.51 740
140.00 58.00 Union Bank 112.70 113.80 112.80 112.80 0.09 372,340 86,856.00
2.06 1.43 Vantage Equities 2.42 2.42 2.42 2.42 0.00 2,000
INDUSTRIAL
35.50 26.50 Aboitiz Power Corp. 36.95 37.35 36.85 37.25 0.81 1,247,800 (4,899,275.00)
13.58 8.00 Agrinurture Inc. 8.40 8.55 7.83 8.55 1.79 67,600 7,860.00
1.70 0.97 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.97 2.04 1.98 2.04 3.55 712,000 138,710.00
1.62 1.08 Alsons Cons. 1.29 1.29 1.28 1.29 0.00 432,000
Asiabest Group 19.40 19.50 19.10 19.40 0.00 5,500
2.96 2.12 Calapan Venture 4.39 4.10 4.07 4.10 (6.61) 45,000
2.75 2.30 Chemrez Technologies Inc. 2.96 2.95 2.90 2.94 (0.68) 161,000 76,470.00
9.74 7.41 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 25.80 27.00 25.70 26.80 3.88 29,800 140,480.00
DNL Industries Inc. 4.40 4.400 4.37 4.37 (0.68) 3,389,000 (10,052,320.00)
6.41 4.83 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.75 6.85 6.73 6.83 1.19 6,798,000 (10,774,194.00)
7.77 2.80 EEI 10.10 10.30 10.10 10.22 1.19 1,372,000 1,278,420.00
3.80 1.00 Euro-Med Lab. 1.80 1.81 1.80 1.80 0.00 9,000
19.40 12.50 First Gen Corp. 22.30 22.80 22.15 22.70 1.79 719,300 9,228,990.00
79.30 51.50 First Holdings A 90.00 91.90 89.95 90.60 0.67 433,230 2,602,440.00
27.00 17.50 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 17.80 17.00 17.00 17.00 (4.49) 500
0.02 0.0110 Greenergy 0.0220 0.0220 0.0210 0.0220 0.00 48,200,000
13.10 7.80 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.00 14.00 13.80 13.80 (1.43) 2,300
6.00 3.80 Integ. Micro-Electronics 3.98 3.96 3.95 3.96 (0.50) 3,000
120.00 80.00 Jollibee Foods Corp. 102.00 104.50 102.00 104.20 2.16 125,900 2,554,589.00
Lafarge Rep 11.70 11.64 11.02 11.48 (1.88) 1,648,100 (142,876.00)
8.40 1.04 LMG Chemicals 1.83 1.89 1.85 1.88 2.73 29,000
LT Group 13.38 13.56 13.24 13.42 0.30 2,285,600 40,300.00
3.20 1.32 Manchester Intl. A 12.12 12.58 12.00 12.38 2.15 139,600
3.19 1.08 Manchester Intl. B 12.00 12.50 12.30 12.50 4.17 24,400 3,708.00
27.45 18.10 Manila Water Co. Inc. 32.00 32.35 31.95 32.00 0.00 2,130,800 (25,606,035.00)
6.95 0.75 Mariwasa MFG. Inc. 5.85 6.47 5.85 6.40 9.40 400,000 1,899.00
18.10 8.12 Megawide 18.400 18.700 18.400 18.520 0.65 451,700 6,268,582.00
280.60 215.00 Mla. Elect. Co À 260.60 263.80 260.60 263.00 0.92 300,690 (28,767,812.00)
12.20 7.50 Pancake House Inc. 7.78 7.66 7.66 7.66 (1.54) 400
3.65 1.96 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 6.52 6.80 6.35 6.60 1.23 3,928,400 (3,509,448.00)
16.00 9.70 Petron Corporation 10.46 10.44 10.36 10.40 (0.57) 1,764,200 (12,987,480.00)
13.70 10.20 Phinma Corporation 11.70 11.78 11.00 11.78 0.68 17,800
14.94 8.05 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 9.03 9.15 8.91 9.05 0.22 148,500 900,000.00
4.42 1.01 RFM Corporation 5.00 5.00 4.82 4.88 (2.40) 826,800 1,616,627.00
3.90 2.01 Roxas Holdings 2.95 3.00 2.96 2.96 0.34 60,000
6.50 2.90 Salcon Power Corp. 4.50 4.60 4.50 4.60 2.22 25,000
129.20 110.20 San Miguel Corp À 105.40 105.00 103.20 105.00 (0.38) 101,000 4,943,038.00
3000.00 800.00 San MiguelPure Foods `B 244.00 244.60 244.00 244.20 0.08 55,210 11,109,778.00
2.44 1.73 Splash Corporation 1.70 1.71 1.71 1.71 0.59 1,000
0.196 0.112 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.141 0.142 0.141 0.142 0.71 880,000
1.41 0.90 Trans-Asia Oil 1.16 1.38 1.17 1.33 14.66 85,805,000 369,250.00
69.20 37.00 Universal Robina 83.85 86.50 83.85 86.00 2.56 971,750 25,606,292.50
5.50 1.05 Victorias Milling 1.39 1.43 1.37 1.40 0.72 5,087,000 (56,000.00)
0.77 0.320 Vitarich Corp. 0.94 0.98 0.95 0.97 3.19 281,000 950.00
18.00 2.55 Vivant Corp. 9.01 9.00 8.35 8.35 (7.33) 5,200
1.22 0.77 Vulcan Indl. 1.40 1.50 1.41 1.45 3.57 1,218,000
HOLDING FIRMS
1.18 0.65 Abacus Cons. À 0.67 0.69 0.67 0.68 1.49 2,331,000
59.90 35.50 Aboitiz Equity 52.95 53.10 52.85 52.90 (0.09) 477,050 (11,253,515.00)
0.019 0.014 Alcorn Gold Res. 0.1450 0.1460 0.1420 0.1430 (1.38) 67,790,000 (14,400.00)
13.70 8.00 Alliance Global Inc. 16.76 16.90 16.70 16.84 0.48 8,215,700 30,691,706.00
2.60 1.80 Anglo Holdings A 2.16 2.30 2.16 2.23 3.24 8,360,000 57,730.00
5.02 3.00 Anscor À 5.17 5.24 5.18 5.24 1.35 43,200
6.98 0.260 Asia Amalgamated A 4.80 5.00 4.85 5.00 4.17 23,000
2.98 1.49 ATN Holdings A 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.00 5,000
4.16 2.30 ATN Holdings B 0.97 0.97 0.90 0.97 0.00 353,000
485.20 272.00 Ayala Corp À 517.00 526.50 516.00 526.00 1.74 332,320 58,647,740.00
64.80 30.50 DMCI Holdings 53.95 55.00 53.95 54.80 1.58 786,500 1,478,263.00
4.19 1.03 F&J Prince A 2.99 3.06 3.06 3.06 2.34 1,000
5.20 3.30 Filinvest Dev. Corp. 4.94 4.89 4.80 4.83 (2.23) 203,000 832,030.00
0.98 0.10 Forum Pacic 0.200 0.245 0.245 0.245 22.50 10,000
556.00 455.40 GT Capital 620.00 655.50 631.00 654.00 5.48 228,730 54,668,755.00
5.22 2.94 House of Inv. 6.29 6.40 6.30 6.40 1.75 30,500
36.20 19.00 JG Summit Holdings 39.50 39.90 39.65 39.85 0.89 465,500 8,740,160.00
4.19 2.27 Jolliville Holdings 5.70 7.20 7.00 7.00 22.81 15,000
5.17 2.30 Keppel Holdings À 5.60 4.60 4.60 4.60 (17.86) 2,000
6.21 4.00 Lopez Holdings Corp. 6.28 6.39 6.28 6.33 0.80 1,301,800 (1,036,762.00)
1.54 0.61 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.96 0.99 0.96 0.97 1.04 1,366,000
0.91 0.300 Mabuhay Holdings À 0.350 0.395 0.395 0.395 12.86 40,000
3.82 1.800 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.85 1.90 1.80 1.88 1.62 1,756,000
4.65 2.56 Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. 4.45 4.66 4.43 4.59 3.15 27,600,000 37,540,690.00
6.24 3.40 Minerales Industrias Corp. 5.97 5.97 5.95 5.97 0.00 270,000
9.66 1.22 MJCI Investments Inc. 5.74 6.05 5.74 6.01 4.70 3,800
0.0770 0.045 Pacica À 0.0500 0.0500 0.0500 0.0500 0.00 100,000
2.20 1.20 Prime Media Hldg 1.280 1.300 1.290 1.300 1.56 13,000
0.82 0.44 Prime Orion 0.550 0.580 0.550 0.550 0.00 131,000
0.490 0.285 Sinophil Corp. 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.00 90,000
760.00 450.00 SM Investments Inc. 882.00 900.00 875.00 900.00 2.04 341,800 (14,300,985.00)
2.71 1.08 Solid Group Inc. 1.98 2.05 1.98 2.03 2.53 68,000
1.57 1.14 South China Res. Inc. 1.04 1.15 1.04 1.13 8.65 848,000
0.620 0.082 Wellex Industries 0.3000 0.3050 0.2950 0.3050 1.67 1,110,000 150,000.00
0.980 0.380 Zeus Holdings 0.340 0.355 0.350 0.355 4.41 20,000
P R O P E R T Y
3.34 1.70 A. Brown Co., Inc. 3.01 3.10 3.00 3.10 2.99 1,437,000 452,500.00
0.83 0.42 Araneta Prop À 0.810 0.830 0.780 0.780 (3.70) 128,000
24.15 13.36 Ayala Land `B 26.45 26.95 26.45 26.65 0.76 5,086,500 32,090,405.00
5.62 3.08 Belle Corp. À 4.86 4.90 4.84 4.84 (0.41) 2,760,000 (7,885,990.00)
9.00 2.26 Cebu Holdings 4.00 4.16 4.03 4.16 4.00 27,000
2.85 1.35 Century Property 1.48 1.50 1.46 1.46 (1.35) 23,653,000 27,641,680.00
2.91 1.20 City & Land Dev. 2.36 2.36 2.36 2.36 0.00 5,000
1.50 1.05 Cityland Dev. À 1.16 1.12 1.12 1.12 (3.45) 1,000
0.092 0.060 Crown Equities Inc. 0.069 0.068 0.062 0.068 (1.45) 110,000
1.11 0.67 Cyber Bay Corp. 0.81 0.81 0.79 0.81 0.00 889,000 2,370.00
0.94 0.54 Empire East Land 0.990 1.030 0.990 1.030 4.04 11,264,000 (20,200.00)
0.310 0.10 Ever Gotesco 0.400 0.420 0.405 0.410 2.50 4,370,000
2.74 1.63 Global-Estate 1.96 1.95 1.89 1.95 (0.51) 408,000 (328,200.00)
1.44 0.98 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.49 1.54 1.49 1.54 3.36 5,072,000 4,439,220.00
3.80 1.21 Highlands Prime 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.99 0.00 21,000
4.50 1.50 Keppel Properties 2.60 2.25 2.25 2.25 (13.46) 7,000
2.34 1.51 Megaworld Corp. 2.77 2.81 2.78 2.79 0.72 20,950,000 (3,306,760.00)
0.36 0.150 MRC Allied Ind. 0.1520 0.1530 0.1500 0.1500 (1.32) 9,770,000 145,500.00
0.990 0.089 Phil. Estates Corp. 0.6500 0.6900 0.6600 0.6700 3.08 1,608,000
4.33 2.10 Primex Corp. 3.60 3.60 3.54 3.54 (1.67) 395,000
19.94 10.00 Robinsons Land `B 20.75 21.05 20.75 20.75 0.00 1,405,000 (5,281,955.00)
7.71 2.51 Rockwell 2.43 2.65 2.40 2.49 2.47 407,000
2.85 1.81 Shang Properties Inc. 3.04 3.07 3.05 3.07 0.99 105,000
8.95 6.00 SM Development À 5.89 5.97 5.88 5.97 1.36 238,100 1,076,220.00
18.20 10.94 SM Prime Holdings 16.50 16.76 16.10 16.20 (1.82) 5,917,100 (41,715,188.00)
0.91 0.64 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.00 51,000
4.55 1.80 Starmalls 3.98 3.94 3.88 3.94 (1.01) 31,000
0.64 0.45 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.00 5,000 (2,700.00)
4.66 2.60 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.860 4.940 4.820 4.870 0.21 5,474,000 5,283,340.00
S E R V I C E S
4.72 1.20 2GO Group 1.62 1.67 1.63 1.67 3.09 2,000
42.00 24.80 ABS-CBN 33.85 37.00 34.00 37.00 9.31 474,200
18.98 1.05 Acesite Hotel 1.20 1.34 1.20 1.28 6.67 89,000 (13,000.00)
0.78 0.45 APC Group, Inc. 0.820 0.830 0.820 0.820 0.00 918,000
102.80 4.45 Bloomberry 13.20 13.70 13.20 13.58 2.88 6,610,800 (31,208,294.00)
0.5300 0.1010 Boulevard Holdings 0.1320 0.1350 0.1320 0.1350 2.27 15,670,000
24.00 5.20 Calata Corp. 3.98 4.03 3.90 3.94 (1.01) 357,000 11,900.00
82.50 60.80 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 61.85 63.00 61.90 62.70 1.37 159,320 3,011,927.00
9.70 5.44 DFNN Inc. 4.52 4.75 4.70 4.75 5.09 20,000 94,840.00
5.90 1.45 Easy Call Common 2.60 2.58 2.56 2.56 (1.54) 9,000
1270.00 831.00 Globe Telecom 1092.00 1093.00 1089.00 1089.00 (0.27) 164,760 (6,739,900.00)
11.00 6.18 GMA Network Inc. 9.18 9.50 9.18 9.50 3.49 616,000
77.00 43.40 I.C.T.S.I. 74.00 76.20 74.20 75.55 2.09 414,950 11,019,918.50
6.80 4.30 IPeople Inc. À 9.30 9.30 8.60 9.30 0.00 10,000
4.70 1.75 IP Converge 3.34 3.40 3.21 3.39 1.50 63,000
34.50 0.036 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.025 0.027 0.025 0.026 4.00 51,300,000
3.87 1.00 IPVG Corp. 0.59 0.60 0.58 0.60 1.69 873,000 85,500.00
0.0760 0.042 Island Info 0.0480 0.0530 0.0470 0.0530 10.42 1,200,000
5.1900 2.550 ISM Communications 2.5900 2.5000 2.2800 2.5000 (3.47) 13,000 (2,500.00)
10.30 5.90 Leisure & Resorts 8.30 8.37 8.20 8.30 0.00 1,109,600 (41,650.00)
3.70 2.60 Liberty Telecom 2.40 2.40 2.30 2.40 0.00 6,000
0.84 0.57 Manila Bulletin 0.73 0.82 0.70 0.76 4.11 462,000
4.08 1.21 Manila Jockey 2.74 2.80 2.74 2.80 2.19 601,000
22.95 13.80 Pacic Online Sys. Corp. 14.08 14.10 14.00 14.10 0.14 17,800
3.39 1.05 Paxys Inc. 2.96 3.05 3.00 3.00 1.35 326,000
10.00 5.00 Phil. Racing Club 9.50 9.55 9.50 9.55 0.53 2,000 (18,145.00)
71.00 18.00 Phil. Seven Corp. 92.00 93.00 92.80 93.00 1.09 960
17.88 12.10 Philweb.Com Inc. 12.56 12.70 12.50 12.70 1.11 1,885,800 (11,197,998.00)
2886.00 2096.00 PLDT Common 2530.00 2570.00 2530.00 2560.00 1.19 38,490 (12,759,310.00)
0.39 0.25 PremiereHorizon 0.330 0.330 0.315 0.315 (4.55) 330,000
30.15 10.68 Puregold 33.00 32.95 32.30 32.30 (2.12) 1,603,500 (22,130,325.00)
STI Holdings 1.02 1.06 1.02 1.04 1.96 16,194,000 3,532,990.00
4.75 3.30 Touch Solutions 7.51 8.10 7.42 8.00 6.52 680,800 (95,200.00)
0.79 0.34 Waterfront Phils. 0.410 0.410 0.400 0.410 0.00 40,000 (4,000.00)
Yehey 1.250 1.300 1.250 1.250 0.00 135,000
MINING & OIL
0.0083 0.0038 Abra Mining 0.0055 0.0056 0.0055 0.0056 1.82 35,000,000 (16,800.00)
20.80 14.50 Atlas Cons. À 18.70 19.28 18.70 19.28 3.10 2,162,900 7,637,002.00
48.00 20.00 Atok-Big Wedge À 19.90 21.50 19.62 21.50 8.04 7,400
0.345 0.170 Basic Energy Corp. 0.270 0.295 0.270 0.280 3.70 18,970,000
34.00 21.20 Benguet Corp `B 20.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 (10.00) 600
2.23 1.05 Century Peak Metals Hldgs 0.84 0.85 0.84 0.85 1.19 1,005,000
Coal Asia 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.02 0.00 8,642,000 61,200.00
61.80 6.96 Dizon 15.10 15.50 15.00 15.20 0.66 33,000
1.21 0.50 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.50 0.52 0.51 0.51 2.00 483,000
1.81 1.0600 Lepanto À 1.000 1.020 0.990 1.010 1.00 20,762,000
2.070 1.0900 Lepanto `B 1.100 1.130 1.080 1.130 2.73 5,272,000 1,464,280.00
0.085 0.042 Manila Mining À 0.0600 0.0610 0.0580 0.0580 (3.33) 86,360,000
0.840 0.570 Manila Mining `B 0.0620 0.0610 0.0600 0.0610 (1.61) 50,010,000
36.50 15.04 Nickelasia 16.10 16.32 16.10 16.32 1.37 88,800
12.84 2.91 Nihao Mineral Resources 4.99 5.30 5.00 5.17 3.61 93,000
1.100 0.008 Omico 0.5700 0.5600 0.5100 0.5600 (1.75) 58,000
8.40 2.99 Oriental Peninsula Res. 3.100 3.300 3.160 3.300 6.45 429,000 25,680.00
0.032 0.014 Oriental Pet. À 0.0190 0.0210 0.0200 0.0200 5.26 606,300,000
0.033 0.014 Oriental Pet. `B 0.0200 0.0220 0.0210 0.0210 5.00 60,900,000
28.25 18.40 Philex À 14.98 15.140 14.920 15.00 0.13 2,550,200 (182,450.00)
48.00 3.00 PhilexPetroleum 29.95 30.00 29.05 29.05 (3.01) 62,800 209,220.00
0.062 0.017 Philodrill Corp. À 0.039 0.042 0.040 0.042 7.69 446,200,000 4,612,900.00
257.80 161.10 Semirara Corp. 233.40 235.00 233.40 234.80 0.60 832,440 69,691,838.00
0.029 0.015 United Paragon 0.0170 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 5.88 344,500,000
PREFERRED
50.00 23.05 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 34.00 37.50 33.95 37.50 10.29 1,766,300 11,746,380.00
580.00 535.00 Ayala Corp. Pref À 520.00 525.00 524.00 525.00 0.96 750
103.50 100.00 First Gen G 101.50 103.50 103.50 103.50 1.97 8,250
109.80 101.50 First Phil. Hldgs.-Pref. 103.50 104.50 104.00 104.50 0.97 14,000
11.02 6.00 GMA Holdings Inc. 9.32 9.58 9.40 9.50 1.93 8,493,500 471,350.00
116.70 108.90 PCOR-Preferred 108.00 108.40 107.60 108.40 0.37 10,600 353,188.00
SMC Preferred A 75.00 75.00 74.90 75.00 0.00 26,400 (1,743,750.00)
SMC Preferred C 74.50 75.00 74.50 74.50 0.00 74,660 746,000.00
1050.00 1000.00 SMPFC Preferred 1018.00 1015.00 1015.00 1015.00 (0.29) 100
WARRANTS & BONDS
1.31 0.62 Megaworld Corp. Warrants 1.71 1.76 1.72 1.76 2.92 88,000 (1,720.00)
1.38 0.67 Megaworld Corp. Warrants2 1.75 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.71 50,000
S M E
6.20 4.18 Ripple E-Business Intl 8.50 8.50 8.01 8.50 0.00 7,800
TRADI NG SUMMARY
SHARES VALUE
FINANCIAL 8,648,830 760,899,918.44
INDUSTRIAL 173,231,119 875,517,391.62
HOLDING FIRMS 124,734,189 1,024,401,896.22
PROPERTY 132,488,403 591,095,988.25
SERVICES 112,682,071 694,964,585.15
MINING & OIL 1,691,020,184 403,210,207.45
GRAND TOTAL 2,242,812,596 4,350,154,719.141
FINANCIAL 1,529.44 (up) 3.49
INDUSTRIAL 8,964.10 (up) 86.81
HOLDING FIRMS 5,219.44 (up) 68.68
PROPERTY 2,307.44 (up) 2.81
SERVICES 1,746.52 (up) 21.87
MINING & OIL 19,602.31 (up) 193.93
PSEI 5,860.99 (up) 48.26
All Shares Index 3,726.79 (up) 27.81
Gainers: 128; Losers: 46; Unchanged: 29; Total: 203
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Jolliville Holdings 7.00 22.81
Forum Pacic 0.245 22.50
Trans-Asia Oil 1.33 14.66
Mabuhay Holdings À' 0.395 12.86
Phil Bank of Comm 79.80 10.83
Island Info 0.0530 10.42
ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 37.50 10.29
Mariwasa MFG. Inc. 6.40 9.40
ABS-CBN 37.00 9.31
South China Res. Inc. 1.13 8.65
STOCKS Close
(P)
Change
(%)
Keppel Holdings À' 4.60 (17.86)
Keppel Properties 2.25 (13.46)
Benguet Corp `B' 18.00 (10.00)
Filipino Fund Inc. 10.26 (8.39)
Vivant Corp. 8.35 (7.33)
Calapan Venture 4.10 (6.61)
PremiereHorizon 0.315 (4.55)
Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 17.00 (4.49)
Araneta Prop À' 0.780 (3.70)
ISM Communications 2.5000 (3.47)
TOP GAI NERS TOP LOSERS
RAY S. EANO
Mr. Ray S. Eanos column will resume
next week.
extrastory2000@gmail.com business@mst.ph
By Ian Sayson
SM INVESTMENTS Corp. leapfrogged
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
to become the nations most valuable
stock, as Southeast Asias fastest economic
growth prompted a shift in consumer
spending to property and leisure.
SM Investments, the holding
company of the countrys richest
man Henry Sy, rose 0.2 percent
on Dec. 28, boosting its market
capitalization to P549.5 billion
($13.4 billion), compared with a
value of P546.6 billion for PLDT.
The stock market was shut on
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for holidays.
This change isnt a uke, Alex
Pomento, strategist at Macquarie
Group Ltd.s Manila unit, said
in a phone interview. This is an
inevitable change of the guards
and it is a reection of the nations
consumer spending pattern.
Shares of SM Investments
rallied 51 percent last year,
outpacing the Philippine Stock
Exchange Indexs 33-percent
gain, as the fastest economic
expansion since 2010 boosted
prots at the companys retail,
property and banking ventures.
PLDT, the nations largest phone
company, trailed with a 0.5-
percent drop as rising competition
and a shift from calls and text
messages to social media offered
by Facebook Inc. and Twitter
Inc. squeezed earnings.
SM Investments gained 2
percent to P900 at the close of
trading Wednesday, while PLDT
gained 1.2 percent to P2,560.
SM Investments owns the
nations biggest grocery and
department store operators. It
also controls BDO Unibank Inc.,
the biggest bank by assets, and
SM Prime Holdings Inc., which
runs 51 shopping mall centers in
the Philippines and China. It also
holds stakes in companies that are
building a casino resort with Melco
Crown Entertainment Ltd.
Consumer condence
SMs milestone is indicative
of the growing condence in the
nations consumer market, said
Rico Gomez, who helps manage
$2.2 billion at Rizal Commercial
Banking Corp. Both companies
rely on consumer spending but
PLDT is in a struggling sector
while SM is in industries that
are viewed very positively at the
moment.
The $225-billion Philippine
economy expanded 7.1 percent
in the third quarter of last year,
the fastest pace in Southeast
Asia. The central bank has cut
its benchmark rate four times
in 2012, falling to a record low
3.5 percent in October, to boost
growth and has said it has room
for more reductions.
The economy may grow as
much as 7 percent in 2012 and
accelerate to 7.5 percent in 2014
as the government increases
spending to a record and lures
investments to upgrade the
nations infrastructure, Economic
Planning Secretary Arsenio
Balisacan said on Dec. 18.
Record remittances
Consumer spending, which
accounts for three-fourths of the
Philippine economy, is getting
a boost from record remittances
sent home by Filipinos living
and working overseas. For every
peso Filipinos spent in the third
quarter, about P0.048 went to
communications while P0.509
went to food, drinks, clothes and
home appliances, according to
data compiled by the government.
Communications as a
percentage of total consumer
spending was 4.8 percent in
the third quarter, down from
5.3 percent in 2010. The share
of spending on food, drinks,
clothes and appliances, leisure,
restaurants and hotels increased
to 58 percent from 57 percent
over the same period.
Nine-month prot at SM
Investments rose 14 percent to
P16.1 billion from a year ago,
the company said in a statement
on Nov. 8. PLDTs net income
slid 6 percent to P28.7 billion
as rising competition triggered
price cuts and customers
preferred communicating over the
Internet instead of sending mobile
text messages.
Prot growth
PLDTs revenue from short-
messaging services, or SMS,
fell 2 percent to P32.5 billion
in the rst nine months of 2012,
it said in a statement on Nov.
6. Revenue from voice calls
declined 7 percent as volumes
dropped. Wireless broadband
sales rose 3 percent, it said.
SM Investments may beat its
annual prot growth target of
as much as 14 percent in 2012,
chief nancial ofcer Jose Sio
said on Nov. 9. The companys
prot is forecast to rise 15
percent in 2013, according to
seven analysts surveyed by
Bloomberg. PLDTs net income
is expected to rise 4.9 percent,
according to a Bloomberg poll
of 14 analysts.
SM Investments is in a growth
path while earnings at PLDT has
stagnated due to competition and
investments it had to make for
future growth, Pomento said.
Macquarie has an outperform
rating on SM Investments and a
neutral call on PLDT.
Sio didnt respond to text
messages sent to his mobile phone
for a comment. PLDT chairman
Manuel Pangilinan couldnt be
reached in his ofce for a comment
because of the holidays.
More kick
SM Investments closed at P882
on Dec. 28, 4.5 percent higher
than the average 12-month share
price estimate of P844 forecast
by nine analysts in a survey by
Bloomberg. PLDT closed at
P2,530, 9.4 percent lower than
the P2,793 average target price
of 12 analysts surveyed by
Bloomberg.
Prot at PLDT, jointly owned
by Hong Kongs First Pacic
Co. and Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone Corp., tumbled 21
percent in 2011 after reaching a
peak of P40.2 billion in 2010.
Bloomberg
The Philippines changing consumer spending pattern favors department store operator SM Prime Hold-
ings Inc., a unit of SM Investments Corp. Above is Mall of Asia, one of the big shopping malls owned by
the Sy family.
Business
ManilaStandardToday business@mst.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com JANUARY 3, 2013 THURSDAY
B3
Singapore escapes
recession, grows 1.8%
US Congress averts fiscal cliff
Govt plans to postpone rice importation
Institute wants rice
import barrier lifted
WASHINGTONA
weary Congress sent
President Barack Obama
legislation to avoid the
economy-threatening
scal cliff of middle-
class tax increases and
across-the-board spending
cuts late Tuesday night
hours before nancial
markets reopen after the
New Years holiday.
The bills passage on a 257-167 vote in the
House of Representatives sealed a hard-won
political triumph for the president less than
two months after he secured reelection while
calling for higher taxes on the wealthy.
Moments later, Obama strode into the White
House brieng room and declared, Thanks
to the votes of Republicans and Democrats in
Congress I will sign a law that raises taxes on
the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans while
preventing tax hikes that could have sent the
economy back into recession.
He spoke with Vice President Joe Biden at
his side, a recognition of the former senators
role as the lead Democratic negotiator in nal
compromise talks with Senate Republican
Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
The economic as well as political stakes
were considerable. Economists have warned
that without action by Congress, the tax
increases and spending cuts that technically
took effect with the turn of the new year at
midnight could cause unemployment to spike
and send the economy into recession.
In addition to neutralizing middle class tax
increases and spending cuts taking effect with
the new year, the legislation will raise tax rates
on incomes over $400,000 for individuals and
$450,000 for couples. That was higher than
the thresholds of $200,000 and $250,000 that
Obama campaigned for. But remarkably, in a
party that swore off tax increases two decades
ago, dozens of Republicans supported the bill
in both houses of Congress.
The Senate approved the measure on a vote of
89-8 less than 24 hours earlier, and in the interim,
rebellious House conservatives demanded a vote
to add signicant spending cuts to the measure.
But in the end they retreated.
The measure split the upper ranks of the
Republican leadership in the House.
Speaker John Boehner of Ohio voted in
favor, while Majority Leader Eric Cantor of
Virginia and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy,
the partys whip, opposed the bill. Rep. Paul
Ryan, the partys 2012 vice presidential
candidate, supported the measure.
Supporters of the bill in both parties expressed
regret that the bill was narrowly drawn, and fell
far short of a sweeping plan that combined tax
changes and spending cuts to reduce federal
decits. That proved to be a step too far in the
two months since Obama called congressional
leaders to the White House for a post-election
stab at compromise.
Already, both sides were maneuvering
for the next round in a seemingly ceaseless
struggle about taxes and spending.
Boehner said, Now the focus turns to
spending. The American people reelected a
Republican majority in the House, and we will
use it in 2013 to hold the president accountable
for the balanced approach he promised,
meaning signicant spending cuts and reforms
to the entitlement programs that are driving our
country deeper and deeper into debt. AP
SINGAPORES economy
expanded more than economists
estimated last quarter, averting a
recession even after the central
bank refrained from monetary
stimulus as it sought to contain
elevated ination.
Gross domestic product
rose an annualized 1.8 percent
in the three months to Dec.
31 from the previous period,
when it contracted a revised
6.3 percent, the Trade Ministry
said in a statement Wednesday.
The median of 11 estimates in
a Bloomberg News survey was
for a 1.6-percent expansion.
The economy grew 1.2 percent
last year, less than a quarter of
2011s pace.
The World Bank last month
raised its outlook for emerging
East Asia nations, citing Chinas
recovery, even as the export-
dependent region faces risks from
Europes protracted sovereign
debt crisis. The Monetary
Authority of Singapore, which
allowed faster currency gains in
2012 to curb price gains, may
maintain its appreciation policy
after last quarters expansion
as the island grapples with
persistent ination pressures.
Global economic conditions
will remain challenging in the
foreseeable future, and we
are not likely to see a notable
improvement until the second
half even as China may provide
some support, said Leif Eskesen,
an economist for HSBC Holdings
Plc in Singapore. This does not
mean that the MAS is ready
to pull the trigger. Despite the
muted growth print and some
easing in ination over the past
few months, ination remains
rm and capacity is still very
tight.
Asian stocks rose as US
lawmakers passed a bill that
averted spending cuts and tax
gains threatening the economy.
The MSCI Asia Pacic excluding
Japan Index climbed 1.9 percent
as of 2 p.m. in Hong Kong.
Bloomberg
Samsungs new
businesses.
Lee Kun Hee, chairman
of Samsung Electronics
Co. (right) and Lee Boo
Jin, chief executive of
Hotel Shilla Co., arrive
for a company meeting
at the Shilla Hotel in
Seoul, South Korea on
Jan. 2, 2013. Samsung
Electronics Lee urged
employees to develop
new businesses that can
help the worlds largest
maker of mobile phones
and TVs fend off a slow
global economy and
increased competition.
BLOOMBERG
By Othel V. Campos

THE government will decide later this month whether it will import
rice or source all the requirements of the National Food Authority
from the local farmers, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said
Wednesday.
There is no need to import huge volume of rice [this year]. Were
not in a hurry to buy. The latest we could possibly announce if there
should be an importation is on the latter part of January or early
February, Alcala said in an interview.
The Agriculture Department said rice importation would be
dependent on the output of the third cropping which was scheduled
to be released in February.
The agency would also seek the opinion of the National Food
Authority council whether or not rice importation would be pursued
this year.
Alcala said rice farmers were encouraged to plant a third crop
under the early cropping scheme for additional income. The third
cropping season starts October for harvest by February.
The early cropping scheme helps farmers avoid the period when
strong typhoons usually visit the Philippines. The country gets
60 percent of its annual palay harvest from the main wet season
cropping, 40 percent from the dry season cropping, while a third
cropping season is considered a bonus yield for farmers.
Alcala previously said the government was not keen on importing
rice this year owing to projections of record palay harvest in 2012.
The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said the Philippines would
increase its palay output by 7.7 percent to 17.98 million metric tons
in 2012. Rice output in the second half of 2012 was projected to
increase 10.7 percent to 10.08 million MT.
Last year, the government authorized the importation of 500,000
MT or rice, of which 380,000 MT was taken up by the private sector
and rest by the NFA.
A GOVERNMENT think
tank said the country should
no longer seek to extend
the protectionist policy on
rice through the quantitative
restriction scheme.
A report by the Philippine
Institute for Development
Studies said that instead of
pushing for the extension of
the quantitative restriction on
rice, Manila should negotiate
for a tariff rate that offers
equivalent protection to its
producers.
The study written by Roehlano
Briones said the country should
[also] negotiate a schedule of
[tariff] reduction that would
eventually improve rice
affordability to consumers.
It said tarifcation, which
involves the conversion of
non-tariff trade barriers into an
equivalent tariff, eliminates a
system that is inherently prone
to rent-seeking and co-option of
public institutions.
Briones said one obvious
advantage of tariffying the
quantitative restriction is that
the government could still earn
revenues. The government
could win back the quota rent
by implementing a bidding
procedure for allocating the
quota, he added.
The second advantage is
that the government no longer
assumes planning function of
computing the annual quota, it
said.
It said tarifcation avoided
the added uncertainty from
discretionary import targeting
which has become a major
deterrent to private investment.
Othel V. Campos
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
Sorsogon 1st District Engineering Offce
Guinlajon, Sorsogon City
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
INVITATION TO BID
FOR
13FK0008
Package I-Repair Rehabilitation/Improvement of Sorsogon Diversion Road
1.) KO582+035 to KO582+285 2.) KO582+285 to KO582+535
The Department of Public Works and Highways, Sorsogon 1st District
Engineering Office, Guinlajon, Sorsogon City, through the SARO No.
BMB-A-12-0020521___ intends to apply the sum of Php9,799,951.73 being
the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract
for113FK0008- Package I-Repair/Rehabilitation/Improvement of Sorsogon
Diversion Road 1.) KO582+035 to KO582+285 2.) KO582+285 to KO582+535.
Engineering Offce, Guinlajon, Sorsogon City now invites bids for Rehabilitation
of 0.5 km. of roadway. Completion of the works is required 60 CD. 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.
using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifed in the Implementing Rules
and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the
Government Procurement Reform Act.
organizations with at least seventy fve percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital
stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
Interested Bidders may obtain further information form Department of Public
Works and Highways, Sorsogon 1st District Engineering Offce, Guinlajon,
SorsogonCity and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from
8:00am to 12:00 noon 1:00pm to 5pm.
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 Php10,000.00.
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.
Engineering Offce, Guinlajon, Sorsogon City will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on
January 10, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Department of Public Works and Highways, 1
st

District Engineering Offce, Guinlajon, Sorsogon City 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 January 22, 2013
at 10:00 am at DPWH Sorsogon 1
st
District Engineering Offce. All bids must be
accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount
stated in ITB Clause 18.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose
to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.
Engineering Offce, Guinlajon, Sorsogon 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.
MARIA INES M. APIL
(BAC Secretariat)
DPWH, Sorsogon 1
st
DEO
Guinlajon, Sorsogon City
0917-9949378-(globe)
dpwh_sorsogondeo@yahoo.com
SGD. ARTURO N. LEE
OIC Asst. District Engineer
(BAC Chairman)

NOTED:
SGD. ROMEO D. DOLOIRAS
District Engineer
Cagayan 1
st
District Engineering Offce
Aparri, Cagayan
(MST-Jan. 3, 2013)
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Cagayan First District
Engineering Office, Aparri, Cagayan, invites contractors to bid for the
aforementioned projects:

1. a. Contract ID: 13BB0006 (Re-Advertised)
b. Contract Name: Road Upgrading (Gravel to Paved)
c. Contract Location: K0587+500-K0589+761.50, Junction Gattaran-
Cumao- Capissayan-Sta. Margarita-Bolos Point
Road, Baggao, Cagayan.
d. Scope of Work: Road Upgrading (Gravel to Paved)
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): P 38,751,500.00
f. Contract Duration: 179 C.D.
g. Cost of Bid Documents: P 20,000.00
c. Contract Location: K0593+410-K0594+531.90, Junction Gattaran-
Cumao- Capissayan-Sta. Margarita-Bolos Point
Road, Baggao, Cagayan
g. Cost of Bid Documents: P20,000.00
c. Contract Location: K0548+500-K0551+271, Baybayog-San Jose-
Dalin-Abusag-Sta. Margarita-Bolos Point Road,
Baggao, Cagayan
c. Contract Location: K0582+085-K0584+200, Jct. Gattaran-Cumao-
Capissayan-Sta. Margarita-Bolos Point Road,
Baggao, Cagayan
c. Contract Location: Jct. Magapit-Capissayan Road, Sta. 557+932 -
Sta.561+616 w/ Exception, Lalo-lo, Cagayan
c. Contract Location: Jct. Magapit-Capissayan Road, Sta. 564+520 -
Sta.568+435 w/ Exception, Gattaran, Cagayan

The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised
IRR of R.A.9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected
at the opening of bid.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI),
purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior
registration with the DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership,
corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to
the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at
least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting
Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of
ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check
and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for
registration to the DPWH POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the
receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW Central Offce will only process contractors
applications for registration, with complete requirements, and issue the Contractors
Certifcate of Registration (CRC).Registration Forms may be downloaded at the
DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.
1.Issuance of Bidding Documents January 2, 2013 to January 22, 2013
2.Pre-Bid Conference January 10, 2013 10:00AM (at least 12 c.d.
prior to bid submission)
3.Deadline Receipt of LOI from
Prospective Bidders
Deadline: 5:00 PM on January 17, 2013 (at
least 5 c.d. prior to bid submission)
4.Receipt of Bids Deadline:10:00 AM on January 22, 2013
5.Opening of Bids 10:01 AM on January 22 , 2013
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH
Cagayan First District Engineering Offce, Aparri, Cagayan, 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. The Pre-Bid Conference
shall be open only to interested parties who have purchase the BDs. Bids must
accompanied by a Bid Security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in
Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed
in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The
frst envelope shall contain a technical component of the bid, which shall include
a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component
of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as
determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualifcation.
The Cagayan First Engineering District Offce reserves the right to accept or
reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process at anytime prior to Contract
award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders.

Approved By:
(Sgd.) RELLIE SIMBE-ULEP
Asst. District Engineer
BAC Chairman
DPWH-Cagayan 1
st
Dist. Engg. Offce
Aparri, Cagayan 3515
(078) 822-80-56
INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID
IN BRIEF
B4
WORLD
A little overweight is acceptable
Allepo airport stops
flights over clashes
10 injured in Israeli North West Bank raid
Stampede
kills 61
in Africa
Egyptian ultraconservative party splits
Not only tires, French youth torch whole cars
HK demonstrators
want Leung ousted
CAIROThe leader of Egypts
largest Islamist ultraconserva-
tive party announced Tuesday he
is forming a new political party,
splitting from the Sala Al-Nour,
which has emerged as the coun-
trys second strongest political
group.
The new party is part of a pro-
liferation of religion-based politi-
cal parties. Another prominent ul-
traconservative TV preacher, who
was a presidential candidate, has
also announced plans to form a
new party.
The move comes just two
months before President Moham-
med Morsi is expected to call for
new parliamentary elections.
It could indicate divisions among
Islamists as they compete for seats in
the legislature and a role in Egypts
evolving political struggle between
more secular-minded political par-
ties and Islamists.
The splinter also reects the dis-
pute within the Islamists groups
who struggle to reconcile demo-
cratic maneuvering with religious
ideology.
The secular-minded groups
complain that Islamist groups are
trying to monopolize power and
steer Egypt toward a theocracy-
like ruling system.
Salas are among the most
hardcore conservatives in Egypt,
with a stricter vision of Islam than
Morsis Muslim Brotherhood.
They are known to have a wide
variety of clerics as spiritual lead-
ers and various schools of thought,
and because they are new to the
political scene, have less experi-
ence in political structures.
Al-Nour has been locked in
an internal power struggle since
September because its leaders dis-
agreed over the role of a body of
clerics in the partys politics.
The party emerged from nowhere
following Egypts 2011 uprising to
take 25 percent of the seats in last
years parliamentary elections,
trailing only the Muslim Brother-
hood, the countrys best-organized
political force. But a schism erupt-
ed after some of Al-Nours political
leaders tried to shake off the control
of clerics. AP
BEIRUTClashes between gov-
ernment troops and rebels on Tues-
day forced the international airport
in Aleppo to stop all ights in and
out of Syrias largest city, while
erce battles also raged in the sub-
urbs of the capital Damascus.
The rebels have been making
inroad in the civil war recently,
capturing a string of military bas-
es and posing a stiff challenge to
the regime in Syrias two major
cities Damascus and Aleppo.
The opposition trying to over-
throw authoritarian President
Bashar Assad has been ghting
for control of Aleppo since the
summer, and they have captured
large swathes of territory in Alep-
po province west and north of the
city up to the Turkish border.
In the past few weeks, the reb-
els have stepped up their attacks
on airports around Aleppo prov-
ince, trying to chip away at the
governments air power, which
poses the biggest obstacle to their
advances.
The air force has been bomb-
ing and strang rebel positions
and attacking towns under oppo-
sition control for months. But the
rebels have no planes or effective
anti-aircraft weapons to counter
the attacks.
The Britain-based Syrian Ob-
servatory for Human Rights, an
anti-regime activist group, said
the ghting around the base of
Syrian army Brigade 80, part of a
force protecting Aleppo Interna-
tional Airport, led to the closure
of the airport late Monday.
Heavy ghting is taking place
around Brigade 80, said Rami Ab-
dul-Rahman, who heads the Obser-
vatory which relies on a network of
activists around Syria.
The airport has been closed
since yesterday, he said. AP
PEOPLE who are pleasantly
plump may have a lower risk of
dying than those who are consid-
ered the ideal weight or who are
markedly obese, according to a
US government report that may
alter resolutions.
The report, published in the Jour-
nal of the American Medical Asso-
ciation, reviewed 97 studies involv-
ing more than 2.88 million people
globally. It found the lowest risk
among those who are overweight
though not obese, according to gen-
erally accepted health standards.
Those just over the obesity thresh-
old had the next lowest risk.
The ndings, by scientists at the
US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, were challenged
because the report didnt consider
gender, age, fat distribution, or t-
ness levels, all factors that inuence
the risk of disease and death. Be-
cause of this, the researchers agreed
no recommendations should be
made based on their ndings.
The implication, if there is any, is
that this may be a more complicated
issue, said Katherine Flegal, a senior
CDC scientist who is the reports lead
researcher, in a telephone interview.
The report shouldnt be viewed
as a free pass to overindulge, the
researchers said. The heaviest
participants were 29 percent more
likely to die from any cause dur-
ing the course of the studies, ac-
cording to the data.
Being mildly obese or just over-
weight doesnt increase your risk
on average, but severe obesity is
still a killer, said Philip Schauer,
director of the Cleveland Clinics
Bariatric and Metabolic Institute,
who wasnt involved in the study.
Fifteen to 20 million Americans
are severely obese, and they need
to adhere to New Years resolutions
to lose weight or get bariatric sur-
gery, he said. BLOOMBERG
TAMOUNAn arrest raid by un-
dercover Israeli soldiers disguised
as vegetable vendors ignited rare
clashes in the northern West Bank
on Tuesday, residents said, leaving
at 10 Palestinians wounded.
Israeli army raids into Palestinian
areas to seize activists and militants
are fairly common. The raids are
normally coordinated with Pales-
tinian security forces, and suspects
are usually apprehended without
violence.
The clashes began early Tuesday
after Israeli forces disguised as mer-
chants in a vegetable truck arrested
one man. Regular army forces then
entered the town, prompting youths
to hurl rocks to try to prevent more
arrests.
Israeli forces red tear gas, rub-
ber bullets and live ammunition as
youths set tires and bins on re to
block the passage of military ve-
hicles. In several hours of clashes,
dozens of masked youths hid behind
makeshift barriers, hurling rocks
and rebombs at soldiers.
Faris Bisharat, a resident of Ta-
moun, said 10 men were wounded,
some by live re. Bisharat said the
wanted men belong to Islamic Jihad,
a violent group sworn to Israels de-
struction. It wasnt clear how many
men Israeli forces sought to arrest.
There were no immediate details on
how seriously the 10 were hurt.
The Israeli military said it arrested
a terrorist afliated with the Islamic
Jihad terror group. It said two sol-
diers were injured during the raid.
The ghting, which broke out in
several parts of the town of some
8,000 people, were a rare, angry
response. It was also unusual for
Israeli forces to use live re toward
Palestinian demonstrators. Israel
says it uses live re only in extreme-
ly dangerous situations. AP
Ivory CoastA crowd stam-
peded after leaving a reworks
show early Tuesday in Ivory
Coasts main city, killing 61
peoplemany of them children
and teenagersand injuring
more than 200, rescue workers
said.
Thousands had gathered at the
Felix Houphouet Boigny Sta-
dium in Abidjans Plateau dis-
trict to see the reworks. It was
only the second New Years Eve
reworks display since peace
returned to this West African
nation after a bloody upheaval
over presidential elections put
the nation on the brink of civil
war and turned this city into a
battle zone.
With 2013 showing greater
promise, people were in the
mood to celebrate on New
Years Eve. Families brought
children and they watched the
rockets burst in the nighttime
sky. But only an hour into the
new year, as the crowds poured
onto the Boulevard de la Repub-
lic after the show, something
caused a stampede, said Col.
Issa Sako of the re department
rescue team. How so many
deaths occurred on the broad
boulevard and how the tragedy
started is likely to be the subject
of an investigation. AP
PARISHundreds of empty,
parked cars go up in ames in
France each New Years Eve, set
are by young revelers, a much
lamented tradition that remained
intact this year with 1,193 ve-
hicles burned, Interior Minister
Manuel Valls said Tuesday.
His announcement was the rst
time in three years that such g-
ures have been released. The con-
servative government of former
President Nicolas Sarkozy had
decided to stop publishing them
in a bid to reduce the crime and
not play into the hands of car-
torching youths who try to outdo
each other.
Frances current Socialist gov-
ernment decided otherwise, deem-
ing total transparency the best
method, and the rate of burned
cars apparently remained steady.
On Dec. 31, 2009, the last public
gure available, 1,147 vehicles
were burned.
Like many countries, France
sees cars set on re during the
year for many reasons, includ-
ing gangs hiding clues of their
crimes and people making false
insurance claims.
But car-torching took a new step
in France when it became a way to
mark the arrival of the New Year.
The practice reportedly began in
earnest among youths often in
poor neighborhoods in the 1990s
in the region around Strasbourg in
eastern France.
It also became a voice of
protest during the fiery un-
rest by despairing youths from
housing projects that swept
France in the fall of 2005. At
the time, police counted 8,810
vehicles burned in less than
three weeks. AP
Chinese military
banning alcohol
CHINAS military leaders have
been ordered to ban alcohol con-
sumption during ofcial visits to
their subordinates, the Peoples
Liberation Army Daily said in a
commentary titled Not Drinking
Wont Hurt Feelings.
The order is in line with the so-
called 10 Regulations on Work
Style ordered by the Central Mili-
tary Commission, said the com-
mentary, which was also posted
on the website of the Ministry of
Defense. As the country celebrates
New Year holidays, the decision to
drink or not is a test of the effort
to improve practices by ofcials at
all levels, the commentary said.
High-ranking military ofcials
must begin observing a new set of
rules, including banning receptions
that feature luxury banquets and
welcome banners, Xinhua News
Agency reported Dec. 22, citing the
10 regulations. BLOOMBERG
Iran drill keeps
strait off limits
TEHRANIrans navy issued
dozens of warnings to foreign
planes and warships that ap-
proached its forces during a
ve-day sea maneuver near the
strategic Strait of Hormuz, a semi-
ofcial news agency reported
Tuesday.
Mehr quoted Adm. Amir Rastgari,
spokesman for the exercise, as saying
that naval and air defense forces on 30
occasions warned off reconnaissance
planes, drones and warships belong-
ing to extraregional forces that ap-
proached the drill, using a term that the
Islamic Republic commonly employs
to refer to the militaries of the US and
its allies.
The ve-day naval drill, dubbed
Velayat-91, is Irans latest show of
strength in the face of mounting
pressures over its disputed nuclear
program. The West suspects it may
be aimed at producing nuclear
weapons, a charge Iran denies.
Iran has threatened to close the
strait over Western sanctions but
has not repeated the threats lately.
The strait is the passageway for
one-fth of the worlds oil supply.
Rastgari said the aircraft and
warships heeded the warnings and
stayed away. AP
Pakistan measles
deaths up in 2012
KARACHIAn international
health body says measles cases
surged in southern Pakistan in
2012, with hundreds of children
dying of the disease.
The World Health Organiza-
tion did not give a reason for the
increase in deaths, but a provincial
health ofcial said that the disease
hit areas where poor families do
not vaccinate their children.
Maryam Yunus, a spokeswoman
for the World Health Organization,
said Tuesday that 306 children died
in Pakistan of measles in 2012, com-
pared to 64 the year before.
She said the jump was most pro-
nounced in southern Sindh prov-
ince, where measles killed 210
children in 2012. She said only 28
children had died there in 2011.
Provincial health minister Sa-
ghir Ahmed said 100 children died
in Sindh province in December
alone, mostly areas where many
Israeli soldiers stand with their weapons amid stones and other small projectiles during clashes with
Palestinians, not seen, in the West Bank village of Tamoun, near Jenin, Tuesday. AP
Anti-government protesters, surrounded by police ofcers, block the main road in downtown, on New Years
Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, to call for the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. AP
As many as 37,700 protesters
gathered, with some carrying signs
calling Leung a liar. Opposition
lawmakers will on Jan. 9 introduce
a motion calling for an investiga-
tion into Leungs handling of unau-
thorized construction on his prop-
erty. About 8,500 people rallied to
support the chief executive.
The protest increases pressure
on Leung, whose popularity is
lower than that of his two prede-
cessors in their rst six months in
ofce. The chief executive, who
has the backing of Chinas Com-
munist Party General Secretary
Xi Jinping, also faces disquiet
over air pollution, responsible for
3,000 premature deaths a year in
Hong Kong, and over the worlds
most expensive home prices.
The chief executive has a serious
problem in credibility, said Fran-
cis Chek, a 24-year-old information
technology worker who attended
one of the protests. He used one lie
to cover up another lie, he has no sin-
cerity at all to tell the public the truth.
Enough is enough.
Leung took over in July last
year after being elected by a 1,193-
member committee comprising
billionaires, lawmakers and repre-
sentatives of business. His support-
ers have enough votes to reject any
impeachment motion and blocked
a no-condence vote Dec. 12.
He won the post after casting
doubt on the integrity of his main
opponent, Henry Tang, following
revelations that Tang and his wife
built a basement with a wine cel-
lar and movie theater at their house
without government approval.
Leung is a former property survey-
or, a profession that includes con-
sulting on real estate transactions
and construction projects.
Leung has a support rating of
49.2 on a scale of 0 to 100 after six
months in ofce, compared with
67.2 for Donald Tsang and 62.8
for Tung Chee-hwa in their rst
six months as the citys leaders, ac-
cording to the University of Hong
Kong Public Opinion Programme.
The latest poll surveyed 1,006 peo-
ple from Dec. 1 to Dec. 4.
Pro-democracy lawmakers will
introduce a motion charging Leung
with serious breaches of the law
and dereliction of duty by giving
false statements in the legislature,
according to a copy of the motion
obtained from the Civic Party.
Under the Basic Law, Hong
Kongs mini constitution, the mo-
tion could lead to an investigation
and possibly to an impeachment
motion. The opposition holds about
a third of the seats in the council.
Leung has imposed three sets of
property curbs, including an extra
15 percent tax on foreign buyers,
to rein in prices. The citys home
prices have doubled over the past
four years, surpassing their 1997
peak. BLOOMBERG
THOUSANDS of Hong Kong residents took
to the streets Tuesday to demand the resigna-
tion of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying,
who they say lost credibility by misleading the
public about illegal renovations at his home.
dotcom
life
W
H
A
T
S
I
N
S
I
D
E
BANNED
The United States Lake Superior
State University recently released
the most irritating catchphrases
of 2012 that should be banished
from the Queens English.
TODAY Manila Standard
THURSDAY JANUARY 3, 2013
CHRISTMAS CLUTTER
CLEANER
Clean up the mess brought
by the holiday season with a
lightweight robotic vacuum
cleaner.
food crawl
Gianna Maniego, Editor
Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
Sailors favorite
FEEL like a seafarer and shout aye! in unison with friends and fam-
ily over a hefty basket of Sizzlin Pepper Steaks newest offering, the
Sailors Special.
Dig into deep-fried sh strips wrapped in bacon and covered with
croutons while you bite into perfectly breaded squid rings. Alternate
all that savory seafood yumminess with fabulous golden brown fries.
To top it all off, choose the dip you like best from the mouth-
watering Creamy Garlic Dip, to the zesty Herb Tomato Sauce, or
the sweet Honey Barbecue Sauce. Available at P299 per basket, the
Sailors Special is good to share with 2 to 3 persons.
Swim through tides and waves and get this tasty treat at all par-
ticipating Sizzlin Pepper Steak outlets nationwide, except SPS
Katipunan.
Japanese chicken wings
THE chicken wings have taken the world and even
our country by storm and now, the craze has nally
landed in Teriyaki Boy with a delicious Japanese
twist.
Teriyaki Boys new Tebasaki is a platterful of ir-
resistible double-fried chicken wings coated with a
sweet soy glaze and perfectly paired with wakame
seaweed salad.
At P225 per order of the glazed chicken wings,
the Tabesaki is suitable for sharing.
Post-holiday sugar rush
AS THE holiday rush ends, or just nearly for some, take a
break and treat yourself and your loved ones after the manic
months to a slice of cake, or two, and endless cups of coffee
or tea at The Coffee Beanery.
Enjoy the creamy texture of TCBs Ensaymada, the all-
time Pinoy merienda fare that now comes in four avors
plain, ube, yema and salted egg; or choose the smooth,
powdery and satisfying Polvoron, which comes in as-
sorted avors like plain, cookies and cream, chocnut and
chocolate.
Also, bite into the chewy and comforting TCB Cookies,
now in a box of six with healthy oatmeal raisin, luscious ube
and fruity mango; or be dazzled with the luscious variety of
cake pralines.
Finally, savor a slice of Chocolate Peanut Torte and end
the satisfying meal with TCBs bestselling concoctions in-
cluding Salted Caramel Mocha, Mocha Peppermint, Chai
Tea and Vanilla Chai Tea.
TURON and Jollibee Spaghetti, says TV star Shay
Mitchell when asked what her favorite Filipino food is.
Loving her
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
COLOR
and everything else
PINOY
changed her ways or not.
Pretty Little Liars follows friends
Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily as they
search for answers to the mysterious
disappearance and death of their best
friend Alison. As the girls investigate in
to what really happened to her and the
secrets she left behind, they start receiving
cryptic threats from a mysterious
tormentor named A who knows all
their personal secrets.
Based on the popular book series
by Sara Shepard, Pretty Little
Liars stars Shay Mitchell, Lucy
Hale, Troian Bellisario, Ashley
Benson, Tyler Blackburn, Holly
Marie Combs, Ian Harding,
Chad Lowe, Janel Parrish, and
Sasha Pieterse.
Pretty Little Liars Season 3
premieres with all new episodes
this January 12, Saturday at 8PM,
Match aired with the US on ETC.
Shay, who is half-Filipino and is
related to Lea Salonga and Regine
Tolentino, also loves halo-halo, pansit
and sinigang. Her mother is Filipino
while her father is Irish-Scottish.
Shay was recently in Manila to promote
the third season of the suspense-drama
Pretty Little Liars, which premieres on
ETC on January 12. In the show, she plays
the role of Emily, who is gay.
It never matters to me. I think
love is love, thats how I was raised,
thats what I believe. For me to play a
character that struggles with that is so
important to me. Because a lot of fans
reactions was Thank you so much for
playing this character and standing
up for something. Like I said, love is
love and I wouldnt play anybody else,
shares Shoy.
If there is anything more than
Shay is proud of, its having Filipino
blood. While many of us are going for
whitening products to lighten our skin,
she loves her skin tone.
I think its nice that I hope girls
would embrace their color because its
a beautiful color. Trust me, many people
in the world dont have what we have,
says Shay.
Happy people
While in the Philippines, Shay and
her mom also went on a vacation and
shopped.
I want to see the islands. Back home,
Ive seen some pictures and theyre
really beautiful. Im really excited
to see Palawan and relax a little bit,
said Shay during a press conference at
Makati Shangri-la hosted by ETC, the
channel that airs Pretty Little Liars in
the Philippines.
We are generally positive and happy.
We are an amazing people. My friends,
in fact, would want to be Filipino, too,
she adds.
During the press conference, Shay
enumerated the Filipino words that she
knew, including Mabuhay, Kumusta
kayo? Kumusta ka? Mabuti, Salamat
po and Mahal kita.
Shay became interested in the
performing arts as a child. She started
taking dance lessons at the age of 5, and
she and several of her classmates toured
the city to compete with a variety of
other dance schools.
At the age of 10, Shays family moved
west to Vancouver, British Columbia
and within a year, an international
modeling agency had an open casting
call for teen and pre-teen girls who were
vying for representation. Shay was one
of the girls selected.
By her late teens, Shay had successfully
modeled for a variety of companies in
cities as varied as Bangkok, Hong Kong
and Barcelona. She returned to Toronto
and began to study acting. After signing
with her rst theatrical agency, she
appeared in the hit series DeGrassi: The
Next Generation and booked several
national commercials. Shay also landed a
recurring role in the Disney series Aaron
Stone, is featured in the music video for
international recording artist Sean Pauls
hit song Hold My Hand and appears in
the series Rookie Blue.
New season
The mid-season premiere of
Pretty Little Liars looks to unravel
more deception and drama as we get
closer to discovering whos behind
all the lies and trickery.
In all new episodes, we see
A-team member Mona ready to
head back to the halls of Rosewood
High having been given a clean bill of
health by Radley Sanitarium much
to the Liars dismay. With their former
tormentor now back in their life,
Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer
each have their own opinion
on the new Mona. Having
made their lives a living hell
little under a year ago, is she
really cured? And what other
secrets could she have up her
sleeves? Its up to Mona to
prove to the Liars if she has
Shay Mitchell plays
Emily in Pretty
Little Liars
CLEANING up after the holidays is the worst chore
ever. No matter how great your Christmas
gatherings turn into, you know you cant
escape the inevitable. The next morning,
youll nd yourself facing the mess made
from all that crazy merrymaking you had
the night before.
Wouldnt it be nice if you had someone
to do it for you?
Meet Neatothe answer to all your holi-
day cleaning hassles! Neato is a lightweight,
robotic vacuum cleaner that does all the work
for you. Recognized as the most powerful robotic
vacuum in the market, Neato thoroughly cleans all floor
types, including carpet, tile, hardwood, and more. With just
a press of a button, Neato maps everything in a room through
its laser sensors to clean in a pattern of straight, overlapping
lines, avoiding obstacles along the way including stairs. It takes
care of itself by returning to its base to recharge
once its batteries run low. And if that happens
while its cleaning, Neato returns to where
it left off after its done charging. Simply
set a schedule and Neato will automatically
clean at the time you set.
Perfect for keeping up with the lifestyle of
dynamic households with a hectic schedule,
the Neato allows for maximizing your time
without having to deal with the stress of daily
clean-up.
Neato Vacuum is the smart robotic vacuum that
scans, maps and plans. Exclusively distributed by Fo-
cus Global, Inc., the Neato XV-11 is just one among the
many top-class innovations the company has helped introduce
into the local market, including premium home furnishing and
appliance brands like SieMatic, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Tempur and Ethan
Allen. For inquiries, call (02) 634-8587.
THURSDAY C2
JANUARY 3, 2013
home work relationships
standardlifestyle@gmail.com
Gianna Maniego, Editor
Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
ManilaStandardToday
dotcom
Turns out, youre not the only
one. Lake Superior State Uni-
versity in the United States has
been coming out with a yearly
List of Words to be Banished
from the Queens English for
Misuse, Overuse and General
Uselessness since 1976. Of
course, we cant really banish
words from the language, but its
Words
that are so
last year!
comforting to know that some-
ones documenting our collective
aggravation. The 2013 edition
contains some of the most irritat-
ing catchphrases of 2012 chosen
by concerned citizens from the
US and beyond.
The top choice this year is s-
cal cliff, which doesnt really
mean anything that hasnt been
dened before. Apparently, Amer-
icans are not happy with the con-
stant bombardment of news items
about the so-called scal cliff and
medias excessive use of the term.
The second item on the list is
kick the can down the road.
UsingEnglish.com denes the idi-
omatic expression as [to] delay a
decision in hopes that the problem
or issue will go away or someone
else will make the decision later.
The phrase is seen as a owery
(and unnecessary) way to simply
say postpone.
A substitute for repeat or re-
afrm, double down is another
phrase that people cant stand
anymore, especially when used in
politics.
Job creator/creation is a term
uttered the most during the US
presidential campaign. Since then,
everyone who is an employer is
claiming to be a job creator and
every program that addresses un/
underemployment is job creation.
Well, employees are not amused.
Added to marketing materials
and CVs to ll in voids and divert
attention from lack of actual mer-
it, passion/passionate makes the
list for being phony and majorly
meaningless.
The next unwanted term is
YOLO, and its inclusion
needs no explanation. Mean-
while, spoiler alert is nomi-
nated due to its misguided use
outside the context of lm and
literature. For its sheer over-
use, theres bucket list.
Trending and superfood
are likewise used way too much,
often inaccurately, to talk about
things that are not actually trendy
and not that super. Rounding out
the list are boneless (chicken)
wings, which is just a weird way
to call chicken pieces, and guru
appended to someones expertise
when theyre not really that much
of an expert.
Can you think of other words
that should be banished? Sub-
mit your nomination through
www.lssu.edu/banished/sub-
mit_word.php.
By Ed Biado
YOU know how you get sick
of hearing certain words and
phrases because theyre over-
used and, most of the time,
dont really add anything
useful to a statement? Like
when every well-groomed guy is described
as metrosexual (circa 2003) or when stayca-
tion (2008) was the hottest thing to do dur-
ing a recession?
RECENTLY, the grade school
students from Diliman Prepa-
ratory School went home with
Daytime and Nighttime Den-
gue Defense Kits with free
Green Cross Insect Repellent
Lotion from the Green Cross
School Crashers team.
The Green Cross School
Crashers is an interactive cam-
paign to educate kids and parents
alike about the dreaded disease
and the proper dengue defenses.
Through the Green Cross School
Crashers, primary level students
(from grades 1 to 3) and interme-
diate students (grades 4 to 7) got
to meet Mr. Green.
Mr. Green, in the course of an
interactive story telling session,
introduced possible school
crashers who might attack any-
one left unguarded and cause
the student to absent himself in
class for days or even weeks.
For the students at DPS, educa-
tional materials were provided
for them to bring home while
some were left for posting in
school bulletin boards.
Through the defense kit,
the school-aged students were
oriented about the would-be
breeding grounds of dengue
mosquitoes and permanent
mosquito-breeding places. In-
sightful tips as well on how to
keep ones home and surround-
ings free from these pesky
crashers were left handy for
kids to share with their parents.
With the dengue threat not
just present during the daytime
but also during nighttime, par-
ents should level up their pro-
tection against mosquito bites.
Children, in any case, wont be
stopped from playing outdoors
or playing with water from the
pond or garden.
Taking action to the dengue
threats brought on by these
Aedes mosquitoes, the Green
Cross School Crashers cam-
paign aims to help parents,
school personnel and kids
level-up their dengue defense.
And one proven and best line
of defense against dengue is
personal protection, especially
for vulnerable primary level
students who wear knee-length
shorts and skirts everyday .
To provide children with
safe, round-the-clock protec-
tion, a new and better insect
repellent lotion is now in the
market. Especially formu-
lated to give complete protec-
tion from day and night dengue
mosquito bites, Green Cross
Insect Repellent Lotion offers
up to 10 hours protection per
application that can block off
dengue-carrying mosquitoes
from coming near any person.
FASHION is literally going green with hunter green and deep
forest hues as one of the biggest trends of Fall 2012, and em-
erald green emerging as the color of the coming year. At this
years Oscars, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and Catherine
Zeta Jones boldly wore emerald green gowns on the red car-
pet. Green also anchored the spring 2013 collections by Tracy
Reese, Jil Sander, Valentino, Akris, and Dolce & Gabbana.
Green, after all, is the color of the worlds most majestic jew-
els. It is powerful, grounded, and rich. And while it speaks to
the nostalgia of yesteryears, it is also the hue of spring, the
hope of tomorrow.
Its not surprising that SM Accessories embraces the green
trend with its Emerald Empire collection. And the empire
strikes back with elegant earrings, necklaces, and bangles;
statement clutches; as well as glam scarves and belts.
Todays young women of style, like SM Accessories endorser
Anne Curtis, are the inspiration for the Emerald Empire col-
lection.
The SM Accessories Emerald Empire Collection is available
at all SM Stores.
Fashion goes green
'School Crashers' team
promotes dengue defense
The gadget that cleans up after you
State University artists triumph at Avida Land painting contest
2012 Avida Christmas 3D Street Painting champions, the Yoopee
Ep-Ay group from U.P. Diliman composed of Nico Macabuhay; Jason
Pasion; Chloe Dellosa; Gianneluisa Gonzales; Roman James Soleo;
and Annie Concepcion.
TWO groups of artists from
the University of the Philip-
pines in Diliman bagged two
prizes at the Avida Land 2012
3D Street Painting Competition
held at the Avida Towers Cen-
tera grounds on December 8th.
First Prize was awarded to the
entry, Pasko na Santa Claus
by UP Dilimans Yoopee Ep-Ay
artists group, while Third Prize
was given to Paskong Pinoy,
an entry from AC TEAM also
from UP Diliman.
Second Prize went to Poly-
technic University of the Philip-
pines Creative Artists Group for
their entry, Diwa ng Pasko.
Winners received the follow-
ing prizes: First Prize Glass
trophy and P75, 000; Second
Prize Glass trophy and P50,
000; and Third Prize Glass tro-
phy and P30, 000.
It was the second time for
Avida Land to hold the 3D Street
Painting Competition as part of
its CSR portfolio. This years
theme was Pasko Natin: Ang
Diwa Ng Pasko Sa Pilipinas.
According to Tess Tatco, Avida
Marketing Manager, their com-
pany is very supportive of proj-
ects that help promote and foster
Filipino culture.
Avidas business is creating
sustainable communities that al-
low Filipino families to thrive.
A big part of that is making sure
that our cultural and social values
are nurtured and passed on to the
next generation. This 3D Paint-
ing Competition underscores the
importance of our uniquely Fili-
pino Christmas celebration and
what it means for us: unity, fam-
ily, togetherness, and hope amid
adversity.
We are very thankful that
our Filipino artists, from pro-
fessionals to students, have
been very supportive of our
competition for the past two
years. When you look at their
entries, youll really see the
creativity and talent of our Fili-
pino artists. You will really feel
the Filipino Christmas spirit.
We encourage the public to
go to the Avida Towers Centera
site and see these artworks for
themselves, said Tess Tatco,
Avida marketing manager.
The nalists artworks were
judged by esteemed jurors Na-
tional Artist for Visual Arts Fil
Dela Cruz; Filipino visual art-
ist and art critic Igan D' Bayan;
and Anne Baylon, Associate
Marketing Manager of Ayala
Land Corp.
Images of the artworks in the
nalists roster will be posted
on Avida Lands Facebook page
(Avida Land Corp.) and the ac-
tual 3D paintings are now exhib-
ited at the Avida Towers Centera
site. The artworks are open for
public viewing during ofce
hours, from 8AM to 5PM daily.
Bold and beautiful emerald-colored bangles
Embrace the green
trend by wearing
statement earrings
Elegant green neckpiece
MANY people consider slimming
down as their top resolution at the
start of the year, but have you also
considered putting your computer
on a much-needed New Years
diet?
A slow, bloated computer can
lead to frustration and less time
doing the things you love
denitely a problem if youve
resolved to stress less and spend
more time on hobbies and with
loved ones in the New Year.
Here are 10 quick tips to whip
your computer back into shape:
Tidy up your desktop. A
computer desktop screen full of
les is messy and makes things
difcult to nd. Create a new
folder for the les and folders
on the desktop that you dont
frequently access. This will
clear off your desktop, while
keeping the les handy until
you have time to sort through
them.
Move big les to an external
hard drive. Its like giving
those extra holiday kilograms
to a friend, but without having
to deal with any hurt feelings.
A hard drive is also a great way
to back up your most important
les.
Clean up your multimedia.
Remember those movies you
loved so much that you saved the les so you could
watch them again? And have you? If the answer
is No, into the trashcan can they go!
Give your browser a boost. Web browsers such
as Opera have compression technology that can
load webpages up to ve times faster than with
other browsers. If you are stuck on a sluggish
connection, get crowded out in a busy Wi-Fi area,
rely on 3G cards or use a laptop connected to your
phone, activate turbo mode to keep your browsing
zooming.
Declutter your email. If you dont keep junk
in your house, dont hoard it in your inbox either.
Start with your oldest messages, which are usually
the least relevant now, and get deleting. Also,
try searching the inbox for sources from which
you regularly receive newsletters that are now
outdated.
Defragment your disk. Disk fragmentation
is one of the most common reasons for slow
performance on a computer. In Windows, click the
Start button and go to All Programs > Accessories
> System Tools on older versions of Windows. In
Windows 8, open the Search, enter Defragment,
and go to Settings > Defragment and optimize your
drives.
Remove autostart programs. To make programs
start only when you want, use the Start Menu in
Windows Vista and Windows 7 to type mscong.
Open the mscong.exe program link, where you
can deselect autostart programs. In Windows 8,
click Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager,
select the Startup tab and disable any item you
dont want to launch automatically. Mac users
can go to System Preferences > Users & Groups/
Accounts > Login Items to deselect programs.
Run a virus/malware scan. If you are an Opera
user, add the WOT (Web of Trust) and Ghostery
extensions. WOT uses a trafc-light system to rate
the trustworthiness of the websites you visit, and
Ghostery detects tracking and web bugs. Also,
consider buying antivirus software and scanning your
computer for malware.
Clear out the temp les on your computer. In
your computers Download or Temp Files folders,
delete the les you no longer need. You can also
remove all the temporary les in your browser. In
Opera, just select Delete Private Data (the second
option under Tools), and it will show you what
needs to go, including cookies, browsing history or
the entire cache. Consider keeping your tabs and
passwords, to let you browse faster.
Physically clean your computer. Use the right
cleaners and get it looking like new again. If you
have had your computer more than few months, its
also time to clean the inside of your machine. Open
it and use a can of compressed air to dust the interior
parts carefully, especially the fan and heat sink over
the processor. Remember not to touch any interior
parts. Newsbytes.ph
C3
email: tech@mst.ph
Tech
ManilaStandardToday
Pirated software carries high-risk malware
MARLON C. MAGTIRA, Section Editor
CHRISTIAN CARDIENTE, Asst. Editor
Putting your PC
on a New Years diet
LG rolls out OLED TV
LG ELECTRONICS (LG)
yesterday said it will begin
accepting pre-orders for
its 55-inch class WRGB
OLED TV in South Korea
this month, while its
availability and prices
in other markets will be
announced over the next
several weeks.
An early version of the TV
was awarded Best of Show
in last years Consumer
Electronics Show (CES).
More than 1,400 LG
retail stores in South Korea
will begin accepting orders
from consumers for about
US$10,000 TVs starting Jan.
3 with delivery to commence
the rst week of February. LG
said it is prepared to take the
lead in the OLED segment
that is expected to grow to
7.2 million units by 2016,
according to DisplaySearch.
Only 4 millimeters (0.16
inches) thin and weighing
less than 10 kilograms, LGs
OLED TVs produce vivid
and realistic pictures with
its WRGB technology. LGs
Four-Color Pixel system
features a white sub-pixel,
which works in conjunction
with the conventional red,
blue, green setup to create
the perfect color output.
Its exclusive Color Rener
delivers greater tonal
enhancement, resulting in
more vibrant and natural
Models pose with LG Electronics organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
television in Seoul, South Korea. LG Electronics said Wednesday
customers are pre-ordering the big-screen TVs that offer sharper and
clear images using advanced technology. AP
AS local firms have yet to fully
embrace cloud computing
and virtualization, storage
maker EMC said these tech
trendsalong with big data
will continue to dominate
the local enterprise IT space
in 2013.
Ronnie Latinazo, country
manager of EMC Philippines,
said during a press brieng in
December that local businesses
are expected to increase their IT
spending this year to seize the
opportunities offered by these
new technologies.
The Philippines is a bright
star amidst the global economic
gloom. Were optimistic for
2013, said Latinazo, noting
that the boom in online gaming
and gambling in the country is
presenting a huge opportunity
for the company.
The EMC executive said
cloud computing also offers
business opportunity since
the Philippines still has low
virtualization adoption as
compared to other countries.
Local rms will start
adopting big data solutions
in a big way next year, said
Latinazo, the long-time country
manager of EMC Philippines.
The rise in the big data
phenomenon led businesses to
re-think the power of big data
analytics, Latinazo noted.
The ofcial said 2012 saw
the widespread adoption of
enterprise mobility driven
largely by BYOD (bring your
own device) trends and the
consumerization of IT.
The rampant adoption
of portable smart devices
accelerated the ease to create,
consume and share data at
high speeds and exponentially
larger quantities causing
businesses to look at more
effective ways of managing
and leveraging this data
growth, he said.
A COMPUTER security study
undertaken by Microsoft
has found that 63 percent of
counterfeit software DVDs and
computers with illegal copies
of Windows and other software
contained high-risk malware
infections and viruses.
The analysis was conducted by
Microsofts Security Forensics
team on 118 samples purchased
from resellers in Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand,
and Vietnam.
In total, the preliminary test
sample surfaced nearly 2,000
instances of malware and
virus infections including
highly dangerous backdoors,
hijackers, droppers, bots,
crackers, password stealers,
and trojans.
The research further revealed
that in 77 percent of the
computers examined, Windows
Update had been disabled or re-
routed to third-party services.
Cybercriminals use malware
for a range of invasive activities
generating illegal profit from
stealing consumers banking
and credit card information,
to spamming their e-mail
and social media contacts
with fraudulent requests for
charitable donations or bogus
offers (e.g., for counterfeit
prescription drugs).
Increasingly, these activities
are conducted by or at the
direction of organized, for-
prot criminal enterprises. For
businesses, the risks associated
with using malware-infected,
pirated software include low
IT productivity, critical system
failures and disruptions of
service, and theft of condential
company data leading to severe
nancial loss and reputational
harm.
This study clearly shows that
Big data,
cloud to
dominate
enterprise
IT in 2013
using counterfeit software is a
dangerous proposition, said
Keshav Dhakad, Microsofts
regional director of intellectual
property for Asia-Pacic and
Japan.
Pirated software is a breeding
ground for cybercrime, and the
cost of using it is potentially
much higher than the price of
buying genuine in the rst place.
We want to help consumers
understand the risks involved
and the steps they can take to
ensure a safe and secure PC
experience.
According to the 2012 Norton
Cybercrime Report, the global
consumer cost of cybercrime is
$100 billion annually, with an
average per-victim impact of
$197.
This study shows that using
pirated software does more
harm than good to people. It
puts people at risk because it
does not guarantee the safety
of sensitive data, activities
and communications from
cybercriminals who intend
to cause harm, said Ricardo
Blancaor, director general of
the Intellectual Property Ofce
of the Philippines (IPOPHL),
which is a member of the
Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team
(PAPT).
Another alarming possibility
is that not all users are aware
that they may be using illegal
software. Some retailers
would offer to install programs
containing malware in brand
new PCs of their customers, he
said.
Blancaor said software
piracy is a violation of Republic
Act 9239 or the Optical Media
Act and is a crime punishable by
up to nine years of imprisonment
and a ne of up to P1.5 million
under Republic Act 8293 or the
Intellectual Property Code of
the Philippines.
images. The 55-inch OLED
TV also offers an innite
contrast ratio, which
maintains optimal contrast
levels regardless of ambient
brightness or viewing angle.

C4
Isah V. Red, Editor standard.showbiz@gmail.com
showbitz
ISAH V.
RED
SIMPLY RED
Case in point is how Thy Womb
is doing at the box ofce. The Br il-
lante Mendoza lm is clearly the
best among the eight movies being
shown (or has it already pulled out?)
in the ongoing Metro Manila Film
Festival. Yet, it trails in the box-of-
ce tally, being at the bottom, behind
another worthy lm El Presidente.
A friend says that Brillante Men-
doza and Nor a Aunor of Thy Womb
are vindicated after winning in last
Thursdays MMFF Awards.
Congratulations to the two, you
deserve the award. In fact, the Thy
Womb deserves to win rst Best
Picture but the jurors gave it to One
More Try, a lm of lesser impor-
tance, even beating El Presidente.
I dont understand why a lm cant
win both the Gatpuno Antonio Vil-
legas Award and Best Picture at the
same time.
Vindication is nothing but afr-
mation of the quality Thy Womb. It is
a world-class oeuvre, acknowledged
by lm cognoscenti overseas with its
awards and citations.
With the award at the MMFF, I
am curious if more Filipinos would
now watch the movie?
I am inclined to think that it will
remain to be at the bottom in the
box-ofce race. And despite the
honors the festival gave the lm,
theater owners will continue to pull
the movie out and replace it with a
lm that guarantees box ofce.
Whats the problem, really?
No, Thy Womb or El Presidente
are not watchable lms. The audi-
ence just doesnt want to watch ei-
ther of them.
They are the kinds of lms par-
ents cant bring their children along.
And this is the holiday season, the
marketing strategy of any business
outts is focused on children.
Now, what happens in the long
run when we have the Metro Manila
Film Festival every year?
So, parents drag their children
to the movies, but they dictate what
their children watch. In most cases,
they use their children as excuse
so they can watch the movies they
like. When parents taste drag their
three-year old kids to theaters, lm
education begins. When the kids are
exposed to movies like Si Agimat, or
Sisterakas all the time, their taste in
movies are gradually dened, and
what is developed is carried through
their adult years. So now, do they
want to drag their children to Thy
Womb? I doubt it.
So, the problem of lms like Thy
Womb or El Presidente is not because
theyre not good, but parents choose
to expose their children to bad mov-
ies, instead of helping them develop
a good sense and taste for cinema
by watching lms like El Presi-
dente (for a lesson in history) and
Thy Womb (for an insight into fellow
Filipinos culture in the South).
In the process, constant exposure
to bad cinema among children re-
sults to audience shying away from
good lms because they think that
the bad movies they have seen when
they were kids are what is actually
good cinema.
Do you agree with me, Amable
Tikoy Aguiluz?
Are Filipinos ready for
quality movies?
THIS question is always the topic of serious
movie critics. Are the Filipinos ready or willing
to pay good money for a serious movie?
Thy Womb fans day
at the Sky Dome
It was an early Christmas for ad-
mirers of superstar Nora Aunor and
multi awarded director Brillante Men-
doza when they were treated to a Thy
Womb Fans Day at the Sky Dome at
SM City North Edsa. The fun lled
event attended by close to a thousand
fans was held just in time for opening
of the lm on Christmas Day as part
of the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Thy Womb has already received
prestigious awards from lm festivals
around the world. At the 69
th
Ven-
ice International Film Festival, the
lm won La Navicella/Venezia Cin-
ema Prize, P. Nazareno Taddei Award
(Special Mention) and Bisato d Oro
Award for Ms. Nora Aunor. More
recently, director Brillante Mendoza
won Best Director and Nora Aunor
won Best Actress at the Asia Pacic
Screen Awards at Brisbane, Australia.
The lm has also participated at the
Toronto International Film Festival
2012, the Busan International Film
Festival 2012,) and Dubai Interna-
tional Film Festival 2012.
And lm enthusiasts were very ex-
cited to meet the Thy Womb team who
had brought so much honor to the
countryDirector Brillante Mendo-
za, Superstar Nora Aunor, Mercedes
Cabr al, Glenda Kennedy, and Ex-
ecutive Producer Melvin Mangada
during the event preceded by an hour
of games sponsored by Noras Friends
Forever (NFF) and Noranians World-
wide (NOW).
Later in the afternoon, lucky fans
won prizes in the Name the Brillante
Mendoza Movie and Name the Nora
Aunor Movie games. A special Q&A
session also allowed the members of
the press and Thy Womb fans to know
more about the lm.
The movies scenic location in
Tawi Tawi also brought in MKFI
Founder and Chair Former Sena-
tor Santanina T. Rasul and For-
mer Executive Director of National
Commission on Muslim Filipinos
Sitti Djalia Tur abin-Hataman who
showed their support for the lm.
Writer Ricky Lee and actress Rus-
tica Car pio were also present.
SM Executives led by Vice Presi-
dent for Marketing Millie Dizon,
Assistant Vice President for Market-
ing Ruby Reyes, and SM City North
Edsa Mall Manager Her she Ange-
les welcomed the whole cast of Thy
Womb and their fans.
Thy Womb is about a childless cou-
ple living in the heart of Tawi-Tawi,
Mindanao. It is produced by Center
Stage Productions and the Film De-
velopment Council of the Philippines
(FDCP), the lm is written by Henr y
Bur gos and directed by 2009 Cannes
Film Festival Best Director Brillante
Ma Mendoza. The lm is one of the
eight ofcial entries to the 2012 Met-
ro Manila Film Festival.
In the lm, Aunor portrays a bar-
ren Badjao midwife searching for a
suitable woman (Lovi Poe) who can
bear a child for her husband (Bem-
bol Roco). It is a saga of island life
stuck between the devil of passion and
the deep blue sea of tradition. It stars
Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco, Mercedes
Cabral, and Lovi Poe.
Thy Womb is currently showing at
SM Cinemas nationwide.
It gir ls rock cinemas
On Dec. 25, the countrys hottest
it girls Hear t Evangelista, Solenn
Heussaff, Bianca King and Rhian
Ramos popped on the screens in Sosy
Problems, the glossiest entry of GMA
Films to this years Metro Manila
Film Festival (MMFF).
Four girls, rich and famous, may
have the most expensive pairs of
shoes, high-end designer bags and
the life that every girl wantedbut
behind the glitz and glamour are the
struggles and differences that they
have to face.
In the story, Sosy girls tambayan,
The Polo Club, is in danger of being
torn down. The new owners of the
exclusive club want to build a yaya
mallwhich for the girls is not at all
a Sosy plan.
The spoiled-rich daughter of a
hotelier and self-appointed leader of
the Sosy group, Lizzie (Rhian Ra-
mos), proposes a planking protest to
stop the bulldozers from rolling. But
she gets in trouble and as a way to
get back to the good graces of their
familys matriarch; she has to do one
thingto live with her poor rela-
tives. Having the luxuries and com-
fortable life that she has, will she be
able to survive the living conditions
in the province?
Then theres Danielle (Bianca
King), the daughter of an ex-pol-
itician whos in the process of im-
peachment wherein all their assets
were frozen. She is still in denial that
they now are not part of Manilas
richest. Until when will she be able
to cover up their nancial struggle?
What if she meets the guy who will
love her for who she is, will she be
courageous enough to accept her real
status or will she stick to her plan of
looking for a rich guy who can save
them from nancial difculties?
Completing the Sosy Girls are fren-
emies Margaux (Solenn Heussaff) and
Claudia (Heart Evangelista), daughters
of former beauty queens who have had
a long-standing unfriendly competi-
tion. What if they found out that each
of them is running after the same man,
Benjo (Aljur Abrenica), an all-around
employee at the Polo Club? Will their
friendship end just because of a guy?
Will someone be brave enough to give
up love for the friendship?
Fiesta Folklor iada 2012
Seven groups of dancers and artists
performed at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines Main Theater on Dec.
20 as participants to last years Fiesta
Folkloriada.
The groups are Cho Nam-Gyu
Song Jeong-Eun Dance Company of
Korea, Sri Warisan Som Said Per-
forming Arts Ltd. of Singapore; Sa-
risan, The Slovak Folk Ensemble of
Slovakia; Mexicos Compania Nacio-
nal De Danza Folklorica Estampas de
Mexico; Colombias Combinaciones
Folkloricas de Colombia; Sabo Na-
tional Dance Ensemlble from Uzbeki-
stan; and Bayanihan, the National Folk
Dance Company of the Philippines.
Fiesta Folkloriada, the Philip-
pine International Folk Dance Fes-
tival was presented by CCP in col-
laboration with the Bayanihan Folk
Arts, Foundation and Ambassador
Alfonso T. Yuchengco Foundation.
Sponsors to the event were Manila
Hotel, Diamond Hotel Philippines,
Novellino Wines and Makati Citys
Barangay Dasmarias.
The festival showcased the unique
cultural heritage of the participating
countries presented in each countrys
dance and music.
Rock and r ule
No Doubt is still one of the most
successful acts after the post- grunge
movement of the mid-1990s. After
multiple changes in band members
since its formation in the late 80s, the
current lineup of Gwen Stefani, Tony
Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adr ian
Young continue to make headlines in
the music world.
The E! Entertainment Special: No
Doubt is about the band from past to
the present. No Doubt was founded
in 1986 by the groups original key-
boardist Er ic Stefani. The band had
a rough start as their self-titled al-
bum failed in 1992. The group also
struggled with multiple changes in
its members. Gwen soon replaced
her brother Eric as lead vocals then
Tom, Adrian and Tony nally joined
the group. The four continued to
work on their next album, The Bea-
con Street Collection, which paved
the road to their success.
It was also this time when Gwen
and Tony ended their secret affair.
Gwens heartbreak became the in-
spiration for the songs Im Just a
Girl and Dont Speak which were
included in their 1995 sensational al-
bum, Tragic Kingdom.
Since then, No Doubt became a
successful xture in the music scene,
creating their own unique blend of
Ska/Rock/Pop. The foursome has
stood the test of time, with countless
awards, Billboard hits and worldwide
fame as testaments to their staying
power.
E! Entertainment Special is just
one of many exciting programs being
offered by E! Entertainment Televi-
sion, the worlds only 24/7 channel
exclusively dedicated to pop culture,
celebrities and entertainment.
A GOOD thing about being an avid music lover is having buddies who
share the same taste as you, jamming to the same tunes as you, and keep-
ing updated with the latest songs just like you. Unfortunately, we all have
that friend that seems stuck in the past, rocking out to the same stuff that
we deem so last year. Download the latest ringback tunes from Sun
Cellulars Dial Tunes.
For as low as P5/5 days and up to a maximum of just P30/30 days,
Sun Dial Tunes allow you to choose from a multitude of the latest and
most popular tunes, from beautiful love songs like Br yan Whites God
Gave Me You and Chr istian Bautistas Please Be Careful With My
Heart, to energizing jams like the latest Sun Cellular theme song, We
Can Do Anything by Never The Str anger s and One Thing by One
Direction. Download international pop sensation PSYs Gangnam
Style as your ringback tone and watch as your buddies break into dance
spontaneously as soon as they dial your Sun Cellular number.
Download the latest from Sun Cellular Dial Tunes by texting the code
of the song of your choice to 2300. You can get the codes at the Dial
Tunes dedicated website: http://dialtunes.suncellular.com.ph. You can
also check for Sun Cellulars newest services and updates by logging on
to Sun Cellulars ofcial Facebook page: facebook.com/suncellularph or
on Twitter: twitter.com/suncelltweets.
Sun Cellular is part of the PLDT Group.
Hippest music as ring back
Actress Ruby Ruiz with director Brillante Mendoza
The production team and cast of Thy Womb director Brillante Mendoza and Superstar Nora Aunor, Mercedes Cabral, Glenda Kennedy and executive producer
Melvin Mangada
MKFI founder and chair former Senator Santanina Rasul with Philippine Council
on Islam and democracy director Amina and Cheng Rasul

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