Manila Standard Today

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Standard TODAY
Manila
Vol. XXVI No. 244 34 Pages, 5 Sections P18.00 Friday, November 30, 2012
www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com
Bonifacio Day
THE country will mark in simple rites today the 149th birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Katipunan, a movement that started the Philippine revolution against 400 years of Spanish colonial rule. The National Historical Commission and the Department of Education, together with the cities of San Juan and Caloocan, have announced various activities to recall his heroism and great sacrice for the cause of freedom and independence. In San Juan, the city government will inaugurate the E-learning room of the Museo ng Katipunan and hold a Little Katipuneros fun run, but in Caloocan, Bonifacios hometown, the city council passed a resolution citing the patriotism of the Great Plebeian and other katipuneros. DANNY PATA
Edsa revolt a proof Catholic vote exists

SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile said Thursday there was such a thing as a Catholic vote that could move the people into action, citing the 1986 Edsa Revolution that ended the 20-year rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. He made the statement after some lawmakers said there was no such thing as a Catholic vote following a statement by a bishop on Wednesday saying the church would be urging the faithful to vote as a bloc to defeat the Reproductive Health bill. That bill aims to guarantee universal access to the methods of contraception, fertility control, sexual education and maternal health care, but the Catholic Church is violently against it saying it is immoral and anti-life. Who are the people to bring down an administration? Was it not the call of Cardinal Sin to the faithful to bring down the administration? Enrile said. You have forgotten that event? That should be a thought for anybody who says that there is no such thing as a Catholic vote, but there is such a thing as a Catholic effort. Enrile made his statement even as Luis Antonio Tagle, the newly installed cardinal, said he would stand with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines against the RH bill. Next page
China triggers new irritant

Chinese marines to board ships in disputed sea
By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Joyce Pangco-Paares, Maricel V. Cruz and Florante Solmerin SLAMMED by its neighbors for issuing a passport stamped with the map of the highly-disputed West Philippine Sea, Beijing not only ignored the protest, but made another provocative action by deploying patrol boats in disputed waters.
This developed as Association of Southeast Asian Nations secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, voicing his concern over Beijings issuance of the now-controversial e-passport, warned that the territorial disputes might turn the region into a next Palestine if tensions are not diffused. In an interview with the Financial Times, Surin said the region was entering its most conten-
New envoy to China

THE Foreign Affairs Department said on Thursday that President Benigno Aquino III will appoint a new envoy to China. In a television interview,
Next page
Enrile cites Arroyos growth contributions

By Macon R. Araneta
SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday said the accelerated growth of the Philippine economy should be credited not only to the present administration but also to the previous administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Enrile noted that the report from the National Statistical Coordination Board which said that the economy grew by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2012, the highest in Southeast Asia, was a combined result of the efforts of the two administrations. The Senate President said it was Arroyo who instituted the economic policies that are being continued by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. We should give credit where credit is due, Enrile said. Enrile added that the mushrooming of skyscrapers resorts, infrastructure projects and reduction of unemployment are indications of a growing economy. We cant ignore the fact about the mushrooming of tall buildings, the many projects in the province like the construction of resorts. He added that Filipno workers remained the countrys biggest exports. Enrile, however, said that what is more important is the impact of the economic growth to ordinary citizens, especially the poor. Next page
Comelec okays 79 party-lists next polls

By Joel E. Zurbano
THE Commission on Elections has approved the participation of 79 party-list groups in next years mid-term elections. Of the total, 58 were already registered while the 21 others were new applicants. At the same time, the commission cancelled the accreditation of three party list groups 1-Utak, 1st Kabagis and Senior Citizens Party and disqualied a new applicant, Alona Party. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Senior Citizens party-list group was disqualied because its nominees have gone into an illegal term sharing arrangement. Those who retained their accreditations were Abante Tribung Makabansa, Act Teacher, A- Teacher, Agila ng katutubong Pilipino, Alagad, Alliance for Philippines Security Guards Coop., Alliance for Volunteer Educators, Alyansa Lumad Mindanao, Agham, Anak Mindanao, Anakpawis, Ang Ladlad, Ang Partido ng Mga Pilipinong Marino, Gabriela, Kababaihang
Next page
tious period in recent years. The warnings may have fallen on deaf ears, following reports from the China Daily that starting next year, Beijing would deploy
Next page
Slamming China. Protesters in Makati City shout slogans and display mock Chinese passports that include
the disputed islands in the South China Sea that claims as its own but which are also being claimed by other countries including the Philippines. AP
Growth target. President Benigno Aquino III presides over a meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority in Malacaang on Thursday, where ofcials said the economy would likely exceed its target growth of 5 to 6 percent this year.
P121b infra projects to boost gains

By Joyce Pangco Paares
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Thursday approved 11 infrastructure projects worth P121.49 billion during the board meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority to boost growth further. These projects will help sustain economic growth, Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang said. The gross domestic product rose 7.1 percent in the three months ending in September from a year earlier and from 6 percent in the second quarter, the National Statistical Coordination Board said on Wednesday. Economic growth accelerated unexpectedly to the fastest pace since 2010 as government spending and investment increased, easing pressure on the central bank to cut interest rates further. Mr. Aquino approved the following projects during the Neda meeting: the construction of 10,679 classrooms until 2014 worth Next page P13.1 billion
LP bets accused of vote buying

By Christine F. Herrera
OPPOSITION lawmakers on Wednesday accused the Aquino administration and the ruling Liberal Party of engaging in scare tactics and vote buying by dangling the monthly dole to millions of poor families to secure votes. House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said LP candidates were present in Lucena City when funds from the conditional cash transfer program were distributed to the poor. As the doles were being handed out, the recipients were told that the CCT they are enjoying now will be lost should they not vote for the administration candidates, Suarez said. Suazez, who demanded a suspension of the dole program until after the 90-day campaign period, said he would ask the members of the minority bloc to nd out if the same thing was happening in their respective districts. During the plenary debates on the cash transfer program, which will have a budget of P45 billion in 2013, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes admitted that the doles could be used for political purposes. For this reason, we proposed that the distribution of the CCT funds be suspended during the campaign and handed out in a lump sum before or after the elections so government funds could
Next page
Palace: Political ties no bearing in scam probe

By Joyce Pangco Paares, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos Araneta
MALACAANG said no cows are sacred in prosecuting those behind the scam-embroiled Aman Futures Group after Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co, an administration ally, was charged with syndicated estafa. Co is the congressional bet of President Benigno Aquino IIIs Liberal Party in Pagadian for the 2013 polls. We expect the Department of Justice to perform its job of identifying personalities who may be culpable for the scam, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Thursday. We expect no special treatment will be granted any personality regardless of party afliation, he said. The charges were based on the evidence gathered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said his wife and 10 others are included in the charge sheet. She said earlier that Co had a hand in the P12 billion pyramid scheme by seeking investors for Aman Futures. In a television interview Wednesday, Co said after Amans Pagadian operator Fernando Luna disappeared in October, he set up a stall in city hall to give out the checks because his constituents still wanted the checks worth millions of pesos. Co said decision a remedial measure even if most of the checks with bigger amounts Next page eventually bounced.
Ortega asks govt to step up manhunt

By Ferdinand Fabella
THE widow of slain Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega on Thursday urged the government to exert more effort in hunting down the suspects in his killing to bring them to justice. Patricia Gloria Ortega also slammed what she described as a disinformation campaign by Ferdinand Topacio, the lawyer of former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his
Next page
Slamming the court. Patria Gloria, wife of the murdered doctor
Gerry Ortega, reacts in Makati City to the reinvestigation of Ortegas case as ordered by a court as Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn listens. Fugitive former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother are the principal suspects in the case. LINO SANTOS
A2
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2012
ManilaStandardToday
News
ban, commander of the Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, said that Chinas new regulation was too much. Sobra na yun. While we are exerting all peaceful means, yun naman ang gagawin nila, Sabban said. [Thats too much. While we are exerting all peaceful means, they are now doing this?] The Westcom covers the Kalayaan Island Group, which is composed of seven islands and two reefs. It is under the political leadership of Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon is composed of seven islets and two reefs. Sabban pointed out that China cannot just board any vessel that pass in the area which is the biggest commercial sea lane in the world. In related developments: The Foreign Affairs Department said China should remove the new map in its passport, which marked disputed waters as Chinese territory. Laguna expressway and the NLEX-SLEX connector were only approved in principle. Lets make it clear that we did not approve these projects just to keep the numbers, Carandang said. These projects have long been in the pipeline, but certainly these projects will help us sustain economic growth. Earlier, Malacaang expressed condence that the gross domestic product for the last three months of the year would be as energetic if not higher than the 7.1-percent The DFA also reiterated the governments call that Beijing withdraw the three ships Philippines call for China to withdraw the three ships still anchored in the West Philippine Sea, six months after Beijing promised that it would pull out its vessels. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that the decision not to stamp its visas on the new China e-passport may result to chaos. since the absence of ofcial records on the e-passports of Chinese nationals could spare them from any accountability in case they violate domestic laws despite the countrys extradition treaty with China. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario reiterated the governments call that Beijing withdraw the three ships Philippines call for China to withdraw the three ships still anchored in the West Philippine Sea, six months after Beijing promised that it would pull out its vessels. third-quarter growth. We are optimistic that our fourth-quarter growth will remain as energetic, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. Public consumption will most denitely stay robust, fueled by high consumption levels during the holidays, continuing investments in public and private infrastructure, and the kick-start of election-related spending this Christmas season. The Philippines impressive third-quarter growth placed it ahead of Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore.
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Alaminos China... mayor criticizes charges

ALAMINOS City Mayor Hernani Braganza on Friday said the criminal charges led against him by 11 village captains for his alleged non-release of village funds and his conscation of village vehicles were a rehashed harassment case. My political opponents are desperately scraping the bottom of the barrel, said Braganza, the Liberal Partys candidate for governor of Pangasinan. They cant nd any dirt so they are desperately reviving stale cases against me. Braganza said the cases against him had been with the Ofce of the Ombudsman for months, but the news reports appearing on Wednesday made it appear as if those cases were led only recently. Dont be misled by spin doctors. This is an old harassment case repackaged as news, Braganza said. He said his lawyers had already moved for the dismissal of the cases against him, and that the Alaminos city budget ofce had been able to provide the Ombudsman with documents proving that the all the barangays had received the aid due them. The documents, including checks and bank records, show that the complainants are lying. We believe we have strong grounds to charge them with perjury, Braganza said. Rio N. Araja
patrols prevent other ships from illegally entering the contested waters. Beijing added that its marine forces would also board the ships entering the provinces waters and order them to change course or stop sailing. The China Daily reported that these directives were contained in a revised maritime regulation where it gives the Police authority in Hainan to board or seize foreign ships that illegally enter Hainan provinces including the newly established Sansha City. Huang Shunxiang, director of the congresss press ofce said that Sansha city which administers and manage the disputed Spratly Island, Paracel Islands and Maccleseld Bank in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), falls under the jurisdiction of Hainan. It is urgent for China to im-
prove its legal system regarding offshore law enforcement because disputes with other countries are on the rise in the South China Sea, Southeast Asian Center at Xiamen University Zhuang Guotu said. Zhuang described the revision of the regulations are significant especially now that disputes over the waters are on the rise. Other activities that fall under the new regulation, aside from entering the waters without permission includes damaging coastal defense facilities; and engaging in publicity the threatens Chinas national security. Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez, meanwhile, refrained from making any comment and said that they still have to conrm the report. We are still checking the details of this report. Until we get the full information, we will reserve our comments, Hernandez said in a text message. But Lt. Gen. Juancho Sab start if the contact-less automatic fare collection system worth P1.75 billion convergence on chain enhancement for rural growth and empowerment Component A worth P68 million the extension of the Mindanao Rural Development Project 2 worth P7.39 billion the rehabilitation of Turbines 4 and 5 of the Angat hydroelectric plant worth P1.16 billion the construction of the NLEX-SLEX connector worth P25 billion. Carandang said the Cavite-
New...
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the new envoy will take over the post left by Ambassador Sonia Brady, who suffered a stroke in August at the height of the tension with China over the West Philippine Sea issue. Brady had since recovered and returned to the Philippines a month after. We are in the process of deciding on the appointment of a new ambassador and the president will be making that decision by Monday, Del Rosario said. Ambassador Brady is happily recovering. She no longer has paralysis but she still has speech impairment but shes taking speech therapy, he added. Del Rosario said he was taking the blame for the delay in the appointment of a new envoy especially now that China has released a new passport which marks disputed waters as Chinese territory. The buck stops with me. Some weeks ago I mentioned to the President that I would go and see Ambassador Brady and I would ask her if it was OK with her if we begin looking for replacement. So I visited with her. I didnt have the heart to bring it up so I went back to the president and said Mr. President, that rst call that I had when she came back to the Philippines, I didnt have the heart to speak to her about the possibility of a replacement. But we were able to do that nally, he explained. Del Rosario said the department nominated only career ofcials for the post and not political appointees.
P121b...
construction of the CaviteLaguna expressway worth P43 billion until 2017 the redevelopment of the Tacloban airport worth P2.1 billion construction of the Albay west coast road project worth P1.14 billion the acquisition of multi-role response vessels worth P8.8 billion contstruction of the Mactan International Airport terminal Phase 1 in Cebu worth P17.5 billion
Edsa...
Tagle arrived from Rome via Hong Kong on Thursday after Pope Benedict XVI installed him as one of the new members of the Catholic Churchs College of Cardinals. As a cardinal, we are tasked to be the Popes collaborators in the country, Tagle said. Enrile has already brought to the Senate oor six of the 17 amendments he plans to introduce in the RH bill, but on Thursday he said he would still vote against the bills passage. With barely nine session days left before Congress goes on a Christmas break, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday
LP...
not be used for electioneering, Suarez told the Manila Standard. Other Comelec commissioners, however, disagreed with Brillantes, Suarez added. Our fear before that the CCT funds would be used for electioneering is now happening, Suarez said. He said the Social Welfare Department would summon the recipients on the pretext of conducting training and orientation. The CCT recipients would come and they would also see the LP candidates there. If this is not electioneering and inuence peddling and vote buying, I dont know [what is], Suarez said. Suarez said the program, which was initiated by the former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was not used in the same way during the previous administration. He also decried the use of fear to get the poor to vote for the administration candidates. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano said he believed what happened in Lucena would be done nationwide. The DSWD ofcials were telling the recipients if these candidates lose in the polls, the CCT program will stop, Albano said. What we are suggesting is if there is really sincerity on the part of DSWD that this will not be used for election purposes then it is imperative that they stop the mass distribution during the 90-day campaign period for national candidates so that the funds would not be used as a political tool, Suarez said. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he too felt that the government dole could be used for election purposes, but said this would not stop voters from choosing their candidates independently. Even if you give them money, they have their own feelings on politics, he said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
said the House of Representatives had enough time to work on the individual amendments to the RH) bill and to approve the measure at least on second reading by the end of the year. I still believe that we will be able to pass the RH bill on second or third reading before we adjourn in December, Belmonte told the Manila Standard. He said the move of the House leadership to accept the substitute version of House Bill 4244 introduced by its principal author, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, was another major breakthrough towards the bills passage in the Lower House. Despite the strong opposition from the anti-RH lawmakers led Act-Cis, Append, Amor Seaman, 1Aalalay, 1 Lambat, 1, Pabahay, Magdalo, MTM Phils., Migrante, Ofw Family and Umalab Ka. Brillantes said the poll body would be more strict in screen partylist groups to prevent abuses and to identify those that truly represent the marginalized and underprivileged. Brillantes said he wanted to cleanse the party-list groups further, but never imagined they would get the number down to 79. In its latest purge, the commission disqualied more than 130 groups, mostly because they were vague about the sectors they represented. Some disqualied groups have sought relief from the Supreme Court, which has issued a status quo ante order enjoining the poll body from disqualifying the party-list groups until their petitions are decided. On Tuesday, the Court added four more groups to those covered by its status quo ante order Agri, Abroad, Cocofed and Bantay, the group of retired general Jovito Palparan. That brought to 15 the number of disqualied groups covered by the court order. The order means the Comelec must include the affected groups in its list of party-list groups and include their names on the ballots, pending the Courts resolution of their petitions. With Rey E. Requejo
by Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, the House on Monday night turned down the clamor to have the substitute bill referred back to the committee level. Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II moved to accept the substitute bill through amendment by substitution after the Lower House was able to muster a quorum with 174 House members present. On Tuesday, only about 130 lawmakers attended the session, which was short of the required 145 lawmakers to declare a quorum. On Wednesday, however, 163 congressmen attended the session, but the session was adjourned a few minutes later when nobody attempted to raise
an issue on the RH bill. Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, a member of the opposition and an anti-RH lawmaker, said the apparent lack of interest to debate the measure was an indication the RH bill would not be passed. Assistant Majority Leader Sherwin Tugna agreed. But Lagman believes the House leadership is merely taking things in stride instead of railroading the bills passage. And Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said he was optimistic the RH bill would be passed by the end of the year. The signs are there. The leadership is in sync with the authors, he said. Macon Ramos-Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz The SEC, which issued Aman a cease-and-desist order last October for lack of license, named Amalilio and six board members--Fernando Luna, Lelian Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Willanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez--as respondents. All except Luna, who is at large, have submitted their afdavits and vowed to cooperate in the investigation. In an interview, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said SECs complaint was referred to the same special panel of prosecutors under chairman Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela over the syndicated estafa suit. At least 22 victims led before the NBI the 10th set of complaints against Co in proceedings handled by an investigating panel of 14 prosecutors who are set to y to Pagadian City on December 5 for a hearing where respondents will be required to answer the charges and submit their respective counter-afdavits. At the Kapihan sa Senado, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile saw no need to create a new law. People go to earn easy money, but in the end, they become the loser. This is all product of greed, he said. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III called for an inquiry by the Blue Ribbon Committee while Sentor Teosto Guingona lauded the Anti-Moeny Laundering Council in freezing the bank accounts of the accused.
Enrile...
Senator Loren Legarda shared Enriles view, adding that the benets of such progress should reach even the far-ung communities in the country. Growth, no matter how high, will only be appreciated by the people if its benets actually trickle down even to the far-ung barangays in the country. This should include efcient delivery of basic services especially to the poor rural communities, she said. The senator said this view was likewise expressed by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, who said that growth should be inclusive -- and should be felt not only by the rich and those in the middle class, but also, and more importantly, by the poor. She also underscored the importance of taking care of the environment, saying that this should never be compromised for the sake of development. The decline of our ecosystems has been determined as one of the underlying drivers of disaster risks and poverty, in the context of climate change. Therefore, protecting ecosystemswhich involves rehabilitating our forests, cleaning our rivers, and stopping pollution, among other actions, must be done now. In ensuring inclusive growth, Legarda said that investing heavily in the countryside must be included in development initiativessupport for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises to create more employment opportunities; establishing livelihood training programs; and, providing technical and nancial support to farmers and sherfolk. What we must aim for is not mere progress, but sustainable development and inclusive growthnever neglecting the most vulnerable sectors of society and never sacricing the environment in the face of progress, she said.
Comelec...
Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas, Kabataan, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan All Pilipino Democratic Movement, Katribu, 1-Sagip and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. The commission en banc voted unanimously in favor of these party-list groups. The other existing groups allowed to join the party-list race were 1-Banat and Ahapo, Abakada-Guro, Abante Ka, Abante Mindanao, Abono, Adam, Ating Koop, Agbiag Tinataguyod Ilocano, Agrarian Development Association, Agap, Akapbata Inc., Akbayan, Ako Ayoko sa Bawal na Droga, Alay Buhay, Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz, Alyansa ng OFW, Aba, An Waray, Aambis-Owa, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino, Ang Matay Alagaan, Ang NCIP, Arts Business and Science Professionals, Bagong Henerasyon, Bayan Muna, Buhay, Cibac, Cooperative Natcco Network, Diwa, Kalinga, Ang Kasangga, AA Kasosyo, LPGMA, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta, 1 Ang Pamilya, Veterans Freedom Party and Yacap. New party-list groups approved were Aagapay sa Matatanda, Ang Nars, Aasenso, Pilipinos with Disabilities, Piston, 1, Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group, 1-Aamover, Abante Retirees, Ading, Ang Prolife, Gerry Ortega was 47 when he was shot and killed in Puerto Princesa on Jan. 24, 2011, allegedly because of his continuing attacks on the local mining industry. Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who joined Gloria Ortega in her press conference in Makati City, warned that more more journalists like Gerry Ortega would die if the Reyes brothers were acquitted. Gloria Ortega dared the Reyes brothers to come out in the open and
Palace...
Im not one of the planners. I invested in the latter part and I have no involvement actually. Aman is not only operating in Pagadian. They had their system already. They dont need a mayor to help them, he noted. The DoJ and the National Bureau of Investigation are now running after Aman chief executive, Malaysian national Manuel Amalilio. He allegedly ed to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, which has no extradition treaty with the Philippines. Aman dangled interest rates of 10 percent to 40 percent on shortterm money placements. President Benigno Aquino III said he would invoke the Mutual Legal Treaty with Southeast Asian countries to get the suspect. We will not stop, he said. We need to bring these people to the bars of justice, thats why theres a manhunt for all those involved. The Securities and Exchange Commission has asked the Justice department to prosecute Manuel Amalilio and other executives for violating the Securities Regulation Code. In its complaint, the SEC said the principals sold unregistered securities and engaged in fraudulent transactions.
Ortega...
brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, the principal suspects in the case. What we want is a more serious effort to hund down the Reyeses wherever they might be, Mrs. Ortega said. Almost two years have passed, but we still do not have a single reliable information on their whereabouts.
face the murder charges against them. She broke her silence after the Court of Appeals invalidated the second investigating panel created by the Justice Department to look into the killing. Come out and surrender to the court, thats where you can prove that you have nothing to do with my husbands murder, Mrs. Ortega said. Your continued disappearance is only a sign of admission of guilt. The appellate courts Special Fifth Division earlier ruled that
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima abused her powers when she created a second investigating panel to re-investigate the Ortega case instead of reviewing the rst panels resolution in June last year nding no probable cause to charge the Reyes brothers. Mrs. Ortega said she and her family were disheartened when they heard reports that the Reyeses had been acquitted. She blamed Topacio for allegedly spreading that misinformation.
We entertained the thought that our efforts of nding justice for the past 22 months had all been for naught, Mrs. Ortega said. We were initially led to believe that the warrant of arrest against the brothers had been quashed and that the two would surface soon. Topacio had claimed that the legality of the Justice Departments second investigating panel had been held invalid. The legal implication was that all its actions were just as in-
valid, and that the murder charges and arrest warrants against his clients might eventually be quashed. The simple facts are that the murder case is still pending in Palawan, the arrest warrant is in effect, and there is still a reward of P2 million each for the fugitive Reyes brothers, Mrs. Ortega said. She expressed her familys continued condence on De Limas handling of the case. Ferdinand Fabella
ManilaStandardToday
News
Flores said the licensing agreement is good for ve years and tied to Comelecs purchase of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, which was also used in the 2010 presidential elections. Filipinos can depend on the PCOS machines to help bring about transparent elections next year and in the years to come. Business as usual, Flores said. Smartmatic deployed 76,340 units and 1,700 servers for the rst fully-automated elections in the Philippines in 2010. The automation included counting of votes to transmission and canvassing of election results. The Comelec decided to purchase the PCOS machines for
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
A3
Comelec shielded from suppliers feud

By Joel Zurbano
SMARTMATIC International, which supplied the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the machines for computerized canvass of votes, has been locked in a legal dispute with its software provider, but it would not affect the mid-term elections next year, ofcials said on Thursday. Smartmatic Asia President Cesar Flores said Dominion Voting Systems International, which supplied Smartmatic the automated system technologies, canceled the license agreement between the two companies last May, prompting Smartmatic to le a case at the Delaware Chancery Court in Florida in the United States. the elections next year, which was challenged in court. Last month, the Supreme Court afrmed with nality the legality of Comelecs P1.8 billion purchase from Smartmatic of 82,000 PCOS machines. Flores said the dispute between Smatmatic and Dominion has no bearing on Comelecs ownership of the PCOS machines and it will not jeopardize the elections next May. We assure the public this rift will not result in Comelec being constrained in any way as to its use of the automated systems that they now own, and that the independent testing and verication of that system, now underway, will further demonstrate the technical integrity of the system as required under Philippine laws, he said. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said preparations for next years elections will not be affected by legal dispsutes between Smartmatic and Dominion, or any side comments about legal issues. Comments are being made by non-legal people discussing legal issues. Being non-legal individuals, they interpret allegations in pleadings led in a foreign country. How can you believe somebody you have never talked to. You are relying on legal documents when yooure not even a lawyer, Brillantes said. Brillantes accused critics of Smartmatic of cherrypicking details from the dispute to suit their views.
Guinnnes for jigsaw. Filipino entrepreneur Georgina Gil-Lacuna, left, is
awarded the ofcial certicate from Guinness World Records adjudicator Seyda Subasi Gemici in recognition for her Largest Collection of Jigsaw Puzzles during a ceremony Thursday in Tagaytay City. Lacuna has a collection of 1,030 jigsaw puzzles, besting a record once held by Brazilian Luiza Figuereido. AP
Enrile fumes over China cigarettes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE government should heighten its
campaign against cigarette smuggling and the drive should start now, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Thursday as he questioned Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares on the presence of the Chinese brand cigarette Yunyan in the country.
Why do we have Yunyan here? Why do you not conscate them? They are just there in Divisoria? Why? These are just my questions? Why? asked Enrile. He presented to the media a smuggled cigarette that can sells at Divisoria market for P20/pack even as the sin tax bill has not yet been enacted. During yesterdays Kapihan sa Senado, Enrile showed the Chinese brand cigarette Yunyan and said in jest, You should start smoking, not Marlboro but Yunyan. He warned that Yunyan and other imported cigarettes will ood the local market once the sin tax bill is passed into law due to the increase in the prices of locally-produced cigarettes. The problem here, Enrile said, was the manner in which the cigarettes were brought into the country. How did this cigarette enter the country? Who brought them here? Who were the smart guys or smart girls or who had connections and inuence who brought this Yunyan here? he further asked. He noted that there is an ongoing smuggling here in the country right now, but it is being quietly done, and are not being taxed. But now, the locally-produced tobacco are the ones being imposed with high tax. So its really surprising why smuggled cigarettes are not being taxed, he said. He noted that the raw materials being used in the manufacture of imported tobacco did not come from the Philipines and that the workers were not Filipinos. He said the machines used in the production of imported cigarettes were not found in the Philippines. The expected smuggling of cigarettes, Enrile said, was the reason he recommended to earmark P2 billion from the P40 billion target proceeds for law enforcers. He said the money would be used for the operations of the Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Zambo illegal mining probe gets House okay

By Maricel V. Cruz
A RESOLUTION was led in the House of Representatives seeking a congressional probe of the activities of illegal mining groups and pseudo-mining companies, which have abused and destroyed the environment and forest reserves in Zamboanga del Sur. House Resolution 2908, authored by Laguna Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez was in response to reports that illegal gold mining in Zamboanga del Sur has caused massive destruction and devastation of the environment, in order to come up with possible legislative remedies to address the problem. Illegal logging has decimated forest areas for wood supplies used as mine shaft support and beams, etc for the illegal mining operations of illegal gold mining groups and miners, said Fernandez, chairman of the House committee on ecology. The resolution, led on Monday, was passed on rst reading Wednesday night, and was referred to the House committee on rules, and the rules committee referred it to the ecology committee for action. Fernandez said that banned and toxic chemicals and substances were used to process gold and this should be a cause for alarm. Illegal miners also resort to dynamite blasting to carry out their unlawful operations, he said . He denounced the illegal mining operators who have conducted iunlawful mining for decades with impunity despite various cease and desist orders issued by the Government the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Government as well as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The reports also revealed that aside from Lupa Pigigetawan, an organization called Monte Oro Small Scale Mining (MOSSMA) has been alleged to be operating illegally with impunity in the gold-rich Balabag area, in Zamboanga del Sur where the government has a partnership with a Canadian mining rm under a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA).
A4 FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor
Opinion
it seems, can expand amid a lethargic export sector, an inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent government policies. But economic growth is about consistency and quality. The poor and the marginalized sectors will remain in their sordid state if the robust expansion is not sustained over the longer term. Economist Benjamin Diokno, a former budget secretary, noted an imbalance in the economy. The peso is gaining strength because of positive economic news, which means local prices will be tempered, especially on products that are import-dependent. A strong peso, however, discourages exports and encourages imports, says Diokno. The result is higher unemployment. [A] strong peso reduces the purchasing power of overseas Filipino workers families, thus resulting in lower consumption, depressed demand and higher unemployment again, Diokno said. A seemingly strong economy,
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
EDITORIAL
Complacent about growth

itself from the general recession in Europe and the slow recovery of the United States economy. It has turned inward to support economic growth, with the domestic market creating the demand for services, cellular phones, construction and the manufacturing sector. Increased government spending led to jobs and higher consumption, while the steady remittances from the Filipinos working overseas and the earnings of call center agents drove demand. The Philippine economy, meanwhile, may lead the government to lower its guard. One negative effect is that it might lead to complacency; that is, we can grow without putting in place comprehensive reforms. We need sustained or steady growth of 7 percent for seven to 10 years to make a meaningful change in the lives of poor Filipinos, Diokno said. Growth, in sum, is a game changer if it has a trickle-down effect on a signicant portion of the population.
THE Philippine economy, despite sluggish exports and the absence of a solid industrial base, has registered impressive quarterly growth rates. The gross domestic product grew at a higher-than-expected rate of 7.1 percent in the third quarter, the second-best performing economy in Asia, or next to China. A broad consumer base largely contributed to the economic expansion, thanks to a growing population. The Philippines has so far shielded
Old tricks
LOWDOWN
ITS an old trick, using a former Arroyo administration ofcials name and allegations of previous corruption to tar and feather a project that even the current overlords nd nothing wrong with. And it now appears that the scheme has been used again, this time to smear the billion-peso Entertainment City project of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. A congressional investigation looking into published allegations that Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada paid off former Pagcor consultant Rodolfo Soriano is now nding out that a bitter business rival of the Japanese investor, American gambling magnate Steve Wynn, may be behind the whole propaganda blitz. The plan, according to Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, may be to derail the Entertainment City project (which is supposed to open next year with the full support of the current Aquino administration) so that it would not compete with Wynns casinos in Macau. House investigators learned this week that there is no link between the supposed bribing of Soriano, which was said to have taken place in May 2010, and Entertainment City, where Okada obtained a franchise to operate a casino two years earlier, or in 2008. Indeed, ofcials of Okadas company told Congress that the supposed bribery involved a Subic Bay gaming operation, which was not authorized by the Japanese billionaire and was perpetrated by his underlings. Why this independent action of Soriano, a former P1-a-year Pagcor consultant, and Okadas ofcials would affect Pagcors Entertainment City was never made clear. Earlier, of course, erstwhile partners Wynn and Okadathe single biggest investor in the Americans Wynn Resortshad a very public falling out over control of the huge US-based gambling company. The two have traded high-prole lawsuits that have been the single most talkedabout topic in the legal gambling industry. Wynn is also believed to have instigated reports that Okada bankrolled the red-carpet visit to Macau of current Pagcor chief Cristino Naguiat. Naguiat came away red-faced from that controversy, especially after it was learned that his wife was even gifted with an expensive designer bag during the comped visit. A Palace spokesman has announced that the government may put the brakes on the Entertainment City project if allegations of bribery are made to stick. But so far, nothing of the sort has come to lightwhich means Malacaang and Pagcor are still hell-bent on pursuing the moneymaking venture.
JOJO A. ROBLES
Pagcor and De Lima fall for old schemes intended to pressure government into acting.
*** Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is once again in the news, this time for apparently falling for yet another propaganda trickthat of pressuring the Judiciary and government prosecutors into handing down rulings that have no basis in evidence or even reality. The Court of Appeals, in a decision guaranteed not to sit well with advocates of the lynching of former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes for the killing for radio announcer Gerry Ortega, has ruled that De Lima erred in calling for a new DOJ investigation of the case after an earlier DOJ panel already exonerated the Reyeses. The Special Fifth Division of the appellate court threw out the murder charges against the Reyes brothers after nding that De Lima abused her discretion in creating a second panel of investigators to evaluate the case. Apparently, De Lima caved in to pressure from the political enemies of the Reyeses, who raised an outcry after the rst investigating panel formed by De Limas department found no evidence to link the brothers to the 2011 crime. No wonder the brothers felt that they could not get justice from De Lima and her prosecutors and went into hiding. Who wants to be prosecuted on supposed new evidence that never materialized during a second DOJ investigation, which found absolutely nothing to reverse the ndings of the rst one? The Reyeses were named masterminds in the killing of Ortega in January last year, an allegation that was not shared by the original panel of DOJ prosecutors who investigated the case in their June 8, 2011 resolution, which also found four persons guilty of actually killing the broadcaster. But this decision was contested by Ortegas widow, whose motion to reopen the case was also thrown out by the panel. On Sept. 7, 2011, however, De Lima issued an order creating a new prosecution panel on the supposed grounds that new evidence had come up to link the Reyeses to the crime. True enough, despite the lack of new and material evidence, according to the Court of Appeals, this new panel reinstated the brothers as conspirators in Ortegas murder and a warrant was issued for their arrest. The higher court faulted the second panel for modifying the resolution of the earlier body, which was a co-equal prosecution team whose ndings could not be changed by the subsequent group. The court also chided De Lima for forming a new panel of prosecutors to reinvestigate the case without a compelling reason. If De Lima were truly honest, she would say that it was popular to prosecute the Reyeses for a crime even if no evidence warranted it. Perhaps that is daang matuwid to her.
FOI and the press

FIRST THINGS FIRST
THE clamor for a Freedom of Information Act is based on the assumption that it will help the media and the general public access information that is now being withheld from them as state secrets. It is a legitimate demand, but it is not as simple as it looks. In the United States, where the present bill has been copied, the law facilitates the release of releasable information, but it does not unlock tightly kept state secrets. The secret document must rst be declassied before it becomes accessible to the public. For instance, from 1974 to 1989, when the infamous National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200), which provides the template for global population control, was still a secret document, neither the White House nor the State Department could be compelled to release it. The rst article I wrote about it before it was declassied came from a leak. For the media, that is normally how state secrets are divulgedthrough a leak. Reporters, when they were still real reporters, stole ofcial documents and disclosed their dark secrets to the public. That was journalism at its best, before reporting began to look like the feeding of a herd. The Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg was not the result of a press release. In the rst few months of the interim Batasang Pambansa, where I sat as the rst of Bicol regions 12 elected representatives, I had two major legislative proposals. One was the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the other was the FOI Act. The rst one, which had then Minister-Assemblyman and now-Senate President Juan Ponce
FRANCISCO S. TATAD
Enrile as co-author, became law; the second did not. The FARA classies as a foreign agent any person who is wholly or partially funded by a foreign source. He or she is required to disclose his or her principals interests to the Department of Justice before he or she could lobby Congress or any government ofce in pursuit of those interests. That covers all those foreign-funded lobbyists for reproductive health. But not many of them, if any, appear to have disclosed to the DOJ their foreign-funded activities and interests. I was an Assemblyman and Minister of Information at the same time, but I thought the FOI Act would be good even for the government. I thought it would moderate the tendency of mindless bureaucrats to classify as secret even mere cuttings from newspapers. But my proposal foundered on the rocky waters of the budget committee, chaired by an engineer who has since graduated into the ranks of Makatis pro-FOI plutocrats. He declared that the cost of providing copies of documents to interested parties would be quite prohibitive. It never occurred to him to simply charge the public the cost of copying every requested document. My sympathies are with those who are demanding the FOIAs passage. But if the requirements of the FARA, which impinge on the countrys sovereignty, are not even being followed, what assurance can there be that the FOIA, once enacted into law, would be followed? Certainly there are instances when you wish the government would be more transparent. One glaring example is the case of the Commission on Elections relationship with the foreign election service provider, Smartmatic. Some civil society-IT groups have been asking the Comelec to make public all ofcial documents concerning its contract with the foreign company on the automation of the elections, in
Manila
2010 and in 2013. This call, publicly reiterated in a big press conference on Tuesday, has fallen on deaf ears, despite its clear implications to the national interest. That said, there are other instances when the media have acted as apologists and censors by turns for the government. They alternatively fudge the data to make the government look good and suppress information that could put government in a bad light. The examples are legion. In Tuesdays press conference in Intramuros, several IT groups which had monitored the 2010 elections and are watching closely the preparations for the 2013 elections made several serious statements which any professional newspaperman would have found worth running above the fold on the front page. They failed to get the space they deserved. Whats happening here is that many media owners and gatekeepers have become part of the power structure and are determined to keep their position regardless of cost to the public. They do not need government to tell them what to do; they offer incense whenever possible, and squash criticism against government even before it is uttered. Even when they appear to encourage debate, they censor dilute arguments against the government, which its apologists may not be able to refute. Take the reproductive health bill. They have danced around all the side issues in the bogus debate, but they never dared raise the one prejudicial question: Can that bill, which prescribes birth control to all, and requires members of the religious majority to go against the teaching of their faith, be enacted into law without violating the clear and express provisions of the Constitution? I am afraid this type of media is a bigger problem than the absence of an FOIA. fstatad@gmail.com
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN CHIN WONG/ RAY S. EANO JOEL P. PALACIOS MARLON C. MAGTIRA
ROGELIO C. SALAZAR President & CEO Publisher FRANCIS LAGNITON Managing Editor ARMAN ARMERO Associate Editors LEO A. ESTONILO ROMEL J. MENDEZ News Editor ROBERTO CABRERA Online Editor
Senior Deskman Senior Deskman Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer
Standard TODAY
Published Monday to Sunday by Kamahalan Publishing Corporation at 3rd Floor Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas corner Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone
CLIMACO E. CALIWARA Controller ANITA F. GREFAL Treasury Manager
MA. EDITHA D. ANGELES Advertising Manager EDGAR M. VALMORIDA Circulation Manager
numbers 659-4830 to 32 (connecting all departments), 659-4827 (Editorial), 6594803, 659-4802 (Advertising), 527-5016 (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and 527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 659-4804 (Advertising) and 5276406 (Subscription). P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Ofce, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ manilastandardtoday.com
MST ONLINE
can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers
PPI
MEMBER
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor
Opinion
FILIPINO PENSIONER
KUYA Pat and I decided to relax for a few days in a place far from the urban jungle where we live. It must also be affordable for SSS pensioners like us. So off we went to Sipocot in Camarines Sur, the town of our childhood which we have not set foot in for the past four decades. My hidden agenda was to search for our retirement town. Maybe we were just ordinary provincial folks who move to cities to work while young but return to retire at old-age in their villages. There, they spend quietly the rest of their life reunited with relatives and childhood friends at a much cheaper cost of living. Sipocot is reachable from Manila by train, bus and car. The trip lasts for eight to 10 hours but it could be reached faster by airplane via Naga City, and then by land to Sipocot. We could have availed of the senior citizens 20-percent fare discount and VAT exemption, but I decided to drive my car so I could stop anywhere we felt like stopping. I had to pay for gasoline and toll without a discount. The discounts of the 2010 Expanded Senior Citizens Act somehow made up for the non-increase of SSS pensions. However, pensioners who spend minimally get practically nothing out of it. They suggest that those discounts and VAT exemptions are better collected into a common fund for redistribution to all senior citizens, spender or nonspender. My driving took me to a long and winding road beside scenic green mountains and blue seas. I found the Quezon and Bicol National Parks marvelous but they were eerie
HORACE TEMPLO
A5
Double standards in tuwid na daan

THE erosion of the credibility of the anti-corruption stance of the Aquino administration continues. The latest corrosive news item which puts serious doubts on the sincerity of President Benigno Aquino III commitment to tuwid na daan an apparent biblical allusion to the narrow way supposed to be followed by the righteousis the exclusive ABS-CBN report documenting the use by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman and CEO Cristino Bong Naguiat Jr. of a luxury vehicle owned by Pagcor as a school bus service for his son. Video footages shown by ABSCBN News showed what looked like to be a late model Toyota Camry with security plate number NQM 923 to bring and fetch the son, a grade schooler at the Ateneo de Manila University, and his nanny, to and from school. The driver of the vehicle was identied as Lino Constantino. The spokesman of Pagcor admitted he is a Pagcor employee. It would not be surprising if it turns out that this Constantino is a long-time driver of Naguiat who was included in the payroll of Pagcor after Naguiats appointment as Pagcor head. The implication of Naguiat to this Pagcor school bus scandal must be most be a big blow for the President since it is known that Naguiat belongs to the innermost circle of classmates, friends, and shooting buddies (Kaklase, Kaibigan and Kabarilan) of Mr. Aquino. According to some news reports Naguiat is one of three closest friends of the President who hangs out with him at social event and when he relaxes after work. The other two are recently appointed Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Romy Mercado whose family used to own the restaurant/confectionery chain Red Ribbon. Mercifully, the voluble spokesmen have not waded into the Pagcor school bus issue but it would not be surprising if they eventually did so especially since they are protective of the members of the KKK and are always ready to come to their defense. In fact, Malacaang has come to the rescue of Naguiat several times. The latest of which was on the issue of the Wynn group complaint lodged before the Nevada Gaming Commission that Naguiat, his wife and other Pagcor ofcials were the beneciaries of $110,000 representation expenses from Japanese casino tycoon Kazuo Okada during a visit to Macau. At that time, Malacaang said that there was nothing wrong with the generous hosting by Okada of Naguiat since this is something that casino operators do for visiting VIPs. Even Malacaangs very capable spokesmen might have a hard time defending Naguiat on this scandal where there is video proof that Naguiat has used a Pagcor luxury vehicle, driven by a Pagcor-paid driver, and using Pagcor-purchased gasoline as a school bus for his son and his yaya. What makes the Naguiat defense difcult is the fact that last September 5, 2012 Pagcor imposed a six-month suspension on Roberto Dueas, the branch surveillance ofcer of Casino Filipino-Angeles, for unauthorized use, operation, possession or lending of company property for personal use. The accusation against Dues was he used the Pagcor vehicle assigned to him several times for personal use. This clearly is a double standard. It is ridiculous for Pagcor to punish an employee for using Pagcor vehicle for his personal use while at the same time justifying and defending the same abuse by its highest ofcial. One can only admire Pagcor spokesman and former ABSCBN reporter M a r i c a r Bautista for trying. But her explanation leaves a bad taste in the mouth. She said that Naguiat, the Chairman and CEO, should not be compared to a mere employee like Dueas since their situations are different. She said that by virtue of his position Naguiat has security concerns not only for himself but for his whole family. Bautista even volunteered the information that there are other Pagcor vehicles being used by the family of Naguiat. Bautista should explain the basis of their contention that Naguiat has security threats. Where did Pagcor get the idea that there are such threats? Did they report such threats to the police? The justication being used by Bautista for the use of government vehicles by Naguiats family has no legal basis. In fact it would seem that Naguiat has administrative and possible criminal liabilities for private use of public vehicles. ABS-CBN interviewed Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque who said that the rules against the unauthorized use of government vehicles apply to all government ofcials including the head of agencies. The case against Naguiat is not difcult to establish. There are video footages and even an open admission from the Pagcor spokesman. All that is needed now is for one public interest lawyer to le a case against Naguiat.
In search of a retirement town

driving challenges. I appreciated our environmentalists more. I also enjoyed the portion from Laguna to Quezon and Camarines Norte, which was mostly cooled by tall forest trees. When we reached town centers, trafc jams slowed us down but we got, for compensation, a quick glimpse of the local business, cultural and social developments. Senior citizens halls could be seen standing proudly near town halls. But as senior citizens become more visible in town affairs, they should resist becoming blind supporters of mayors who appoint their leaders. They should speak freely on national issues. Pensioners of the Social Security System have long waited in silence for pension adjustments. Perhaps they realize that the benets they have received have exhausted the contributions they have given. According to SSS, employers and workers must rst increase their contributions, which management and labor groups strongly oppose and nd unnecessary. The spirit of the pension system must stay alive. Today a worker must pay to adjust a pensioners benet; someday another worker would do the same for him. This was our social contract in the creation of SSS in 1957. When salaries are raised, is the best time to increase contributions to support a pension increase. This way, workers share with pensioners a part of their salary adjustment in the spirit of national solidarity. In todays conditions, SSS unwavering pursuit of a perpetual actuarial life is the best way to frustrate everybody, even actuaries. It cannot be achieved by merely increasing the contribution rate to 11 percent. It depends on a basket of other factors demographic, labor and economicand can easily be messed up by a countrys topsy-turvy economy. What country can claim this status in todays troubled state of world economy? It is enough for SSS to demonstrate that it can sustain payment of meaningful benets and regularly adjust its eroded pensions. Its plans and actions must be popularly supported by its stakeholders. But why does it not highlight in its Web page pension increases since 2001? Although obsessed with its actuarial life, SSS will likely increase its pensions beginning January. It always happens during an election year. In any case, those opposed to the contribution increase will realize that pensioners truly need a break after a long spell of pension stagnation. *** Upon reaching Sipocot, we found out why it is still a third-class municipality. Electricity, internet connections, and cell phone signals were unreliable. The towns hospital and university needed additional support. Its train station was no longer the busy hub it was where travelers congregated decades ago. Fortunately, it has retained its green elds, valleys, pristine streams and friendly people. Barangay Binahian was not yet linked by road, but this contributed to the preservation of the places enchanting beauty. Many locals made good in other cities or abroadJoel, Nato, Rene, Teo, Che, etc. They visit and endow friends and relatives with gifts, but Sipocot fails to meet their now world-class basic needs. Thus, they would not stay for good. Still, others return to Sipocot to retire and relive their once quiet and simple life with childhood friends who have not left. They rely on their pensions and family support, and have little use for their senior citizens discount privilege. Most purchases are not issued receipts. For Kuya Pat and me, Sipocot for now will be merely a town to pass by on our way to Bagasbas Beach in Daet or to Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili.
Why punish a lowly employee and make excuses for the head of agency when they commit the same act?
Chinese AIDS patients ght hospital rejections

By Gillian Wong
BEIJINGWang Pinghe wants the tumor in his liver removed before it becomes life-threatening. But the 28-year-old Chinese villager knows it will be hard to nd a hospital that will do the operationbecause he has AIDS. In China, hospitals routinely reject people with HIV for surgery out of fear of exposure to the virus or harm to their reputations. After years of denying AIDS was a problem in China, the country has signicantly improved care for patients, but the lingering stigma sets back those advances. In my hometown, not a single hospital is willing to operate on people infected with HIV, said Wang, who traveled to Beijing from Runan county in the central province of Henan to try to draw the attention of central authorities to the issue by speaking to the foreign media. This is not discrimination by one single person but by an entire country, he told The Associated Press. The stigma against people with HIV runs especially deep in China, from being unofcially barred from government jobs to being expelled from school. Now, as more people rail against the myriad inequalities that plague Chinese society, people with HIV are becoming increasingly willing to assert their right to fair treatment. The incoming premier, Li Keqiang, was prompted to issue a statement saying that health facilities must not discriminate against people with HIV. During a meeting Monday with a dozen activist groups, he said such discrimination would be severely punished, according to Li Hu. The disease is a sensitive issue for Li Keqiang, who was governor of Henan province in 1998 when tens of thousands of people contracted HIV from state-sponsored blood-buying rings with unhygienic practices. Activists have urged Li to acknowledge the governments responsibility for the disaster and provide compensation, with little success. China has made signicant strides in tackling the epidemic, with the AIDS mortality rate falling 64 percent from 2002 to last year. The government last year increased HIV treatment by 50 percentreaching three-quarters of the adults and children who require it, according UNAIDS. An estimated 780,000 people have HIV in China. There has been an increasing trend of cases transmitted through sex rather than intravenously, with sex workers and gay men considered most at risk, said Guy Taylor, a communications ofcer for UNAIDS. About 70,000 new cases were reported in the rst 10 months of this year, largely through sexual transmission, as compared with about 93,000 for all of last year, the Health Ministry announced this week at a news conference ahead of World AIDS Day on Saturday. With improved access to lifesaving drugs, people with HIV in China are living longer, which means more are seeking treatment for other ailments. Chinese law bars medical facilities from refusing to treat people with HIV, but activists say discrimination continues because the law spells out no serious punishments. In interviews with patients, their spouses and activists, The Associated Press found a half-dozen cases of people with HIV being turned away by doctors as soon as they declared their HIV-positive status or it turned up in routine pre-operation tests. IThe China Alliance of People Living with HIV/AIDS, a Beijingbased network, said that a survey last year found dozens of patients being turned away by facilities throughout the countryin some cases even leading to deaths. I feel that if a doctor refuses to treat a patient who is HIV positive, it is a crime akin to murder, said the groups coordinator, Meng Lin, who recounted being denied a CT scan by a Beijing doctor in September, after he told him he had AIDS. Dr. Wu Zunyou, who leads the governments HIV/AIDS center, said he believes attitudes will change. He said Chinese health workers report about 700 cases of accidental contact with the every year and none have resulted in infections. He welcomed the public debate the Tianjin case triggered. The debate causes medical workers to think about the issue and health facilities to improve their management, so there should be fewer chances for such things to happen in the future, Wu said. AP
EVERYMAN
By Sylvia Europa-Pinca
AS I approached our car parked in front of the condo where we live, I saw a baby sleeping underneath. Its mother came near me to say, Unang birthday po ng anak ko, pahinging pang-celebrate. I was aghast at what she said and she too, was shocked at my reaction. Everything I wanted to say showed in my face. This woman has approached me several times in the past and I have never said no. Her reasons to ask for money, as far as I was concerned, were valid. I would always hand out a hundred-peso bill to help her out. Pahingi pong pang tuition...graduation po ng anak ko...wala po kaming makain. Today she saw my anger through my dagger-stone looks. My eyes said, how dare you ask for money to celebrate the birthday of this child? Does she even know it is her birthday? Does she even know how hard her life is compared to those of others? With the kind of parents that she has, she is dirty, unkempt and hungry and lying under a car and in danger of being
The poor in our midst

accidentally run over. Does she know that she should lie down in a soft bed and not in a hard and cold pavement? Does she know that other babies like her are well-fed, kept warm and well taken care of? If she had her way, would she have wanted to be born under such circumstances? How dare her mother ask for money to celebrate a life like the baby has? How dare she deprive her of a better life? This mother has done her and her other siblings injustice by giving birth to them knowing she could not afford to give them a decent life. We have our own little boy who I think we saved from such a life. He was two months old when my husbands secretary offered him to us as she said his mother did not have anything to feed him except tap water. We took him in and on the same day my brother who is childless offered to adopt him. This little boys adoptive parents are in Canada and while his documents are being delayed by the inefciency of our Courts, he stays with us. He has stayed with us for the past four years and we have learned to love him as our own. He goes to a good Catholic school, he eats complete meals and sleeps in a warm bed. Because we try our own best to make him feel loved, he is a happy tot. Sometimes we ponder on the question what would have happened to him if he was not with us? He used to belong to a family of eightmost of his siblings sell candies and cigarettes in the streets of Manila. After he was given to us, his mother gave birth to another child. This last child died of sickness and malnutrition. I hark back to the need for the passage of the RH bill. I do not understand why the Catholic Church which is staunchly anti-RH does not see the realities of the poor. I have a Catholic church in my neighbourhood. It is spic and span. The poor who earn from parking fees of churchgoers, and who lie around every corner near it are prevented from getting near church environs by security guards. I think the priests see them but they turn a blind eye. The priests do not even talk to the destitute around the Church. They are insulated from the real world. And to think that they often talk about the sacredness of life of the poor. I remember the late Sr. Christine Tan who lived with the poor in Tondo who understood their plight and advocated family planning and birth control. The poor do not look at their calendars to know their fertility cycle. Sex is the only pleasure they can indulge in for free and they will do it without caution. If the Church insists that they do not sin, it should just urge them to confess after they practice contraception. Surely God has a broader mind than the CBCP and shall forgive erring couples. Or has the Church become our version of the Taliban? I laud Manny Pangilinan for his stand in RH because he understands perfectly well the plight of the poor. I laud Cris Villonco who says she is pro-RH even if her out-of-touch grand uncle is a rabid oppositionist of the RH bill. I asked someone close to Sen. Vicente Sotto why he insists on being anti-RH and his reply was kasi taga Letran. Isnt that the imsiest reason to go against the need of majority of Filipinos? I laud all the Catholics who have come forward to say the Philippines needs to pass the RH-bill into law. Dont believe any priest or bishop who says they can inuence the Catholic vote. I think of that mother now and I think of how my face contorted when she asked for money to celebrate her childs rst birthday. I feel sad more for that child than for her. I think of the little boy now under our care and I pray that God blesses him with a good life so that someday he may be able to help his family out of the rut they are in. Sylvia-Europa Pinca is President/ CEO of Europa Public Relations.
Mr. Jurados column will resume next week.
TO THE POINT
EMIL P. JURADO
BEST IN CLASS IN COMMUNICATIONS

A6
Manila Standard TODAY

Special Feature
Top winner. Smart Communications, Inc. bagged the Company of the Year title at the 11th Philippine Quill Award held last November 12 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. TEDDY PELAEZ
Towards excellence in communications

COMMUNICATION is essential in any kind of relationship. In businesses, communication plays a big role in attaining the companies goals. The Philippine Quill Award is given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines as its annual major program that advocates for the IABC brand of excellence. Winners of the Philippine Quill are recognized as achievers of the highest global standard for business communication practices. In communication management, the Top Division 1 award was given to Smart Communications, Inc. for their Project VISA 2012 Self Care campaigns. This communication program focused on customer empowerment and purposive migration with the aim of converting internal and external audiences to "Live More", by doing simple and routine transactions conveniently while on mobile, online and on-site via Smarts Self Care channels. For their communication skills, DZMM TeleRadyo garnered the Top Division 2 award for its ofcial website DZMM. com.ph Una sa Balita, Una Sa Public Service. Solidifying its presence on media platforms-AM radio, cable television, and the Internet-- DZMM provides news and public service to even more Filipinos including netizens and global Pinoys. Through its website, DZMMs social media effort is already an integral platform in covering news events. Stratworks Marketing Communications won the Top Division 3 award for creativity in communication. Their award winning ad campaign, Axe End of the World Survival Kit, was conceptualized and executed as an edgy and creative vehicle that launched the biggest and most innovative fragrance of the year, the AXE 2012: The Final Edition. The concept, graphic design and contents of the mailer kit worked to break the brand into the local market in a big and unprecedented way. This year, the Philippine Quill Awards introduced three new special awards: Company of the Year, Agency of the Year and School of the Year. According to Kane Errol Choa, IABC Philippines vice president, these titles recognize the company, agency and school that garnered the most number of Awards of Excellence. We want companies and organizations to see the important value of communication. So we gured we should begin recognizing companies, agencies, and schools that invest in communication programs and produce winning entries, added Choa. The Company of the Year award went to Smart Commu-
nications, Inc. with Meralco as rst runner-up, and ABSCBN Corp. as second runnerup. Colegio de San Juan de Letran received the School of the Year award. Ogilvy Public Relations, Manila was deemed as the Agency of the Year. Winning this award against agencies we have always respected truly made our year, said Leah Huang, managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations, Manila. I have always been proud of the quality of work that the Ogilvy Public Relations Manila team produces, many of which have won awards from different award-giving bodies. I feel that the strength of the Ogilvy & Mather group has always been our ability to develop creative and effective integrated marketing solutions through a single point of contact. Our winning cases for example are excellent examples of Ogilvys 'Twin Peaks' of great work that is both creative and effectiverecent creative public relations (PR) campaigns that are not just creative but effective in reaching and even surpassing client objectives. We will continue to build on our expertise in both corporate and consumer PR. Recently, we have invested in a focused team specialized in PR in the Social space these specialized online PR services will sustain our leadership in Social space in the years to come. There has never been a more exciting time to be in PR, added Huang.
IN another show of business communication air, Meralco received a total of 30 awards during the 11th Philippine Quill Awards that illustrated the companys strong commitment to customer service excellence. Meralcos haul, one of the biggest of the evening, included 17 awards of excellence and merit as well as 12 nalist citations capped by rst runner-up honors in the Company of the Year title. It afrmed Meralco as an outstanding communicator in its bid to become a total energy solutions provider. Meralco was the only non-communications company in the top three to receive the highest honors. The Philippine Quill Awards recognized excellent
30 Philippine Quill awards afrm Meralcos customer service excellence

use of communication in the programs of the countrys leading corporations, advertising and public relations agencies, and this year, schools, colleges and universities. Meralco senior vice president Al Panlilio, who heads Meralcos Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communications, said the Quill awards validates the efforts of Meralco to provide the best service to its customers. For us, its always the customers welfare rst and awards like the Quills only serve to remind us to do better next time and to constantly reach out to our clients using all possible channels in even the most challenging circumstances, he said. One of the awards was cited for empowering Meralco customers through a program that provides corporate clients with special rate offerings and expert advice on how to improve efciencies and business operations. Through such programs, customers can have Meralco as their partner for progress as the power distributor enables them to reach their business goals by providing appropriate and reasonably priced energy solutions. The other awards noted the value of the companys initiatives in human resource development and internal communication that bring out the best in Meralco employees as the company pursues its vision and mission. The companys corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs through the One Meralco Foundation (OMF) that include community electrication, sports and youth advocacy as well as employee volunteerism also got the nod of the Philippine Quill Awards judges as it romped off with nine citations. OMF president Jeff Tarayao, who is also Meralcos chief CSR ofcer, said the nine awards that OMF received once again conrmed the value of the foundations CSR philosophy that centers on excellence in business through responsible corporate citizenship. Panlilio said the Quill awards assure Meralco that its efforts in reaching out to the public are duly recognized and that they further motivate the organization to pursue excellence in communication. He stressed that communicating effectively on a vital utility such as electricity and on consumer-related issues like power pricing, outages, supply and demand, safety and innovations is key to Meralcos success. He added that initiatives in technology, which add value to customers, have also been the subject of Meralcos communication efforts because they are in line with the companys bid to become a total energy solutions provider. IABC Philippines president Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo said
the Quill awards were meant to challenge organizations and companies to set higher goals every year while upholding the highest standard in business communication. IABC is committed to continuous development of communicators in learning, skill and standards so that collectively, we all contribute programs and projects relevant to our growth as professionals and as a country, she added. The Philippine Quill is the local edition of the Gold Quill, which is given out by the global IABC group to premier business organizations all over the world. It is regarded as one of the worlds most prestigious awards in communication. -Carla Mortel
Numerous recognitions. Meralco romped off with 17 awards of excellence and merit and was named nalist in 12 categories in a remarkable performance capped by a recognition of being the rst runner-up in the Company of the Year race. Last year, Meralco went home with 13 awards in a breakthrough performance as one of the countrys best corporate communicators. Photo shows Meralco president and chief executive Oscar S. Reyes (holding trophy) with Meralco executives and ofcials of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines which holds the annual recognition program.
BEST IN CLASS IN COMMUNICATIONS

Special Feature
A7
Leveling up the game
The first Philippine Student Quill Awards

THIS year, IABC added a twist to the competition by launching the Philippine Student Quill Awards. The Philippine Student Quill Awards gives credit to outstanding communication works by students from colleges and universities all over the country. Their works were evaluated using the same standards in the International Gold Quill Award by judges who are experts from different elds of communication. The category exposed future communication professionals to international standards of producing and executing campaigns and projects. According to Kane Errol Choa, IABC vice president and head of the awards committee, any college student in the country can submit their entries regardless of what course, program, or year level they are in. Their entries, however, should be certied as the ofcial entry of their institutions. Students can submit their best projects from one of their subjects or student leaders can enter the programs they have implemented. The Lasallian Facebook Page of De La Salle University (DLSU) earned the excellence standing in the Top Division Award. The Facebook page of the university newspaper serves as the news and feature resource of DLSU students, faculty members, alumni, and the public for their excellent delivery of fresh and real time news. The site also became the source of photos for the use of Inquirer Libre, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and other major publications. Furthermore, the page regularly posts updates, feature articles, sports news, photos from local and national coverage, advocacy artworks, and editorial cartoons. Other Excellence Awardees were the CSI: Earth 2012 Calendar by Bataan Peninsula University, Last Manny by Colegio De San Juan de Letran, and U-Can! Project by University of Santo Tomas. Merit Awardees were Waste Beyond, Life Within: A documentary on Toxicology by Bataan Peninsula State University, Agshan Community Newspaper by Benguet State University, Convoy by Colegio De San Juan de Letran, and Yagit by Holy Angel University. As best communicator, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran garnered the School of the Year award for the short lms Convoy and Last Manny that were produced for the Video Filmmaking course. The former is a historical ction on the Ampatuan Massacre while the latter is a comedy of errors shown in non-linear fashion. The works were reective of the students subscription to values orientation communication and media education. It is with honor and utmost pride that we accept this inaugural award because a professional organization has recognized the efforts of our students; it will always be our bragging right to say we got the first Student Quill, said Professor Rowena Capulong-Reyes, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Colegio de San Juan de Letran. We congratulate the students behind Convoy and Last Manny. We thank them for the honor that they have given their alma mater. We are confident that, based on their classroom exercise, they will perform pretty well in their chosen fields of endeavor, added Capulong-Reyes. In preparation for the awards, the committee had to meet with various professors and student leaders to present their plans and to get their feedback. Some professors promoted the competition by adding it as part of their syllabus and some even encouraged their students to strive and make their projects Quill Awards worthy. Likewise, the students felt challenged to meet the International Gold Quill standards and were excited to submit their projects and win. IABC held free seminars in ABS-CBN and Meralco ofces to teach the students the global way of preparing work plans since some of them are inexperienced or has not been taught how to come up with a communication plan. The seminars were successful with students coming from the provinces in their interest to learn the Quill way.
A8
ManilaStandardToday
News
crease in contribution is strictly aimed toward prolonging the life of the SSS fund and not to increase the pension of its members. We need to ensure that the SSS fund must last in perpetuity, and that the adjustments in contributions and pensions must be in consonance with prevailing market values. Adjusting the rates is necessary and we nd no legal hindrances to that, she explained. Bugante also reiterated that there will be no refund of interest believed to be overcharged, since the said existing formula in interest deduction was meant to align the yield of our investments on member loans with the prevailing market rates from 2000 onward. She said that the new interest rate of salary loans will be based on diminishing balance starting next month, which is a necessary amendment aligned with the current market rates.
Workers hit SSS hike plan

By Merck Maguddayao
IN BRIEF
Snakes in the depot
THE two pythons measuring 13.2 feet and 10 feet that were recovered from the junkyard of the Light Rail Transit Authority in their Depot in Pasay City last Friday and Saturday morning are now under the custody of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau in Quezon City. LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera turned over the two snakes Thursday afternoon even as he assured the riding public that all trains are inspected before and after they run to ensure the safety and security of passengers. He said the snakes probably surfaced because they were disturbed by the cleaning activity being made at the LRT Depot. Tracks maintenance ofcer, Ricky Tubongbanua, said the snakes appeared while he was clearing a grassy area far from where employees are stationed.
THE Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino workers group protested the proposed 0.6 percent increase in employees contributions to the Social Security System and instead demanded an immediate refund of some P788 million that the pension fund supposedly overcharged its members.
Prices of commodities are rapidly rising, and the increase in salary contributions will just add to the burden of the Filipino workers, BMP chairman Leody de Guzman said at rally held in front of the SSS main ofce In Quezon City. Even if there will be an additional ten per cent increase in pension because of this, it will not be enough to even aid an ailing retiree, he said, adding that the P30 million daily revenue the pension will be collection as a result of the increase is tantamount to proteering. The SSS was recently hit by the Commission on Audit for charging a 10-percent interest, which is deducted in advance on the rst year of salary loans. State auditors recommended a
refund of the interest charge and the adoption of Central Bank rules which species that interest rates should be based on diminishing balance. The Employers Confederation of the Philippines, on the other hand, agreed in principle to the proposed increase but maintained its reservation on the 10 percent pension increase. According to Ernie Cecilia of the ECOP Technical Working Group, the SSS Charter strictly prohibits increasing contributions to increase benets, citing Section 4 of the SSS Charter. He added that the 10 percent pension increase at this time will not address the problem of SSS unfunded liabilities. If the pension increased is approved by Malacanang, the average monthly pension will increase from P3,000 to P3,300. But SSS vice-president for public affairs Susie Bugante said that the in-
Korean public service

THE United Korean Businessmen Association is conducting a humanitarian mission in the ood ravaged areas of Taytay, Rizal on Dec. 3 as part of its corporate social responsibility program. Relief goods such as rice, clothing, school supplies and canned goods will be distributed to residents affected by the ooding spawned by heavy monsoon rains last August. Our hearts bleed for these people who have lost their homes and are unable to return to their normal lives because their area is still under water, we want to extend our hand to our neighbors in need so that we can ease their everyday life, said UKBA president Dr. Ik Jin Chang. Through sharing and service, we hope by doing this we can give them strength and courage that could create a great impact for a lot of people, give them hope and inform them that they are not alone. This is our gift to our neighbors this coming Holiday season, he added. The main distribution point for the relief goods will be at Lot 41 Lupang Arenda, Taytay, Rizal. All residents of ve barangays in the area are enjoined to avail of the relief goods that also include medicines and other health supplies.
Shabu courier nabbed

By Eric B. Apolonio and Jonathan Fernandez
ANOTHER Vietnamese national was arrested by airport authorities who found 2.8 kilos of high-grade methampethamine hydrochloride, worth 14 million, in the false bottom of her carry-on bag. NAIA Bureau of Customs Collector Ding So identied the suspected drug courier as Pham Thi Anh Tuyet of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. So said the suspect was intercepted after she tried to pass herself as a returning overseas Filipino worker from Hong Kong on board CX901 and presented her customs declaration form to customs examiner Jinky Flor Santos. But the examiner got suspicious when Pham could not answer her Filipino question Saan po kayo galing? and handed her instead a $100 note. Santos thus asked the passenger for her passport, examined her luggage and found that shabu. It turned out that Pham came from Ghana via Gulf Air ight GF154 from Manama, Bahrain. So said that the suspect passport reveals that she was in Manila only last Nov. 20 and left for Bahrain to Ghana last Nov. 23 and arrived on Thursday via the same route.
Antonio Lazaro, 54
ANTONIO Gimenez Lazaro, former assistant vice president for maintenance and engineering of Philippine Airlines, died on Monday, November 26 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was 54. He is survived by his wife, Nena Nicolas, and children, Alexander, Andrea and Angeline. His ashes will be brought home and will be laid to rest at St. Peters Columbary in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City. Interment plans will be announced later.
Help stop overshing. Environmental activists depict a school of tuna as they march towards the South Korean Embassy in
Taguig City on Thursday. In their statement, the group demanded countries joining the 9th regular session of the Western and Central Pacic Fisheries Commission to agree on conservation and management measures in order to address the alleged fast declining supply of Pacic tuna. AP/AARON FAVILA
Thai rms P7.14-b land holding slammed

By Christine F. Herrera
A LAWMAKER Wednesday night demanded that the government suspend the P7.14-billion operations of a Thai rm as he sought a congressional inquiry as to how a foreign company was able to acquire 196 hectares of agricultural land to build hog and poultry farms that would butcher the local industry. In a privilege speech, Butil Rep. Agapito Guanlao demanded that the Bureau of Investments explain why tax holidays and concessions were granted the Charoen Pokphand Foods Corp. without proper consultations with the Department of Agriculture and the affected stakeholders. It is lamentable that the BOI appears to have put aside the interest of the local industry, which is just beginning to recover from losses amounting to P28.5 billion because of technical smuggling in the past three years. Now, the BOI is in a hurry to support a foreign competitor in various areas in Central Luzon, Guanlao said. He denounced the granting of pioneering status to Charoen, which would allow the foreign rm to enjoy a whole range of tax exemptions, including seven-year income-tax holiday and 30 percent incentive for the importation of corn and other raw feed materials. It makes my blood boil that while the Department of Agriculture has been trying to revive the barely recuperating local hog and poultry industries, the BOI leadership appears to be bent on pushing them down further, he said. Guanlao said he was particularly irked that a giant foreign rm was given perks and concessions at the expense of the local producers. Guanlao said Charoen, which is based in Capas, Tarlac has a total investment of P2.4 billion in agri-businesses, such as feed milling, sh and shrimp feeds. Charoen also has P1.04 billion hog farm project in San Fernando, Pampanga while it has P2.3 billion aqua-feeds farm in Samat, Bataan, he said. Guanlao also said Charoen has P1.4billion project in swine parent stock, fatteners and cull breeder stock production farms in Sto. Rosario and Floridablanca in Pampanga. It turns out that the total investments of Charoen in Central Luzon amounts to P7.14 billion, including the almost P3billion project in hog and poultry farms that are to compete unfairly with the local producers, Guanlao pointed out. Worse, Guanlao said, Charoen was able to purchase 36 hectares of agricultural lands in Floridablanca, Pampanga, 60 hectares in Gerona, Tarlac and 100 more in Jaen, Nueva Ecija; San Fernando, Pampanga; and Samat, Bataan and infrastructures were now being built on these lands. Did the acquisition of the hundreds of hectares of land by Charoen Pokphand pass through the right processes? Perhaps we should also ask the Department of Agrarian Reform on this? Guanlao stressed. Guanlao said the BOI should hold in abeyance the grant of registration and tax holidays to Charoen pending the outcome of the congressional inquiry.
Internet payments accepted

By Marlon C. Magtira
THE National Telecommunications Commission will be the rst government agency to accept payments for permits and licenses via the Internet, under the Philippine National Single Window project. The single-window is an Internet-based system involving about 40 government agencies, including the NTC, that ussye import and export licenses, permits, clearances and other regulatory requirements. NTC said its e-payment scheme aims to facilitate payment and conduct transactions purely through the Internet. With its full implementation, transactions in securing NTC permits and licenses will now be totally paperless, the NTC said in a statement. The regulatory body said the epayment is being done via BancNets ATM Payment Gateway. It is a secured, streamlined and integrated electronic payment solution that will enable small to large-scale companies to pay transaction fees in the convenience of their homes or ofces, the NTC said. The agencys NCR Regional Ofce, headed by Deputy Commissioner Delilah Deles, undertook the implementation of the e-payment system after the NTC was chosen as the pilot agency for the implementation of single-window program.
Court clears car theft suspect

By Rio N. Araja
THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Thursday absolved a businessman who is believed to be behind the theft of vehicles in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon that were later sold in Visayas and Mindanao. Judge Eleuterio Bathan of Branch 92 cleared Jovel Tan Entote, 43, of Saint Michael Village in Banilad, Cebu City, because the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission, headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, failed to prove that he was involved in a carjacking with murder incident that happened in Quezon City in 2009. The incident involved the theft of a Toyota HiAce Grandia on Apr. 29, 2009 on Katipunan Ave. in Barangay Pansol, QC. The The driver, identied as Rodolfo Petalino, was shot dead by one of the two gunmen who forcibly took the van. Two years later, the police recovered the van on Oct. 28, 2011 from the NKB Lending Corp. in Bacolod City which allegedly bought the vehicle from Entote, who was arrested in Cebu City last August. After his arrest, Ochoa tagged Entote the godfather of car theft syndciates and was considered the commissions biggest catch since it launched a crackdown on carjacking last February with the Philippine National Pollice Highway Patrol Group, that was then led by Director Leonardo Espina. The authorities later claimed Entote was the nancier of carjacking syndicates, such as the Dominguez, Salvatierra, Bonifaco, Onad Santiago and Baktin gangs, and was behind the carjacking of 67 vehicles that were later sold in Bohol, Bacolod City, Cagayan de Oro City and General Santos City. The PAOCC also claimed Entote maintains warehouses in Cebu and Davao where stolen vehicles are made over and re-registered prior to their resale. The PAOCC also claimed to have recovered three allegedly stolen vehicles from Entote in a follow-up operation held two days after his arrest and they expected to seize four more hot cars in his possession. But during the trial of the case, government lawyers presented witnesses who contradicted each other. One witness, Daniel Quinanola, testied that the armed person who took away Petalinos van was wearing a yellow polo at the time of the incident. But another witness, Joseph Balbin, claimed the perpetrator was clad in a black jacket and was tall and had a round face. Bathan said the witnesses also presented different testimonies on the identity of Entote and the artist sketch of the suspect that police presented as evidence bore no resemblance with Entote.
Back in the groove. Amador C. Bacani, president of Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp., announces plans to enter into a deal with principal shareholder Greenhills Properties Inc. for the development of a 6,400-square meter prime property in Bonifacio Global City into a mixeduse complex. The property consists of four 1,600-sqm lots forming a block bounded by 5th Avenue, 25th St., 6th Ave. and 24th St. in BGC.
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
ManilaStandardToday Riera U. Mallari, Editor
Sports
other ICTSI-backed bet in the fold, made a 75 and stood 10 shots adrift at 152. Dotties feeling good about her swing and played comfortable with the sun nally showing up compared to the adverse conditions in the rst round, said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez. Shes been focusing on her putting and short game. A par-saving putt from 12 feet on No. 1 got Ardina going as the reigning Taiwan Amateur and Penang Open champion banged in back-to-back birdies from No. 4. She tapped in for birdie on the 10th then rammed in a 10-footer on the 12th, a 15-footer on the 15th, a sixfooter on No. 14 before nishing with another 10 footer. She, however, will have her hands full in the third round with Lee and Oh, who are both of Korean descent but are now Australian citizens, as her playing partners.
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
A9
Ardina shoots record 65

DOTTIE Ardina sizzled in ideal playing
condition and red a record seven-under 65 as she battled back from seven strokes down to tie fancied Minjee Lee of Wales for the lead halfway through the Dunes Medal Golf Championship in Rye, Victoria, Australia Wednesday.
shine, hitting seven birdies inside seven feet, including ve at the back capped by a 10-footer on the closing hole of the par-72 Dunes Ardina, who limped with a wind-blown ve-over 77 in heavy rains in the rst round Tuesday, turned in a awless round in sunGolf Club layout. That gave the spearhead of the ICTSI-The Country Club team a 65 and a 36-hole haul of 142 as she forced a threeway tie for the lead with Lee, winner of the Elvie Whitesides crown two weeks in Tasmania, and local bet Su Hyun Oh. Lee, who shot a 70 in the rst round, settled for an even par 72 while Oh carded a second straight 71 in the four-day championship. Jayvie Agojo, the
Peaceful POC polls expected

SPORTS leaders expect todays Philippine Olympic Committee elections to go on smoothly and without a hitch. POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said this on the eve of the polls, which will start proceedings 11 a.m. at the Alabang Golf and Country Club in Muntinlupa. We are eagerly anticipating a peaceful conduct of elections. We hope for things to go smoothly tomorrow, said Romasanta. Romasanta said the present leadership of the POC heaved a sigh of relief after controversial athletics chief Go Teng Kok had a change of heart Wednesday and stopped his bid to stop the elections from taking place through a court order. We should acknowledge the sportsmanlike act of Mr. Go to withdraw his case against the POC, said Romasanta. With Go stopping his bid, incumbent POC president Jose Peping Cojuangco is expected to seek a third term without any opposition. But protests could still be lodged against boxing representative Manny Lopez, who is leading a bloc seeking reforms and changes in the POC. Lopez, who will run opposite Romasanta as rst vice president, could be questioned, along with two other members of his bloc, if boxing head Ricky Vargas appears at the proceedings. This is because only one representative can vote for a national sports association. Peter Atencio
SBP-Passerelle finals set

THE Small Basketeers Philippines-Passerelle twin tournaments national nals will see action on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Capiz Gym in Roxas City. A total of eight schools - four for SBP and another four for Passerelle, will compete to become the ultimate junior basketball champions for 2012. Vying for the SBP national championship trophy are La Salle Greenhills representing NCR, Don Bosco Academy of Pampanga representing Luzon, University of San Carlos representing Visayas and Ateneo de Davao representing Mindanao. For the Passerelle, La Salle Greenhills will represent NCR, Holy Angel University will represent Luzon, University of San Carlos representing Visayas and Holy Child College representing Mindanao. With over 160 participating schools this year, the championship promises to be even more exciting with new schools facing off as SBP and Passerelle defending champions Lourdes School of Mandaluyong and Ateneo de Cebu failed to qualify for this years national nals. Organized by the BEST Center and sponsored by MILO, the SBPPasserelle twin tournaments is now on its 27th year and has been promoting sportsmanship and discipline among kids aged 9-11 (SBP) and 1214 (Passerelle) through basketball.
The 8 remaining schools, such as the Luzon leg Passerelle winner Holy Angel University (shown here) will vie for the SBP-Passerelle national title on Dec. 1 and 2 at Capiz Gym in Roxas CIty
Tabora keeps hopes alive

WROCLAW, PolandFast-rising Filipino bowler Krizziah Tabora kept her hopes of making the top 24 in the 48th Qubica/ AMF Bowling World Cup international nals alive, but fellow PH campaigner RJ Bautistas chances dimmed after 15 games of the elimination round at the SkyBowling Centre here. Tabora, a student of Miriam College, tallied 3092 for a 206.27 average to rank 17th in the womens division, where Singapores Shayna Ng emerged as the new leader with a total of 3551 for a sizzling average of 236.73 pins in 15 games. But Bautista fell from 13th to 25th with 3118 as he groped for his lines in the tough individual kegfest with only ve more games left to determine the 24 who will stay in the running out of a eld of 82. American Marshall Kent, second after 10 games, submitted 3453 pinfalls, to take over the lead from Swedens James Gruffman, who tumbled to sixth spot with 3343. UAEs Hareb Al Mansoori checked in second with 3423, followed by Malaysias Ridhwan Abdul Malek Svaq (3411), Colombias Andres Gomez (3381) and Ukraines Mykhaylo Kalika (3348).
Yusuke gets back at Lim, advances
Shakeys NCR girls volleyball on

THE Shakeys Girls Volleyball League unwraps its 10th season today with the staging of the National Capital Region leg at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with Hope Christian High School hard pressed to defend its crown against nine other squads raring to fuel their respective title drives. The Hope Christian tossers open their title-retention bid against the comebacking Miriam College, the reigning Womens National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, at 2 p.m. after the 1 p.m. clash between Colegio San Agustin and Angelicum College. Academy of Gods Children of Marikina City and Gen. Pio del Pilar National HS tangle at 3 p.m. in a duel of newcomers while Kings Montessori School tangles with Pasay City West HS at 4 p.m., capping an explosive four-game bill. Also held simultaneous with the NCR leg are the other regional qualiers with the winners advancing to the Tournament of Champions set Jan. 22-26, 2013. They include the Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and Mindanao. Spicing up the T-of-C is the participation of Australias Victoria High School team, according to tournament director Johanz Buenvenida. The organizing Metro Sports and sponsoring Shakeys Pizza have also tapped the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as the tournaments new home to draw more crowds.
THIRS pick Yusuke Takahashi got back at Alberto Lim Jr. and fashioned out a 6-4, 6-1 romp to end the Filipino teeners quest for another crown and advance to the Final Four of the Phinma International Juniors (Week Two) Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday. Takahashi, who lost to Lim in last weeks nals of the event, 3-6, 3-6, asserted his might this time against the youngest participant in the meet, breaking the 13-yearold Lim once in the opening set before dominating the next for the win. Takahashi, who earlier turned back Aussie qualier Brian Tran, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, goes for the nals today against fth pick Ahmed Deedat Abdul Razak of Malaysia, who stunned top seed Chen Wei Jen of Chinese Taipei, 6-2, 6-2.
Sincere Nacho
IN part 1 of HBOs 24/7, American trainer Freddie Roach made mention of rival Ignacio Nacho Beristain playing mind games moments before the third bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez last November in Las Vegas. Roach said he was surprised when Beristain came to their locker room, accompanied by Pacquiaos cutman Miguel Diaz and asked if he could have seven boxing items autographed by the Filipino sensation. I thought he was messing with us. In my mind, I said you gotta be kidding me? Is this part of his game plan? It was something that never happened to me before in boxing, said Roach. Sounds like a game plan by Beristain, but knowing the man himself, the sharp Mexican trainer is probably one of those few sincere personalities of the sport. In a rare Philippine radio interview via this columns DZSR 918kHz Sports Radio program a few years ago, Beristain revealed that he owes his success to one Filipino trainer, who was his rst guru. Im sorry I forgot his name, but I was sure he was Filipino. He taught me a lot of things in boxing that helped me become successful, said Beristain thru interpreter and former Marquez promoter Jaime Quintana. The whole time, Beristain was very cordial and never badmouthed anyone. During a conference call with boxing media Tuesday morning, Beristain even acknowledged Roach as boxings best trainer. LA Times columnist Bill Dwyre once said Roach suffers from the rare disease in boxing called honesty. Theres a second rare disease called sincerity and Beristain is its most recent victim. PED CHARGE. Freddie Roach is accusing Juan Manuel Marquez of using PerformanceEnhancing Drugs. This was claimed by Roach during an interview with USA Today. Roach said this is highly possible considering that Marquez recently tapped controversial conditioning coach Angel Hernandez who once supplied PEDs to track stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery. Since moving up two weight classes, Marquez looked more muscular which did not affect the Mexicans agility when he faced PacCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
SPORTS CHAT
DENNIS PRINCIPE
quiao a third time last November. [Marquez] has gotten bigger and gained weightit throws up a red ag. Ive been accused so many times of my ghters being on steroids (that) I hate to accuse other people. But it is part of our life, part of the world we live in, Roach told USA Today. For their fourth face-off on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao and Marquez will not undergo random drug testing. Promoter Bob Arum said this is not necessary as both ghters did not include random testing in their ght deal. TITLE GO. Filipino minimumweight contender Denver Cuello will nally get his wish of ghting for the world crown. Last weekend, Chinese ghter Xiong Zhao Zhong won the vacant World Boxing Council minimumweight belt by decisioning Mexican Javier Martinez Resendiz in their 12-round title bout in China. Cuello, who was at ringside in China, was supposed to be the mandatory challenger of that belt, but stepped aside to give way to the WBCs objective of making China a major player in boxing. This time, Cuello vowed he will not anymore step aside and is willing to ght Zhong even in China. The 25-year-old Cuello has a record of 32-4-6, with 21 knockouts and is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Mexicos Ivan Meneses. Cuello has been the mandatory challenger for almost a year and held the WBC silver and international belts in that stretch. According to manager Aljo Jaro, Cuello will most likely vie for the belt in early 2013. STEPPING UP. Alaska Aces coach Luigi Trillo said he needs his bench players to step up now that other teams are starting to gure out how to play most of their starters in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup. The Aces are coming off an 88-85 win over Meralco Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, where rookie Calvin Abueva scored career-highs of 20 points and 18 rebounds. Giving it to Sonny (Thoss) and Gabby (Espinas) at the post, they are able to help out. Medyo nababasa na kami with Jayvee (Casio) and Cy (Baguio). Triangle is about equal opportunity so I thought the guys shared the basketball today, said Trillo. Currently, the Aces are in the middle of the standings with a 6-6 win-loss tally. A best-ofthree quarternal incentive awaits teams from third to sixth places. The top two nishers after the elimination round will get twice-to-beat edge against the 7th and 8th placers. Meantime, Alaska will meet Global Port tomorrow in Dipolog and will end their elimination round assignment against Petron next Wednesday.
NBA HOME TEAM IN CAPS

WASHINGTON 84 Portland 82 San Antonio 110 ORLANDO 89 Brooklyn 95 BOSTON 83 ATLANTA 94 Charlotte 91 DETROIT 117 Phoenix 77 CHICAGO 101 Dallas 78 NY Knicks 102 MILWAUKEE 88 MEMPHIS 103 Toronto 82 OKLAHOMA CITY 120 Houston 98 LA CLIPPERS 101 Minnesota 95
Sports
Riera U. Mallari, Editor is doing and how prepared he is for the ght tells me he did some serious work and three months of work denitely paid off and he looks like hes ready to roll. He Marquezs muscles are there for a reason. The way that they trained him, they used short explosive moments and short repetitions to suit the way Marquez ghts, throwing four ve shots at the most and then he recovers and will be explosive again, Ariza said. Marquez is not a volume puncher, but is a ghter who is meticulous and picks the shots, quick and powerful. Pacquiao had a media day on Wednesday at the Wild Card Gym.
Manila Standard TODAY sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
A10
6/49 00 00 00 00 00 00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00 00 00 00 00 00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00 00 00 00 00 00 3 DIGITS 00 00 00 2 EZ2 00 00
LOTTO RESULTS
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
No distractions for Pacquiao

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
FIGHTER of the Decade Manny Pacquiaos peaceful life,

free from the distractions that ruined his mental focus in his last ght against Juan Manuel Marquez, could be a big factor when they clash for the fourth time at the MG Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 9 (Manila time).
Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza told the Manila Standard that the personal problems Pacquiao was embroiled in prior to his last ght with the Mexican are no longer bothering him. It could be a big factor, said Ariza. The calm and peace that he has within his life are ne. The strength and conditioning coach claried that there has been nothing different in the way Pacquiao has trained for the Marquez ght. Everybody knows Manny trains hard and he trains very intensely, but thats not enough for me, personally, he said. It doesnt mean that hes not ready. I just feel that for a guy like Marquez, whose given us so many problems, my approach would be to do everything underneath the sun to prepare for that ght. I think Marquez did. Asked to assess Pacquiaos condition some 10 days before the Marquez ght, Ariza said: Pacquiao looks very good. Looks like everything came together well, but I saw this the last time they fought, too. He said having watched the HBO series 24/7, he wished Pacquiao had trained like Marquez. But Manny seems to think he did enough, Freddie Roach feels that, so who am I to contradict? Ariza said. I think it will be a great ght, but watching what Marquez
Board control. Erase Xfoliants Harold Arboleda (right) and Femi Babayemi (center) ght for board control with
Fruitas Jason Escueta in a Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants Cup game won by the Shakers, 78-73, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Viloria eyes unification title match

WORLD Boxing Organization/World Boxing Association yweight champion Brian Viloria would rather seek a unication title ght against World Boxing Council champion Toshiyuki Igarashi of Japan or International Boxing Federation champion Moruti Mthalane of South Africa, rather than face No.1 contender and countryman Milan Melindo in a mandatory title ght. Viloria was ordered by the WBO at its recent convention in Miami, Florida to take on Melindo. We are looking at the other world champions to see if we could unify against the WBC or IBF and I think thats more lucrative and a better ght than taking on Melindo, Viloria, who leaves Manila with his wife Erika for Hawaii where they plan to spend a week before ying to Los Angeles, told the Manila Standard. There is really nothing there for me. If you think about it, Melindo has everything to gain and I dont gain anything from this ght, even nancially. I dont see any point in ghting Melindo, said Viloria. Ronnie Nathanielsz
Camp John Hay cruises to 3rd straight title Azkals can

BAGUIO CITYCamp John Hay golf team cruised to its third straight Fil-Championship seniors title and the sixth individual crown for its top man in the 63rd Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament on Thursday. Fred Puckett birdied his last hole at the 18th of the Baguio Country Club and led the two-time champion to their third straight against the same team that has given them so much misery in the past. Mission accomplished, said the soft spoken CJH golf instructor, who lives just a stones throw away from the former American rest and recreation hub, and whose siblings and nephews are expected to arrive from the United States for the regular Fil-Am. The Pucketts, like many who were born and raised around the American base and who are now claimants to the lots they have occupied for decades, practically grew up in the par-69 golf course and learned the rudiments of the game as young kids, where they worked as shag boys (ball retrievers) to visiting American soldiers and later as caddies. Puckett nished with 31 points to lead the team, for the fourth straight time, to a closing round of 111 points and four-day aggregate of 467, which is 31 points off the bridesmaid after starting with a mere three-point lead. Bong Mandapat and Park Jong Won had 29 a piece, while Rudy Lockey had 24. Retired police general Clyde Cabreros had a 21 and did not count for the team. Manila Southwoods nished with 97 and 436 total after missing its steadiest man Edmund Yee, who had to motor to Manila for a meeting. Florene delos Santos led the Carmona, Laguna-based team with 28 points, Bong Sison with 26, Poch Hernandez had 24 while Arnold Jumalon chipped in 19 points. It was the sixth head on of the two teams and are tied with three a piece for the FilChamp title. Delos Santos joined the Seniors Fil-Am in the 57th as the Golden Oats and won three straight. Puckett and company were elevated to the Championship division after winning their third straight Fil-A title in the 57th (2006) edition. In 2007 and 2008, Golden Oats beat CJH for the title. In 2009, however, delos Santos and company came back as the Maxima Komatsu and frustrated CJH through count back only when the two ended up tied. Maxima Komatsus fth man, who did not count, Freddie Mendoza, out pointed CJHs then fth man, retired Air Force general Nelson Eslao by a single point as Maxima Komatsu went on to win the title.
hold own vs Angels

By Peter Atencio
Gin Kings favored against slumping Express

By Jeric Lopez
THOUGH it is now the leagues hottest team, Barangay Ginebra still doesnt have one good reason to relax even for a bit. According to Ginebra San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, they need to even push harder now that the battle for placing in the 2013 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup intensies. Winners of four straight, the Gin Kings (6-5) want nothing more than to strengthen their grip on fourth spot when they play fading Air21 (4-8) at 6:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today. Desperately ghting to stay alive, Barako Bull (3-8) cant afford to have lapses anymore as it ghts for its life against Meralco (6-6) at 4:15 p.m. When you talk about condence level at this juncture of the elimination round, Barangay Ginebra will denitely come in with a very high one, considering the run it is having. This is no time for us to relax kasi we placed ourselves in this situation na kailangan maghakot pa ng wins, said Tanquingcen. Moreover, the sweetness of its last triumph still lingers and that will denitely carry over as it shoots for its fth straight win against the Express. Ginebra just had one of the most scintillating victories of the tournament when it came all the way back from 18 points down to stun Rain or Shine, 97-90, just last Sunday. Everyone is contributing and that big win showed that. If we can step up like that, we can be a much better team pa, added Tanquingcen. Should Ginebra prolong its winning streak, it will have a full-game advantage over idle Alaska, which is tied with the Kings at 6-6 slates. If the Bolts win and the Kings lose, they switch places one more with the former moving back to No. 4.
PH-Globalport rules Thailands Gold Cup

THE Philippine-Globalport polo team, led by sports patron Mikee Romero and skippered by 2007 Southeast Asian Games veteran Antonio Veloso, continued its amazing run of success by ruling the 2012 Thailand Kuppa Gold Cup championship held in Pattaya, Thailand last weekend. In winning the biggest and most glamorous polo tournament in Thailand, Globalport leaned on the gutsy performance of Romero, Veloso and pro players Adrian Garcia and Jake Gordon in pulling off a stunning 2-1.5 win over Chinas Axus team. The win over the Brian Xiu-led Axus team capped Globalports dominating performance in the tournament. Globalport earned the right to face the ChiMembers of the Philippine-Globalport Polo team, led by sports patron Mikee Romero (second from right), celebrate after receiving their trophy nese team after defeating two Thai teams, for winning the 2012 Thailand Kuppa Gold Cup championship in Pattaya, including the highly touted VR Sports of Thailand. With Romero are (from left) Adrian Garcia, Jake Gordon, coach Duty Free giant King Power. Members of Anthony Garcia and Antonio Veloso. VR Sports were the same squad that powered Thailand to a bronze-medal finish in the 2007 SEA Games. Globalport, mentored by Anthony Garcia, also beat the Argentinian-powered Polo Escape owned by Kun Robin to underscore its supremacy in the tournament, where Romero emerged as the top scorer with ve, followed by Veloso and Garcia with three each. It was Romeros fourth major win this year as he was also a member of the Philippine team that won a historic rst in the Inter-circuit and Silver Cup, a high goal tournament organized by the United State Polo Association in St. Louis, Missouri. He also triumphed in Chicago. The title win was the rst by a visiting Philippine team in Thailand, which is being considered as the mecca of Polo in Southeast Asia. This February, Thailand will host the All Asia championship, considered to be the biggest event in Asias polo.
THE Myanmar White Angels are known as a strong counterattack team and are loaded with good mideld and defensive players. But coach Hans Michael Weiss believes that the Philippine Azkals can hold their own again the White Angels. I dont think that it will do them any good. They have to come out and be on the offensive. They need the points. It is interesting to see what they have planned for the switch from defense to offensive mode, said Weiss during yesterdays pre-game press conference in Bangkok. Weiss talked about the Azkals game against Myanmar a day before their teams Friday evening encounter in the ASEAN Football FederationSuzuki Cup 2012 The Philippines-Myanmar showdown will take place at 8:20 p.m. (9:20 p.m. Manila time) at the Supachalasai Stadium, instead of the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. The Azkals, who will miss central mideld Jerry Lucena and back four player Ray Jonsson to injury, will be on the lookout for Myanmars no. 8 (Kyi Lin), their teams best player, who is described as fantastic by Weiss. Tin Myint Aung, who is Myanmars assistant coach, said the team will have to play very hard against the Azkals. We have no choice as we have to win. After the loss to Thailand, we have to spend time to re-motivate the players. We have to rebuild the teams condence for this crucial match, said Tin. With their 1-0 upset win over Vietnam last Tuesday, the Azkals moved out of the cellar and into second spot in Group A behind Thailand, which secured the rst seminal slot after outclassing Myanmar, 4-0. There will not be man-toman marking. We just have to make sure that he is stopped from making his runs. It will have to be a team effort against a serious opponent, Weiss said.
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

Closing November 29, 2012
6000 5100 4200 3300 2400 1700 1000
5,640.450
6.73
Business
Shadik Wahono, president of San Miguel Corp.-led Citra, said the group met with MPIC ofcials several times to resolve the issue over a common road segment that would be built from Buendia in Makati City to Sta. Mesa, Manila in an attempt to start the construction of their projects soon. MPIC ofcials proposed a 50-50 sharing scheme on the construction cost and revenue in the common segment, but Wahono said Citra proposed a ratio based on trafc volume, which was fair and reasonable to both parties. The National Economic and Development Authority set a Dec. 15 deadline for the two groups to come up with a unied proposal on the common segment of their respective projects. Wahono said Citra was ready to allow MPICs connector road to connect to the Skyway Stage 3 at the Sta. Mesa-PUP area. Since the Skyway Stage 3 is an extension of the already existing Skyway Stages 1 and 2, Citra will
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
Closing NOVEMBER 29, 2012
40 42 44 46 48
P40.900
CLOSE
HIGH P40.850 LOW P40.935 AVERAGE P40.889 Ray S. Eano, Editor business@mst.ph Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com VOLUME 968.786M
B1
Citra, MetroPac in deadlock

By Lailany P. Gomez
and Metro Pacic Investment Corp. have reached a deadlock over a common road segment that will connect the North and South Luzon Expressways, with only two weeks left in the Dec. 15 deadline set by the government.
CITRA Metro Manila Tollways Corp.
start construction at the Buendiaend of Skyway Stage 1, he said. However, Wahono said the proposal of MPIC for a 50-50 split in revenues and construction cost of the Buendia to Sta. Mesa segment was not acceptable. It does not make good business sense for both for Citra and MPIC if the sharing is at 5050 when in reality the trafc will not be 50-50, Wahono said. He said the 50-50 sharing scheme should be subject to review and adjustment from time to time,
when the trafc numbers could be established once the two toll roads were already in operation. Wahono said Citra was willing to advance the cost of the construction of the Buendia to Sta. Mesa-PUP segment. In the meantime, Citra and MPIC will continue to talk and try to nd a way to reach an agreement in order to meet the Dec. 15 deadline given by the National Economic and Development Authority to MPIC, Wahono said.
IN BRIEF 10-month budget deficit widened 56% to P115.7b

Rates to stay
A FOREIGN bank expects the Bangko Sentral to keep the policy rates unchanged until 2013, after the economy showed a strong growth in the third quarter. Barclays Capital said while ination appeared manageable for now, the robust 7.1-percent gross domestic product growth in the third quarter suggested potential ination risks ahead. We now believe that the central bank will keep rates unchanged at 3.5 percent in the December policy meeting and into 2013, Barclays said. However, the scal cliff [in the US] uncertainty still looms as does the possibility of renewed concerns on Europe. If the global growth outlook were to deteriorate then the BSP might be inclined to cut rates furtherbut the central bank will keep a keen eye on ination developments, it said. Meanwhile, Nomura upgraded its growth forecast for the Philippines in 2012 to 6.6 percent from 6 percent previously. It also raised the growth outlook in 2013 to 6.4 percent from 6 percent. This strong Q3 GDP print will likely cause the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to reassess its growth and ination forecasts, in our view, and eventually lead it to signal a shift in its bias toward containing overheating risks next year, Nomura said. Anna Leah G. Estrada
By Anna Leah G. Estrada

THE government incurred a P9.7-billion budget shortfall in October, bringing the 10-month decit to P115.7 billion, the Treasury said Thursday. Data showed the budget decit in October was 54.5 percent lower than P21.3 billion registered during the same month last year. The 10-month decit, however, widened 55.9 percent from P74.3 billion a year ago. The government said the 10-
month scal decit remained manageable, representing just 1.4 percent of the gross domestic product and well within the full-year decit program of 2.6 percent of GDP. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima noted that revenue collection rose 11.8 percent to P1.25 trillion in the January-October period while expenditures increased 14.5 percent to P1.37 trillion. This resilient performance from both sides of the national
ledger greatly reduces the risk of scal slippage by year-end, as it is well within the full year decit program of P279.106 billion, Purisima said. Collection by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs rose 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in the rst 10 months. The BIR collected P858.6 billion while the BoC contributed P240.6 billion. The Treasury added P71.4 billion while other government ofces registered an
income of P82.8 billion. The Finance Department said netting out the interest payments in expenditures, the government recorded a primary surplus of P151 billion in the JanuaryOctober period. The governments revenue effort improved to 14.7 percent of the gross domestic product as of September from 14.5 percent last year. Tax effort also increased to 13.1 percent as of September, against the previous years 12.7 percent, driven
by the 0.4-percent improvement in the Bureau of Internal Revenues revenue-to-GDP ratio, which reached 10.2 percent. With our third quarter GDP growth at 7.1 percent going beyond market expectations and placing us above most of our Asian peers, and our 11.8-percent revenue growth outpacing combined GDP growth and ination, we are condent that we are reaping the dividends of President Aquinos good governance reforms, Purisima said.
GENERAL BALANCE SHEET

As of April 30, 2012
Assets International Reserves P 3,216,216,803,644.04 Deposits with foreign banks 194,294,158,213.75 Other cash balances 291,240,200.00 Investments 2,525,800,154,165.67 Loan to International Monetary Fund 2,274,276,071.45 Gold 438,611,810,665.81 International Monetary Fund special drawing rights 54,945,164,327.36 Investment in government securities 218,690,451,460.91 Loans and advances 117,087,008,889.32 Other financial assets 99,908,814,018.09 Acquired assets held for sale 1,171,523,695.45 Investment property 9,266,970,791.27 Bank premises, furniture, fixtures and equipment 15,569,747,144.92 Other assets 17,997,736,129.05 Total P 3,695,909,055,773.05 Liabilities and capital Liabilities Currency in circulation Foreign currency borrowings Government deposits Deposits of banks and other financial institutions Securities sold under agreements to repurchase Special deposit accounts Allocation of special drawing rights Revaluation of foreign currency accounts Other financial liabilities Other liabilities Total Capital Capital Surplus Unrealized gains/(losses) on investments Capital reserves Undivided profits/(loss) from operations Total Total liabilities and capital Other information : Revaluation of foreign currency accounts is presented in the liability section in accordance with Section 45, R.A. 7653 of the New Central Bank Act. For the COMMISSION ON AUDIT: (Sgd.) MA. TERESITA R. GOJUNCO SA V - Supervising Auditor (Sgd.) WILLIE S. ASTO Managing Director
La Union airport
STATE-OWNED Bases Conversion and Development Authority and its subsidiary Poro Point Management Corp. will push through with the redevelopment of the San Fernando airport in La Union to attract more tourists and investors in the north. BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said in a meeting with local government ofcials a redeveloped San Fernando airport would serve the regions tourism industry and economy. He said BCDAs plan for the airport included the resumption of commercial ights, renovation of facilities and operation of the airport and a shopping mall. Developments are coming to the north, and having an operational airport here will bring in more visitors and investors. Soon, this airport will be an engine of growth, and the city will be one of the gateways of economic development, Casanova said. Julito G. Rada
Singapore ties. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (center) engages the audience during a panel in Singapore, moderated by former Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines A. Selverajah. The PhilippineSingapore Business Council Conference last week brought top Philippine business leaders to Singapore to strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Singapore. With Purisima (from left) are Guillermo Luchangco, chief executive of the ICCP Group and council co-chairman; Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo; and Choo Chiau Beng, chief executive of Keppel Corp. and council co-chairman.
S. Cotabato to heed mining ruling

By Othel V. Campos
TWO South Cotabato provincial board members said the province will respect the courts ruling on open pit mining once the government les the proper case. South Cotabato provincial board members Agustin Demaala and Ernesto Catedral made the statement, after the Justice Department issued last week Opinion No. 87 that authorized the Interior Department to le cases against local ofcials who issued conicting ordinances. We respect the opinion of the Department and we will support the actions of the governor [Arthur Pingoy] in response to this opinion, Dema-ala said. The Justice Departments opinion allowed the Interior Department to le cases against local government ofcials who will enact local ordinances that are contrary to the Constitution and to the laws on the grounds of grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct. The issue stemmed from a ban on open pit mining imposed by South Cotabato, which delayed the start of the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project in the province. The ban was issued despite the legality of the mining method as provided for under the Mining Act of 1995. Dema-ala said if the court ruled the ban as invalid, the provincial board would be forced to follow the courts ruling. Governor Pingoy said he will respect the law and will not implement the ordinance if it has been deemed invalid, he said. Catedral said the Justice Department was correct in citing the ban on open-pit mining as ultra vires against the mining law. He chairs the provincial committee on environment and legal concerns. However, Catedral said the provincial ordinance is presumed valid unless proven otherwise by the proper courts. We will let the courts decide once a case is led against the province, Catedral said, adding the provincial board was open to lifting the open-pit mining ban.
585,175,821,395.88 21,773,780,343.39 309,283,266,333.57 775,244,426,970.90 209,208,000,000.00 1,589,502,032,500.52 54,941,034,320.85 15,957,549,807.26 12,222,097,497.91 7,026,746,383.02 3,580,334,755,553.30 20,000,000,000.00 49,366,144,736.09 (6,946,932,403.46) 78,634,406,374.70 (25,479,318,487.58) 115,574,300,219.75
P 3,695,909,055,773.05
(Sgd.) AMANDO M. TETANGCO, JR. Governor
B2 FRIDAY
Business th MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW Market up for 5 day; SMIC climbs
NOVEMBER 30, 2012 ManilaStandardToday
52 Weeks
business@mst.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com
High
STOCKS advanced for the fth day,
sending the benchmark index to a new record level, led by the gains of holding companies and property developers which are expected to benet from a sustained economic growth in the fourth quarter.
a budget crisis could be reached before years end was enough to boost markets in the face of disappointing US home sales, a critical indicator of whether the economy is improving. Japans Nikkei 225 index rose 0.7 percent to 9,377.91. Hong Kongs Hang Seng jumped 1.1 percent to 21,942.92 and South Koreas Kospi added 0.9 percent to 1,930.15. Australias S&P/ ASX 200 gained 0.6 percent to 4,473.70. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China also rose. Obama and the US Congress have until Jan. 1 to agree on how to trim the countrys unwieldy decit. Otherwise, a series of automatic tax increases and sharp spending cuts will take effect that could drag the worlds No. 1 economy into recession. Obama said Wednesday he believed a framework for an agreement can be reached before Christmas. Its really a headline market at the moment. Well probably continue to see headlines on the scal cliff supersede any economic data until it is resolved, said Stan Shamu of IG Markets in Melbourne. The longer it stretches out, the more risk there is that it will cause further volatility in the markets. But for now, it seems markets are on the right track. With AP
Robinsons acquiring 2-hectare lot in Libis

By Jenniffer B. Austria
ROBINSONS Land Corp., the real estate unit of the Gokongwei group, said Thursday it will acquire a two-hectare lot in Libis, Quezon City. Robinsons Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed an agreement with listed glass manufacturer Republic Glass Holdings Corp. to acquire the property. Sources said the property would be transformed into a mixed-use development with commercial and residential components. Republic Glass said in a separate disclosure the sale would be on installment basis with payments to be made over a period of two years. Both companies did not disclose other details of the deal including the acquisition cost. Robinsons Land president Frederick Go said earlier the company would be more aggressive with its landbanking activities for residential developments as real estate sales remained robust amid the prevailing low interest rate. Robinsons Land launched its newest mixed-use development in Ortigas central business district called Sapphire Bloc early this month.
The government announced Wednesday the economy grew 7.1 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, boosting optimism that companies would continue to benet from increased demand in the fourth quarter. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 6 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 5,640.45 Thursday, a new all-time high. The index actually reached an intra-day high of 5,650.10. The heavier index, representing all shares, however, shed 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 3,639.42, as losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 65, with 39 issues unchanged. Value turnover reached P11 billion. SM Investments Corp. was the biggest gainer among the 20 heavily traded stocks, rising 4.1 percent to P877. Unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. gained 2.9 percent to P15.56. DMCI Holdings Inc. advanced 3.9 percent to P54.80 while Ayala Land Inc. added 2.6 percent to P24. Megaworld Corp. increased 1.6 percent to P2.51. Meanwhile, signs that US political leaders may be closing in on a budget deal to avoid the so-called scal cliff boosted Asian stock markets Thursday. Comments by President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner that a deal to avoid
70.50 77.45 1.82 595.00 2.20 23.90 20.70 0.95 3.26 650.00 39.20 102.50 3.06 77.80 500.00 45.50 155.20 1100.00 140.00 2.06 35.50 13.58 1.70 48.00 1.62 144.00 2.75 9.74 6.41 7.77 19.40 79.30 27.00 0.02 13.10 6.00 2.35 120.00 8.40
46.00 50.00 0.68 370.00 1.42 13.80 18.50 0.62 1.91 420.00 3.00 60.00 1.30 41.00 210.00 29.45 77.00 879.00 58.00 1.43 26.50 8.00 0.97 25.00 1.08
42.00 2.30 7.41 4.83 2.80 12.50 51.50 17.50 0.0110 7.80 3.80 0.61 80.00 1.04
3.20 3.19 27.45 6.95 18.10 280.60 3.65 16.00 13.70 14.94 4.42 3.90 6.50 34.60 129.20 3000.00 2.62 2.44 0.196 2.88 1.41 69.20 5.50 0.77 18.00 1.22 1.18 59.90 0.019 13.70 2.60 5.02 6.98 2.98 4.16 485.20 64.80 4.19 5.20 0.98 556.00 5.22 36.20 4.19 6.21 1.54 3.82 4.65 6.24 0.0770 2.20 0.82 4.10 2.40 0.490 760.00 2.71 1.57 0.420 0.620 0.980 3.34 0.83 0.195 24.15 5.62 9.00 2.85 2.91 0.092 1.11 0.94 3.80 0.310 2.74 1.44 2.14 2.34 0.36 0.990 0.67 19.94 7.71 2.85 8.95 18.20 0.91 4.55 0.64 4.66 4.72 42.00 18.98 0.78 28.80 102.80 0.5300 24.00 82.50 10.60 9.70 1750.00 1270.00 11.00 77.00 0.98 6.80 4.70 34.50 3.87 5.1900 10.30 2.65 3.96 4.08 22.95 8.58 3.39 10.00 71.00 17.88 2886.00 0.39 30.15 0.79 0.0083 6.20 6.22 20.80 48.00 0.345 29.00 34.00 2.23 61.80 1.21 1.81 2.070 0.085 0.840 36.50 12.84 1.100 8.40 0.032 0.033 7.05 28.25 48.00 0.062 257.80 0.029 50.00 580.00 109.80 11.02 116.70 6.00 1.31 2.60
1.32 1.08 18.10 0.75 8.12 215.00 1.96 9.70 10.20 8.05 1.01 2.01 2.90 26.50 110.20 800.00 1.25 1.73 0.112 1.99 0.90 37.00 1.05 0.320 2.55 0.77 0.65 35.50 0.014 8.00 1.80 3.00 0.260 1.49 2.30 272.00 30.50 1.03 3.30 0.10 455.40 2.94 19.00 2.27 4.00 0.61 1.800 2.56 3.40 0.045 1.20 0.44 1.56 1.01 0.285 450.00 1.08 1.14 0.101 0.082 0.380 1.70 0.42 0.150 13.36 3.08 2.26 1.35 1.20 0.060 0.67 0.54 2.90 0.10 1.63 0.98 0.65 1.51 0.150 0.089 0.41 10.00 2.51 1.81 6.00 10.94 0.64 1.80 0.45 2.60
THE winning bidder for this megabucks big-ticket government project is raising a lot of eyebrows for a number of Thats incredible! reasons. For one, this lowest bidder sprouted like a mushroom from out of the blue, surprising everyone who has been watching the twists and turns that have accompanied this multibillion behemoth undertaking. After all, public welfare rides on the success of this project, with the current and soon-to-be-ex provider having received a lot of ak for systemic (and systematic?) glitches and loopholes, as one high ranking government ofcial put it. While this late vendor may have submitted the lowest cost, experts have expressed reservations about its capability, questioning its qualications because it allegedly lacks the necessary experience and the track record in the area of specialization required for the venture. Whats suspicious about the whole thing, Happy Hours resident expert said, is the signicant disparity between the estimated cost for the project and the very low bid submitted by the companywhich is not even half of the estimate. Even more curious is the fact that the bids submitted by the other contenders were within the same range, which should already give the bid evaluators a baseline for cost comparison, not to mention the fact that the very low gure submitted should be enough to raise red ags. After all, there have been too many instances of winners cutting corners and sacricing on quality just to comply with the requirements. Worse, the public would be left hanging if late vendors systems suddenly develop glitches that would cost a lot more to x. Very low bids can be deceptive, which is why members of the bids and awards committee should conduct due diligence and reevaluate late vendors qualications and nd out how it can deliver the work without sacricing efciency, accuracy and dependability. According to sources, late vendors Web site seems to have been hastily put up, probably just for bidding purposes, and a quick check would show that the contents, and the vaunted expertise, have little, if not nothing, to do with the requirements for the data-heavy project. Unless, of course, the project will include a component for converting voice and digital recordings into printed reports. Interestingly, the majority owner is allegedly
Incredible winning bidder
a last-term local executive who now wants to try his hand at being a legislatorprobably condent that his progeny will take over his current position come May 2013. With no proven track record of similar projects and known clients either here or abroad, people could not help but wonder if this bidder might just be standing in for some others. Or perhaps it will outsource?
Dont laugh now, but Happy Hour analysts have come to the conclusion that the threat of a rocket launch by North Koreas supreme leader Kim Jong Un is in retaliation of the embarrassment and ridicule he was subjected to at having been named the Sexiest Man Alive for 2012 by The Onionin a spoof that was happily picked up and spread by People Daily, Chinas Communist Party newspaper, apparently unaware that the paper regularly lampoons political gures and dishes out satires. The overeager People Daily editors went on to showcase several photos of Kimbelatedly realizing their contribution in turning their ally into a subject of aherm, global hilarity. With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every womans dream come true. Blessed with an air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side, Kim made this newspapers editorial board swoon with his impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and, of course, that famous smile, the newspaper spoof went. As of this writing, Happy Hour is waiting for updates from the loquacious USec and National Disaster Risk reduction and Management Council chief Benito Ramos who has earlier placed government forces on blue alert and imposed the no ying, no shing and no sailing policy in areas where rocket parts could fall. However, disaster management teams are reportedly worried that people might scramble to the fallout area to recover the rocket parts hoping they will fetch good prices from the magbabakal. For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may e-mail to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com.
Sexy Kims revenge
1.20 24.80 1.05 0.45 12.20 4.45 0.1010 5.20 60.80 8.20 5.44 800.00 831.00 6.18 43.40 0.36 4.30 1.75 0.036 1.00 2.550 5.90 1.03 2.70 1.21 13.80 5.35 1.05 5.00 18.00 12.10 2096.00 0.25 10.68 0.34
0.0038 3.01 3.00 14.50 20.00 0.170 19.98 21.20 1.05
T RADING S UMMARY
FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL
SHARES 21,989,312 385,412,958 728,223,892 272,714,236 223,494,900 2,105,048,729 3,736,894,027
VALUE 1,587,521,061.11 4,029,997,444.97 2,664,457,831.26 1,120,170,123.59 1,337,737,749.56 272,925,020.42 11,012,839,230.91
FINANCIAL 1,488.30 (down) 19.46 INDUSTRIAL 8,803.31 (down) 47.91 HOLDING FIRMS 4,956.22 (up) 30.94 PROPERTY 2,153.37 (up) 33.12 SERVICES 1,734.58 (up) 1.83 MINING & OIL 18,043.13 (down) 294.38 PSEI 5,640.45 (up) 6.73 All Shares Index 3,639.42 (down) 2.47 Gainers:65; Losers: 103; Unchanged:39; Total: 207
6.96 0.50 1.0600 1.0900 0.042 0.570 15.04 2.91 0.008 2.99 0.014 0.014 5.10 18.40 3.00 0.017 161.10 0.015 23.05 535.00 101.50 6.00 108.90 0.87
0.62 1.30
M S T
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012
Previous
Low
STOCKS
Close
High
Low
Close Change Volume

71.45 89.00 0.70 55.30 2.00 20.15 26.90 0.82 2.78 485.00 21.35 99.80 1.70 88.50 389.00 55.40 163.90 995.00 111.90 2.23 0.49 (5.37) (1.41) 0.82 (1.96) 1.77 (2.00) 0.00 2.96 1.04 1.67 0.81 0.00 (1.23) 0.52 0.36 (0.06) (0.50) (0.09) 1.36
Net Foreign
Trade/Buying
234,960,722.00 (60,118,332.50) 27,750.00
Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Bankard, Inc. China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. Maybank ATR KE Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. Phil. National Bank PSE Inc. RCBC À Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alphaland Corp. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Conc. Aggr. À Chemrez Technologies Inc. Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp. First Holdings A Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep LMG Chemicals LT Group Manchester Intl. A Manchester Intl. B Manila Water Co. Inc. Mariwasa MFG. Inc. Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings Salcon Power Corp. San Miguel Brewery Inc. San Miguel Corp À San MiguelPure Foods `B Seacem Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Indl. Abacus Cons. À Aboitiz Equity Alcorn Gold Res. Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À DMCI Holdings F&J Prince A Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacic GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. Pacica À Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass A Seafront À Sinophil Corp. SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B Belle Corp. À Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Eton Properties Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À Megaworld Corp. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty À Robinsons Land `B Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Development À SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes
2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Information Capital Tech. IPeople Inc. À IP Converge IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPVG Corp. ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Jockey Pacic Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Puregold STI Holdings Waterfront Phils. Yehey
Abra Mining Apex À Apex `B Atlas Cons. À Atok-Big Wedge À Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp À Benguet Corp `B Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto À Lepanto `B Manila Mining À Manila Mining `B Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. À Oriental Pet. `B Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex À PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. À Semirara Corp. United Paragon ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref À First Phil. Hldgs.-Pref. GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C Swift Pref
Megaworld Corp. Warrants Makati Fin. Corp.
FINANCIAL 71.10 72.00 70.00 94.05 93.70 88.05 0.71 0.70 0.70 54.85 55.50 55.00 2.04 2.02 2.00 19.80 20.20 19.80 27.45 27.80 26.90 0.82 0.82 0.82 2.70 2.78 2.78 480.00 485.00 485.00 21.00 22.00 21.35 99.00 99.80 99.00 1.70 1.70 1.70 89.60 90.50 87.75 387.00 397.80 388.00 55.20 55.50 55.30 164.00 165.00 163.90 1000.00 1020.00 995.00 112.00 112.00 111.60 2.20 2.23 2.21 INDUSTRIAL 35.05 35.75 35.00 6.90 7.15 6.80 2.19 2.23 2.14 27.95 27.90 27.00 1.32 1.32 1.30 19.00 19.00 19.00 63.00 50.00 50.00 3.12 3.10 3.01 14.00 17.50 14.00 7.09 7.09 7.03 9.05 9.40 9.08 23.70 23.50 22.85 94.00 94.00 91.50 18.00 17.98 17.04 0.0230 0.0240 0.0230 13.66 13.50 13.48 3.92 3.93 3.92 0.640 0.640 0.620 105.00 105.00 104.00 9.75 9.80 9.36 1.94 1.93 1.90 13.30 13.48 13.00 5.60 6.39 5.48 5.50 6.36 5.40 33.00 33.10 31.70 3.21 3.20 3.20 16.000 16.100 15.900 264.20 266.80 259.80 5.40 5.45 5.35 10.58 10.70 10.54 10.80 11.20 10.70 9.10 9.10 8.96 4.15 4.18 4.10 2.60 2.50 2.50 4.80 4.80 4.70 34.00 34.40 34.00 109.00 109.00 108.50 244.40 244.60 243.00 1.61 1.61 1.61 1.77 1.78 1.75 0.154 0.158 0.155 1.88 1.92 1.82 1.12 1.12 1.10 78.00 81.20 77.00 1.27 1.27 1.23 1.15 1.13 1.10 8.00 8.10 8.10 1.69 1.75 1.67 HOLDING FIRMS 0.68 0.69 0.67 49.50 49.50 49.00 0.1420 0.1440 0.1390 16.38 16.50 16.26 2.03 2.07 2.06 5.05 5.10 4.82 4.22 4.34 4.19 1.07 1.06 1.00 1.15 1.19 1.15 487.00 487.00 479.00 52.75 55.10 52.80 2.75 2.80 2.80 4.60 4.68 4.60 0.240 0.250 0.215 601.00 612.00 596.00 5.95 6.20 6.04 37.00 37.00 35.60 7.00 7.20 6.95 6.45 6.49 6.20 1.01 1.03 1.00 1.87 1.89 1.82 4.50 4.60 4.35 6.40 6.45 6.20 0.0450 0.0460 0.0440 1.280 1.300 1.200 0.550 0.550 0.550 2.22 2.43 2.22 1.86 1.78 1.78 0.310 0.330 0.310 842.50 877.00 845.00 1.87 1.92 1.85 1.10 1.09 1.09 0.2600 0.2550 0.2550 0.3000 0.3050 0.2950 0.350 0.345 0.335 PROPERTY 3.07 3.08 3.00 0.690 0.730 0.690 0.176 0.177 0.177 23.40 24.00 23.35 5.10 5.16 5.09 4.50 4.45 4.45 1.41 1.42 1.38 2.25 2.29 2.29 0.069 0.066 0.061 0.81 0.82 0.80 0.970 0.980 0.960 2.90 2.90 2.90 0.360 0.355 0.340 1.87 1.87 1.83 1.56 1.57 1.51 1.10 1.15 1.11 2.47 2.54 2.48 0.1580 0.1610 0.1580 0.7500 0.7800 0.7300 0.490 0.460 0.455 19.00 19.10 18.80 2.96 3.00 2.92 3.00 3.01 2.82 5.91 5.90 5.72 15.12 15.56 15.10 0.67 0.67 0.65 3.66 3.64 3.64 0.540 0.540 0.540 5.070 5.070 4.910 SERVICES 1.75 2.10 1.85 32.00 32.35 31.10 1.29 1.33 1.24 0.620 0.670 0.620 25.00 28.00 28.00 13.72 13.86 13.40 0.1580 0.1600 0.1510 6.68 6.50 6.15 63.05 63.20 62.75 10.76 11.00 11.00 5.30 5.30 5.18 1070.00 1080.00 1050.00 1129.00 1132.00 1120.00 8.58 8.63 8.55 70.00 71.00 70.00 0.400 0.395 0.395 9.00 9.70 9.00 2.46 2.93 2.58 0.026 0.026 0.024 0.78 0.78 0.68 2.4500 2.4600 2.4500 8.57 8.68 8.53 1.30 1.68 1.68 2.71 2.65 2.65 2.75 2.76 2.73 13.90 13.96 13.96 5.00 5.00 4.75 3.10 3.20 3.10 9.55 9.50 9.50 84.00 81.10 81.00 14.28 14.24 13.90 2586.00 2596.00 2576.00 0.310 0.310 0.310 31.85 33.00 31.85 1.08 1.09 1.07 0.430 0.430 0.420 1.200 1.260 1.200 MINING & OIL 0.0058 0.0059 0.0057 4.52 4.55 4.52 4.52 4.52 4.52 17.40 17.50 17.32 24.95 25.00 25.00 0.275 0.275 0.270 19.00 20.20 18.80 19.00 19.10 19.00 0.98 0.98 0.94 1.14 1.15 1.08 16.48 16.48 16.02 0.53 0.53 0.49 0.950 0.940 0.870 1.000 1.000 0.920 0.0620 0.0620 0.0600 0.0610 0.0610 0.0590 16.24 16.20 15.96 5.30 5.30 4.98 0.5900 0.5900 0.5700 3.170 3.170 3.070 0.0180 0.0200 0.0190 0.0190 0.0200 0.0200 5.83 5.83 5.82 13.10 13.36 12.90 27.25 27.20 26.15 0.039 0.041 0.038 220.00 220.00 219.20 0.0180 0.0180 0.0180 PREFERRED 31.25 31.25 30.45 522.00 522.00 522.00 101.60 101.60 101.60 8.50 8.60 8.50 107.90 108.50 107.00 74.95 75.00 74.95 75.45 75.50 75.45 1.34 1.40 1.35 WARRANTS & BONDS 1.47 1.50 1.47 SME 3.55 3.00 3.00
7,130,750 3,112,120 560,000 95,050 9,000 32,500 3,456,600 93,000 1,000 500 19,700 1,832,790 400,000 2,149,920 22,160 197,540.00 855,140 1,940 607,300 511,000
41,156,055.00
99,383,105.50
7,699,368.00 1,217,268.00 1,190,172.00 85,133,754.00 (32,781,234.00) (288,600.00) 25,494,630.00 5,580.00 154,000.00
35.45 6.99 2.18 27.90 1.30 19.00 50.00 3.08 15.28 7.06 9.35 23.00 92.00 17.50 0.0240 13.48 3.93 0.640 104.50 9.80 1.91 13.06 5.48 5.88 32.75 3.20 16.100 262.00 5.37 10.60 10.70 9.01 4.12 2.50 4.78 34.00 109.00 243.00 1.61 1.75 0.155 1.85 1.12 77.00 1.25 1.10 8.10 1.67
1.14 1.30 (0.46) (0.18) (1.52) 0.00 (20.63) (1.28) 9.14 (0.42) 3.31 (2.95) (2.13) (2.78) 4.35 (1.32) 0.26 0.00 (0.48) 0.51 (1.55) (1.80) (2.14) 6.91 (0.76) (0.31) 0.63 (0.83) (0.56) 0.19 (0.93) (0.99) (0.72) (3.85) (0.42) 0.00 0.00 (0.57) 0.00 (1.13) 0.65 (1.60) 0.00 (1.28) (1.57) (4.35) 1.25 (1.18) 0.00 (0.40) (1.41) (0.49) 1.48 0.99 (0.71) (0.93) 3.48 (1.19) 3.89 1.82 0.00 4.17 (0.83) 4.20 (2.97) (0.71) (3.10) 0.00 (1.60) (3.11) (0.78) 2.22 (6.25) 0.00 8.11 (4.30) 0.00 4.09 0.53 (0.91) (1.92) 0.00 (2.86)
6,701,500 29,700 477,000 1,200 1,913,000 100 80 66,000 330,100 15,714,000 3,235,800 2,830,100 934,670 2,400 298,600,000 211,200 63,000 1,224,000 644,560 638,700 329,000 1,959,100 338,800 201,300 5,665,000 4,000 666,100 9,645,840 1,332,600 6,227,500 200 124,000 1,243,000 2,000 64,000 55,900 674,720 10,600 4,000 11,000 3,820,000 109,000 4,385,000 2,775,100 432,000 814,000 12,000 7,316,000 3,703,000 1,888,800 621,050,000 10,641,000 81,000 184,800 32,000 218,000 7,000 1,151,120 3,706,250 8,000 873,000 510,000 670,190 183,700 2,470,200 13,100 8,651,900 2,205,000 375,000 58,123,000 1,246,300 3,100,000 13,000 356,000 53,000 25,000 2,640,000 746,700 428,000 133,000 470,000 580,000 1,510,000 1,691,000 437,000 100,000 13,064,000 1,727,200 36,000 3,067,000 1,000 2,070,000 6,172,000 26,390,000 45,000 9,320,000 1,969,000 69,373,000 118,000 72,562,000 4,690,000 11,749,000 330,000 719,700 388,000 86,000 3,761,600 20,701,100 108,000 40,000 615,000 19,524,800
(2,940,537.00) 10,368,862.00 3,498,200.00 (20,902,046.50) 131,100.00 (137,240.00) (3,220,917.00) (776,412.00) (65,400.00) 9,501.00 (119,114,335.00)
10,356,886.00 (1,515,031,266.00) 2,014,585.00 (12,505,242.00) 1,730,280.00
3,079,346.00 (2,297,374.00)
43,343,114.00 33,000.00
0.68 49.30 0.1400 16.30 2.06 5.10 4.19 1.06 1.19 481.20 54.80 2.80 4.60 0.250 596.00 6.20 35.90 6.95 6.25 1.01 1.84 4.36 6.35 0.0460 1.200 0.550 2.40 1.78 0.310 877.00 1.88 1.09 0.2550 0.3000 0.340
52,346,285.00 335,350.00 (16,054,200.00) (248,812.00)
35,082,766.00 66,868,679.00 (115,250.00) 68,945,115.00 336,980.00 (64,226,135.00) (14,400.00) (11,457,616.00) 90,900.00 (68,535,620.00)
(44,500.00) 160,000.00 113,021,540.00 20,820.00 17,000.00
3.08 0.690 0.177 24.00 5.09 4.45 1.38 2.29 0.061 0.81 0.970 2.90 0.340 1.83 1.51 1.11 2.51 0.1580 0.7400 0.455 19.00 2.92 2.90 5.79 15.56 0.66 3.64 0.540 5.000
0.33 0.00 0.57 2.56 (0.20) (1.11) (2.13) 1.78 (11.59) 0.00 0.00 0.00 (5.56) (2.14) (3.21) 0.91 1.62 0.00 (1.33) (7.14) 0.00 (1.35) (3.33) (2.03) 2.91 (1.49) (0.55) 0.00 (1.38)
137,983,415.00 (353,969.00) (858,780.00)
80,000.00 384,000.00 2,900.00 (91,100.00) (129,550.00) (31,067,910.00) 100,078,930.00
(74,000.00) 4,696,946.00
1,511,071.00 138,880,860.00 108,000.00 (13,539,234.00)
1.95 11.43 31.25 (2.34) 1.26 (2.33) 0.630 1.61 28.00 12.00 13.46 (1.90) 0.1580 0.00 6.20 (7.19) 63.00 (0.08) 11.00 2.23 5.30 0.00 1080.00 1125.00 (0.35) 8.60 0.23 71.00 1.43 0.395 (1.25) 9.70 7.78 2.69 9.35 0.025 (3.85) 0.68 (12.82) 2.4500 0.00 8.68 1.28 1.68 29.23 2.65 (2.21) 2.73 (0.73) 13.96 0.43 5.00 0.00 3.14 1.29 9.50 (0.52) 81.00 (3.57) 13.90 (2.66) 2586.00 0.00 0.310 0.00 32.20 1.10 1.07 (0.93) 0.430 0.00 1.260 5.00 0.0058 4.55 4.52 17.32 25.00 0.270 20.20 19.00 0.94 1.10 16.30 0.51 0.890 1.000 0.0600 0.0600 15.96 5.00 0.5800 3.090 0.0190 0.0200 5.82 13.00 27.00 0.039 220.00 0.0180 0.00 0.66 0.00 (0.46) 0.20 (1.82) 6.32 0.00 (4.08) (3.51) (1.09) (3.77) (6.32) 0.00 (3.23) (1.64) (1.72) (5.66) (1.69) (2.52) 5.56 5.26 (0.17) (0.76) (0.92) 0.00 0.00 0.00 (2.56) 0.00 0.00 0.94 0.56 0.00 0.07 4.48 0.00
65,000 481,900 178,000 11,140,000 900 7,617,000 62,440,000 1,085,100 462,350 100 46,400 0.93 53,510 557,200 2,862,090 100,000 124,200 963,000 62,100,000 45,677,000 16,000 452,600 1,000 50,000 266,000 110,000 130,100 2,530,000 1,000,000 850 907,000 260,680 1,000,000 2,176,300 14,740,000 310,000 33,000
128,000.00 (56,862,532.00) 164,288.00 8,310,982.50 1,800 (21,626,135.00)
42,516,415.50 (7,760.00)
(1,205,000.00) 27,803,440.00 380,506.00
12,560.00 (9,500,000.00)
(7,600,734.00) 97,966,230.00 (7,321,065.00) (214,000.00)
184,000,000 44,000 50,000 643,100 200 2,090,000 76,600 11,500 699,000 8,613,000 28,500 15,716,000 60,806,000 23,383,000 339,730,000 211,670,000 316,900 587,800 1,175,000 1,341,000 219,200,000 100,000,000 72,400 4,776,500 144,400 854,300,000 42,770 75,500,000
2,399,100.00 (192,500.00) (85,950.00) 96,000.00 13,800.00 201,900.00 7,847,410.00
168,000.00 (509,836.00) 116,000.00 120,510.00
(233,814.00) (1,079,150.00) (328,600.00) (1,279,790.00) (28,761,540.00) (17,200,000.00) (74,900.00) (29,517,750.00)
30.45 522.00 101.60 8.58 108.50 74.95 75.50 1.40 1.47
1,370,300 20 10,000 2,183,000 185,960 3,117,660 4,010 211,000
1,842,000 10,000
1,410,400.00
3.00
(15.49)
ManilaStandardToday
World
held by the spring. Wednesday brought a last-minute scramble to seize the momentum over Egypts political transition. Morsis camp announced that his Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists will stage a massive rally in Cairos Tahrir Square, the plaza where more than 200,000 opposition supporters gathered a day earlier. The Islamists choice of the square for Saturdays rally raises the possibility of clashes. Several hundred Morsi opponents
B3
Palestine Widespread protests raise fears of second revolution certain to secure UN statehood
UNITED NATIONSThe Palestinians are certain to win UN recognition as a state on Thursday but success could exact a high price: delaying an independent state of Palestine because of Israels vehement opposition. The United States, Israels closest ally, mounted an aggressive campaign to head off the General Assembly vote, which the Palestinians view as a historic step in their quest for global recognition. The Palestinians say they need UN recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the lands Israel captured in 1967, to be able to resume negotiations with Israel and the non-member observer state status could also open the way for possible war crimes charges against the Jewish state at the International Criminal Court. In a last-ditch move Wednesday, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns made a personal appeal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas promising that President Barack Obama would re-engage as a mediator in 2013 if Abbas abandoned the effort to seek statehood. But the Palestinian leader refused, said Abbas aide Saeb Erekat. For Abbas, the UN bid is crucial if he wants to maintain his leadership and relevance, especially following the recent conict between his Hamas rivals in Gaza and Israel. It saw the Islamic militant group claim victory and raise its standing in the Arab world while his Fatah movement was sidelined and marginalized. The Palestinians chose the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People for the vote. Before it takes place, there will be a morning of speeches by supporters focusing on the rights of the Palestinians. Abbas is scheduled to be a speaker at that meeting, and again in the afternoon when he will present the case for Palestinian statehood in the General Assembly. AP CAIROFaced with an unprecedented strike by the courts and massive opposition protests, Egypts Islamist president is not backing down in the showdown over decrees granting him nearabsolute powers. Activists warn that his actions threaten a second revolution, but Mohammed Morsi faces a different situation than his ousted predecessor, Hosni Mubarak: He was democratically elected and enjoys the support of the nations most powerful political movement. Already, Morsi is rushing the work of an Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly at the heart of the power struggle, with a draft of the charter expected as early as Thursday, despite a walkout by liberal and Christian members that has raised questions about the panels legitimacy. The next step would be for Morsi to call a nationwide referendum on the document. If adopted, parliamentary elections would be are camped out there, and another group is ghting the police on a nearby street. It is tantamount to a declaration of war, said liberal politician Mustafa al-Naggar, speaking on the private Al-Tahrir TV station. Morsi remains adamant that his decrees, which place him above oversight of any kind, including by the courts, are in the interest of the nations transition to democratic rule. Backing down may not be an
option for the 60-year-old USeducated engineer. Doing so would signicantly weaken him and the Brotherhood at a time when their image has been battered by widespread charges that they are too preoccupied with tightening their grip on power to effectively tackle the countrys many pressing problems. Morsis pride is also a key factor in a country where most people look to their leader as an invincible gure. AP
Egyptian judges strike as tug-of-war escalates

CAIROIn an escalation of the tug-of-war between Egypts president and the powerful judiciary, judges in the countrys top courts went on strike Wednesday to protest Mohammed Morsis seizure of near absolute powers, while Islamists rushed to complete a new constitution, the issue at the heart of the dispute.
The moves came a day after at least 200,000 protesters lled Cairos central Tahrir Square to denounce the decrees Morsi issued last week, which place him above oversight of any kind, including by the courts. Threatening to turn the dispute into violent street clashes, Morsis Muslim Brotherhood and the more radical Islamist Sala Al-Nour party, called for a counter-demonstration this weekend in Tahrir Square, where Morsis opponents have been holding a sit-in for over a week. Morsi says the decrees are necessary to protect the revolution that helped drive Hosni Mubarak from ofce last year as well as the nations transition to democratic rule. The constitutional declaration also provides the 100-member panel drafting a new constitution with immunity from the courts. In a sign the dispute may take a sharp turn, the Supreme Constitutional Court said in a statement that it will go ahead with plans to rule Sunday on whether to dissolve the assembly writing the new constitution, which is dominated by the Brotherhood and its Islamist allies. The court is determined to rise above its pain and continue its sacred mission until the end, wherever that takes us, Maher Sami, the high courts deputy chairman, said in a televised speech. The expected decision on Sunday, regardless of which way it goes, would constitute a direct challenge to Morsi, who took ofce in June as Egypts rst freely elected president but has enraged pro-democracy activists who claim he is acting too much like the authoritarian leader he replaced. AP
Egyptian protesters clash with security forces near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday. Egyptian state television says the countrys highest appeal court has decided to suspend its work nationwide to protest the presidents decrees giving himself nearly absolute powers. AP
IN BRIEF
Arctic sea ice larger than the US melted this year

DOHA, QatarAn area of Arctic sea ice bigger than the United States melted this year, according the UN weather agency, which said the dramatic decline illustrates that climate change is happening before our eyes. In a report released at UN climate talks in the Qatari capital of Doha, the World Meteorological Organization said the Arctic ice melt was one of a myriad of extreme and record-breaking weather events to hit the planet in 2012. Droughts devastated nearly two-thirds of the United States as well western Russia and southern Europe. Floods swamped west Africa and heat waves left much of the Northern Hemisphere sweltering. But it was the ice melt that seemed to dominate the annual climate report, with the UN concluding ice cover had reached a new record low in the area around the North Pole and that the loss from March to September was a staggering 11.83 million square kilometers (4.57 million square miles)an area bigger than the United States. The alarming rate of its melt this year highlighted the farreaching changes taking place on Earths oceans and biosphere, WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said. Climate change is taking place before our eyes and will continue to do so as a result of the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which have risen constantly and again reached new records. The dire climate newsfollowing on the heels of a report Tuesday that found melting permafrost could signicantly amplify global warming--comes as delegates from nearly 200 countries struggled for a third day to lay the groundwork for a deal that would cut emissions in an attempt to ensure that temperatures dont rise more than 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) over what they were in preindustrial times. Temperatures have already risen about 0.8 degrees C (1.4 degrees F), according to the latest report by the IPCC. AP
Driver fired for Russian accent

SALT LAKE CITYA Utah truck driver alleges FedEx red him because of his Russian accent, even though he offered to appear before corporate higher-ups to demonstrate his English-speaking abilities. Ismail Aliyev has led a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Memphis, Tennessee-based shipping company and the longhaul contractor that employed him and was ordered to do the ring. Aliyev worked for GNB Trucking Co. in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley. The small business owns and operates FedEx-branded trucks and provides uniformed drivers for FedEx. Aliyev says his trouble started months into the job when an Iowa weigh-station gave his company a warning--but not a citation--about his Russian accent. One of the requirements of holding a commercial drivers license is the ability to communicate. AP
Lennon, Van Gogh letters up for sale

NEW YORKRare letters written by Vincent van Gogh, John Lennon and other iconic gures are being offered at an upcoming auction of more than 300 historical documents in New York City. The property of an anonymous US collector is being offered by Proles in History in an online and phone auction Dec. 18. Other luminaries whose papers will be sold include former President George Washington, baseball legend Lou Gehrig, Louis Pasteur, Sigmund Freud, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Giuseppe Verdi, Peter Tchaikovsky, Cole Porter, King Henry II and Napoleon I. One top item is a signed van Gogh letter, written in 1890, to Joseph and Marie Ginoux, who were proprietors of the Cafe de la Gare in Arles, France, where the artist lived for a time. The letter is estimated to bring $200,000 to $300,000. A handwritten letter from John Lennon to Eric Clapton has a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. Lennon writes candidly about his admiration for the great British guitarist and suggests forming a nucleus group [Plastic Ono Band] and of course had YOU!!! In mind as soon as we decided. He writes that drummer Jim Kelnter, artist Klaus Voormann, pianist Nicky Hopkins and producer Phil Spector all agreed so far to join. AP
2 car bombs near Damascus kill 34

DAMASCUS, SyriaTwo suicide bombers detonated their explosives packed vehicles near a cluster of commercial buildings in a suburb of Damascus Wednesday, killing at least 34 people and covering the street with pools of blood and debris. The latest carnage to hit an area populated by religious minorities who support President Bashar Assad further raises concerns of a growing Islamic militant element among the forces seeking to topple him. In the countrys north, rebels claimed to have shot down a Syrian air force ghter jet, providing further evidence of their growing effectiveness and improved military capabilities. It was not immediately clear how the MiG-23 was downed, although activists and the Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency said it was most likely brought down by a missile. The morning rush hour bombings in the suburb of Jaramana, just few kilometers (miles) southeast of Damascus, were the latest to hit the overwhelmingly pro-regime town. The twin blasts appeared designed to maximize damage and casualties and bore the hallmarks of radical
Nokor joke becomes news

BEIJINGHow did a spoof article about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un being the sexiest man alive end up as a real news item in China? Turns out it was a case of telephone, or Chinese whispers, in the digital age. Hong Kong media picked up the piece by US satirical website The Onion a week ago while explaining to readers in Chinese that it was a farce. But from there, it jumped over the Great Firewall and landed into the ofcial, irony-free Chinese media. When Hong Kongs Phoenix TV website, ifeng.com, ran its story on its fashion channel on Nov. 21, the storys second paragraph clearly stated: The Onion is a satirical news organization. But, when state-run Yangtse. com picked up the Phoenix piece a few hours later, it had morphed into straight news. The piece never mentioned that the original was a joke, instead plucking comical reader comments attached to the Phoenix story and running those. AP
Muslim groups ghting alongside other rebel units in Syria. Witnesses said the second explosion went off after people rushed in to help those injured from the rst blast, a tactic often used by al-Qaida in Iraq and elsewhere. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings, but Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida-inspired extremist group that has become one of Syrias most potent and organized rebel groups, has claimed numerous suicide bombings in the past, mostly targeting regime forces and security installations. AP
Wal-Mart, Disney clothes found in Bangladesh fire

DHAKAThe garment factory in Bangladesh where 112 people were killed in a re had been making clothes for WalMart, Disney, Sears and other major global retailerssome of whom say they thought they had stopped doing business with the place. The apparent confusion underscored what some industry experts say is a major obstacle to improving factory safety in developing nations: Many retailers in the US and Europe rely on such a long and complex chain of manufacturers, vendors and middlemen to keep their shelves stocked that it is difcult to keep track of where certain products are made. Amid the blackened tables and melted sewing machines at Tazreen Fashions Ltd., an Associated Press reporter discovered clothes and account books Wednesday that indicated the factory was used by a host of US and European retailers. Among the items discovered: childrens shorts with Wal-Marts Faded Glory label, hooded sweaters marked Disney Pixar, shorts with hip-hop star Sean Combs ENYCE tag, and sweaters from the French company Teddy Smith and the Scottish company Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Sears was among the companies listed in the account books. The tragedy is putting a spotlight on dangerous workplace conditions around the world, with no clear answers to how consumers should react or who is ultimately responsible. AP
A Disney brand sweater lays among the equipment charred in the re that killed 112 people Saturday at the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Garments and documents left behind in the factory show it was used by a host of major American and European retailers, though at least one of themWal-Marthad been aware of safety problems. Wal-Mart blames a supplier for using Tazreen Fashions without its knowledge. AP
Motoring
Ramon L. Tomeldan, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com
B4
HCPI president Tatsuya Natsume strikes a pose beside the CRZ at the Patapat Bridge
Honda's power line-up
Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III
AFTER being relegated to the backseat of the automotive industry, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. is all set to claw back and regain its lost territory judging from its vigorous marketing blitz including its latest media test drive event. Held from November 22 -23 with the theme Experience Anew, Honda invited leading motoring journalists to test drive its vehicle line-up in the scenic Cagayan Valley.
This is an opportunity for us to reconnect with the media and for you guys to assess our latest variant which we are planning to introduce to the local market, states Tatsuya Natsume, president -general manager. Honda gave us the keys to the Pilot SUV, Odyssey people carrier, the CR-V, Accord, Jazz, and the Civic and City equipped with Modulo genuine accessories. As an added treat, the media participants also drove Hondas hybrid models the Insight sedan and the CR-Z sports car equipped with Mugen accessories. To further make this test drive event memorable, the media participants will drive the vehicles through a scenic route
Hondas
the Kainang Pilpino restaurant. From there, our convoy buckled up for a 198 km drive around Cagayan with our rst stop at the historic natural wonder Callao caves. With good twisty roads and long stretches of pavement ahead of us, driving the CRZ was a blast. Despite having a 1500cc DOHC-VTEC hybrid engine, the CRZ behaved like a 2.0 liter and handling was excellent with the suspension a bit on the rm side. Shifting was precise, as I pushed to the CRZ to burn some serious rubber. The convoy was a sight to behold as we snaked our way through towns leading up to our nal destination at the Cagayan Holiday and Leisure Resort Complex. Day two of the event saw me
FAST FASTLANE
Panamera Blue
RECENTLY launched at the Geneva Auto Show was Foilacars Nactblau or Matte Vibrant Blue color scheme. Due to its unique and vibrant exterior color, this Porsche Panamera is now a head turner and is part of a collection of businessman Raymond Ronquillo. The transformation from stock to rock usually takes a week to perform and Foilacar Manilas trained service crew is certied in disassembly and assembly Invented in Germany years ago for industrial use, Foilacar has made this innovative paint protection technology more affordable. Every sedan, SUV and AUV wrapped in Foilacar is guaranteed to preserve your car against the elements of weathering, scratches and paint chipping caused by everyday driving. Foilacar also offers Clarita, a clear lm protection for less conservative consumers who want exterior protection without the fanfare. They even have Art-a-Car, a car design service which adds some sporty elements to your cars exterior nish. Clarita is currently being offered as a dealer option for Kia, Mercedes and all Autohub dealers. For more information, you can visit any of Foilacars branches in Karport at the Fort Bonifacio Global City, at the La Fuerza Compound along Don Chino Roces or in Foilacars Foil Plus branch in Quezon City at 21 Col. B Serrano ave. Bagong , near Camp Crame. Foilacar is also available in AutoHub dealers.
northern exposure
and Botchi behind the wheel of the Pilot SUV in the morning and the Civic Modulo version in the afternoon. From Cagayan, we drove a total distance of 325 kms to Laoag City, where the local Honda dealer in the Ilocos region treated us for dinner before ying back to Manila. The two-day event was a way for Honda to say that they are preparing for a busy 2013, as HCPI puts its nose into the grindstone to regain its lost glory and protability. With the steady sales of the City and Jazz models, Honda might have a sucker punch for its rivals as it is poised to introduce the hybrid and sporty CRZ next year. Dont count out these guys just yet.
traversing the northern provinces of the Philippines and experience anew its charms, starting from Tuguegarao, Cagayan and nishing in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, adds Natsume. Sensing that the lead footed motoring hacks might end up in a st ght on who gets to drive the Mugen CRZ, Mitch Malto, HCPIs resident PR guru cleverly alloted slots to senior members of the beat. Upon our arrival at the Tugegarao Airport, this writer proceeded to the Mugen CRZ with the Inquirers Botchi Santos taking the wheel for the rst leg of the journey. Both of us can sense the envy of our colleagues as we drove by on our way to a sumptuous buffet lunch of native dishes at
of parts and body panels. Our crew was trained specically for this specialty service by a German instructor and underwent a month long seminar and on-the-job training in Foilacar Germany. This is why all our clients are assured of quality service, states Lester Codog of Foilacar Manila.
Ford expands dealer network

FORD Philippines celebrated the continued expansion of its nationwide dealer network with the groundbreaking of the Ford Alabang dealership and the opening of the new Ford Pampanga dealership. Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN, and Randy Krieger, president, Ford Philippines joined Fords dealer principals at both locations to help celebrate the milestones. The continued expansion of our Ford dealer network will help further drive our momentum in the Philippines, as well as help to support our overall, aggressive growth plans for the ASEAN region, said Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN. In addition to the introduction of segment-leading One Ford vehicles, we are absolutely committed to further improving our customer experience, which includes customer convenience from an even wider network of nationwide coverage, adds Bradley. The new Ford Alabang dealership will be one of the largest Ford dealerships in the ASEAN region. Scheduled for completion in 2014, it will be strategically located along the Alabang-Zapote Road, and will cover 4,000sqm and boast a fouroor layout, 25-vehicle showroom and 80-vehicle servicing capacity. Ford Pampanga, under dealer principal Levy P. Laus, is the second sales and service outlet built according to Brand@Retail II, Fords new global design standard which translates Fords brand pillars of Quality, Green, Safe and Smart to the physical space of Ford dealerships. The Brand@Retail layout and interface also helps deliver a new look and feel that is both comforting and customer-friendly. Ford opened its rst Brand@ Retail II facility in October with the inauguration of Ford Cainta. Ford is committed to an aggressive growth plan in the Philippines, which will be supported by the continued introduction of global One Ford vehicles, the further expansion of our Ford dealer network, and the commitment of our dealers to continue providing an unmatched and world-class customer service experience, said Randy Krieger, president, Ford Philippines. In October, Ford celebrated the opening of Ford Cainta, and announced the opening of 12 additional dealerships over the next six months. This will bring the total number of authorized Ford dealerships to 35 in the Philippines.
Mitsubishi acquires new target market

Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III
WITH the recent introduction of the latest version of the Mirage, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has set its sights in conquering new grounds. In a soft launch of the all-new Mirage last August at the Philippine International Motorshow (PIMS), Mitsubishi revealed that it has already pre-sold over 2,500 units prior to the actual launch last week. In a media brieng held at a hotel in Pasay City, Mitsubishi Motors president Osamu Masuko revealed that Our target sales for Mirage is 500 units a month but we will try to sell more units in the future, he said. Masako was in town for the Philippine launch of Mitsubishis newest variant, a car that carved its niche in the eighties due to its design features, practicality and fuel efciency, with elements of driving fun added into the mix. Masuko said the company chose to launch Mirage in Southeast Asia because Asean countries are now experiencing momentum for growth. Early this year, this writer was part of a media contingent assembled by MMP that test drove the Mirage in Thailands Bira Circuit. That experience allowed
G-Xchange promo
MMC Japan president Osamu Masuko tries out the Mirage REMEDIOS Nimer Herrera, 58, a full-time barangay volunteer and a mother of seven including two migrant workers, receives an early Christmas gift from G-Xchange Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, and Xpress Money after winning a brand new car in a rafe promo. Herrera won a brand new Hyundai Eon car worth around P500,000 after claiming her remittance using GCASH REMIT from her daughter based in Dubai who sent it via Xpress Money. GXI and Xpress Money also awarded cash prizes to other OFW family winners in a special draw last August 31. Sanatra Alapa Aauya, Ellen Entera, Millet Claro, Ruth Damal De Vera, and Jamica Cruz Hill each received P10,000 cash.
motoring hacks real time feedback from the car as we tested how it behaved around Biras highly technical track. With a Nissan March as the baseline performance, the Mirage held its own in terms of acceleration and cornering abilities. For a car with compact dimensions, head and legroom space is adequate for average sized adults and can comfortably accommodate
three passengers plus the driver. After the Philippine launch, the Mirage will be subsequently introduced in strategic markets around the ASEAN region, Europe and North America. With a price range of P498,000 to P638,000, the Mirage is expected to lock horns with the Hyundai Accent and EON, the Toyota Vios and Yaris, Honda Jazz and City, Suzuki Celerio and the Kia Picanto.
A 35-year Mitsubishi veteran, Osamu Masuko has been serving as President and Representative Director of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan since 2005. Chief among his string of achievements is his successful stewardship of the company to protability by way of a revitalization plan involving changing the corporate culture and structure of the company.
Life @play
NOVEMBER 30, 2012 Gianna Maniego, Editor Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor
Night shot of one of the resorts pools
Boracay
Seafood bouillabaisse soup
FALLING IN LOVE WITH
ALL OVER AGAIN

By Marane A. Plaza
BORACAY, with its clear turquoise waters, ne, white sands, beautiful sunsets, blithesome nightlife scene, and not to mention, its warm people, is probably one of the most visited vacation spots in the country. No matter how many times one has gone on a vacation in Boracay, one is sure to fall in love with this paradise over and over again. Even though Boracay has been exuding a remarkable sense of opulence for years, holiday-makers still nd it appealing to spend their downtime in this paradise because of its sophisticated yet unintimidating hotels. And top of their list is the unrivalled Boracay Garden Resort at Station 2. Offering tasteful, explicit services and accommodations at affordable rates, Boracay Garden Resort has been one of the favorite resort hotels of vacationers for years. And with its latest renovations, this premium property has outdone its own standards yet again, surpassing the travel needs and expectations of its loyal clientele. We continue to invest on the improvement of Boracay Garden Resorts services and facilities. To date, we have already constructed an al fresco restaurant we call Garden Cafe, redesigned two swimming pools with tiles imported from Bali, put up new tness and business centers, and even refurbished and upholstered the existing rooms, said Henry Chusuey, chairman of Henann Resorts Group. We are halfway through construction of our new wing which will feature rooms with modern design and xtures. The rooms at the ground oor will have direct access to the pool. As good as new The resort recently unveiled eight new rooms, staying true to its goal of providing elegant accommodations at reasonable prices to any domestic traveler. The latest additions are one executive suite and seven grand rooms, beautifully designed with charming Asian interiors. To date, Boracay Garden Resort has a total of 209 spacious, premium accommodations. The executive suite has a king-sized bed with a 40-inch LCD TV, plus a living area with another 40-inch LCD TV. It also has other tasteful amenities like safety deposit box, hair dryer, coffee and tea making facilities, and personal refrigerator. The spacious marble-clad bathroom features dual granite-top vanities, a bathtub with romantic bath glass partition, and a separate over-sized shower area. The suite also comes with a lovely balcony, which allows you to enjoy the great views of the resorts grounds. For more lavish needs, the Grand Room is poised to kiss away your tiredness. Each room has a queen-sized bed and a single one, and an adorable sitting area with 32-inch LCD TV. It also has safety deposit box, hair dryer, coffee and tea making facilities and personal refrigerator. The marble-clad bathroom has a spacious shower area with granitetop lavatory. Like most rooms in the resort, it also has a private balcony overlooking the garden and pools. Garden Caf, the propertys famous dining place, is known for serving sumptuous Filipino dishes. The al fresco restaurant also offers international cuisines such as unique versions of mouth-watering Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes. The online invasion Aside from its newly-appointed accommodations, Boracay Garden Resort also launches its new medium of accepting your reservations. Its Web site, www.henann.com is available 24/7, guaranteeing hassle-free means of securing your accommodations, as well us keeping you on-the-know of the hotels discounted rates, smooth booking transactions and instant conrmation. Planning your Boracay vacation has never been easier with our online booking service. It has always been our goal to maximize client comfort and it all starts by simply logging in to our website, said Karl Chusuey, marketing manager of Henann Resorts Group. Guests may now go online to check out the resorts available rooms, transfer services and rates. Major credit cards are accepted for all transactions. Photos of the resorts villas and amenities may also be viewed on the website. Boracay garden resort: then and now In 2009, Chusuey chanced upon Hotel Seraph, a Korean-owned hotel located at the heart of Station 2. I got the resort by accident. I was not really looking for any new property to develop in the island at that time. I was surprised when the owner came to see me and offered to sell Hotel Seraph, said Chusuey. This multi-million peso acquisition gave birth to Boracay Garden Resort a massive, two-hectare resort with more than 200 rooms. It immediately underwent renovations to keep it at par with the other resorts in the island operated by Chusueys group which are the Boracay Regency Resort and Spa and Regency Lagoon Resort. Boracay Garden Resort enhances Henann Resorts Groups ability to respond to all kinds of tourists with different budgets and tastes. It has recently purchased its adjacent lot where 100 additional rooms will be put up; bringing its total number of rooms to
Boracay Garden Resort has seven new grand rooms
363 by the end of 2013. This puts Henann Resorts Group in an unparalleled position in Boracay as it now offers the most number of rooms (a total of 768 by the end of 2013) while maintaining its high standard of customer service and value for money rates. Its modern aesthetics, breezy, tree-lined surroundings that offer a calm ambience to guests are the exact reasons why guests keep coming back to this haven. While it may be secluded from the crowded beach, the resort has its own private pathway that leads to the beachfront, with comfy lounge beds and sun umbrellas to chill into. Boracay Garden Resort is under the management of Boracay Regency Group, now called Henann Resorts Group. This company is the owner and operator of leading properties such as the Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa, Regency Lagoon Resort, Boracay Beach Chalets and Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol (formerly
Alona Palm Beach Resort). Being led by Henry O. Chusuey, this company knows exactly how to operate hotels that are at par with world-class standards. Just recently Henry O. Chusuey has been recognized by Skal International, one of the most distinguished organizations of global tourism professionals and leaders, with the Tourism Personality of the Year Award for Resort Category. This is the rst Skal award for Chusuey who early this year received the same honor from the Rotary Club of Manila. Reasonable rates, excellent food, quality service from caring employees, prime location and satised guests make a successful hotel business. Our company has been operating in Boracay for almost 15 years using this tried and tested formula, said Chusuey. For reservations, visit www.henann. com. For further inquiries, call (632) 3531111, (636) 2886672 or e-mail manila@boracaygarden.com.ph.
front desk
Catch the match of the year
WATCH the most awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez with good friends, sumptuous food, and a lively atmosphere at Acacia Hotel Manila. This exciting match will be shown live via satellite at the Grand Acacia Ballroom on December 9. Registration starts at 8AM and seats are on a rst-come rst-serve basis. Tickets are P950 nett per person, which is inclusive of a hearty buffet breakfast and one round of iced tea, coffee, and tea. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Guest Services Center. Indulge in the breakfast buffet spread prepared specially by the hotels award-winning culinary team. Light breakfast eaters will savor the selection of plain and fruit-avored yoghurts and pair it with sliced fruit. Other selections include a variety of cold cereals and muesli that can be doused with full cream or skimmed milk. While those who prefer a Continental breakfast can choose from a variety of freshly baked bread, pastries, mufns, or donuts. These and other choices are available for the guests delight.
Make your own pizza

UNLEASH the inner pizza expert in you by concocting your perfect pizza at The Bellevue Manilas Vue Bar. Pizza Night, available from Monday to Wednesday this month from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, will allow guests choose from ve toppings which they can mix and match to make the best pizza for just P300++ per order. And to make this delightful experience more delectable, pair your own made pizza with some of Vue Bars signature cocktails or your favorite beers while enjoying the spectacular view of the city which you can only experience at The Bellevue Manilas chic bar.
Double celebration
THIS years Thanksgiving celebration also marks the second year anniversary of Diamond Hotels Corniche Restaurant. As an Anniversary/Thanksgiving blowout, Corniche is giving away a free pumpkin pie for a Php 5,000 single-receipt spend; free pumpkin pie with a bottle of sparkling wine for a Php 15,000 single receipt spend; and free pumpkin pie, a bottle of sparkling wine, and a whole roasted turkey for a Php 20,000 single-receipt spend when you dine in from November 22 to 30. Along with hefty giveaways, food adventurers can also enjoy Corniches exceptional buffet spread composed a succulent appetizer section; different culinary selections from the Asian, Western, Japanese, Indian stations; a delectable dessert station; and the new Halal station.
DRINK COFFEE AND HELP A CHILD

Purchase this years Seattle Best Coffees Holiday-inspired beverages and get a chance to help a childs dream.
THE PERFECT LOOK FOR THE SEASON

Get that effortless cool this season as Cotton On opens its newest branch at Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo.
S S AT HAT WH
IDE INS
C2
ManilaStandardToday Gianna Maniego, Editor Dinna Chan Vasquez, Assistant Editor FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2012
Life@ play
standardlifestyle@gmail.com
food travel events shopping
Pieces for Christmas from Ethan Allen

THEY say its the thought that counts when it comes to presents. However, this Yuletide season, Ethan Allen is extending the kind wishes and gratitude that go along with gifts by offering timeless presents, which will complete not just the celebration of the Holidays, but even the look and feel of our homes. Light up your home Classy, functional, and always favorite home accent, Ethan Allens lamps boast of designs that can match modern or classic homes. To complement the contemporary and minimalist feel of ones abode, the Long Reach Floor Lamp is dramatically styled with oversized fabric shade and two easily adjustable points that can accentuate desks and corners. Meanwhile, the Openweave Nickel Table Lamps delicate and graphic patterns, crafted from nickel-nished wire are brilliantly designed to convey a look thats open, airy, and soothinga perfect home piece that exudes elegance. The Modern Teardrop Lamp, on the other hand, makes a modern and bold statement because of its uniquely sculpted antiqued brass base. One for your wall If your loved ones are into something visually dynamic, then Ethan Allens Metal Wall Sculpture is denitely the ideal present that will awe them this Christmas. Geometrically abstract and passionately cut and assembled by hands, its nish in warm copper tones truly makes an exciting modern statement in ones abode. Intricate beauty What about surprising your grandmother, mom, or wife with an eccentric, eye-catching bowl? Ethan Allens Large Coral Pewter Bowl furthers the splendor of coral through its intricately crafted design that will surely accentuate and match the festive vibe that surrounds every dining area during the Holidays. Iconic accent Artworks are timeless gifts so if your loved ones are into
A lovely lamp shade
HOLIDAY HELPERS
By Bettina Zaragoza Bernabe
This is why even with few more days to go, its such a pleasure to know that Seattles Best is out to bring us all much closer to this special season once again as it offers us ways to be on Santas Nice List. Being in partnership with World Vision in its goals to promote and support sustainable development projects for children, Seattles Best is at its best timing by hitting two birds with one stone and doubling the fun for this seasons potential Holiday Helpers through the launch of its SBC Dream Journal Promo and its Holiday-inspired drinks. By availing of Seattles Best regular and holiday-inspired drinks, you can get your hands on the feature-laden SBC Dream Journal in the color of your choice. At the same time you can also be able to help a child from World Vision achieve his or her own dreams because a part of the proceeds from your purchases will benefit the childrens educational program. Seattles Best has come up with two new holiday coffee concoctions to add up to the past two holiday bestsellers that are out and available for all coffee lovers and potential Holiday Helpers. First on the list is the ultimate comfort drink Cookies and Mint a smooth espresso mixed with dark chocolate and mint, its definitely one you have got to give a shot this season. Theyve also got the whimsical Coffee Hazelnut made with just the right flavors: the rich and nutty taste of hazelnut, laced with white chocolate sauce and coconut. Whether you prefer it hot or ice blended, its bound to give your taste buds a kick on the right spot. For something new, Seattles Best offers nothing less but their Caramel Apple. Espresso combined with apple syrup and white chocolate sauce and then garnished with caramel sauce, cinnamon powder and whipped cream, the fruity yet rich coffee mix of the Caramel Apple is the best irony of
Be Seattles Best
THERES something about the weeks leading up to Christmas Day which I nd more exciting than Christmas Day itself. With the accumulation of Christmas lights and parols lighting up houses and streets as December comes nearer and upon hearing classic Christmas songs playing inside malls and restaurants, you just know this season is made for all things good and heartwarming.
flavors youll probably ever get to indulge in. Last but never the least of special blends is Seattles Best Espresso Jelly. For those who like strong coffee concoctions with a twist in the form of coffee jelly and whipped cream, this drink is a must-try for those who want to heighten their holiday spirits up a notch! With 19 cafs nationwide, getting your own fill of lavish and delicious drinks has never done so much good to you and to others. So join in and contribute to the budding excitement that comes with the long wait for Christmas Day. Get your choice of coffee at Seattles Best, stay hip as a Holiday Helper and get your hands on your own SBC Dream Journal and help a child achieve his or her dreams too! Seattles Best promo is available from October 23, 2012 to January 15, 2013. For more information, visit Seattles Best Philippines online at www.seatlesbest. com.ph and www.worldvision.org.ph.
one, you already know that you can never go wrong with a piece that matches their tasteand lucky for those who are into modern pop art fashion because Ethan Allen has the Statue of Liberty by American artist Craig Allan. From afar, Lady Liberty appears to be the only one in the work. However upon closer inspection, it is actually made up of a scattering of hundreds of people, all going in different directions apropos for the busy lives of Americans. Stretched onto a solid wood frame and mounted in a clean, linear oat-style frame with a burnished bronze nish. Boxes of joy We often put our gifts in boxes. What if we give a box as a gift this time? And because its an Ethan Allen piece, the Canton Boxes are beyond ordinary. Each piece exudes quirky elegance as it is inspired by luggage trunks and are in vivid color, adapting the traditional Chinoiserie fashion. Its antique Chinese red nish with cast brass hardware and an aged Chinese paper lining make them as interesting as they are versatile. The brands design centers are located at Pioneer cor. Reliance Sts., Mandaluyong and The Residences at Greenbelt, San Lorenzo Tower, Esperanza St., Makati. For inquiries, call 634-8587 or visit http://www. focusglobalinc.com or http:// www.ethanallen.com
Nokia Asha 309 now available

NOKIA recently announced that the Nokia Asha 309 is now available in the Philippines. The phones are the newest additions to the Asha Touch range and are Nokias most affordable capacitive touchscreen devices to-date. The single SIM Nokia Asha 309 gives consumers a smarter Internet experience thanks to Nokia Xpress Browser, which enables up to 90 percent more efcient mobile browsing and faster access to rich web applications compared to conventional browsers. This newest addition to the Nokia Asha Touch range allows users to enjoy a host of mobile entertainment options with just a simple swipe: Further, customers can enjoy a huge selection of free-to-download* game, including the exclusive-to-Nokia offer of 40 free* to download games from EA. Standalone Facebook and Twitter clients, in addition to the Nokia Messaging Service, allow consumers to stay in constant contact. For the rst time within the Asha Touch range, users can stream video through the browser from sites like YouTube The new Nokia Nearby web app helps people discover new places and things to do, by searching nearby locations and
Are we nearing the end of the daily deals?

By Ed Biado
ONCE touted as one of the most promising web-based start-ups, Groupon is now just another ailing, if not failing, company that is speculated to go bankrupt if things dont pick up. As an investor favorite from last years consumer-dotcom IPO boom, the future looked bright for Groupon. But its share prices have since been going down by as much as 80 percent due to what Wall Street analysts believe as the result of a declining growth rate. LivingSocial, Groupons biggest competitor in the deal-a-day space, is likewise experiencing difculties. For the rst three quarters of 2012, the company, partly owned by Amazon.com, saw a 123-percent in sales but its net loss rose by 34 percent to upwards of $500 million. A form of social shopping, the deal-a-day group-buying method is compelling for shoppers because of the massive discounts, typically 50 percent off and up. But that poses a huge problem for merchants. Consider a product that regularly retails for $100. Under a promotion, it would be sold at a discounted rate of $40 (for a 60-percent markdown). Then, that amount is split, reportedly 50-50, between the merchant and the host website, leaving the former to be left with $20one-fth of the original price. Heavier discounts, more excited customers. But less interested merchants, and, ergo, less customers. Time.com reports that the daily-coupon model is slowly dying and isnt expected to be resuscitated by the holiday shopping season because small businesses that used to be excited about the prospect are starting to shy away from the e-marketing strategy. A recent poll found that four out of ve vendors have not, and will not, run promotions with Groupon or [similar] sites this year. A separate survey indicated that 32 percent of partner-merchants lost money during their promotions while 39 percent believe that the coupons were less effective than their own marketing campaigns. In April, another study said that, while 48 percent of daily-deal customers continue to use the service just as much as they did when they rst signed up, 32 percent dont. In the Philippines, Groupon is run by local afliate Beeconomic at www.beeconomic.com. ph while LivingSocial operates under the regional Ensogo mark at www.ensogo.com.ph.
reviewing the options on a map The new devices also support Nokia Life+, a fun and engaging free Web app designed for youth to more easily discover content on developing life skills and living healthy The Nokia Asha 309 is a 2Genabled device featuring a 3.0 WQVGA capacitive display, multiple home screens, stereo radio, loud speakers and up to 32GB microSD card support. Boasting a great battery life, the Nokia Asha 309 comes in both black and white. Our innovative Asha Touch family of devices is designed for people who want a great smartphone with lower running costs, said Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. The Nokia Asha 309 has a suggested retail price of P4,790 and is available in Nokia Stores nationwide. To know more about the Nokia Asha family you may visit www. nokia.com.ph
Get the perfect look for the season

FASHIONISTAS looking for staples to fill up their closet should definitely drop by Cotton On, now open at Lucky Chinatown in Binondo. This Aussie fashion brand defines casual chic. Cotton On has a volume of fashion basic items that anyone can use as base, finishing it off with some fashion pieces that complete ones effortlessly cool look. Some of the Cotton On brands available at Lucky Chinatown include leading fast fashion brand Cotton On, intimates, sleepwear and active wear Cotton On Body; footwear and accessory brand Rubi Shoes, and gifts and stationery brand Typo. The variety of items makes it easy to put together a great look from head to toe. Guests at the opening of the Lucky Chinatown branch not only got their fill of great looks but also got fantastic bargains as they were given P500 discount coupons in angpao. Enjoying music from Deuce Manila, they also got free hopia with every purchase. This holiday season, shoppers can look forward to inferred winter items for the cool December breeze, including A-line dresses for ladies, and fashionable fleece perfect for holiday parties. For endless fashion possibilities, check out Cotton On located at the ground floor of Lucky Chinatown. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Marlon Magtira, Editor

email: tech@mst.ph
ManilaStandardToday
Tech
ManilaStandardTODAY
C3
DESPITE PC SLUMP
Windows 8 selling well

the latest version of its Windows operating system is off to a great start, but its going to take more than that to prove the revamped software will win over enough people to revive the slumping personal computer market.
About 40 million licenses to Windows 8 were sold in its first month on the market, according to figures that Microsoft released in conjunction with the companys annual shareholder meeting held near its Redmond, Wash., headquarters. While that number may look impressive, its difficult to know what it means without more insights into how many Windows 8 devices have been sold in stores, said technology industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. Thats because PC manufacturers pay for most Windows 8 machines, leaving it unclear how many have been purchased by consumers, companies and government agencies. Microsoft didnt provide further details beyond saying that Windows 8 is being embraced by a list of companies that include Johnson & Johnson, British Telecom and Bank of America Corp. The initial reception to Windows 8 appears to be good, but not great, Moorhead said. Is this going to be enough to turn around the PC market? No. Another analyst, Rick Sherlund of Nomura Securities, said he thinks its going to take longer than he initially expected for Windows 8 to make a significant difference in a computing market that is moving away from desktop and laptop PCs and tilting toward smartphones and tablet computers. Microsoft built Windows 8 to enable people to control their PCs by touching on the display screen, just like mobile devices. A similar operating
SAN FRANCISCOMicrosoft believes
Windows 8 makes a signicant difference as the market moves away from desktop and laptop PCs - Analysts.
system called Windows RT is running on a tablet called Surface that Microsoft created to compete against Apple Inc.s popular iPad and similar devices designed by Google Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. Sherlund, though, said other manufacturers arent introducing Windows 8 devices
that highlight the softwares touch-control features as quickly as he expected. Whats more, Nomura Securities projects sales of traditional PCs in the fourth quarter to decline by 7 percent from the same time last year. Another research firm, HIS iSuppli, already has predicted that this
year will mark the first time annual sales of PCs will have fallen from the previous year since 2001. In a research note issued Wednesday, Sherlund underscored his more sedate outlook by lowering his financial forecast for Microsoft. The revision
trimmed his previous revenue estimate for Microsofts fiscal year ending in June by 3 percent, or $2.3 billion. Microsofts stock price gained 28 cents Wednesday to close at $27.36, leaving them slightly below where they stood before Windows 8s Oct. 26 release. AP
Hands-on: Googles Nexus 7 tablet

Text and photos by Kin Enriquez
I USUALLY have with me several electronic devices for different functions. Aside from an iPhone 4, I have a rst-gen iPad, a Samsung Galaxy S, and an iPod touch each having an overlapping purpose to ll. The smartphones are for calling and staying connected; the iPod for music and videos; and the tablet, as the main computing device for accessing websites, reading e-books, games, and blog updating. Surely, you can do that with a smartphone as well but the tablet has the advantage of having a larger screen and longer battery life. My iPad had lled that role very well, though it has started to show its age. I can no longer upgrade it to the latest iOS, which means some apps and video les wont run on it. At 1.5 pounds, I felt it is a tad heavy and not pocket friendly. I hope I can now put those tech peeves to rest, with the arrival of my new tablet: the Google Nexus 7 powered by Androids latest operating system, Jellybean 4.2. The following are my impressions following a couple of days using the device: Size is just about right, Goldilocks right. The 7-inch screen is perfect for one-handed operation such us while waiting for your next train, or while just lounging in the couch watching TV. The Nexus 7, manufactured by Asus, is light too at 340 grams, and the heft wont strain your wrist even if you hold it by one hand. The screen appears crisp, with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, which gives it a PPI count of 216. Not quite retina-class of the iPhone 5, but higher than the iPad Minis. Reading an e-book on the device is great. The devices quad-core 1.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 processor plus a gigabyte of RAM can run the most demanding apps without a glitch. Google Now, the voice-controlled personal assistant app, is simply amazing. Voice recognition is pretty sharp, and the speed by which it responds is remarkable. Try asking the Nexus 7 questions like weather in Manila or Barrack Obamas age and youll be amazed by how fast it returns a result. I like the two pull down menus that you can access on the screen. One is for notications (new messages, system notications, etc), while the other is for settings such as WiFi, screen rotation, brightness and airplane mode. Unlike iOS devices, the screen is customizable. You can install widgets like calendar and weather apps for quick updates. You can also use animated wallpapers, something not possible in iOS. According to Google, battery should last 300 hours on standby mode, or 8 hours of active use. For my usage, I recharge the Nexus at least once a day. F i l e management is easy. Simply plug the micro USB cable to a computer and just drag and drop. This is a welcome change, having to go through iTunes when managing content in my iOS devices. For frequent travelers and outdoor lovers, youll nd the built-in apps extra useful: Maps with turn-by-turn direction, Google Earth, Latitude, and GTalk. The 1.2 megapixel camera is adequate for video calling, either over Skype or Google+ Hangout. I wish they included a back camera, as Android 4.2 features Photosphere, enabling users to take 360degree photos that can be shared in Google+; although you will also have to download the dedicated Camera Launcher app for Nexus 7 to be able to take pictures. Perhaps Nexus 7 as a primary imaging device was never the intention, as implied by its designers decision to leave out a shortcut for launching the camera. The Nexus 7 provides several options to lock and unlock the device when not in use. You may opt to use passwords, PIN, slide pattern, or Face Unlock, which applies facial recognition in lieu of a passphrase. Unlike previous models of Android devices especially those running earlier versions of the OS, there is no more noticeable lag when swiping the Nexus 7. Googles Project Butter made signicant progress in this area, and swiping in new Android devices is now as smooth as that of an iOS device. Gesture typing is also included, where you simply glide your ngers over the keyboard to spell words. Nexus 7 predicts the word you intend to type and suggests words that you may use. While the system appears to be generally stable, there were instances where the
MST Techbytes
Pinoys app wins global challenge

A TEAM of mobile application developers from Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) bagged top honors in an international coding competition for creating an app that helps users manage events and meet-ups. The Events KIT app, available for free on Google Play, was declared the best Southeast Asian entry in the Social/Personal Productivity/Games/Fun category of the recent Google Apps Developer Challenge. The team is composed of software developers Rod Coronel and Charmane Santiago, and design specialist Eugene Gagolinan. They used Google APIs (application programming interface) such as Calendar, Drive, and Places to produce the app, which makes it more convenient for users to set events, share les with fellow event attendees, and see the current location of the people they are about to meet. Events KIT lets users see how far their friends are from the meet-up site. Events KIT also makes it easier for attendees to call, text, email, and chat with each other. Smart Senior Manager Edmon Joson, one of the mentors of the winning trio, noted that the team considered Filipinos love for social networking while working on their app. What makes Events KIT different from other events management apps is its social sharing capability. Event or meeting participants can upload photos, presentations, and other les to a shared folder on Google Drive, which can be accessed by all attendees, he said. The Smart developers spent more than a month to conceptualize and create Events KIT. The app was declared the challenge winner after two rounds of scoring by judges selected by Google. The team received $20,000 and three Chromebooks. At rst we didnt even know there was a $20,000 prize. The money wasnt really a motivation. We just wanted to show the world what Filipino developers can do. We also wanted to create an app that people will enjoy using, Gagolinan said. This is a victory not only for the team, but for the country as well. They are one of two Filipino groups that won in the competition. Their achievements highlight the capability of Filipino developers to produce world-class apps that are relevant to the lives of ordinary Filipinos, said Michael Padua, Smart Department Head for Internet Product Management. For their part, the winning developers expressed their appreciation for the support they got from Smart. We want to thank the Smart Developer Network (Smart DevNet) for encouraging us to join this competition, and our bosses at Smart for cheering us on through the late nights and working weekends, Coronel said. Smart developer evangelist Paul Pajo said Smart developers are constantly being encouraged to become active players in the Android developer community. They are urged to carve some time out of their busy schedule to stay updated with whats happening in the community, he said. Smart, through its developer community Smart DevNet, provided sponsorship and assistance to the Philippine legs of the international competition organized by local Google Developer Groups (GDG).
device froze up, requiring a reboot. The absence of a memory expansion slot is also a turn off as the 16 GB (actually more like 13 GB available to user) memory is a bit limiting. Some Google Play contents are not available due to geographic restrictions. Philippines users wont be able to install the Google Play Books app, as well as the Google Play Movies and TV app. All in all I am very satised with the device. It is light, speedy, and just about the right size. It is also inexpensive, relatively. The 16GB version costs $199, about half the price of an iPad mini, but comes with better specs too. I liked it so much that I am nally ditching my iPad. tech.mst.ph
Specs: 16 GB storage Android OS 4.2 (Jellybean) WiFi b/g/n Hi-denition 1280x800 7 screen 1.2 megapixel front camera Quad-core 1.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 1 GB RAM and 416 MHz ULP GeForce GPU Sensors: GPS, accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope and NFC (near-eld communications) weight: 340 grams size: 198.5x120x10.45mm battery: 4325 mAh Price: $199 for the 16GB + shipping at the Google Play store (currently not available in PH, but Asus will soon sell the 32 GB version locally. Also available, 32 GB model (WiFi only) and 32 GB WiFi + HSPA.
C4

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2012 Isah V. Red, Editor standard.showbiz@gmail.com
showbitz
In her major solo concert, she will have production numA fan gets her early Christmas gift when she comes face to face with her idol and one of the most handsome faces in
Going, going, gone

SINILOAN, Laguna-born lmmaker Celso Ad(olfo) Castillo called it a wrap last Monday morning. He had been battling lung cancer, and he succumbed to cardiac arrest at his home in Siniloan. He turned 69 on Sept. 12
ISAH V. RED
Da a wrap! Kid calls it
Ate Gay as Marilyn Monroe
SIMPLY RED
Castillo, once a prolic movie director, left an unnished work in his mind Ang Lalaking Nangarap na Maging Nora Aunor, which according to his rst-born Christoper Ad Castillo, now base in the US, would have been his swan song. Castillo, adds Christopher in an open letter about his father he posted in his Facebook account, Film was his family. Film was his life. And we are all the better for it. The director joined his family in the US, but eventually returned home, a decision difcult both for the director and his family. But I guess he was happier in the Philippines, just like the tourism slogan, even if he knew his life would be cut short by his ailment. Now, the Philippines rst truly independent and renegade lmmaker, who made me wonder how he could be so deeply absorbed in images no
other Filipino directors can imagine in movies like Asedillo (1971), Madugong Daigdig ni Salvacion (1975), Burlesque Queen (1977), and Isla (1983) had called it a wrap. Many in the industry who knew him as a director are deeply mourning his passing. The Messiah of the local cinema has gone. May he nd more beautiful images wherever he is now. Goodbye, Da Kid. You are gone, but your spirit remains with us. Thank you for the lms that allowed us to see who you really were.
Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
After a self-imposed hiatus to focus in the now one-year old Nate, Regine Velasquez has proven, once again, that she can still amaze us with her jam-packed 25th anniversary concert, Silver. But, it did not become easy for Regine. Apart from a bacterial infection that affected her voice during her concert, something was bothering her that she nearly called her performance off. And that was her post partum weight plateau battle. Hinintay pa nilang mas pumayat ako. Regine says in one interview, when asked why her 25th Anniversary concert (which was supposedly held last year) got postponed and was moved to 2012. After giving birth, Regine had a 37.2-inch abdomen measurement. Sharing same thoughts with most women who have just given birth. Yet, Regine would do anything to lose weight and get her old gure back. She enrolled in different diet programs. Although she lost pounds, she noticed that she just stopped losing weight. Her body reached its plateau. She decide to try Sexy Solutions and take the Anti-Plateau Diet. It helped Regine lose pounds. The diet, formulated by US Certied Fitness Nutritionist, Nadine Tengco, contains Anti-inammatory properties that ght the plateau, promote weight loss and believe it or not, gives a person a youthful glow as well. What made Regine get her smallest 29-inch abdomen measurement is the perfect combination of Sexy Solutions treatments which starts at P2,500 plus the Anti-plateau diet. It is the only diet that compliments radio frequency treatments, so the effect is Maximum. Regine regularly visits the Sexy Solutions IL Terrazzo, Tomas Morato branch for treatments and consultation. She also orders her Antiplateau diet food from The Sexy Chef which is convenient for a busy bee like her. Call 810-SEXY (7399) to know more of Sexy Solutions
Regines life after the concert
bers that will delight everyone who will come to watch. She adds, Ganyan pala magprepare for a major major concert. Kailanganmo mag-dance workshop, ang dami daming kailangan pag-aralan na mga kanta. Bago lahat ng kakantahin ko and pati mga mash-ups ko. Pinag-igihan ko ito. Dapat abangan din ng mga manunuod ang opening production number ko, kaya wag sila male-late kasi buwis buhay yan. Ako Naman...Ate Gay sa Arena is a production of Thats Ntertainment Productions with Philip Lazaro and Andrew de Real as directors. Ate Gays guest are The CompanY, Aiza Seguerra, Aegis, Anton Diva, Allan K and the Talentadings, X-Factor, John Sweet Lapus, SexBomb; and Nora Aunor.
show business. Capture her delight and excitement as Ricky plays Santa and delivers Jake Vargas on her doorstep. Two debonair male models, Kent Malunda and Geoff Taylor, sample the Make Over Magic.
Multi-awarded director Celso Ad Castillo
Gandang Ricky Reyes pre-holiday show

Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo Na Toh features famous Metro Manila cities with colorful and festive preparations. Ricky interviews meat processing expert Lourdes Santos Rivera who shows audience how to cook three kinds of the Noche Buena favorite ham. For a change. It is a delightful experience when you serve home cooked dishes and delicacies on the table instead of merely ordering it from restaurants or caterers, says Reyes.
branches and services. After Regine broke her plateau, she took one more ultimate move to hit that target gure for her concert. Regine underwent the Ultimate Sexy Solutions Program. Its a three to ve-day program that can make one lose as much as 10 lbs. in just three or ve days. The program consists drinks formulated by Nadine Tengco and salads catered by Cravings combined with Sexy Solutions treatments. This is perfect for those who are eyeing a specic weightloss and inches-off target with only limited time to prepare, just like Regine for her concert. During the concert, the Songbirds condence and drive despite her being sick was obvious. Especially every time she comes out in her different costumes which perfectly t her and emphasized her ultimately amazing new gure. Now that her plateau battle with the bulge is over, and she was able to hit that ultimate goal for her weight, she is denitely back to wow us again with what shes got!
Ricky Reyes
Listen to Gary Santiago and nd out how his blood allergy was cured by taking MX3 capsule, tea and coffee extracted from Garcinia Mangostana. GRR-TNT every Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning on GMANews TV.
Mash-up Queen Ate Gay (Gil Morales in real life) is all set for tonights concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. Kinakabahan ng nga ako kasi magkasunod kami ni JLo sa venue. Though isang malaking karangalan sa akin na mag-perform sa Arena kasama ko mga idolo ko sa industriya. Sobra lang ako natutuwa sa nangyayari sa akin at nagugulat, says Ate Gay.
Ate Gay concert at MOA Arena
Von Trapp childrens
People
are talking about
Nora Aunor The recent accolade she received in Australia is not surprising at all. People know Ate Guys caliber as an actor. Her intelligent and impeccable acting is still unmatched to this day hence had they cast a different star in the lm Thy Womb, sure it would have been an entirely different movie. Rachelle Ann Go Unlike the other local singers who auditioned to be part of the re-staging of the celebrated West End musical, Miss Saigon, the Kapuso star has strong chances to become the next Kim since shes one of the chosen few who were given a call back slip. Some say
shes one lucky girl, we say shes Magdayao. Arent they tired of talented. these publicity stunts? They dont work to begin with. Miriam Defensor In an ambush interview after the Magpakailanman In an effort to win back viewers JLo Manila concert early this week, the senator who had a VIP ticket of real life drama, GMA Network expressed her disappointment over revives the weekly anthology hosted the RnB stars performance. Many by news reader, Mel Tiangco. The disagreed especially those who are die- program does not generate much hard fans of JLo. But why question buzz, no wonder its pilot episode is Miriams sophisticated taste? She a big op. Reviving the show seems knows the difference between great a bad idea, dont you think? music and the crappy ones. AiAi delas Alas The 48-year-old comedienne has are not talking found her love on a man 20 years her about junior. Though the next chapter of their love affair is yet to be written Piolo Pascual we dont know why a lot of people The A-list Kapamilya star is the say their relationship wouldnt subject of all talks of late. First, a last. Probably theyll get married, video surfaced showing stills of him probably they wont, one thing is for and Maja Salvador smooching, sure, nobody is excited about Maythen here comes another issue December affairs as they dont last linking him romantically to Shaina anyway.
The Von Trapps coming to town

WE all love The Sound of Music, one of the most successful and most endearing lms of all times. The movie was based on the story of the real Von Trapp family of Austria. Without them, there could have been no Sound of Music lm that was so much loved until now by moviegoers all over the world. The movie is the story about widower Baron George Ritter von Trapp who needed a governess for one of his seven children, Maria, who was sickly and suffering from rheumatic fever. The Baron, who was a retired captain in the Austrian Navy, sought the help of the Reverend Mother of the Abbey and she sent Maria to the von Trapp family who were living in a beautiful country house in Aigen, in the outskirts of Salburg. It was Marias account of her stint as governess of the Von Trapp children that she wrote into a book that became the basis of The Sound of Music. The book, entitled The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, which sold very well and the lm rights were sold to a German producer. And now, the good news is: The great grandchildren of Baron George Ritter von Trapp and his rst wife Agathe von Trapp, whose life story was the basis of The Sound of Music, are coming to town for a series of performances. They are Justin, Amanda, Melanie and Soa. The quartet, formed as JAMS (from their initials) but is commonly known as The Von Trapp Children, is being brought to Manila by Steve ONeal Productions and will be performing on Dec. 5 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila; on Dec. 6 at Waterfront Cebu and on Dec. 8 at Music Museum.
Christmas Home and Away

D1
wherever
you are
by Ed Biado
Taking Christmas with you,
FOR Filipinos, Christmas is a time for togetherness. But situations arent always ideal and some have to spend the holidays away from home. It could be your mom whos in a foreign land. Or it could be your son whos only 30 minutes away, but will have to work on December 25. Or it could be your uncle who will be on a business trip. Or it could be you.
However, unlike the time before smartphones, Wi-Fi and the increasingly-pervasive Internet, being close to the ones you love can be achieved even if youre not physically there. Sure, nothing compares to the fun and warmth of being home, but distance and time difference are no longer reasons for anyone to be aloneand lonelyon Christmas. While some cant make it to the dinner table because of circumstances such as work and unforeseen events, others are choosing to not be there at all. In fact, many people are starting new Christmas traditions that dont include staying at home or going to family gatherings. For a change, they say. And change can be a very good thing. Because of the high demands of work, these people see the holidays as the time to slow down and take their stress levels down a few notches. There are married couples who will take out-of-the-country holidays and groups of friends who will go on road trips and cruises for an out-of-the-ordinary Yuletide experience. Some dream of a white Christmas and will be making that dream a reality by going somewhere theres snow. Others will be indulging in a summer-in-December scenario by being in Boracay for something just as white. Except, in this case, its sand, not snow. The end of the year is a great time to do something different in places far away from home because its when there are a lot of nonworking holidays. A few companies, like those in the advertising industry, for example, will be on hiatus the entire season, some as early as Dec. 22 all through the New Year. This gives employees the opportunity to go on extended vacations and decompress before going back to the ofce next year. Since it coincides with the academic Christmas break, children can join their parents for the getaway. Its also the time to max out your leave credits, so even if your company isnt offering additional holidays aside from those provided by law (Christmas Day, Rizal Day and New Years Day), taking a few days off will connect those days into one long muchneeded holiday. Yes, traditional practices during the holidays have a special place in our hearts. After all, these have been passed on from one generation to the next, just like beloved family recipes and heirlooms. But there is always room for new traditions in every household. The important thing is we continue to remember, respect and honor what Christmas is all about. Wherever you are, the spirit of kindness, of giving, of sharing and of love should always be with you. And that means that your alternative holiday activity has to be festive, merry and joyous. From something as simple as a twist on a favorite holiday dish to something unique like unexpected gifts and creative decorating ideas; whether its a staycation at a hotel in the city or a full-on vacation a plane ride away; this Christmas supplement will take you through different nontraditional traditions that you can start for your family, for your group of friends functioning as your surrogate family and for yourself.
Most Filipinos can only dream of a White Christmas
Taking a restful vacation is sometimes a better alternative to a stressful Christmas reunion

D2
Hotel holiday
promos
By Bernadette Lunas TRADITIONALLY, Christmas in the Philippines means a celebration together with your family, over meals you prepared, and at the comforts of your home adorned with simple decors for the holiday or a well-thought theme you really worked hard on assembling. While spending the Yuletide season at your living place could mean warmth and comfort, and the mere fact of preparing the food and decorating the house could be a way families can bond, the stress of all the preparation can be extremely tiring that it will suck all of ones energy to actually have fun. Aside from the inevitable holiday stress an individual may want to avoid, there are also those who have no choice but to be away from home due to work or other important reasons. When any of these is the case, others are considering hotel staycation where everythings covered and all they are required to do is enjoy, relax, and pay the bills. Celebrate this festive season at the countrys premier hotels offering holiday-perfect Short tin can room packages, plus gift ideas you can inspired by get for yourself or for your loved ones. The NutBecause when you cant or dont want cracker to celebrate the Christmas at your house, you can make these places your home.
Tall tin can
Making you feel at home:
Further, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Manila Galleria is feeling a little generous as they are including buffet breakfast for two persons, 20 percent food and beverage discount at their restaurants, two discount vouchers from their lifestyle partners in Robinsons Galleria, complimentary Internet, late check-out until 4:00 PM (subject to room availability), and Priority Club rewards points. To make the season truly enjoyable for kids, they are also adding two complimentary tickets for one child and one adult to the 2nd IHG Little Chefs Fair on December 29, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Crowne Plaza. And for the New Years Eve celebration, everyone is invited to head off to Bar One for the much-awaited countdown party. Spend the holidays in a relaxing private retreat and indulge in a Christmas feast on December 24-25, as Seven Corners offers an assortment of spice-crusted rib eye, chuck eye roll and ham accompanied with a Christmas collection of festive desserts. Menawhile, wish for prosperity and abundance at Xin Tian Di as it includes the divine Abalone Dim Sum and uniquely flavored buchi in its Christmas set menu. And for the whole month of December, Agenda coffee shop is offering several Christmas sweet treats which include Pistachio Opera Cake, Macadamia Nut Cake and Double White Chocolate.
Throw a party sans the fuss
Reliving the Nutcracker

This season, enter into the world of magic and fantasy as one of the country's ve-star hotels takes inspiration from The Nutcracker, one of the well-loved Christmas fairytales of all time. The Manila Hotel invites everyone to experience this holiday celebration with your loved ones. For the entire month of December, experience the warmth of home with Manila Hotels room packages through a host of exclusive privileges including accommodation in its luxurious suites, Christmas buffets, complimentary shuttle service to different tourist areas, and gifts for the kids. For a more exciting Manila Hotel holiday, guests who will get the specially marked The Nutcracker room ving cards upon check-in will get a special prize. Also, whoever nds the hidden The Nutcracker card in the room will also receive a gift from Manila Hotel. Gather the family round the table as grand feasts of traditional favorites will be served. Diners at Caf Ilang-Ilang are in for a grand feast as Manila Hotel executive chef Konrad Walter prepares an exciting selection of traditional holiday and the hotels favorites for Christmas Eve and Day buffets for P2,500++ per person only. Also, enjoy puto bumbong, bibingka, and hot chocolate offered from P1,000++ per person
from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Meanwhile, guests can treat their taste buds with authentic Cantonese specialties right at the Mabuhay Palace. A Traditional Yuletide Delights Set Menus will be offered from December 12 to 25, 2012 with price starts at P1,300++ per person. For a sophisticated dining experience, the Champagne Room is offering impressive French cuisines t for the festivity. While Christmas Eve Dinner Set Menu with choice Cote du Boeuf or Roast Lamb will be offered with a glass of sparkling wine. A special lunch set menu will also be offered on Christmas and New Years Day. And while youre staying in, get the perfect gifts for your loved ones in the Land of Sweets Gift collection available at the Deli. Nutcracker-inspired cocktails are also available at the Taproom and Lobby Lounge that will denitely set the celebratory mood.
The Music Bar Lounge
When hosting a party could mean extreme holiday stress, celebrating in a venue that will take care of all your needs becomes the number one alternative. Throughout December, The Music Bar at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila is throwing the ultimate year-end party with exciting Christmas packages that make a great option for ofce get-togethers, reunions and family gatherings. Whether a lavish event or an intimate affair, The Music Bars Christmas party packages are ideal for groups of 10 to 40 people and include a wide selection of tempting menus, plus a round of alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages. Guests can enjoy an assortment of delicious comfort foods including spicy pork barbecue spareribs, deep fried chicken llet and steak fries, pizza, noodles, CaliNext page
Cookie jar from the Manila Hotel
A holiday escape for all ages

When thinking about the enjoyment of the entire family, with activities available for the kids and kids-at-heart alike, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Manila Galleria are there to cater to the guests concerns and turn that holiday escape a worth it choice. If you are looking for warm spacious accommodations, festive dining, holiday activities t for everyone, and personal service, you can nd it right at these hotels from 1st of December until the 2nd of January next year, plus get up to 30 percent discount during this period on their best available rate. Xin Tian Di Restaurant
THE RUSH IS ON FOR TATTOO BLACK!
THE wait is over. After the jaw-dropping launch of Tattoo Black, described as the future of broadband technology, Makati residents are now rushing to grab their own Tattoo Black devices, powered by the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology of Globe that boasts of the fastest speeds and premium service. Pumping up the excitement even more, Tattoo Black is giving away exclusive VIP passes to the hottest parties featuring world-class DJs such as R3hab, Porter Robinson and Grammy-nominated DJ record-producer Dirty South for every Tattoo Black subscription. Tattoo Black is the best in its class. Nothing comes close to the speed and premium service that it offers. Tattoo Black deserves a celebration that features equally world class acts such as these internationally-renowned DJs who rock the international party
scenes, explains Dong Ronquillo, Head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband. Subscribers may choose from two plans to experience the speed and premium service of Tattoo Black. Plan 1799 comes with a free Tattoo LTE stick that runs to speeds of up to 28 Mbps. It also comes with a dedicated hotline, priority servicing in stores and a host of perks and privileges. Depending on the subscrib-
ers lifestyle, Plan 1799 is upgradeable in terms of speed, device and service. Plan 2499 is Tattoo Blacks complete LTE offer that comes with a Tattoo LTE Superstick, a WiFi sharing device for up to five devices with base speed of up to 42 Mbps. Elite Premium Services await Tattoo Black 2499 subscribers. They will have their own Relationship manager, dedicated hotline, priority servicing in Globe stores, personal concierge, perks and privileges, priority reservation on Globe/ Tattoo devices and exclusive access to Tattoo events. As part of its exclusive treat, new Tattoo Black Plan 1799 subscribers get 2 tickets to the sizzling December 5 Republiq parties of top international DJs R3Hab, one of the proponents of the modern dutch house subgenre and Porter Robinson, a cult sensation for his chart-topping electrohouse mixes. Tattoo Black Plan 2499 subscribers get 2 tickets each for both the R3Hab and Porter Robinson gigs and the December 19 Republiq party of Australias hottest DJ/ remixer and re-
cord producer Dirty South capping the year in the most spectacular beats and the hippest parties Tattoo is known for. Tattoo Black boasts of the fastest speed and comes with unparalleled customer service. Fired up by Tattoo, the back-to-back recipient of the prestigious Frost & Sullivan award as the Philippines Broadband Service Provider of the Year for 2011 and 2012, Tattoo Black completely redenes the subscribers broadband experience. Tattoo Black is initially available at the Globe stores in Rockwell, Greenbelt 4, Ayala Triangle, SM Makati and Glorietta 3. Key commercial and residential areas in Makati are the rst to enjoy the speed and reliability of Globe 4G LTE. Be among the rst to experience the fastest speed and premium service of Tattoo Black and get the ultimate party experience with a roster of international DJs . Subscribe to Tattoo Black now by visiting www.tattoo.globe. com.ph or the Globe stores in Rockwell, Greenbelt 4, Ayala Triangle, SM Makati and Glorietta 3.

D3
From D2
fornia Maki, beef nachos and a seafood basket of calamari, sh and prawns, to name just a few. A music and entertainment venue that is sure to impress, The Music Bar offers seven private music pods to choose from, each with a unique design suited to fit any party theme imaginable. Book a party package Music Pod at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila now and enjoy four hours complimentary use of a music pod. Equipped with a state-of-the-art karaoke system, infrared wireless microphones, intelligent lights and a 100-inch electronic projector screen for a mini-theatre feel, this place is perfect for those who dream of partying Dusit Thani Manilas Christmas Hamper priced at PhP2,500 net like a rock star this Christmas.
curry paste and a bottle of red wine. Meanwhile, if you want to make it extra special, the Royal Dusit Hamper is available at P4,200 net. This is inclusive of homemade fruitcake and stollen, organic cereal, organic honey from Abra, Fruit Gardens Luxury Jam collection and apricot syrup in glass jar. Imported gourmet items comprise of Thai green curry paste, Cirio olive oil and black spaghetti from Casa Rinaldi. Refreshments include a box of Ronnefeldt tea and a bottle of red wine. If youre ready to celebrate this Christmas AWAY and make this season special for your loved ones and for yourself, you may call 527-011 (Manila Hotel); 633-7222 (Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria); 633-7111 (Holiday Inn Manila Galleria); 247-8666 or 245-1234 ext. 7291 (Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila); 0917-834-1269 (Matabungkay Beach Hotel); and 238-8888 ext. 8472 (Dusit Thani Manila).
Hamper of goodies
Holiday respite outside the metro

If youre in Batangas or wants to go there, you may opt to spend the holiday break with families and friends at Matabungkay Beach Hotel in Lian. Take an off from the frenzied holiday shopping and preparations in the city with its relaxing holiday room offer until December 31. Enjoy the company of loved ones in a more quiet and intimate Yuletide gettogether as the hotel offers a Yuletide rate of P3,100 for two persons, which includes an overnight stay in a deluxe room, set breakfast, welcome drinks, a Filipino merienda, and access to all facilities. Additional person will only have to pay P1,100 to enjoy the same privileges.
EDSA Shangri-La, Manila recently held an Edsa Express-themed grand tree lighting ceremony at the hotels Lobby Lounge to usher in the Holiday Season. The classic childrens Christmas tale by Chris Van Allsburg entitled Polar Express serve as inspiration for the hotels decorations as well as rooms, dining and spa holiday offerings. Led by the hotels general manager Henry Lee and Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos, Jr., Edsa Shangri-La, Manila counted down to the lighting of the 20-foot tall Christmas tree together with over 100 children from the hotels beneciarythe Isla de Cocomo Day Care Center from
Barangay Mauway, Mandaluyong City. This years enchanting Christmas tree, decorations and ornaments were masterfully created by event stylist extraordinaire Mr. Tony Rodriguez, who has transformed the hotels lobby and hallways to reect Christmas in its winter splendor. A lifesized Christmas village, trains, Christmas stockings, snow globes, colorful toy carts, choice fabrics and designs adorn the hotel lobby for a more festive atmosphere The mini houses that comprise the Christmas Village, located at the hotel lobby, offer guests with diverse gift options and other Christmas treats, perfect for any last minute shopping needs. .
Personalized giveaways
When store-bought gifts become too generic, why not try to create one that you are sure will be enjoyed by your loved ones? Dusit Thani Manila will help everyone fulll his family and friends wish lists with heavenly cakes, pastries, goodies and much more that you can personally choose. Add a personal touch to your presents by adding your selection of highquality goods to Dusit Gourmets ready-made Christmas Hamper editions lled with savory treats, imported gourmet items and ne wines. Presented in a decorative chest, this years hampers are real treasures for anyone to receive. Priced at P2,500 net, the Dusit Hamper features these classic delectable items: Fruit Gardens Luxury Jam collection, apricot syrup in glass jar, homemade stollen and fruitcake, organic cereal, Waterthins Cheese Twist, Thai green CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

D4
communication technologies
New make the world smaller
By Dinna Chan Vasquez
In the 1970s, when Filipino engineers and workers started going to Saudi Arabia to look for their fortune there, the families that were left behind had to be ingenious in making sure that communiFacebook
cation lines were never closed. Thus was born the voice tape, a Filipino invention of sorts. The family would insert a cassette tape into a recorder and everyone would give a message to their loved one abroad. The tape would then be sent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via snail
Apple has FaceTime
mail or through a friend who also works there. Other forms of communication would be operator-assisted calls (this was before there were mobile phones) and snail mail. We didnt have a landline at home at the time (this was the 1980s) so every 5th of the month, we would go to my aunts house and my father would call us there. The call would just have to be three minutes because thats all he could afford, says Elena, whose father, an engineer, worked in Saudi Arabia for over 20 years. When her father would come home, Elena and her siblings saw him as a generous stranger. They knew he was their father but they didnt really know him. Whatever they knew about him was condensed in those voice tapes and threeminute phone calls. But that didnt affect the way we looked at him as our father. Maybe when we were young, we were aloof toward him. But when we became teenagers, we really began to appreciate how much he sacriced for us. I just wish that we had the conveniences of modern technology then so we could have communicated with him more, says Elena. In todays wired world, your loved one working abroad is just a text message or even a tweet away. A few years ago, migrant workers stationed abroad and their families would communicate via Yahoo Messenger, which allows you to chat in real time with someone thousands of miles away.
After Yahoo Messenger came Skype, which was even better, depending on the speed of your Internet connection. From anywhere in the world, you can make unlimited and totally free calls to anyone in the world provided that person is using Skype too. You could Skype everywhere so family members dont have to stay home just to be able to take a call. Facebook also helps families communicate with each other without delays. The social networking site also serves as a photo album of sorts. The family member abroad gets to see what his wife and kids are up to complete with pictures and comments. Smartphones have really helped families of migrant workers, says Claudia, whose husband is in Dubai. This allows me to communicate with my husband wherever I am. My aunts and uncles tell me that in the old days, wives like me would need to stay at home to wait for a call. Because of this, I really consider myself very lucky. Of course, there are days when Claudia wishes that her husband wasnt an OFW. My kids are all boys, so they are a bit difcult to discipline sometimes so I need to call my husband to talk to them. But I tell myself that at least, he is just a call away, she shares. Yahoo Messenger, Skype and Facebook are not the only communication platforms using the Internet. There are Twitter, Viber and Whats App and for Apple users, FaceTime. Nothing can substitute a hug from the person you love who lives in another country. But a tweet and a message on Whats App isnt too bad either. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
D5
Different folks, different strokes:
The many kinds of Christmas gift-giving and shopping styles

By Ed Biado DO you plan to hand out gift certicates, or worse, electronic gift cards, to every member of your family this Christmas? If so, that makes you a Practical Giver. The reasons for being a Practical Giver are plenty. Contrary to popular belief, its not only because the giftgiver is unimaginative or cant be bothered to spend some time to purchase individual gifts. Sure, time constraint can be a factor, but most Practical Givers choose seemingly impersonal items like gift cards or money because they either honestly dont know what to buy or believe that leaving the choice up to the ones on the receiving end is more appreciated. On the ip side, if youre getting highly personalized gifts for everyone based on their respective personalities, needs and wants, it means youre a Bespoke Giver. This person pays attention to the details and picks up subtle cues from the people she cares about, leading her to make informed decisions when purchasing gifts. Meanwhile, the Selective Giver only gives gifts to a few people, usually in a secretive manner. At a Christmas party, she will discreetly pull her recipients aside one by one and give them their gifts in private. The good thing is that, due to a short gift list, most Selective Givers are Bespoke Givers. A completely different point of view comes from the Inclusive Giver, who makes sure that everyone gets something, even if its just a small token. Inclusive Givers are usually Practical Givers as well. Then, theres the Traditional Giver. Shes not really a traditionalist in the sense that she only gives out holidaythemed sweaters and socks. Instead, because you were jumping up and down a decade ago when she gave you a C-P3O, shes been giving you Star Wars action
Continued on D8
Gift giving is not supposed to be a chore
Globe drops pricing for Samsung Galaxy Note II, now available for as low as P1699 monthly
Postpaid leader Globe Telecom has cut pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Note II, making the revolutionary device more affordable with lowered monthly cash-outs at Unli Surf Plans 999 and 1799. For as low as P1699 monthly, users can avail of the Samsung Galaxy Note II under Unli Surf Plan 999 with P700* monthly cashout, previously P800, for 24 months. The postpaid plan comes with unlimited data for uninterrupted and worry-free mobile surfing and one (1) call and text freebie.** At P1,999 monthly also for 24 months, subscribers can enjoy the Samsung Galaxy Note II with unlimited data, additional P800 monthly consumable for calls and texts, and 3 call and text freebies that are changeable monthly at Unli Surf Plan 1799 with monthly cashout of P200*, previously P250. Users who want to avail of Samsungs newest smartphonecum-tablet for free can subscribe to Unli Surf Plan 2499 with a shorter lock-up period of 24 months, better and more affordable than competitors 30-month lock-up period. The Globe postpaid plan comes with unlimited data, P1,500 monthly consumable for calls and texts, and 5 call and text freebies that are changeable monthly. Globe has always been a proud partner of Samsung as we bring its latest smartphones and devices to our subscribers under our suite of personalized and fully-customizable data plans. Now, we welcome a new addition to Samsungs roster of handsets, the revolutionary Samsung Galaxy Note II, which we offer at various plans and price points at shorter lock-up periods, backed by an upgraded Globe network made stronger and more reliable, said Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid. Sazon added, What better way to fully enjoy the exciting features of this amazing phone than to pair it with a Globe unlimited data plan that you can customize based on your
Tattoo heats up the tablet revolution with the Tattoo Mediapad for only P7,800
OWNING your very own hot tablet is now made easier with the Tattoo Mediapad at only P7,800 when you subscribe to a Tattoo Personalized Plan 999. As an exclusive Tattoo offer, the 7,800 cost of the Tattoo Mediapad may be paid in 3 monthly installments at 0% interest. The Tattoo Mediapad is one of the hottest tablets right now. It boasts of an outstanding display and is a perfect handy gadget for games and entertainment. Dong Ronquillo, Head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband, explains. The Tattoo Mediapad was originally offered at P10,990 bundled with a Tattoo Personalized Plan 999 and as an early Christmas gift, Tattoo is now making it available to more people at P3,000 less than the original cost. This is Tattoos way of giving back to our loyal subscribers by providing them with incredible value-for-money offers. We would also like to share the Tattoo Mediapad to as many people as possible because it is really packed with features and functions that would delight all users, Ronquillo adds. Running on Android 4.0 ICS with 1.2 GHZ Dual Core Processor, the 7 Tattoo Mediapad has a 1.3 megapixels front camera and a 5 megapixels rear camera, with 8 GB internal storage that has builtin support for micro SD expansion. The Tattoo Mediapad boasts of an outstanding display and has the highest PPI among 7 tablets in the market today. The Tattoo Mediapad also has a hotspot feature that allows users to share their wireless Internet connection with up to five other WiFi devices, Ronquillo adds. The Tattoo Mediapad has the exclusive Yozo Office app, an office-on-the go program that allows the user to view and edit worksheets, text documents and presentations. Businessmen and entrepreneurs who are always on the go would find this feature extremely useful, Ronquillo said. With this bundle, you get the best of both worlds. You get to own one of the hottest tablets in the market today plus you get to experience the best mobile broadband service that only Tattoo could provide, Ronquillo says. Tattoo is the first broadband service provider in the country to offer its own tablet in response to the global tablet frenzy with worldwide tablet sales hitting 56 million units in 2011. Subscribe to Tattoo Personalized Plan 999 and get your Tattoo Mediapad for only P7,800! To subscribe, visit tattoo.globe. com.ph or any Globe store near you.
needs complete with monthly consumable amounts for calls and texts, freebies you can change monthly, and unlimited boosters for the worry-free experience. And with the Globe Guarantee, subscribers are assured of no billshock, guaranteed 24/7 access to all our customer service channels as well after-sales support for our devices. Built with a mighty 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, 3100mAh battery, 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display and 16:9 screen ratio, the Samsung Galaxy Note II boasts of a stunning viewing experience with a larger display and slimmer body, an easy multitasking experience with its features such as the Air View, Quick Command, and Popup Note. Tickle your creative and expressive senses with the Easy Clip, Enhanced Handwriting, Photo Note features complete with enhanced S Pen and S Note tools. Make more of your ideas and bring them to life wherever you are with your Samsung Galaxy Note II paired with a Globe Unli Surf Plan, now offered at more affordable rates and shorter lockup periods, so you can create, inspire, and share your way as it happens. Order your Samsung Galaxy Note II from the leader in postpaid by visiting www.globe. com.ph/samsungnote2, calling the Globe Sales Hotline via tollfree number (02) 730-1010, or visiting a Globe Store nearest you now.
* Cashout amount payable with 0% 24-month installment payment via credit card ** Freebies include (A) 10-minute calls and 200 SMS to Globe/TM, (B) 5-minute calls and 25 SMS to other networks, (C) 20-minute IDD and 10 iSMS to 10 destinations and (D) unlimited calls and texts to 1 Globe/TM number.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK BLACK
CYAN
Donna (O)
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN
N MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
AN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

D8
gures every Christmas and, chances are, you can expect another one to add to your collection this season. And she does the same thing to everybodyyour uncle is still receiving tiki shirts from her. Every single year. Her opposite is known as the Creative Giver. This one mixes it up. You just never know what youll get from her because, one year, she monogrammed everyones initials onto bedsheets and, the next, she gave out homemade organic sauces. Remember that one time that she bought carbon footprint offsets for the whole family? Speaking of, a subset of the Creative Giver is the Do-Good Giver. Shes always looking for ways to help out and she uses the season of gift-giving by donating to charities. Instead of actual tangible gifts, the intended recipients get acknowledgment from charities that donations have been made in their name. There are a lot of other gift-giving personalities that people exhibit, not just
Different folks...From D5
Gift certicates make great gifts
the seven types above. Most of us are a combination of two or three kinds. In fact, there are those whose gifting identity changes every year due to a variety of conditions, like budget, time, willingness, disposition and motivation. And we also have different ways of shopping for those gifts, also dependent on our personal circumstances. Here are nine popular styles: The Strategic Shopper obviously has a wellconceived strategy in play, which could be to take advantage of sales and discounts all year long and/ or spread out the expenses over a period of time, like getting one item every time she visits the mall. She doesnt stress holiday shopping, but takes it very seriously. Impulse is not in her vocabulary. Planning, on the other hand, certainly is. A less anal version of the Strategic Shopper is the Early Shopper. This person knows that the Christmas rush must be avoided at all costs and has checked off every item in her shopping list as early as mid-November. The Comparison Shopper is likewise strategic and spends a lot of time and effort to pick out the best deals. She not only
compares prices ofine and online, but also takes into account factors such as the quality and features of the products. At the other end of the spectrum is the timeefcient Tactical Shopper. Ms. Tactics will go shopping without a plan and just play it by ear. She doesnt have a shopping list, or if she does, its not a concrete one and is subject to change depending on whats available. Her variations include the Last-minute Shopper, who has been putting off her holiday shopping for the longest time and will have to endure the long queues and trafc on the weekend before Christmas; and the Onestop Shopper, someone who goes to one place, like a mall, and purchase all her holiday gifting needs there at one go. Her goal is not to nd the best, but something that will do. Last-minute Shoppers are mostly Onestop Shoppers as they dont have the luxury of time to go around. Equal parts strategic and tactical and a hybrid of the One-stop and Comparison kinds is the Digital Shopper. Doing all her shopping online saves her the trouble of canvassing, a lot of walking around and being stuck in trafc. A master of the Interwebs, she knows which sites to trust and those that offer the best prices (with shipping costs in mind, natch!). Shes subscribed to updates on sales and markdowns from Internet-based retailers and is a frequent customer of group-buying sites. On the scale of creativity and innovation, the Mainstream Shopper is less imaginative than the Indie Shopper. The former will only visit familiar and popular shopping destinations to purchase traditional gift items or maybe whats hot and of-the-moment while the latter will scour the city and beyond for the most unique pieces at vintage and thrift shops, independent retailers, hole-in-the-wall establishments and lesserknown locations. Now that weve identied the most common kinds of gift-givers and gift-shoppers, the question is: Which one (or ones) are you?
Staff Box
This Christmas supplement has been a Life section tradition for several years. It means extra work but we don't really mind. Life editor Gianna Maniego is Mother Christmas in these parts. Assistant editor Dinna Chan Vasquez is more Scrooge than Santa Claus but she does her job. Bernadette Lunas holds it all together while Ismit Mendez is the creative one in the group. Advertising desk man Dong Visagar is the who reminds us of our deadlines. Special thanks to our friends Alex Pastor, Anton Huang, Arline Adeva, Butch Raquel, Candice Iyog, Cris Lacuna, Diana Uy, Dindo Danao, Donna Conda, Donnie Tantoco, Eunice Gonzales, Grace Bermejo, Harold Geronimo, Jayson Brizuela, Joba Botana, Jojo Aquio, Joy Buensalido, Mark Parlade, Maricris Bernardino, Mich Del Rosario, Millie Dizon, Nedy Tantoco, Odette Velarde, Roseann Villegas, Sandy Espinosa, Viveca Singson, Wo Rosete, and Yoly Crisanto

D9
A merry shopping experience

By Ed Biado
HOW do you know that the holidays have started? By going to the mall, of course. If theyre already decked in thousands of Christmas lights, holiday-themed installations and window displays, then its as good as ofcial: Christmas is upon us. Every year, malls, shopping
enclaves, department stores and boutiques bring out their most festive decorations to signal the start of the merry season. And were not only talking about one tree and a couple of wreaths. These establishments go all out and spruce up their spaces with over-the-top decorations to make customers feel
that theyve been transported to a wonderland. High-end department store Rustans lavish holiday scene includes contemporary sculptured lights formed into conical shapes, topiary, ringtype Christmas trees, snowakes, wreaths, ribbons, gift boxes, balls and twigs. Each is adorned with glass and sequined balls, crystals, gems, glass beads imported from India and iridescent glitter twigs. At the directive of Rustans president Zenaida Tantoco, the store only uses sustainable LED lights that are eco-friendly and more energy-efcient than conventional Christmas lights. An imposing and breathtaking Christmas tree in white
Continued on D10
The displays at Rustan's Department Store are always festive and show the best of what is available

D10
Shopping...from D9
stands at the stores Shangri-la Plaza Mall location, evoking a wintery feel, while their Makati branch is lled with all sorts of quirky displays together with mannequins and the usual store displays. The window displays at Rustans Makati each features a dramatic setup in different color schemes with similar elements, described as being like walking the streets of New York and Paris. The visual merchandising team of the department store chain chose these specic items because they want to have something new and different all the time. As for their green slant, the store not only recycles but also reinvent and repurpose the decorations for future use. The dcor will be taken down after the Three Kings and stored at their Mandaluyong warehouse. At Ayala Malls, the vibe is warm, thanks to their theme Wrapped in Love. Parks and activity centers of the different locations are lled with trees decorated with gold leaves. At night, the trees are lit to create an atmosphere of peace and joy. Mall-goers are greeted at the entrances by massive wreathes
The festive Rustans Makati window
in silver and white and angels. Just like Rustans Ayala Malls believe in sustainability. After the season, the decorations will be taken apart for their different ele-
ant Christmas tree surrounded by toys. Then, at SM Megamall, the displays are an extension of the aesthetics of the Hong Kong Disneyland, which is the result of
off, not only because of increased sales and foot trafc, but by being integrated into the very idea of Christmas. Shoppers recognize these decorationsand,
The Glorietta Makati window is an attraction that even non-shoppers love
Trinoma
SM Megamall Christmas tree
ments to be reused and recycled, whichever is appropriate. Old decors are given new life by putting them together in different ways. Meanwhile, SM City North Edsa is transformed into every little girls dream with Hello Kitty, Hello Christmas at the North. The Block Atrium now houses the Hello Kitty Village, complete with the Hello Kitty House, the Hello Kitty Cafe and the Hello Kitty Cake Shop. The Skygarden, on the other hand, is lit up by Hello Kitty Lanterns. Across the metropolisat the SM Mall of Asiatheres a gi-
a collaboration between the two lifestyle brands. While all these themes are different, they all point to the fact that Christmas is for children, says SMs Millie F. Dizon. Thats why we have the characters they can relate to in a holiday setting Hello Kitty, toys and Disney characters. It also underscores the fact that there is a child in each of us during Christmas. Different malls have different themes so shoppers can always have something to look forward to when they visit our malls. Even if these decorations seem a lot, SM is cost-conscious and the items found at one mall are either recycled or brought to other malls to maximize their use. Last, but not least, we go Robinsons Malls. The overall theme this year is The Sights and Sounds of Christmas, a mix of well-loved activities, accentuated by the traditional giant Christmas trees at Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Metroeast and Robinsons Nova Market. The center atria are adorned with stylish giant chandeliers and LED lights that light up both the exterior and the grounds. Holiday-themed mall and store displays are meant to enhance the shopping experience. Theyre an investment that pays
in turn, the establishments themselvesas part of the canon that they look forward to seeing every year. We believe that adorning our malls with really resplendent decors help achieve the right ambiance to welcome our mallers and shoppers. The bright lights and reds, greens, golds and all the glitter denitely add to the charm of our malls, explains Robinsons Arlene Magtibay. The festive happy ambiance of our stores is retail-tainment for families, barkadas, foreigners and especially children. Its a Rustans tradition to make our stores beautiful during the holidays as a way of saying thank you to all our loyal customers, says Rustans Ross Morante. On the part of SM Malls, Dizon offers, Its a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into the malls and put everyone in a holiday mood. Ayala Malls agrees. A statement sent to this writer reveals that the mall operators goal is to bring joy and lift everyones hearts as they shop and dine in our malls and to make the Christmas experience more enjoyable. With the lights, the trees, the colors and all the other things that they put out there for our visual pleasure, these shopping and lifestyle destinations most certainly do.
Merry Season at Shopwise this Christmas

SHOPWISE, the countrys rst and original hypermarket, paints the town red this Christmas with its ever-exciting Big, Red, Fat Christmas holiday line-up. Aside from enjoying fabulous discounts on our holiday offers, customers also have the chance to win Big, Red, Fat Yuletide prizes in their Big, Red, Fat rafe promotion. To join, every Php800 (inclusive of Php 100 worth of sponsor products), gets you one rafe coupon for a chance to win kitchen essentials, including Prestige kitchen sets, KA Artisan Blenders, KA Immersion Blenders, a SMEG refrigerator, and hitech gadgets, such as Sony Cybershot cameras, HP Mini Laptops, and iPod Touch Phones. Of course, the Grand Prize is the biggest of them all, reserved for only one winner who will take it home to his or
Its a Big, Red, Fat

her loved ones to enjoy this Christmas season: a Big Red Fat Kia Soul! Head over to the hypermarket now for all your holiday shopping needs, where over Php1.5 million worth of prizes are up for grabs!. But more than just going home with a prize, shoppers also get to experience the true Season of Giving at Shopwise with its Big Red Fat Give. 30 consolation prizes will be given away, with winners receiving Php10,000 each, which winners can share with their charity of choice, allowing them to enable others to also enjoy the true spirit of Christmas. Yes, its denitely going to be a big, red, and fat Christmas this year at Shopwise, and everyone is invited to join in the fun. Shopwise is located in Festival Supermall in Alabang, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati; Bagumbayan, Libis; Araneta Center, Cubao; M.H. del Pilar, Antipolo; Harrison Plaza, Manila; along Sucat Road, Paranaque; Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City; San Pedro, Laguna, and Basak, Cebu.
These fabulous prizes from the latest Christmas promo of Shopwise will surely bring music to your ears, smiles on your faces and make your work more fun and efcient!
Shopwises Big, Red, Fat Christmas promo gives everyone more reason to celebrate this holiday season with a chance to take home an essential kitchen set.
It will denitely be a Big, Red, Fat, Merry Christmas for the one lucky winner who gets to bring home the grand prize from Shopwisea brand-new Kia Soul!
D11
CHRISTMAS NATURALLY AT KULTURA FILIPINO

CHRISTMAS came early to Kultura Filipino as it launched Christmas Naturally, a pre-holiday bazaar held recently at SM Makati. Members of the expat community and foreign clubs, civic leaders, corporate executives and lover of all things Filipino gathered together for this pre-holiday event, which showcased the stores homespun holiday collection. It also highlighted Kulturas Crafts for a Cause, products from livelihood projects of foundations that have adopted marginalized communities as their beneciaries. Senator Loren Legarda graced the event, as did Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma, the Netherlands Embassys Ruth Emmerink and Sander Timmers, Kit Zobel, Margarita Fores, and Terri Madrigal. Representatives from Kulturas Crafts for a Cause partners were also present Dee Anne Zobel for the E. Zobel Foundation, Vicky Wieneke for the Kabisig ng Kalahi, Sister Luz Maria Buitrago of the Holy Family Foundation, Darlene Pridmore
Necklace and bag made of soda tabs.
of Hope International Ministries, Lalaine Guanzon of the Circle of Friends Foundation and Jan Harris of Berdesaco. Ladies of the Latino American Group and the
Carrisa CruzEvangelista with SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director TNT YELLOWBOAT 9cx27cm FA 11/16/12 2:09 PM Page 1 Debbie Sy and Kultura Filipino Vice Ruth Emmerink and Sander Timmers (right) of President Ivy Yap. Netherlands Embassy with Kulturas Asi Deri.
Manille Bienvenue French Association came in full force. SM ofcials led by SM Investments Vice Chair Tessie Sy Coson, SM Hotels and Convention Corporation President Elizabeth Sy and SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy; as well as Kultura Filipino Vice President Ivy Yap welcomed them. Discover uniquely Filipino nds at Kultura Filipino stores located at SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier, and at selected SM Department Stores.
CM
MY
CY CMY
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan
Classifieds
ManilaStandardToday
adv.mst@gmail.com
Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Region VII South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City
E1
REMINDER
MST Classified Ads section requires a Two (2) day CUT-OFF PERIOD on all ITBs, BID BULLETIN, NOTICES and REOIs prior to publication date(s).
INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways through the Republic act fund 10155 under sub allotment No. SR2012-02-001746 Intends to apply the sum of Php 32,810,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the project under the contract ID NO. 12H00092 stated below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 1. The Department of Public Works and Highways now invites bids for the project below.
12H00092-Php 32,810,000.00 Repair/Rehabilitation of Sun-ok Br., Malaga Br.,Jilocon Br. and Pinocawan Br. Location of Project: 1. Sun-ok Bridge, km.136.092,along Tagbilaran East Road 2. Jilocon Bridge, km 15.65 along Dumaguete North Road 3. Malaga Br., km 64.532 along dumaguete North road 4. Pinocawan Br., km 146.76 along Dumaguete North road Completion of Work 180 C.D. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) together with their class A Documents with a Net financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or a credit line commitment from a reputable universal bank and commercial banks for at least 10% of ABC. Deadline of which is on December 20,2012 at 9:00 A.M. 2. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 3. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH-Region VII and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php25,000.00 It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the DPWH, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents until 10:00 A.M. on the day of submission of their bids-December 21, 2012. 5. The Department of Public Works and Highways will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 10, 2012, 10:00 A.M. at DPWH Conference Room, DPWH Regional Office VII, South Road Properties, Cebu City which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered on or before December 21, 2012, 1:00-1:30 P.M. at DPWH Conference Room, DPWH Regional Office No. VII, South Road Properties, Cebu City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the aforesaid address. Late bids shall not be accepted. 7. 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. For further information, please refer to:
For fast ad results, please call 659-48-30 local 303 or 659-4803

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Public Works and Highways OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER

Surigao del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office Bislig City Telefax (086) 853 4308
INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Surigao del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office, Bislig City, invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: Contract ID : 12NI0038 Contract Name : Package 1 - Construction of 1 Storey- 3 CL, Salvacion PS, Lingig, SDS- P 1,877,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 3 CL, Tagbobo PS, Lingig, SDS- P 1,867,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 2 CL, Napanpanan PS, Lingig, SDS- P 1,252,000.00 - Construction of 1 CL, Handamayan ES, Lingig, SDS- P 709,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL Maubgob PS, Lingig, SDS- P 692,000.00 - Construction of 1 CL, Sta. Maria PS, Lingig, SDS- P 692,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1 CL, Sunrise- Campo PS, Lingig, SDS- P 702,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1 CL, Tagpupuran ES, Lingig, SDS- 722,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 310 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 8,513,000.00 Contract ID : 12NI0039 Contract Name : Package 2 Construction of 1 CL Kinder, Puerto PS, Bislig City- P 892,000.00 Construction of 1 CL Kinder, R. Castillo PS, Bislig City- P 892,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Danipas NHS Labisma Annex, Bislig City-P 1,249,000.00 Construction of 1 CL Kinder, Sanyata ES, Bislig City- P 892,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 190 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 3,925,000.00 Contract ID : 12NI0040 Contract Name : Package 3 Construction of 1 Storey- 3 CL, Hinatuan NCHS- Cambatong NHS Annex, Hinatuan, SDS- P 1,827,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Dugmanon NHS, Hinatuan, SDS- P 1,262,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Hinatuan NCHS Roxas NHS Annex, Hinatuan, SDS- P 1,242,000.00 Construction of 1Storey- 2CL, Mahayahay PS, Hinatuan, SDS- P 1,250,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey-1 CL, Almaria PS, Hinatuan, SDS- P 692,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Plateau PS, Hinatuan, SDS- P 701,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 1 CL, Rocky PS, Hinatuan, SDS- P 682,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 310 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 7,656,000.00 Contract ID : 12NI0041 Contract Name : Package 4 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Kahayagan NHS, Tagbina, SDS- P 1,272,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Osmea ISS Bldg., Tagbina, SDS- P 1,258,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Quarry 1 IS, Tagbina, SDS- P 1,342,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Quezon ISS, Tagbina, SDS- P 1,292,000.00 Construction of One (1) CL, D.L. Osano, Maputi NHS, Tagbina, SDS- P 698,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Doa Carmen NHS, Tagbina, SDS- P 698,000.00 Construction of One (1) CL, Malixi ISS, Tagbina, SDS- P 668,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, San Vicente II NHS, Tagbina, SDS- P 678,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 1 CL, Sta. Juana NHS- Jobar NHS, Tagbina, SDSP 688,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 310 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 8,594,000.00 Contract ID : 12NI0042 Contract Name : Package 5 - Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Doa Carmen ES, Tagbina, SDS- P 1,259,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, San Isidro PS, Tagbina, SDS- 1,245,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, 3- K ES, Tagbina, SDS- P 689,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Katipunan ES, Tagbina, SDS- 689,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Libuacan PS, Tagbina, SDS- 682,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Mabuhay PS, Tagbina, SDS- P 672,000.00 - Construction of 1 CL, Batunan PS, Tagbina, SDS- P 682,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Sayon ES, Tagbina, SDS- P 672,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Sta. Fe PS, Tagbina, SDS- P 685,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Sta. Cruz ES, Tagbina, SDS- P 660,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Tuburan PS, Tagbina, SDS- P 676,000.00 - Construction of 1 Storey- 1CL, Ugoban ES, Tagbina, SDS- P 682,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 310 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 9,293,000.00 Contract ID : 12NI0043 Contract Name : Package 6 Construction of One (1) CL, Tambis NHS, Barobo, SDS- P 698,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Gamut ES, Barobo, SDS- P 1,259,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, San Vicente ES, Barobo, SDS- P 1,225,000.00 Construction of 1 Storey- 2CL, Wakat ES, Barobo, SDS- P 1,225,000.00 Construction of One (1) CL, Amaga ES, Barobo, SDS- P 660,000.00 Construction of 1Storey- 1CL, Nuevo Paraiso ES, Barobo, SDS- P 672,000.00 Contract Location : Surigao del Sur Scope of Work : BIL- Buildings/Industrial Plant-LOW Rise Contract Duration : 250 CD Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 5,739,000.00 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 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 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 to10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids November 29- December 20, 2012 (2:00 P.M.) December 7, 2012 (10:00 A.M.) December 5- 20, 2012 (8:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.) December 20, 2012 (2:00 P.M.)
4.
6.
8.
ENGR. ROSEMARY T. GEPTE Head, BAC Secretariat Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office VII South Road Properties, Cebu City (032) 411-6752 (Sgd.) Atty.AYAON S. MANGGIS BAC Chairman
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways BATANGAS IV DlSTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE Lipa City
November 28, 2012
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS DAVAO ORIENTAL FIRST DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Baganga, Davao Oriental Region XI
1.
Contract ID: 12DD0203 SARO No. BMB-A-12-T000003725 Source of Fund: 101-PDAF Contract Name: Project Location: Brief Description: Approved Budget for the Contract: Contract Duration: Bidding Documents:
INVITATION TO BID FOR (1l-2012-33)

Construction/Repair/Rehabilitation of MultiPurpose Building at EP Quarter, Philippine Air Force, San Fernando Air Base Lipa City, Batangas Construction/Rehabilitation of Building Php.9,699,826.05 150 Calendar Days Php. 10,000.00
INVITATION TO BID
The DPWH Davao Oriental First District Engineering Office, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following project: 1. Contract ID Contract Name Contract Location Brief Description : : : : 12LF0028 FMR from Highway Junction to Brgy. Guza FMR Guza, Manay, Davao Oriental 400 l.m. 0.15mm thk. RCPP and 1,706.82l.m. Road Imprvt.. (Gravelling) Php5,000,000.00 40 Calendar Days DA FMR 2011
2.
Contract ID: 12DD0204 SARO No. BMB-A-12-T000003283 Source ofFund: 101 -PDAF Contract Name: Project Location: Brief Description: Approved Budget for the Contract: Contract Duration: Bidding Documents:
Construction of Quipot Bridge including Approaches at Brgy. Quipot San Juan, Batangas Construction of Bridge Php.11,639,991.52 150 Calendar Days Php. 10,000.00
Approved Budget for The Contract (ABC) : Contract Duration : Source of Funds :
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 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 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOIs. The DPWH POCW Central Office will only process contractors application for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. LOIs and/or applications for eligibility and latest Class :A documents are to be accepted by the BAC together with the Bids and other relevant documents on or before the deadline for submissions of Bids. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents November 29, 2012 to December 18, 2012 2. Pre-Bid Conference December 7, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from On or before the Receipt of Bids Prospective Bidders 3. Deadline Receipt of Bids December 18, 2012 until 9:00a.m 4. Opening of Bids December 18, 2012 until 2:15 p.m The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at BAC Secretariat, DPWH Davao Oriental First District Engineering Office, Baganga, Davao Oriental, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Php5,000.00 (BDs Fee). Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to all interested bidders. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post qualification. Only the Prospective Bidders or their duly authorized representatives as indicated in the CRC will submit BDs. The DPWH Davao Oriental First District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to annul the bidding process anytime before contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s.
3.
Contract ID: 12DD0170 Source of Fund: FY 2013 DPWH INFRA Program Contract Name: Widening/Rehabilitation of Bridge from Two (2) Lanes to Four (4) Lanes along BatangasQuezon Road, Tubig ng Bayan Bridge Project Location: Padre Garcia, Batangas Brief Description: WideninglRehabilitation of Bridge Approved Budget for the Contract: Php. 8,299,258.03 Contract Duration: 150 Calendar Days
Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section IT, Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184) otherwise known as the Government Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to the citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Batangas IV District Engineering Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above. It may be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Batangas IV District Engineering Office will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 7, 2012 @ 10:00 A.M. which shall open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before December 19, 2012 @ 10:00 A.M. at the Conference Room of DPWH, Batangas IV District Engineering Office, Lipa City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. 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 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Batangas IV District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at anytime prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: GERARDO E. NARIO Head, BAC Secretariat DPWH, Batangas IV District Engineering Office Maraouy, Lipa City Tel. No. (043) 756-1818 (Sgd.) GIL B. AGGARI BAC-Chairman Noted by: (Sgd.) NESTOR I. CLEOFAS District Engineer
(MST-NOV. 30, 2012)
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00) for the projects with Contract ID Nos.: 12NI0038, 12NI004012NI0043 and Five Thousand Pesos for the Project with Contract Id No.: 12NI0039 at DPWH, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office, Bislig City. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH Website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bid 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 specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification. The DPWH, Surigao del Sur 2nd Engineering District, Bislig City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime prior contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s. Approved by: (SGD) ANASTACIA C. SALAS Chief, Construction Section Chairman, BAC Noted: (SGD)EULOGIO D. MILLA OIC District Engineer
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
Approved By : (sgd.) ALBERTO L. CAINGHOG Asst. District Engineer Chairman, BAC

(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
E2
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
ManilaStandardToday
Classifieds
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways Region IV-A
Laguna I District Engineering Office Sta. Cruz, Laguna Telephone Nos. (049) 810-4089 to 93
adv.mst@gmail.com
ERRATUM
CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES M E M O R A N D U M CIRCULAR NO.27-12, Series Of 2012 published on November 29, 2012, THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CARRIED IN THE AIRCRAFT AT ALL TIMES (WITH THE VALIDATING OFFCIAL RECEIPT) should be included in CAAP Certificate of Registration and Aircraft Registry No. ___ in CAAP Form No. 9497-2 and not as published.
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways

REGION IV-B MIMAROPA OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office Roxas, Oriental Mindoro
MEDCO HOLDINGS, INC.

TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders Meeting of Medco Holdings, Inc. will be held on December 28, 2012 at 10:00 am at Brasserie 21, 21 st Floor Security Bank Centre, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Only stockholders of record in the books of the Corporation at the close of business on December 11, 2012 (record date) will be entitled to vote at the meeting. Please bring some form of identification, such as passport, drivers license, or company I.D. in order to facilitate registration, which will start at 9:00 am. (Sgd.) Ma. Lourdes B. Bathan Corporate Information Officer 31/F Rufino Pacific Tower 6748 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 811-0465 to 67, 811-0521 (Fax)
INVITATION TO BID
The DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office, through GAA CY 2013 intends to apply the sum of P 20,579,677.89 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for 13EI0015 - Replacement/ Rehabilitation of Macanlig Bridge Along Calapan South Road, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office now invites bids for the Replacement/Rehabilitation of 20.00 L.M. Prestressed concrete girder bridge; Clear Roadway = 7.32m; Sidewalk = 0.76m; Two Approach Slab = 8.0 ln.m.; Concreting of 192 ln.m. approaches, width = 6.70m; thickness = 0.28m; shoulder = 3.0m; Construction of 193 ln.m. line canal and slope protection bothsides. Completion of the works is required in 192 calendar days. Prospective bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the NSO consumer price indices, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid as stated in the Revised Section 23.5.2.5 under GPPB Resolution No. 11 2012 of the IRR of R.A. 9184. 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 specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 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 (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below or any DPWH field offices and upon payment of a non refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of P 25,000.00. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippines Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office will hold a Pre Bid Conference on December 6, 2012 @ 10:00 A.M. at the Conference Room, DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before December 18, 2012 until 10:00 A.M. at the DPWH Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Bid Data Sheet (BDS). 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, Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office 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: ANNIELYN E. PADULLO DPWH, Southern Mindoro District Engineering Office Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro Telefax No. (043) 289 - 2565
Invitation to Bid
The Department of Public Works and Highways- Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, through the FY 2012 General Appropriations Act, R. A. 10155 and FY 2013 Regular Infrastructure Program intends to apply the sum of One Hundred Thirty Nine Million Five Hundred Fifty Two Thousand (Php139,552,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contracts (ABC) to payments under the contract for various infrastructure projects listed below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
1. a. b. c. d. Contract ID: Contract Name: Contract Location: Scope of Work: 12DH0124 Asphalt Overlay of Calamba-Sta. Cruz-Famy Jct. Road K0089 + -200 to K0090 + 905 Asphalt Overlay of uneven paved shoulder and other related activities Php41,552,000.00/Php25,000.00 150 c. d. 12DH0125 Widening of Rizal Bdry.-Famy-Quezon Bdry. K0067 + -340 to K0069 + 000 Concreting/widening of road and const. of reinforced concrete box culvert cross drain and concrete canal Php49,000,000.00/Php25,000.00 150 c. d. 12DH0126 Dredging of Sta. Cruz River and Construction of River Bank Protection leading to Laguna de Bay, Sta. Cruz, Laguna Sta. Cruz, Laguna Dredging along Sta. Cruz River and other related activities Php49,000,000.00/Php25,000.00 150 c. d.
Ads Work.
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)/ Cost of Bidding documents: f. Duration: 2. a. b. c. d. Contract ID: Contract Name: Contract Location: Scope of Work:
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
ERRORS & OMISSIONS

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways SAMAR FIRST DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Calbayog City
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)/ Cost of Bidding documents: f. Duration: 3. a. Contract ID: b. Contract Name: c. Contract Location: d. Scope of Work: e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)/ Cost of Bidding documents: f. Duration:
The Department of Public Works and Highways- Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna now invites bids for the above stated projects. Completion of the Works is required as above stated. 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 specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased until 10:00 a. m. of December 21, 2012 by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount 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, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids. The DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 07, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at the BAC Chairmans Office, Brgy. Callios, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, 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 December 21, 2012 until 2:00 P.M. at DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office, Brgy. Callios, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. 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 on December 21, 2012 after 2:00 p. m. Late bids shall not be accepted. Interested bidders are also required to present to the BAC Secretariat, DPWH-Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna original copies of the following documents for authentication and issuance of Bid documents: a. PCAB License; b. Contractors Registration Certificate; c. Certificate of Materials Engineer accreditation; d. Two (2) valid IDs of authorized Liason Officer as appearing in the CRC; e. Certificate of Safety Officer Seminar from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); f. Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps) Certificate of Registration and Order form (Documents Request List); g. CPES Rating and h. Tax Clearance. . The DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna 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 DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office, Sta. Cruz, Laguna likewise assumes no obligation whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder or winning bidders, as the case maybe, 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. For further information, please refer to: ENGR. THEODORO S. LLANTOS BAC Chairman DPWH Laguna I District Engineering Office Brgy. Callios, Sta. Cruz, Laguna (049) 810-4090
INVITATION TO BID for

I. Contract ID : Contract Name/Location : 12IJ - 0077 CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, STA. MARGARITA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL /STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 2. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, AGRUFACION PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. AGRUFACION, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 3. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, ARAPISON PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. ARAPISON, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 4. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, AVELINO PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. AVELINO, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 5. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, BAHAY PRIMARY SCHOOL/ BRGY. BAHAY, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 6. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, BANA-AO PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. BANA-AO, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR Scope of Work : 1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 2. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 4. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 5. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 6. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 1,180,930.00, 2. PHP 686,060.00, 3. PHP 686,060.00, 4. PHP 686,060.00, 5. PHP 686,060.00 6. PHP 686,060.00 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 4,611,230.00 Contract Duration : 30 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00 12IJ - 0078 CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CAHUMPAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL /BRGY. CAHUMPAN, CALB. CITY, SAMAR 2. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, GUINBAOYAN NORTE ELEMETARY SCHOOL/BRGY. GUINBAOYAN NORTE,CALBAYOG CITY 3. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, COGON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/BRGY. COGON, CALBAYOG CITY 4. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, NAGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/BRGY. NAGA, CALBAYOG CITY 5. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, MIGARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/ BRGY. MIGARA, CALBAYOG CITY Scope of Work : 1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 2. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 4. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 5. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 664,300.00, 2. PHP 634,400.00, 3. PHP 634,400.00, 4. PHP 634,400.00, 5. PHP 634,400.00 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 3,201,900.00 Contract Duration : 30 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00 12IJ - 0079 CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CAMPERITO PRIMARY SCHOOL /BRGY. CAMPERITO,STA.MARGARITA, SAMAR 2. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CANIPULAN PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. CANIPULAN, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 3. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CANMUROS PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. CANMUROS,STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 4. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CINCO PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. CINCO, STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR 5. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CLARENCIO CALAGOS MEMORIAL SCHOOL OF FISHERIES,/STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR Scope of Work : 1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 2. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 4. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM 5. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM & CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY ONE CLASSROOM Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 686,060.00, 2. PHP 662,171.00, 3. PHP 686,060.00, 4. PHP 686,060.00, 5. PHP 1,822,100 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 4,542,451.00 Contract Duration : 30 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00
II. Contract ID : Contract Name/Location :
APPROVED: (SGD.) THEODORO S. LLANTOS BAC Chairman
Approved :
III. Contract ID : Contract Name/Location :
NOTED: (SGD.) NESS S. VILLANUEVA District Engineer
(Sgd.) ANNIELYN E. PADULLO (BAC Chairperson)

(MST-NOV. 30, 2012)
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways SAMAR FIRST DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Calbayog City
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways OFFICE OF THE DPWH DISTRICT ENGINEER
Leyte 1 District Engineering Office Pawing, Palo, Leyte
INVITATION TO BID for

I. Contract ID Contract Name/Location : 12IJ - 0076 : CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD/BRGY. SAN JUAN, SAN JORGE SAMAR 2. CONSTRUCTION OF MULTI PURPOSE PAVEMENT/ BRGY. HAMORAWON, CALBAYOG CITY 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD/BRGY. DAGUMCACARANSAN, CALBAYOG CITY 4. CONSTRUCTION OF MULTI-PURPOSE PAVEMENT/ BRGY. CAPOOCAN, CALBAYOG CITY Scope of Work : 1. CONSTRUCTION OF 60 m lenght,2.5 m width and 0.10 m thick, PCCP, 2. CONSTRUCTION OF 70 m lenght,1.4 m width and 0.10 m Thick PCCP, 3. CONSTRUCTION OF 229.03 m lenght,2.0 m width and 0.20 m Thick PCCP, 4. CONSTRUCTION OF 78.75 sq. m. and a GROUTED RIPRAP Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 199,746.00, 2. PHP 799,583.00, 3. PHP 1, 198, 641.00, 4. PHP 799,482.00 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 2,997,452.00 Contract Duration : 40 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00 The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, through the FY-2012 PDAF intends to apply the sum 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 bidding opening. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City now invites bids for the abovementioned description of works. Completion of the works is required for the above stated contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscrepancy pass/fail criterion in the Eligibility Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. 5:00. P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by Interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above. Issuance of Bidding Documents will be on November 27-Dec. 17, 2012. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City will hold a PreBid Conference on Dec. 05, 2012 at 3:00 P.M. at the BAC Office, DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered at the address below on or before Dec. 17, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. at the BAC Office- DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 1B. Bids will be opened on Dec. 17, 2012 at 2:00 P.M., in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. To bid for this contract, a contractor must purchased bidding documents and meet the following major criteria; a) prior registration with DPWH, BAC-CPO, Manila; b) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of the contract; c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. Bidders shall submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liaison Officer only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). Submission of Letter (LOI) is no longer required to participate in the bidding per D.O. No. 64 Series of 2012. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog 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 or obligation to the affected bidder or bidders. 4. No. Contract ID No.
INVITATION TO BID
Contract Name Const. of 1 Unit 2 Storey 8 CL and 1 Unit 2 Storey 6 CL Schoolbuilding, Tanauan School of Craftmanship and Home Industries (LIT Tanauan Campus, Tanauan, Leyte Const. of 1 Unit 2 Storey 8 CL School- building, Alangalang NHS, Alangalang, Leyte Const. of 1 Unit 2 Storey 6 CL Schoolbuilding, Tanauan NHS (San Roque NHS), Tanauan, Leyte Scope of Work ABC Contract Duration Bid Document Fee
IV. Contract ID : 12IJ - 0080 Contract Name/Location: CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, SAPUTAN P R I M A R Y S C H O O L / B R G Y. S A P U TA N , C A L B AY O G CITY 2. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, CANJUMADAC PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. CANJUMADAC, CALBAYOG CITY 3. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, HIBABNGAN PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. HIBABNGAN, CALBAYOG CITY 4. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, OSMEA PRIMARY SCHOOL/BRGY. OSMEA, CALB CITY Scope of Work : 1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 2. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 4. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWOCLASSROOM Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 1,219,000.00, 2. PHP 1,219,000.00, 3. PHP 1,219,000.00, 4. PHP 1,219,000.00 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 4,876,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00 V. Contract ID : Contract Name/Location : 12IJ - 0081 CLUSTER: 1. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, MAGUBAY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL/BRGY. MAG-UBAY, CALBAYOG CITY 2. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, TARABUCAN NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL/BRGY. TARABUCAN, CALBAYOG CITY 3. CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL BUILDING, PILAR NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL/BRGY. PILAR, CALBAYOG CITY
12IC0100
Construction of Schoolbuilding
16,790,640.00
240 CD
25,000.00
2 3 1.
12IC0101 12IC0102
Construction of Schoolbuilding Construction of Schoolbuilding
9,883,830.00 7,038,290.00
120 CD 120 CD
10,000.00 10,000.00
1.
The DPWH, Leyte 1 District Engineering Office, Pawing, Palo, Leyte, through the CY 2013 DepEd RSBP intends to apply the sum above-stated being the Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the aforementioned contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. DPWH, Leyte 1 District Engineering Office, Pawing, Palo, Leyte now invites bids for the aforementioned description of works. Completion of the work is required for the above-stated contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion in the Eligibility Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, organization or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Contractors/applicants who are interested in the DPWH civil works are required to register prior to the schedule of submission of bid while those already registered shall keep their records current and updated. Contractors eligibility to bid on the project will be determined using the DPWH Contract Profile Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualification. Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH, Leyte 1 District engineering Office, Pawing, Palo, Leyte and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. 5:00p.m. Date and time of Procurement Activities are shown below:
2.
2.
Scope of Work
1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 2. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM 3. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY TWO CLASSROOM Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): 1.PHP 1,169,000.00, 2. PHP 1,169,000.00, 3. PHP 1,169,000.00 Grand Total Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 3,507,000.00 Contract Duration : 60 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 5,000.00 1. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, through the FY-2013 Regular School Building Program (RSBP) intends to apply the sum 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 bidding opening. 2. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City now invites bids for the abovementioned description of works. Completion of the works is required for the above stated contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. 3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discrepancy pass/fail criterion in the Eligibility Check and Preliminary Examination of Bids as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, 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 purchase by Interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above. Issuance of Bidding Documents will be on December 01-Dec. 19, 2012. 6. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Dec. 06, 2012 at 3:00 P.M. at the BAC Office, DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City which shall be open to all interested parties. 7. Bids must be delivered at the address below on or before Dec. 19, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. at the BAC Office- DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 1B. Bids will be opened on Dec. 19, 2012 at 2:00 P.M., in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. To bid for this contract, a contractor must purchased bidding documents and meet the following major criteria; a) prior registration with DPWH, BAC-CPO, Manila; b) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of the contract; c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. Bidders shall submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liaison Officer only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). Submission of Letter (LOI) is no longer required to participate in the bidding per D.O. No. 64 Series of 2012. 9. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog 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 or obligation to the affected bidder or bidders.
3.
3.
5.
6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY Issuance of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Receipt of Bids Opening of Bids
DATE November 29 December 20, 2012 December 07, 2012 On or before: December 20, 2012; 9:00 a.m. December 20, 2012; 2:00 p.m.
7.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable fee. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Pre- Bid Conference shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. 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 representative who chooses to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. To bid for this contract/s, a contractor must submit a Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to the ABC or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC before dropping the bids. Bidders shall likewise submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liaison Officers only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). Submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) is no longer required to participate in the bidding, per D.O. 64, series of 2012. The DPWH, Leyte 1 District Engineering Office, Pawing, Palo, 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. For further information, please refer to:
6. 7.
8.
9.
9.
10. For further information, please refer to: 10. ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman) Attention: Head, BAC Secretariat BAC Office, DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City
10. For further information, please refer to: ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman) Attention: Head, BAC Secretariat BAC Office, DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City (Sgd.) ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman)
Lesma B. Tingoy BAC Chairman (Sgd.) LESMA B. TINGOY Tel. No.: (053) 323-5701 Chief, Materials Quality Control Section Fax No.: (053) 323-8801 BAC Chairman e-mail address: dpwh.ro8_leyte1@yahoo.com N O T E D:
(Sgd.) ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman)

(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
(Sgd.) ANGEL A. SIA, JR. OIC-District Engineer

(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
adv.mst@gmail.com
ManilaStandardToday
Classifieds
Republic of the Philippines Region IV-A Batangas 1st District Engineering Office OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Batangas City Tel. No. (043) 402-5900 and Fax No. 043-723-7934
E3
Department of Public Works and Highways

First Metro Manila Engineering District Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway Rosario, Pasig City
ANNEX

DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office Narra, Palawan
Invitation to Bid
A. The Department of Public Works and Highways-First Metro Manila Engineering District, Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario, Pasig City through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contracts: 1. Contract ID No.: Contract Name: 0120B0338 Repair of Collapsed Damaged Revetment Walls Lower San Juan River, San, Juan City, Sta. 1+559.16 to Sta. 1+717.88 Contract Location: San Juan City Scope of Work: Repair of Collapsed Damaged Revetment Walls Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PhP31,161,550.00 Contract Duration: 180 Calendar Days Cost of Bid Documents: PhP25,000.00
Invitation to Bid
The Department of Public Works and Highways, Batangas I District Engineering Office, Batangas City through the FY 2012 General Appropriations Act 10155 intends to apply the sum of various amount of Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) being the payment under the contract listed below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Department of Public Works and Highways, Batangas I District Engineering Office, Batangas City now invites bids for: Contract ID No.: 12DB0194 Contract Name: Widening including Geometric Improvement along Palico-Balayan-Batangas City Road, Balayan Rotonda Contract Location: Balayan, Batangas Scope of Work: Asphalt Overlay/Const. of Drainage CHB Line Cover Canal Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 19,400,000.00 Contract Duration: 300 c.d. Amount of Bid Document: Php 25,000.00 Bidders should have completed, within (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. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 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 Department of Public Works and Highways, Batangas I District Engineering Office, Batangas City, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday. Receipt of LOI from prospective bidders is from November 27, 2012 to 2:00 p.m. of December 7, 2012. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on November 27, 2012 up to 9:00 A.M. of December 18, 2012 upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents. Interested bidders are also required to present to the BAC Secretariat, DPWH, Batangas 1 District Engineering Office, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City original copies of the following documents for authentication and issuance of Bid Documents: a) PCAB License; b) Contractors Registration Certificate (CRC); c) Certificate of Materials Engineer Accreditation; d) Latest of Authorizing Officer together with machine copy of two (2) Valid IDs; e) Certificate of Safety Officer Seminar of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); f) Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps Order Form) Document Request List: g) CY 2011 CPES Rating and h) Income Tax Return (ITR) with payment slip. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Department of Public Works and Highways, if available, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways, Batangas I Engineering District, Batangas City will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 7, 2012 at the Department of Public Works and Highways, Batangas I Engineering District, Batangas City , which shall be open only to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. on December 18, 2012 at Batangas I Engineering District, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on December 18, 2012, 2:00 oclock, p.m. at Batangas I Engineering District, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City. 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. The DPWH Batangas 1 Engineering District, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City likewise assume no obligation whatsoever 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. For further information, please refer to: GODOFREDO C. DE VILLA BAC Chairman Batangas 1st District Engineering Office Department of Public Works and Highways Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City, 4200 Tel. 043-723-7934 Attn.: BAC Secretariat (Sgd.) GODOFREDO C., DE VILLA Chief Construction Section BAC Chairman Noted:
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
INVITATION TO BID
The DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office, Narra, Palawan, through the CY 2013 Dep-Ed Regular School Building Program (RSBP) intends to apply the hereunder Approved Budgets for the Contract to payments of the corresponding contracts listed below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 1. a. b. 13EF0008 Cluster II-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Mangsee ES, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Bancalaan ES, 3. Construction of Three (3) classrooms, Caguisan Annex, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Dumaga ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Pasig ES, 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Maria Hangin ES Contract Location : Balabac, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,219,680.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,737,450.00 4. 1,199,880.00 5. 1,199,880.00 6. 1,180,080.00 Php7,717,050.00 Contract Duration : 150 cal. days 13EF0009 Cluster III-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, BonoBono Annex, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Linao PS, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Rio Tuba South, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tagmaya ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tarusan ES Contract Location : Bataraza, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 Php5,900,400.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days Contract ID Contract Name 13EF0010 Cluster IV-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Saray PS, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Sayab II PS, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Sitio Culandanum PS, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Barakbarakan ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classroom, Rio Tuba NHS Contract Location : Bataraza, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 Php5,900,400.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days 13EF0016 Cluster X-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Kalatabog ES, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Malatgao ES, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tagusao ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Alfonso XIII ES (Bliss ES), 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Berong ES, 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Isugod ES Contract Location : Quezon, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 1,180,080.00 Php7,080,480.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days 13EF0017 Cluster XI-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Lamane ES, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Natutungan PS, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Pinaglabanan ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Calumpang ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Kalatagbak ES, 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Magara ES Contract Location : Quezon, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 1,180,080.00 Php7,080,480.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days Contract ID Contract Name 13EF0018 Cluster XII-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Marirong ES, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tabon ES, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tabud ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tagbae ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Quezon NHS, 6. Construction of 1 CL QuezonPanitian NHS Contract Location : Quezon, Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 662,310.00 Php6,562,710.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days 13EF0019 Package XIII (6 projects)-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Bintat Karis PS, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Bulno PS, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Bunog ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Cabcungan ES (FLRF Vill), 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Cadawan PS, 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Dignuzon PS Contract Location : Rizal (Marcos), Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 1,180,080.00 Php7,080,480.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days 13EF0020 Cluster XIV-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Malapandeg ES, 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Panalingaan ES, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Candawaga ES, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Candawaga ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Canipaan ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Canipaan ES Estension 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Colandanum PS Contract Location : Rizal (Marcos), Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 1,180,080.00 Php7,080,480.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days 13EF0021 Cluster XV-1. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Culasian ES (old), 2. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Latud ES, 3. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Guilingan ES, 4. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tagbita ES, 5. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Tagpas PS, 6. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Ransang South ES, 7. Construction of Two (2) classrooms, Sicud ES Contract Location : Rizal (Marcos), Palawan Scope of Work : Construction of one (1) storey Building Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php1. 1,180,080.00 2. 1,180,080.00 3. 1,180,080.00 4. 1,180,080.00 5. 1,180,080.00 6. 1,180,080.00 7. 1,180,080.00 Php8,260,560.00 Contract Duration : 120 cal. days Contract ID Contract Name : : Contract ID Contract Name : : Contract ID Contract Name : : : : Contract ID Contract Name : : Contract ID Contract Name : : : : Contract ID Contract Name : : Contract ID Contract Name : :
c. d. e.
f. 2. a. b.
B.
Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. 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 critetion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino Citizens/sole proprietorships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
c. d. e.
C.
f. 3. a. b.
D.
Interested Bidders may obtain further information from First Metro Manila Engineering District, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from [8:00A.M.-12:00NN and 1:00P.M.-5:00P.M.]. A. complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.
c. d. e.
E.
f. 4. a. b.
F.
The First Metro Manila Engineering District, will hold the Pre-Bid Conference on December 05, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at FMMED-Office Conference Room, Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario, Pasig City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.
c. d. e.
G. Bids must be delivered on or before December 18, 2012 10:00 A.M. at First Metro Manila Engineering District, Westbank Road, Manggahan Floodway, Rosario, Pasig City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1. Bids will be opened on the same date at 2:00 P.M. in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the aforesaid address. Late bids shall not be accepted. H. The First Metro Manila Engineering District, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected or bidders. For further information, please refer to:
f. 5. a. b.
c. d. e.
f. 6. a. b.
I.
(Sgd.) MARIO E. ALCANTARA OIC-Chief, Maintenance Section Engineer III/BAC Chairman NOTED (Sgd.) ROBERTO S. NICOLAS District Engineer
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
c. d. e.
f.
(Sgd.) ROSAURO A. ADAPON District Engineer
7.
a. b.
ANNEX A
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER

Dinagat Islands District Engineering Office San Jose, Dinagat Islands
Department of Public Works and Highways Caraga Region
Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office
Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon
c. d. e.
INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Award Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Dinagat Islands District Engineering Office, San Jose, Dinagat Islands through the Regular Infra FY 2013, invites contractors to bid for the following project(s): 1. a. Contract ID b. Contract Name c. d. e. f. g. : 12NE0046 : Replacement of Goring Bridge along Dinagat Loreto Road Contract Location : Tubajon, Dinagat Islands Scope of Works : Construction of 18.80 m. RCDG Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 9,063,574.52 Contract Duration : 255 calendar days Bid Document Fee : PhP 10,000.00 : 12NE0047 : Replacement of Tinoy Bridge along Dinagat - Loreto Road : Loreto, Dinagat Islands : Construction of 6.90 m, 3 x 3 m double barrel reinforced concrete box culvert : PhP 6,982,434.33 : 249 calendar days : PhP 10,000.00
INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Department of Public Works and Highways, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon, through the GAA - 2013 invites contractors to bid for: : 12FL0032 : Road Upgrading (Gravel to Paved) of Bacon Sawanga Pto. Diaz Road Location : Pto.Diaz, Sorsogon Limits : Sec. A KO618+(-035) KO618+457 Sec. B KO618+484 KO618+655 Scope of Works : Construction of 230mm PCCP Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 7,179,274.20 Contract Duration : 45 CD : 12FL0033 : Rehab./Reconstruction of Damaged Paved National Roads of Bacon Sawanga Pto. Diaz Road Location : Pto.Diaz, Sorsogon Limits : KO613+927.5 KO614+251 Scope of Works : Construction of 230mm PCCP Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 6,465,265.80 Contract Duration : 51 CD Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The BAC of the DPWH Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon now invites bids for the above mentioned projects. 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. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/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, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. A completed 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 P 7,500.00 for 12FL0032 and P 6,500.00 for 12FL0033. 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 Department of Public Works and Highways, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on December 6, 2012 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before December 20, 2012 until 10:00 AM at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH, Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon. 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. Contract ID No Contract Name Contract ID No Contract Name
8.
f. a. b.
c. d. e.
2. a. Contract ID b. Contract Name c. Contract Location d. Scope of Works e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) f. Contract Duration g. Bid Document Fee 3. a. Contract ID b. Contract Name c. d. e. f. g.
f. 9. a. b.
: 12NE0048 : Replacement of Alejo Bridge along Dinagat - Loreto Road Contract Location : Loreto, Dinagat Islands Scope of Works : Construction of 8.80 m Flatslab Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : PhP 6,596,715.70 Contract Duration : 260 calendar days Bid Document Fee : PhP 10,000.00
c. d. e.
f.
The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of R.A. 9184. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bids. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use nondiscretionary pass/ fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH POCW-Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration, with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5.Opening of Bids November29,2012-December 18, 2012 until 11:00 A.M. December 6, 2012 @ 1:30 P.M. December 13, 2012 until 4:00 P.M. December 18, 2012 @ 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 A.M. December 18, 2012 at 2:00 P.M.
The DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office, now invites bids for the above named projects. Bidders should have completed a single largest completed contract (SLCC) equivalent to twenty five (25%) of a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00am-5:00pm. A complete set of Bidding Documents (BDs) may be purchased by the interested Bidders from the address below upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount shown in the table below. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
CONTRACT ID 13EF0008, 13EF0009, 13EF0010, 13EF0016, 13EF0017, 13EF0018, 13EF0019, 13EF0020, 13EF0021
AMOUNT OF BID DOCUMENTS Php 7,000.00
The Pre-Bid Conference to be held at the Office of the BAC, DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office, Narre, Palawan at 2:00pm, December 6, 2012 shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered to the address below. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: November 29-December 18, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0008-13EF0010 November 29-December 19, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0016 November 29-December 20, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0017-13EF0021 10:00 a.m., December 18, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0008-13EF0010 10:00 a.m., December 19, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0016 10:00 a.m., December 20, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0017-13EF0021 02:00 p.m., December 18, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0008-13EF0010 02:00 p.m., December 19, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0016 02:00 p.m., December 20, 2012 For contract ID 13EF0017-13EF0021
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents
The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD's) at DPWH - Dinagat Islands District Engineering Office, San Jose, Dinagat Islands, upon payment of a non-refundable fee as stated above. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs from the DPWH website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their Bids Documents. Bids must accompanied by a Bid Security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The DPWH - Dinagat Islands District Engineering Office, San Jose, Dinagat Islands 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 the affected bidder/s. Approved by: (Sgd.) GASPAR A. TAGADAN Chief, Construction Section BAC Chairman
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents From November 28 to December 20, 2012 2. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from December 11, 2012 at 3:00 PM Prospective Bidders Date of Publication: November 28 December 4, 2012 DPWH Website, DPWH Sorsogon 2nd DEO Bulletin Board, PhilGEPS, Manila Standard
The DPWH, Sorsogon 2nd DEO, Bagacay, Gubat, Sorsogon 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: SOCORRO EDEN D. CHAVEZ Administrative Officer V Head, BAC Secretariat Dept. of Public Works and Highways Sorsogon 2nd District Engineering Office 056-211-4251 socorroeden.chavez@yahoo.com (Sgd.) ROMEO F. CIELO Assistant District Engineer (BAC Chairman)
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
2. Deadline for payment of Bid Docs, Receipts and Submission of Bids
3. Opening of Bids
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, including the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The DPWH-Palawan II District Engineering Office, Narra, Palawan 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: KALIKOZAMAN T. TAHA DPWH-Palawan II DEO 5303 Antipuluan, Narra, Palawan 09198108431 bac_dpwhnarra@yahoo.com Approved by:
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
(Sgd.) EDDIE R. UY Engineer-III BAC Chairman
E4
ManilaStandardToday
Classifieds
Annex A Republic of the Philippines
adv.mst@gmail.com
For fast ad results, please call 659-4803 or 6594830 loc 303

LUNGSOD NG MAKATI Bids and Awards Committee
J.P. Rizal St. corner F. Zobel St., Makati City Tel. No. 870-1000 Fax No. 899-8988 www.makati.gov.ph
REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS
Republic of the Philippines Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

Nueva Ecija 1st District Engineering Office La Torre, Talavera, Nueva Ecija
INVITATION TO BID
The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites PHILGEPS registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Supply and Delivery of Various Services in the Department of Finance. Hereunder is the list of items for bid with the corresponding Approved Budget for the Contract and price of each bid documents. ITB Nos. 2012-16-G 2012-17-G 2012-18-G QUANTITY 110 outsourced personnel 45 Security Guards 34 Janitors PARTICULAR Manpower Service Approved Budget Price of Bid for the Contract Documents (Nonrefundable) P 30,500,000.00 P25,000.00 P11,000.00 P 7,000.00
INVITATION TO BID
1 The DPWH Nueva Ecija 1st DEO, through PDAF 2012 intends to apply the sum of the amount stated below being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the following: a. CONTRACT ID : b. Contract Name : c. Contract Location : d. e. f. g. 12CE0165 Const/Repair/Rehab. Of Multi-Purpose Building Two (2) Storey MPH, Science City of Muoz, N.E. Fee for Bid Documents : Php5,000.00 Scope of Work : BIL Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php5,000,000.00 Conctract Duration: C.D. : 130.00
INVITATION TO BID
The City Government of Makati, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites registered suppliers/ manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder projects: NO. 1 NAME OF PROJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION Telecommunications Maintenance for the use of Urban Development Department for one (1) year LOCATION USD APPROVED BUDGET P11,418,000.00
Prospective Bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examinations of Bids shall use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria. Post-Qualification of the Lowest Calculated Bid shall be conducted. All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES 1. Pre-Bidding Conference at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor 2. Opening of Bids at BAC Conference Room, 9th Floor SCHEDULE December 07, 2012 (02:00 P.M.) December 20, 2012 (02:00 P.M.)
Security Service P11,401,144.20 Janitorial Services P7,608,991.92
Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2 The DPWH, Nueva Ecija 1st DEO now invites bids for projects stated above with required completion date stated thereof. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the "Government Procurement Reform Act". Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4 Interested bidders may obtain further information from the DPWH, Nueva Ecija 1st DEO and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payments of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount indicated 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, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6 The DPWH, Nueva Ecija 1st DEO will hold a PreBid Conference on December 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the Office of the BAC Secretariat which shall be open only to all interested parties who have perchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 AM, December 19, 2012 at the Office of the BAC Secretariat All bids must be accomplished by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18 and in accordance to GPPB Res. No. 032012 dated 27 January 2012. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below, thereafter. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8 Bidding procedures shall be implemented in accordance to D.O. #64 dated 17 September 2012: Guidelines on the Procurement Process based on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184. The DPWH, Nueva Ecija 1st DEO 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. LOURDES F. DONCILLO Head, BAC Secretariat DPWH, Nueva Ecija 1st DEO, Talavera, NE odettedonzi_dpwh@yahoo.com
Bidding Documents will be available only to Prospective Bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of ______________________to the City Government of Makati Cashier. (fee for Bid Documents) (Procuring Entity) The City Government of Makati assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for (Procuring Entity) any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. The City of Makati reserves the right to disqualify any or all proposal, to waive any defects or informalities therein and to accept such proposal as may be considered most advantageous to the Government. Approved by:
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
A complete set of individual Bidding Documents shall be available at the BAC Secretariat, General Services Division, 7th Floor, EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila starting December 3, 2012 upon payment of the non-refundable fee indicated above not later than the submission of their bids. The schedule of bidding activities are as follows: ACTIVITIES Manpower Services Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre- Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids SCHEDULE of ACTIVITIES Security Services Janitorial Services November 30, 2012 December 3, 2012 Dec. 7, 2012 11:00 am December 10, 2012 December 12, 2012 December 20, 2012 Dec. 20, 2012 11:00 am
(Sgd.) ATTY. ELENO M. MENDOZA, JR. Chairperson

Dec. 7, 2012 9:30 am

Dec. 7, 2012 1:30 pm
Department of Public Works and Highways NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

2nd St., Port Area, Manila
DPWH ROAD REPAIR ADVISORY

The public is informed on the following road repairs to be undertaken on November 30 (10PM) to December 03 (4 AM), 2012. Expect traffic build-up/congestion. Please take alternate routes. NAME of ROADS/LIMITS 1. Mindanao Ave. Quezon City (southbound) from Catleya Street to North Ave. (3rd inner lane) EDSA, Quezon City (southbound) from Bansalangin Street to Trinoma (5th lane) B. Serrano St. Coloocan City C-3 Road to Magsaysay St. (right lane going to EDSA) Mac. Arthur Hi-way, Valenzuela City from Poblacion Road to Candido Funeral Homes (inner lane going to Monumento) DPWH OFFICE TEL. NOS. QCFED 431-4597 to 98 DE ROSELLER A. TOLENTINO (0906) 479-1800
Dec. 20, 2012 9:30 am
Dec. 20, 2012 1:30 pm
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Act. However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate sealed envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat at telephone number 526-8475 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during office hours. DOF reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. DOF further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. (Sgd.) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and Chairman, DOF Bids and Awards Committee
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
2. 3.
4.
TMMED 293-2739 DE MARLO B. CORREA (0917) 531-6020
For any concern, complaint, suggestion, recommendation, observation, please call 165-02; or (02)536-3477 or text DPWH (space) message then send to 2920. Thank you. NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Department of |Public Works and Highways 2nd St., Port Area, Manila Tel. Nos. (02)304-3713; 304-3620; 304-3700
Republic of the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways

Cordillera Administrative Region
10 For further information, please refer to:
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Engineers Hill, Baguio City
Invitation to Bid
(Sgd.) AMADO M. GUEVARRA BAC Chairman NOTED: (Sgd.) RAMIRO M. CRUZ District Engineer
The Department of Public Works and Highways - Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR, through the General Appropriations Act intends to apply the amount of the Approved Budget Cost to payments under the contracts and now invites bids for the contracts: 1. Contract ID No: Contract Name: Contract Location: Fund: Approved Budget Cost : Scope of work: Contract Duration: Cost of Bidding Documents: 2. Contract ID No: Contract Name: 12PO0055 Restoration of Collapsed Retaining Wall, Irisan Dumpsite, Baguio City Baguio City FY 2012 Php 76,887,887.06 Embankment (Common Borrow), Reinforcing Steel Bars, Structural Concrete (class A), etc. 297 Calendar Days Php 30,000.00 12PO0056 Road Upgrading (Gravel to concrete) of Claveria Calanasan Kabugao Road Declared Strategic Tourist Destination (DSTD), K0625+190 K0630+415, and K0651+413 K0652+700 (I.S.) Apayao FY 2013: Regular Infrastructure Program Php 145,500,000.00 PCCP, Stone Masonry, etc. 269 Calendar Days Php 40,000.00 12PO0057 Road Upgrading (Gravel to Concrete) of Mountain Province- Ilocos Sur via Tue Road K0388+000 K0393+380 (I.S) Mt. Province FY 2013: Regular Infrastructure Program Php 123,907,800.00 PCCP, Roadway excavation (Solid Rock), Stone Masonry, etc. 260 Calendar Days Php 40,000.00 12PO0058 Road Upgrading (Gravel to concrete) of Claveria Calanasan Kabugao Road K0687+000 K0690+073 Apayao FY 2013: Regular Infrastructure Program Php 73,652,100.00 PCCP, Stone Masonry, etc. 237 Calendar Days Php 30,000.00
(Sgd.)REYNALDO G. TAGUDANDO Regional Director

(MST-Nov. 30, 2012) (MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Office of the District Engineer

La Union First Engineering District Lingsat, City of San Fernando
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Office of the District Engineer

La Union First Engineering District Lingsat, City of San Fernando
Invitation to Bid for Rehabilitation/Repair of Main Access Road/Road Leading to Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), San Fernando City, La Union
The Department of Public Works and Highways, La Union First Engineering District, through the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Fund intends to apply the sum of Twenty Nine Million One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P29,100,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Rehabilitation/Repair of Main Access Road/Road Leading to Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), San Fernando City, La Union. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening The Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District now invites bids for Rehabilitation of Main Access Road/Road Leading to Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), San Fernando City, La Union. Completion of the Works is One Hundred Forty Nine (149) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids. In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/ or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFls, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), RA 9184) A brief description of the scope of Works should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation. The Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District will hold a Pre-Bid Conference at 10:00 A.M. on December 6, 2012 at the Conference Room, DPWH La Union First Engineering District, Lingsat, City of San Fernando. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 12:00 Noon, December 20, 2012 at the DPWH La Union First Engineering District, Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union. 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 Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all 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:
Invitation to Bid for

Rehabilitation/Repair of Mayor Lorenzo L. Dacanay Avenue (formerly California Avenue), San Vicente-Pagudpud Road), Road infront of the San Fernando-Airport, San Fernando City, La Union
The Department of Public Works and Highways, La Union First Engineering District, through the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Fund intends to apply the sum of Nineteen Million Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (P19,400,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Rehabilitation/Repair of Mayor Lorenzo L. Dacanay Avenue (formerly California Avenue), San Vicente-Pagudpud Road), Road infront of the San FernandoAirport, San Fernando City, La Union. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District now invites bids for Rehabilitation/Repair of Mayor Lorenzo L. Dacanay Avenue (formerly California Avenue), San Vicente-Pagudpud Road), Road infront of the San Fernando-Airport, San Fernando City, La Union. Completion of the Works is One Hundred Fifty Seven (157) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/ sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids. In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/ or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFls, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), RA 9184) A brief description of the scope of Works should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation. The Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District will hold a Pre-Bid Conference at 10:00 A.M. on December 6, 2012 at the Conference Room, DPWH La Union First Engineering District, Lingsat, City of San Fernando. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 12:00 Noon, December 20, 2012 at the DPWH La Union First Engineering District, Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union. 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 Department of Public Works and Highways La Union First Engineering District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all 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: Approved by: (Sgd.) ISABELO V. LOPEZ, JR. BAC Chairman DPWH La Union First Engineering District Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union Fax. No./ Tel. No. 072-700-2938 Noted:
Contract Location: Fund: Approved Budget Cost : Scope of work: Contract Duration: Cost of Bidding Documents: 3. Contract ID No: Contract Name: Contract Location: Fund: Approved Budget Cost : Scope of work: Contract Duration: Cost of Bidding Documents: 4. Contract ID No: Contract Name: Contract Location: Fund: Approved Budget Cost: Scope of work: Contract Duration: Cost of Bidding Documents:
Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget Cost shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Completion of the Works is required within the contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Document particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Contractors/applicants who are interested in the DPWH civil works are required to register prior to the set schedule of submission of bid while those already registered shall keep their records current and updated. Contractors eligibility to bid on the project will be determined using the DPWH Contract Profile Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualification. Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. 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 cost of Bidding Documents. Interested bidders can also make payments for the purchase of the Bidding Documents at any DPWH Field Offices. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of bids. Letters of Intent and/or applications for eligibility and latest Class A documents are to be accepted by the BAC together with the Bids and other relevant documents on or before the deadline for submission of bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region will hold a PreBid Conference on December 5, 2012, 10:00 AM at Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 2nd Floor Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region - Regional Office, Engineers Hill, Baguio City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and HighwaysCordillera Administrative Region, Engineers Hill, Baguio City and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Bids must be delivered on December 19, 2012, not later than 10:00 a.m. at Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 2nd Floor Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region - Regional Office, Engineers Hill, Baguio City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1. Bids will be opened in the presence of the owner or the bidders authorized representatives who choose to attend at the above. Late bids shall not be accepted. The Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: CLIFTON D. VALENCERINA OIC - Chief, Construction Division HEAD, BAC Secretariat (074) 300-6027 (Sgd.) CONSTANTE R. SARMIENTO Chief, Maintenance Division BAC Chairman
Approved by: (Sgd.) ISABELO V. LOPEZ, JR. BAC Chairman DPWH La Union First Engineering District Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union Fax. No./ Tel. No. 072-700-2938 Noted: (Sgd.) ELPIDIO C. PARAGAS District Engineer
(MST-Nov. 30, 2012)
(Sgd.) ELPIDIO C. PARAGAS District Engineer

(MST-Nov. 30, 2012) (MST-Nov. 30, 2012)

Manila Standard Today - Friday (November 30, 2012) Issue

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Descrizione originale:

Copyright

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Manila Standard Today - Friday (November 30, 2012) Issue

Caricato da

Copyright:

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Edsa revolt a proof Catholic vote exists

China triggers new irritant

New envoy to China

Enrile cites Arroyos growth contributions

Comelec okays 79 party-lists next polls

P121b infra projects to boost gains

LP bets accused of vote buying

Palace: Political ties no bearing in scam probe

Ortega asks govt to step up manhunt

Slamming the court. Patria Gloria, wife of the murdered doctor

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Alaminos China... mayor criticizes charges

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Comelec shielded from suppliers feud

Guinnnes for jigsaw. Filipino entrepreneur Georgina Gil-Lacuna, left, is

Enrile fumes over China cigarettes

THE government should heighten its

Zambo illegal mining probe gets House okay

NOVEMBER 30, 2012