wednesday, march 5, 2014

PHILIPPINES’
RICHEST
1. HENRY SY
$11.9 B
PAMPANGA
CIDG CHIEF
NABBED IN HQ
PAGE
4
2. LUCIO TAN
$6.1 B
3. ANDREW TAN
$4.7 B
4. ENRIQUE
RAZON JR.
$4.7 B
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 VOL. 32 NO. 64 ISSN 0116-3973
HHHHH
5. JOHN
GOKONGWEI JR.
$3.9 B
Luy drops
lawyer
4
6. DAVID
CONSUNJI
$3.3 B
7. GEORGE
TY
$2.3 B
LeBron
shoots
61 pts.
Warning shots
fired in Ukraine
4
8. TONY TAN
CAKTIONG
9. ROBERT
COYIUTO
10. ANDREW
GOTIANUN
$1.7 B
$1.5 B
$1 B
Marian
gets kudos
for sexy
pictorial
8
For reactions or comments: [email protected] or [email protected]
15
2
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Sy is richest Pinoy
By CHINO S. LEYCO
Mall-mogul Henry Sy Sr. and
his family remain the Philippines’
richest persons, according to
Forbes Magazine.
Based on Forbes’ 2014 Global
Billionaires’ list released yesterday, the Sy family’s 89-year-old
patriarch has an estimated net
worth of $11.9 billion – roughly
R533.3 billion – as of this month,
which is lower compared with
$13.2 billion last year.
“Sy’s fortune dropped by $1.8
billion mainly because shares of
his holding firm SM Investments
tumbled 30 percent in the past
year. They took a hit when the
company sold some shares to
institutional investors at a discount to market price,” Forbes
explained.
But despite the decline in net
worth, the Sy family is still among
the top richest people on the
planet, securing the 97th spot
in the Forbes’ elite list from 68th
place in 2013.
Sy, whose vast business empire
includes retailing, real-estate,
hospitality, banking, mining, education and healthcare services,
was born in Xiamen, China in
1924 and migrated to the Philippines to become the nation’s Retail King.
Sy family’s holding firm, SM
Investments Corporation (SMIC),
has consistently been cited as
one of the Philippines best-managed companies. The Chinese
businessman’s eldest daughter
Teresita Sy-Coson was also one
of Asia’s most powerful businesswomen in Forbes’ list.
The country’s second richest
clan is the family of tobacco king
Lucio Tan with an estimated net
worth of $6.1 billion, or R273.2
billion. His fortune is just enough
to keep him on the 227 spot in
Forbes’ billionaires’ list, an improvement from his 248 place
last year.
Net worth of the Tan family
swell from $5 billion last year after market valuation of the clan’s
shareholdings in flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) increased
amid speculations of a possible
buyout by diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation.
Tan, who was also born in Xiamen in 1934, has business interests in banking, airline, liquor, tobacco and real estate industries.
The 79-year-old taipan is also
often seen aboard his personal
helicopter in the Makati business
district.
Also joining the country’s richest list is Resort’s World Manila
owner Andrew Tan, 61, who landed on the third spot, with his estimated net worth of $4.7 billion,
which grew from $3.95 billion. He
heads holding company Alliance
Global Group, which owns realestate firm Megaworld.
Trailing Tan was the youngest among the country’s roster
of elites and port-handler turned
casino operator Enrique Razon Jr.
who saw his net worth at $4.7
billion. The Filipino billionaire had
inherited International Container
Terminal Services, Inc. in 1987
from his father.
Meanwhile, the 86-year-old
Chinese taipan John Gocongwei
Jr. is this year’s newcomer in
the billionaires’ list after his net
worth expanded to $3.9 billion
this year following his purchase
of a 27 percent stake stake in Ma-
nila Electric Company and raising
$620 million from the country’s
largest initial public operating of
his retail business.
Other Filipino businessmen who
made in the Forbes’ billionaires’
list were construction magnate
David Consunji ($3.3 billion), Metrobank group founder George
Ty and family ($2.3 billion), fast
food chain Jollibee founder Tony
Tan Caktiong ($1.7 billion), car
dealership magnate Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion) and Filinvest
group founder Andrew Gotianun
($1 billion).
Meanwhile, 2013 billionaires
like founders of retailing chain
Puregold Lucio and Susan Co as
well as Alphaland chair and former Finance minster Roberto V.
Ongpin did not make it to 2014
Forbes’ billionaires’ list.
American tourists
warned vs measles
United States authorities have
warned American tourists to be
properly vaccinated when traveling to the Philippines after federal health officials tracked numerous cases of measles in the US
to people who recently traveled
here.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), a total of 54 cases of
measles have so far been recorded in the US this year, including
a dozen in people who had recently traveled to the Philippines.
In comparison, an average of 60
cases of measles are recorded
each year in the US.
Dr. Jane Seward, CDC’s deputy
director for the division of viral
diseases, said one of the cases
involved a college student from
California who recently visited
the Philippines where he caught
measles and then infected his
Stronger Skyway
Changes in the design of Skyway may include the installation of
higher and stronger guardrails.
The Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH), one of the
agencies looking into the possible
design improvements of Skyway,
has this in mind amid recent accidents along the elevated expressway.
“The railings itself could be
changed to increase elevation and
height. That’s all,” DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, who is
in charge of regional operations,
said.
Momo said there is no so much
to be changed in Skyway except
for the road railings because of its
“complete” design.
DPWH was holding meeting with
the Skyway management Tuesday
to determine if the expressway’s
barrier design needs to be improved.
The technical experts will make
recommendations on the possible
design changes on Skyway.
Skyway’s railings have been
constructed in accordance to approved design standards of American Association of State Highways
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
He said the concrete barriers will
be retained and further strengthened to prevent vehicles from falling down. (Raymund Antonio)
two brothers. Seward said in a
statement that there is a big possibility that the student infected
thousands of people he came
in contact with including in his
classes and while commuting in
the days before he got sick.
She further disclosed that 18
of these cases involved US residents who were not vaccinated
and contracted measles abroad,
including seven cases in young
children. Four cases, on the other
hand, were in foreign tourists.
Seward said at least 21 of the
54 recorded cases have been detected in California. (Roy C. Mabasa)
Kim won’t
say sorry
Commissioner Kim S. JacintoHenares of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) will not say sorry
over a newspaper advertisement
portraying doctors as tax evaders.
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has earlier decried the
commercial as unfair and degrading to the profession.
The ads shows a female doctor who earns more riding on the
shoulder of a female teacher who
earns less but pays more income
tax than the latter.
Ms. Henares said the advertisement is part of a campaign of the
Department of Finance and the
BIR shaming tax cheats.
“If you don’t pay correct
taxes you are a burden to other tax payers who pay correct
taxes,” Ms. Henares said. (Jun
Ramirez)
Local News
Bill expanding
‘Sotto Law’ OK’d
A bill expanding the coverage
on journalists’ right to protect the
source of a news report obtained
in confidence has hurdled the
Committee on Public Information
in the House of Representatives
(HoR).
The panel chaired by Misamis
Occidental 1st district Rep.
Jorge Almonte earlier approved
Committee Report 50 on House
Bill (HB) 362, which is titled “An
Act amending R.A. No. 53, as
amended, otherwise known as ‘An
Act to exempt the Publisher, Editor,
or Reporter of any Publication from
revealing the source of published
news or information obtained in
confidence’ by including within
its coverage journalists from
broadcast, news agencies and
internet publications.”
Republic Act No. 53 or “The Sotto
Law” has been the journalist’s
privilege statute which ensures
that s/he can refuse to reveal
the source of a confidential news
report or information except
when the court or a Committee of
Congress finds that the revelation
is demanded by the security of
the State.
“The reason for the rule is
that the identity of sources of
a confidential news information
must be protected, otherwise
the spring of data for news or
commentary dries up and the
mission of the press to check and
balance and expose wrongdoing
is impeded,” del Mar said. (Ellson
Quismorio)
Recruitment
firm closed
T h e P h i l i p p i n e O ve r s e a s
Employment Administration (POEA)
has shutdown the operation of
another recruitment agency, which
deploys overseas Filipino workers
(OFW) in Taiwan, due to illegal
collection of placement fees.
In a statement, POEA
administrator Hans Cacdac said
POEA cancelled the license of
Jade Jobwell Philippines, Inc. after
receiving reports it excessively
charged placement fees from its
six applicants.
Citing the affidavits from the
complainants, Cacdac, said most
of them were required to pay
R160,000, which exceeds the
allowed placement fee in Taiwan
amounting, which should only be
equivalent to their one month’s
salary.
POEA also cited Jobwell’s failure
to issue the necessary receipts for
the said transactions and some
counts of misrepresentation in
revoking the license of the erring
agency.
Cacdac said with the cancellation
order now in effect, the officers of
the Jobwell has now been blacklisted
and has been banned from hiring
overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
(Samuel Medenilla)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
3
Ash Wednesday Season of Prayer
Ash Wednesday marks the start of
Lent, the season of prayer, penance,
and reflection before the resurrection
of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday 40
days later. This year, Ash Wednesday
falls on March 5, 2014. It is a day
of fasting and abstinence. Church
officials urge the faithful to take the
Sacrament of Penance for spiritual
renewal in preparation for Easter
Sunday on April 20, 2014, the central
feast of Christendom.
Catholics observe Ash Wednesday
by hearing Mass and having their
foreheads imposed with a cross
using ashes mixed with either oil
of the cathechumens or holy water
by priests in violet vestments or lay
persons, as a sign of conversion,
penance and a reminder of mortality.
The ashes used are gathered from
burnt palaspas (palm fronds) from
the previous year’s Palm Sunday
rites.
Ash Wednesday is observed in
many countries including in the
United States of America, United
Kingdom, and Ireland. As in the
Philippines, it is a holy occasion, when
people traditionally come to church
to receive the cross of ashes on their
foreheads. Prior to Vatican II in 1965,
which made sweeping changes in
Church liturgy, the ash imposition
was done within the Mass. Because of
huge number of devotees queuing up
for the ritual, the imposition of ashes
is now allowed in designed lines even
outside the Church.
During the imposition of ashes,
priests or religious and lay ministers
say, “Turn away from sin and be
faithful to the Gospel” or “Remember,
you are dust, and to dust you will
return (Genesis 3:19). The imposition
of ash on foreheads dates back to
10th century when ash was a symbol
of purification and penitence.
We offer our prayers to the
Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio
Cardinal G. Tagle, and the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, headed by LingayenDagupan Archbishop Socrates B.
Villegas, President; Davao Archbishop
Romulo G. Valles, Vice President; Palo
Archbishop John F. Du, Treasurer;
and Fr. Marvin S. Mejia, Secretary
General, and the Filipino Catholic
faithful in their solemn observance
of Ash Wednesday. MAY GOD BLESS
US ALL!
Optimism on Philippine growth prospects
Private sector outlook about
the profitability of business in the
Philippines is bright, according to
a survey of businessmen, which
showed that 80% of respondents
expected the economy to perform
well as it did in 2013, because of
strong fundamentals and other
positive factors auguring well for
doing business in the country.
The survey in Manila on February
17-18, 2014, by the Global Research
Team of London-based Standard
Chartered Bank (StanChart) gauged
the sentiment of top local corporate
and investor clients on issues
affecting businesses this year. The
international investor community
is effective on growth prospects
of the Philippines, the British bank
said, noting that economic optimism
is strong and global sentiment has
improved in 2013, with investment
becoming a “broader, deeper”
growth engine.
The Philippines attained a robust
7.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth in 2013 by improving its
business policy to attract more private
investments in local businesses
StanChart said the Philippines made
significant improvements, particularly
in “dealing with construction permits,”
“getting credit,” and “paying taxes.”
This year, the country ranked 108th
in Ease of Doing Business from 133
a year ago. The British bank said
investment growth contributed 1.5percentage point to GDP growth over
the past seven quarters, providing the
economy with a secondary growth
mover. The improved global economy
could support stronger foreign direct
investment growth in the country,
it said.
The Philippine government
expects growth to exceed 6.5% in
first quarter of 2014, supported
by stronger imports and tourism
earnings, and boosted by revenues
from remittances, business process
outsourcing, and public spending for
major infrastructure projects. Key
industries made big strides in 2013,
among them manufacturing, which
grew by 10.5%, and tourism.
We congratulate the Members
of the Philippine Economic Team:
Department of Finance Secretary
Cesar V. Purisima, Department of
Budget and Management Secretary
Florencio B. Abad, Department
of Trade and Industry Secretary
Gregory L. Domingo, Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M.
Tetangco Jr., and National Economic
and Development Authority DirectorGeneral Arsenio M. Balisacan, and
other Officers, for their contributions
to the positive economic growth
performance of the Filipino people
in our Republic of the Philippines
that were cited in global rankings.
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S A N D
MABUHAY!
Man with first artificial heart dies
PARIS – A septuagenarian man
who was fitted with the French
biomedical firm Carmat’s first
artificial heart two and half months
ago has died, a hospital statement
said Monday.
“Seventy-five days after the
implant of the first Carmat artificial
heart bioprosthesis in a 76-year-old
man with a terminal heart disease,
the patient died on March 2, 2014,”
the Georges-Pompidou European
Hospital said.
Artificial hearts have already
been in use for many years as a
temporary fix for patients with
chronic heart problems.
The Carmat product aims to
provide a longer-term solution to
bridge the wait for a donor heart
and enable hospitalized patients
to return home and maybe even
THE artificial heart designed by
Carmat is designed to replace
the real heart over the long run.
resume work.
The hospital statement said the
causes of death “will not be known
until after a thorough analysis of the
abundant medical and technical data
that has been recorded.”
The artificial heart, a self-contained
unit implanted in the patient’s chest,
uses soft “biomaterials” and an array
of sensors to mimic the contractions
of the heart.
The patient had received his
artificial heart on December 18,
in a world first performed after
the French government gave its
green light to the operation in
September.
They paid homage to the patient,
who was “fully aware of what was at
stake and – with his trust, courage
and will – made a memorable
contribution to the medical battle
against a growing disease.”
Nearly 100,000 people in Europe
and the United States are in need
of a heart transplant, according to
Carmat. (AFP)
World News
Women with new
wombs get embryos
CLOSE up of a screen showing an image of an embryo.
STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Four
Swedish women with transplanted
uteruses have received testtube embryos in a cutting-edge
bid to fall pregnant, Swedish
researchers said Monday.
“I cannot verify if any of
them are pregnant or not,” said
Mats Braennstroem, head of
the research team at Sweden’s
Gothenburg University. “We will
wait until late pregnancy to release
any data on that.”
The embryos – produced
by in-vitro fertilisation – were
transferred into the transplanted
wombs during the past month.
The researchers said “the
prospects for success are good”,
but they did not expect all four
women to get pregnant on the
first attempt.
The patients are part of a
group of nine who had received
transplants of wombs donated by
close relatives since September
2012.
In two cases, the transplant was
unsuccessful and the womb had to
be removed. Another three women
are expected to receive embryos in
late March or early April.
The world’s first transplant of a
uterus, donated by a 46-year-old
to a 26-year-old, took place in
Saudi Arabia in 2002.
Gates reclaims title
as world’s richest
N
E
W
YORK (AP)
– Microsoft
co-founder
Bill Gates is
once again the
world’s richest
person.
F o r b e s
magazine
announced its
ranking of the world’s billionaires
Monday. Gates, who led the list for
15 of the past 20 years, won the spot
back from Mexican telecom mogul
Carlos Slim Helu, who had topped the
list for the past four years. Gates’ net
worth is estimated at $76 billion; Slim
Helu follows at $72 billion.
Spanish clothing magnate
Amancio Ortega, known for the
Zara retail chain, maintained his
No. 3 spot and came out ahead of
famed U.S. investor Warren Buffett,
who ranked fourth. Larry Ellison of
Oracle came in fifth.
The largest net worth gainer
on the list was Facebook’s Mark
Zuckerberg, who more than
doubled his fortune to $28.5 billion
as the value of his company’s stock
soared. He ranks 21st on the list.
4
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Pampanga
CID chief
nabbed for
‘hulidap’
By AARON B. RECUENCO and FRANCO G. REGALA
Police operatives arrested
Monday the Pampanga Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group
(CIDG) head in a raid right on
its headquarters for allegedly
extorting money from big-time
drug traffickers.
The raiding cops who happened
to be CIDG operatives arrested
Chief Ins pe c t o r B ienve n id o
Reydado after finding him keeping
a cache of loose firearms and R2.6
million cash.
The incident also resulted in
the relief of Senior Supt. Vic
Valencia, CIDG regional officer
of Central Luzon, for command
responsibility, and all Pampanga
CIDG personnel.
Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong,
CIDG director, said the raid on their
Pampanga provincial office is but
a proof that they do not tolerate
wrongdoings in their ranks.
“The most important here is
that we ourselves are acting on
rogue elements of the CIDG,” said
Magalong who personally led the
raid on Monday afternoon.
Magalong said they have long
been receiving reports about a
modus operandi of Pampanga
CIDG operatives which they
dubbed as “Agaw Bato.”
Based on the intelligence reports,
the group of Reydado would target
foreign drug traffickers operating
in Pampanga and nearby areas.
“In some cases, they were also
monitored to have conducted their
illegal activities in Metro Manila,”
said Magalong.
Once an arrest was made,
the group of Reydado would
then bring the suspects to their
safehouse, not in CIDG office,
where they would demand huge
sum of money in exchange for the
dropping of the drug charges.
While they would release the
drug suspects after paying their
demand, Magalong said the
confiscated drug would remain
with the cops.
That seized drugs, according to
Magalong, would be then sold by
Reydado’s group.
The R2.6 million seized from
Reydado and his men, he said, is
believed to be proceeds from their
illegal operations.
A separate raid, it was learned,
was also conducted on the group’s
safehouse in Bulacan.
Seized during the operations
a s i d e fro m c a s h w e re fou r
high-powered firearms and 11
handguns, five Sports Utility
Vehicles and two motorcycles.
Magalong said Reydado and his
men were surprised of the raid.
Also arrested during the
operation were six CIDG civilian
agents tagged as Reydado’s
trusted men.
They were identified as Adriano
Laureta, Arnold Sanggalang,
Eric Reydado, Pedrito Tadeo,
Alberto Reydado and Edwardson
Sisracon.
Based on background check,
Sisracon was found to be the
second most wanted in Naic town
in Cavite.
“Based on the initial reports,
these felons are being utilized by
Reydado in his illegal activities,”
said Magalong.
Magalong said they first heard of
Reydado’s illegal activity in August
last year, the very month that he
was assigned as Pampanga’s CIDG
provincial officer.
Magalong said Reydado might
have gotten the idea of his illegal
activities when he was still in
PDEA.
It was learned that Reydado
is a member of the Philippine
National Police Academy (PNPA)
Class 1991.
Reydado was already slapped
with drug related charges but the
cases were dismissed.
Luy drops lawyer
By LEONARD POSTRADO
Pork barrel scam whistleblower
Benhur Luy has dropped Levito
Baligod as legal counsel, four
days after the 43-year-old lawyer
brought two new witnesses to the
Office of the Ombudsman.
Luy, however, insisted that it
had nothing to do with Baligod’s
recent action.
Baligod had come under fire from
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima over
the acceptance of new witnesses
in the multi-billion peso racket of
Janet Lim-Napoles, involving the
Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) of legislators.
In a one-page letter, Luy denied
that the rift between De Lima and
Baligod was the reason why he
decided to replace his counsel.
Baligod’s lack of time was cited
by Luy as his reason for replacing
his lawyer.
“It has been a rough and rugged
words for us, and for all you have
done, I am eternally thankful.
However, I have noticed that you
were very busy with your other
advocacies that is why I have
decided to pursue this journey
even without you guiding me. It
will not be easy though but this
will mutually benefit us in the end,”
read Luy’s letter, which he signed
before the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) on Monday
“I would like to thank you for
your time in protecting my rights
and representing me in my legal
battles. My family and I wish you
all the best in your life especially
in pursuing your advocacies. With
deep gratitude for our friendship,
I formally release you from any
obligation and/or contract to litigate
on my behalf and to represent me
as legal counsel effective 03 March
2014,” he added.
Sought for her comment, De
Lima said she respected the
decision of Luy.
“We have to respect Benhur
Luy’s decision, prerogative yan
ng kliyente to change his lawyer.
Maski si Atty. Baligod alam nya yan
at nirerespeto nya yan,” de Lima
said in a press briefing yesterday
at the DOJ in Manila.
“Yun ang kanyang sinasabi (lack
of time) so you know as you know
attorney-client relationship is a
privileged matter and it is based
primarily on trust and therefore
it’s the prerogative of the client to
change his counsel,” she added.
De Lima said she had heard
about it but was hoping Luy
and Baligod will patch up their
differences.
“I have not spoken to Benhur
although dati ko nang narinig na
parang nagtatampo na si Benhur
na parang wala nang oras sa
kanya si Atty. Baligod. That was a
few weeks ago or several weeks
ago, but I thought mapa-patch
up whatever yung differences.
I thought na hindi dadating sa
ganito but apparently hindi. But
we have to respect Benhur’s
decision,” the DOJ chief said.
As to other possible reasons, De
Lima said she would not venture
a guess.
“Kung may iba pang dahilan,
mahirap pakialaman yan, because
that’s a privileged matter. Prerogative
po yan ng isang kliyente kung
gusto nyang palitan ang kanyang
abogado,” she explained.
Warning shots fired
vs Ukraine soldiers
SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine (AP)
– Vladimir Putin ordered tens
of thousands of Russian troops
participating in military exercises
near Ukraine’s border to return
to their base as US Secretary of
State John Kerry was on his way
to Kiev, as tensions in the strategic
Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea
remain high as troops loyal to
Moscow fired warning shots at
protesting Ukrainian soldiers.
It was not clear if Putin’s move
was an attempt to heed some of
the West’s call to de-escalate the
crisis that has put Ukraine’s future
on the line.
It came Kerry was on his way
to Kiev to meet with the new
Ukrainian leadership that has
accused Moscow of military
invasion. The Kremlin, which does
not recognize the new Ukrainian
leadership, insists it made the
move in order to protest millions
of Russians living there.
On Tuesday, pro-Russian troops
who had taken control of the
Belbek air in the Crimea region
fired warning shots into the air as
around 300 Ukrainian soldiers, who
previously manned the airfield,
demanded their jobs back.
About a dozen Russian soldiers
at base stood guarding the airfield
and warned the Ukrainians, who
were marching unarmed, not
to approach. They fired several
warning shots into the air and said
they would shoot the Ukrainians if
they continued to march toward
them.
The shots were the first fired
since pro-Russian troops –
estimated by Ukrainian authorities
to be 16,000 strong, tightened
their grip on the Crimea Peninsula
over the weekend.
There was no fighting elsewhere
in Crimea early on Tuesday.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
NEWS ROUNDUP
NPA fighter killed in clash
MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon – Government troops killed a New People’s
Army (NPA) member during an encounter in Barangay Basak, Lantapan, Bukidnon.
Troopers belonging to the 8th Infantry Battalion recovered an AK47 assault rifle from the dead rebel, reportedly a member of the NPA
Guerrilla Front 68.
Traces of blood were also seen in the escape route of the insurgents.
Capt. Christian Uy, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, said the rebel
group was responsible for the burning of farm equipment of an agricultural company in Bukidnon. (Camcer Ordoñez Imam)
Lonely widower hangs self
BAUANG, La Union – Missing the love of his wife and the presence
of his children, a 72-year-old widower committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree using a nylon cord in Barangay Bawanta, this
municipality.
Chief Inspector Armand Depalog, Bauang Police chief, identified the
suicide as Herminio Vergara.
Investigators learned that the victim was earlier seen drinking liquor and telling a neighbor that he wanted to end his life.
“Hindi naman daw pinapansin dahil hindi naman alam na totohanin
n’ya ito, police said.
Aside from missing his wife, he also longed for the love of his children who were living away from him. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)
Girl, 8, drowns in Ilocos River
SARRAT, Ilocos Norte – An eight-year-old girl drowned while swimming in the deep portion of Padsan River in Barangay 8, Sarrat, Ilocos
Norte, last Monday.
Police said the victim, Precious Lara Ceredon, a Grade 3 pupil and
resident of Barangay 8, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was already dead when
recovered by rescuers.
Investigation showed that the victim and her classmate were crossing the river to swim when the victim drowned upon reaching the
deep portion of the water. (Freddie G. Lazaro)
Village dad shot dead in Ilocos
STA. LUCIA, Ilocos Sur – A village councilor was shot dead in broad
daylight Monday at his vulcanizing shop in Barangay Nagtablaan,
Santa Lucia town.
Chief Inspector Benedicto Cardenas, Santa Lucia town chief of police, identified the victim as William Jimenez, village councilor and former barangay chairman of Barangay Nagtablaan, Santa Lucia town.
Investigation showed that the shooting incident happened at about
8 a.m., Monday.
The victim was vulcanizing an interior wheel of a tractor when two
unidentified men wearing bull caps suddenly arrived and shot him
several times.
The village official died on the spot from bullet wounds in the chest
and other parts of the body.
Police recovered from the crime scene empty shells of .45-caliber
pistol. (Freddie G. Lazaro)
Man with shabu found dead
A suspected member of the notorious “Bahala Na Gang” was found
dead with multiple bullet wounds in the body inside a vacant house in
Quezon City before dawn yesterday.
The still unidentified victim, about 20 to 30 years old, 5’1’’ tall and
fair complexioned, was still holding a plastic sachet containing shabu
when discovered inside an abandoned house at No- 12-B Basilan
Street, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, at about 1:30 a.m.
Police said the victim had a “Bahala Na Gang” tattoo on his right
thigh.
Investigators also found in the crime scene illegal drugs paraphernalia such as three plastic lighters, two improvised tooters, and four
aluminum foils; and cartridges and deformed bullet slugs of .45-caliber pistol. (Jeffrey G. Damicog)
5
8 hurt in Cotabato grenade blast
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Eight market vendors, two of them minors, were
wounded when a fragmentation grenade went off inside a public market in
Midsayap, North Cotabato, around 8:45 p.m., Monday, police reports said.
The Midsayap Police identified the
blast victims as Kryza Jane Torrejas,
13; Liezel Ann Pocapotan, 14; Virginia Cablas, 56; Quintin Trastisa, 32;
Paula Angelie Masicampo, 20; Rodrigo Cataytay Jr, 31; Bernie Cuerpo,
22, and Charles Monsanto Guhitia,
22, all residents of Midsayap.
Five of the blast victims were
rushed to a private hospital in Midsayap while the rest were transferred to the Cotabato Regional and
Medical Center in Cotabato City.
Senior Inspector Henry Narciso,
deputy chief of Midsayap Police, said
unidentified men on board a mo-
torcycle lobbed the grenade inside
the public market while the victims
were busy preparing their products
for the market day on Tuesday.
Authorities have yet to find out
the motive and those responsible for
another bomb attack in North Cotabato. (Malu Cadelina Manar)
Palace condemns NPA landmine attack
Malacañang condemned yesterday the latest landmine attack of the
New People’s Army (NPA) in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, saying that it is a
clear violation of the Comprehensive
Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL) between the government and
the National Democratic Front (NDF).
“We join the AFP (Armed Forces
of the Philippines) in condemning the latest attack of the NPA in
Bansalan, Davao del Sur,” Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. said yesterday.
“This brazen act of the NPA is
in violation of the Comprehensive
Agreement on Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law
(CAHRIHL) that was signed by government of the Philippines and the
NDF in The Hague, Netherlands in
March 1998,” he said.
The AFP has already stated that
it will also file charges of frustrated
murder against NPA members who
planted the improvised explosive
devices (IEDs) in Bansalan.
A convoy of ambulances consisting of the Red Cross Davao del Sur
chapter and the Davao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (PDRRMC)
were hit by a landmine that exploded Sunday night.
The ambulances were supposed
to pick up 11 wounded soldiers that
night.
The landmine injured five civilian
volunteers. (Madel Sabater-Namit)
Florida bus lost brake prior to crash – driver
The driver and conductor of the
ill-fated passenger bus that fell off a
cliff in Bontoc, Mt. Province, claimed
that the vehicle experienced mechanical glitches right before meeting a fatal accident last month.
Bus driver Edgar Reynon and
conductor Jeremiah Agnapan yesterday took the witness stand during the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s
(LTFRB) hearing of the case against
GV Florida Transport Inc. (Florida).
The ill-fated bus marked with Florida trade name but used a license
plate registered with Mt. Province
Cable Tours and engine and chassis
registered with Dagupan Bus Company reportedly left Manila at 8:35
p.m. of February 6.‎ The bus fell off
the Bontoc-Banaue Road at about
7:20 a.m. the following day.
Reynon and Agnapan recounted
that the bus was supposed to drop
off two passengers in Barangay
Bayo on the morning of February 7
but the brake did not work.
“The bus only slowed down but
it didn’t come to a full stop. The
brake didn’t work,”‎ Reynon said in
the vernacular as he testified about
the bus’ malfunctioning brake.
Hearing nervous shouts from the
passengers, Agnapan decided to
jump off the bus.
“The bus was going down hill and
failed to stop. I decided to jump
fearing for my safety,” said Agnapan, who was not a licensed conductor at the time of the accident.
For his part, Reynon said nervous
passengers tried to convince him to
drive the bus to hit the mountain
but he didn’t.
“I was still in control of the vehicle so I didn’t but the tire of the
right front wheel burst and the left
side of the road was sandy. I lost
control after that then the bus fell,”
he added.
R
‎ eynon, who admitted to have
started driving Mt. Province Cable
Tours buses since 2012, said he
only started working for GV Florida
Transport Inc. five months before
the accident happened.
Reynon also admitted that he
transported passengers during
his apprenticeship with GV Florida
Transport. (Kris Bayos)
ILAGAN City
(Isabela) Mayor
Josemarie ‘Jay’
Diaz plays with
a 72-kilo python
at the Ilagan
Sanctuary in
Barangay Santa
Victoria. Of
all the wildlife
animals at the
city’s Animal
Kingdom, the
giant snake is
said to be the
most visitorfriendly. (Photo
by Ceasar M.
Perante)
6
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 5, 2014
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY
15, 2014
The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre,
Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Cris J. Icban
Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Officers and Employees, congratulate
the government of the Republic of the Philippines headed by H.E., President
Benigno S. Aquino III and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas headed by its
Chairman and Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr., on their commitment in
providing proactive leadership in bringing about a strong financial system
conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy for our Filipino
people of our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!
EDITORIAL
Remittances reach new record highs
T
HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently announced that remittances from overseas
Filipinos registered a new record high of US$2.4 billion in December, 2013, up by 12.5 percent
from the same month last year. This was the ninth consecutive month in 2013 that personal
remittances breached the US$2-billion mark. This resulted in a full-year remittance record of
US$25.1 billion in 2013, higher by 7.6 percent than the previous year’s level.
The increase was propelled by the robust growth in remittances of land-based workers with
work contracts of one year or more (6.1 percent) and transfers of sea-based workers and
land-based workers with short-term contracts (7.8 percent). Cash remittances from overseas
Filipinos coursed through banks reached the highest level to date of US$2.2 billion in December,
2013, a 9.1 percent increase from the level registered in the same period a year ago. For the
entire year of 2013, cash remittances posted a 6.4 percent increase to reach US$22.8 billion,
exceeding the BSP’s projection of 5 percent growth for the year. Cash transfers from land-based
and sea-based workers grew by 6 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Cash remittances from
land-based workers in the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab
Emirates, Singapore, Canada, and Japan accounted for more than three-fourths (77.1 percent)
of the total.
The solid growth of remittances from overseas Filipinos is a huge support and boost to the
country’s economic activity, with cash remittances accounting for 8.4 percent of the country’s
economic activity, with cash remittances accounting for 8.4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in 2013. remittances remained robust due to the strong demand for skilled Filipino
manpower abroad, particularly in the Middle East. As of end-December 2013, commercial banks
established tie-ups, remittance centers, correspondent banks, and branches/representative offices
serving our workers abroad reached 4,740.
Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that
the number of deployed workers for the year reached 1.8 million. POEA approved job orders totaled
793,415 for 2013, of which about two-fifths (40.9 percent) were job orders mainly for services,
production, professional, technical, and related workers intended for the manpower requirements
of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Qatar.
The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and
Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Officers and Employees, congratulate the
government of the Republic of the Philippines headed by H.E., President Benigno S. Aquino III
and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas headed by its Chairman and Governor Amando M. Tetangco
Jr., on their commitment in providing proactive leadership in bringing about a strong financial
system conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy for our Filipino people
of our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Mayor convicted
for proxy weddings
For getting another person to
solemnize two weddings on his behalf,
an incumbent Nueva Ecija mayor was
sentenced to two four-year jail terms
by the Sandiganbayan.
Mayor Amado R. Corpuz of Cuyapo
was found guilty of two counts of
falsification of public documents for
allowing a proxy to stand in for him
to officiate two wedding ceremonies
in 2009.
Corpuz had the two grooms
defending him but their testimonies
failed to convince the anti-graft court
on the mayor’s innocence.
Instead, Associate Justices Efren
de la Cruz, Rodolfo Poneferrada,
and Rafael Lagos gave weight to
the testimony of the stand-in who
showed up as prosecution witness.
The Sandiganbayan First Division
also ordered Corpuz to pay a fine of
R5,000 for each case.
The court held that the totality
of the prosecution’s evidence,
including the wedding pictures and
the testimony of photographers
and sponsors, trumped the mayor’s
defense.
Retired municipal civil registrar
Thelmo Corpuz testified that he was
assigned by the mayor to preside
over the weddings of spouses Manny
Asuncion and Dina Lumanlan on
October 28, 2009 and of spouses
Alex Pascual and Esperanza Arizabal
on December 18, 2009.
According to Corpuz, he agreed
to be the mayor’s proxy and told the
court that he decided to own up to
his part in the deception because of
his advanced age and “in order to
have peace of mind.”
But while Corpuz may have indeed
solemnized the weddings, it was
Corpuz who signed the marriage
contracts as solemnizing officer.
Bridegrooms Asuncion and Pascual
belied the witness’ claim, saying
that photographs taken during
their weddings showed Corpuz
standing in front of them and their
brides were taken during marriage
counseling sessions before the actual
ceremony.
However, the photographers
contracted by the couples denied
the defense’s claim, saying there
no wedding photos showing the
mayor in the act of solemnizing the
marriage. (Ben R. Rosario)
Kasangga Mo ang Langit Reflections Today
Of Trees and Forest
Almsgiving,
Metro Manila braces prayer, fasting
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
for traffic as road GospelE Reading:
S U S
[J s a i d t o
projects start
Rey Langit
Senator Manny Villar
Lower targets, same
objective: Help the poor
I
N 2000, leaders of 189
member-states of the
United Nations convened in its
headquarters in New York for
three days from September 6 to
8. It was touted as the largest
gathering of world leaders in
history during which they ratified
the United Nations Millennium
Declaration, which set eight
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) to help citizens of the
poorest countries to achieve a
better life by 2015.
Those eight MDGs were:
To eradicate extreme poverty
a n d h u n g e r ; To a c h i e v e
universal primary education;
To promote gender equality
and empowering women; To
reduce child mortality rates;
To improve maternal health;
To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria
and other diseases; To ensure
environmental sustainability; To
develop a global partnership for
development. The UN also listed
18 targets to achieve these eight
major goals.
I would like to cite one of
the targets as it applies to
the Philippines. Under MDG
to eradicate extreme poverty
and hunger, target one for the
Philippines is to halve the poverty
rate from 34.4 percent in 1991
to 17.2 percent in 2015.
In its online MDG watch,
which monitored the country’s
progress in achieving the
goal, the National Statistical
C o o rd i n a t i o n B o a rd ( N S C B )
projected that the poverty rate
will be at 25.2 percent by 2015,
which translates to a reduction
of just 9.2 percentage points
from the 1991 level, equivalent
to an average reduction of 0.483
points a year in 21 years. Come
deadline, we will be short of
target by 10.394 points.
Based on the results of its
monitoring, the NSCB says the
Philippines has a low probability
of hitting the target. The National
(Continued on page 11)
7
T
Bureau of health
education proposed
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Paulino
Salvador Leachon has filed a
measure to create a bureau of
health education integrating health
curriculum to cover elementary,
highschool and tertiary levels.
Citing the importance of an
integrated and comprehensive health
education program to promote the
right to health of the people and
heighten health consciousness,
Leachon insisted on the approval of
a law providing mandatory health
education reform order (HERO)
health curriculum.
House Bill 3901 aims to cover mental
and emotional health; the ill-effects
of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and
other drugs; personal and consumer
health; personal status, family, and
sex education; safety and injury
prevention; nutrition and fitness;
disease prevention and control; health
in the workplace, and health economics
and health insurance.
Under the proposed bill, the
bureau’s board of director of health
education shall be the policy-making
body that would develop the HERO
curriculum.
The board shall be composed
of the Department of Education,
Department of Health, Department of
Trade and Industry, Philippine Medical
Association, and the private sector.
Government must ensure that
no student under the Philippine
educational system shall enter the
school system without the proper
determination of his or her current
health, emotional, and psychological
status through appropriate screening
tests and medical examinations,
Leachon pointed out. (PNA)
HE word is out: traffic congestion
in Metro Manila is going to be
worse than usual for the next
couple of years. This is because
the government will begin work on
15 major road and infrastructure
projects this year. In fact, construction
of the Skyway Stage 3 project, a
14.8-kilometer, six-lane elevated
expressway that will connect the
North and South Luzon Expressways,
already began last month.
However, architect Felino Palafox,
Jr. claims that while these road
projects will help alleviate traffic in
the metro, it is not entirely viable to
the grand scheme of metro traffic. He
said that the government continues
to implement measures that are
biased to automobiles.
During the oil crisis of 1973,
Palafox said that countries and
cities elsewhere started looking for
alternative transport systems, and
found walking as a viable option.
He said that Metro Manila should
implement a traffic system that will
provide a right of way to pedestrians
and bikers. He also said that improving
mass transit systems such as the MRT
and LRT is crucial to solving the traffic
issue in Metro Manila.
Palafox stated that the government
could have done better by simply
continuing the vision provided for
by the Americans in post-World
War II – that is, construct a major
thoroughfare plan that consists
of six circumferential roads and
10 radial roads in Metro Manila.
Circumferential road no. 4 is now
known as EDSA, and that was
the only one that was completely
done. He noted that this traffic plan
included the installation of trains
stations around the metro.
Fortunately, aside from road
constructions and repairs, these
projects by the national government
include the extension of both the
MRT and LRT. In our radio show at
DWIZ 882 AM, Department of Public
Works and Highways Secretary
Rogelio L. Singson informed us
that improvement of mass transit
is crucial in improving the traffic
situation in the metro.
(Continued on page 11)
his disciples,]
“Take care not
to perform
righteous
deeds in order
that people
may see them;
otherwise, you will have no
recompense from your heavenly
Father. When you give alms, do not
blow a trumpet before you, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets to win the praise
of others. Amen, I say to you, they
have received their reward. But
when you give alms, do not let your
left hand know what your right is
doing, so that your almsgiving may
be secret. And your Father who
sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like
the hypocrites, who love to stand
and pray in the synagogues and
on street corners so that others
may see them. Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your
inner room, close the door, and
pray to your Father in secret. And
your Father who sees in secret will
repay you.
“When you fast, do not look
gloomy like the hypocrites. They
neglect their appearance, so that
they may appear to others to be
fasting. Amen, I say to you, they
have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your
head and wash your face, so that
you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is
hidden. And your Father who sees
what is hidden will repay you.”
Reflections
YOUR FATHER WHO SEES
IN SECRET. Jewish festivals
attract thousands of pilgrims to
Jerusalem. Beggars abound in
the city as people fulfill their duty
of giving alms in the temple or in
synagogues. Almsgiving in public
is a good opportunity to win the
praise of people.
We all need praise and affirmation.
Children acquire self-confidence
when praised for good behavior.
But praise cannot be the principal
motivation for adults’ actions.
(Continued on page 11)
8
1iiiiijiii
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
[email protected]
is currently studying abroad - intimating that he is bE
prove his feelings for her.
Highspeed
Ronald Constantino
ET'S START WITH This piece could be titled
"Nawawalang Bituin" or
"Naglalahong Bituin." But will
settle for "Whatever Happened
to ..."
Okey, let's start with JIRO
MANIO.
What a promising child actor.
Remember him in Maryo J. de
los Reyes' "Magnifico." The film
made him the youngest best child
actor; shown in international
filmfests.
Jiro is now in his 20s, the
father of two. And, it seems,
nowhere to be found. Hope the
ever patient Maryo J. can find
him and revive his career.
Also unheard of is JOHN WAYNE
SACE, another fine young actor.
He stood out in "Dekada '70."
How about BARON GEISLER?
Oh, he's still around and ready
to face the camera if an indie role
comes along.
Baron is the most gifted actor
of his generation .. . if and when
he's sober. He always vows to
stay away from alcohol, which is
his undoing.
Another very patient guy, Arnold
Vegafria, manages Baron.
Heard that SERENA DALRYMPLE
is through with her studies at La
Salle. Or is it St. Benilde?
Whatever, it'll be nice to see
L
JIRO Manio
again Serena onscreen, be it big
or small. Watched her recently on
Cinema One in a movie with the
great Dolphy and she was such a
joy to behold.
The former Child Wonder, NINO
MUHLACH, may not be too viSible,
but he's still around, doing mostly
indies. Superb in comic roles.
How about other child actors?
Would you believe that ATONG
REDILLAS is now a UP teacher?
And that Ateneo-educated RR
HERRERA is managing the family
business, Avis rent-a-car.
CHUCKlE DREYFUSS is now a
family man, appearing every now
and then on television.
MEL MARTINEZ is a chef, he
owns and runs Kusina ni Bunso
in the Morato area.
JOHN Wayne Sace
MARIAN Rivera (Instagram)
posted Anne on Instagram.
Marian and Anne had already done
a magazine pictorial together, along
with Judy Ann Santos, Angel Locsin
and Charlene Gonzales.
Marian told "Balita," "Si Anne
naman, friend ko na siya at
nagkasama kami sa pictorial ng
'Rouge' magazine, at kahit hindi
naman kami madalas nagkakausap
o nagkakasama, alam kong friend ko
siya."
She added, "Si Kathryn, siya ang
"May effort kumbaga," he
quipped in a report on ABS-CBN .
The 25-year-old actor said that
he and Concepcion make it a
point to communicate with each
other, despite being "sobrang busy
namin pareho."
"I'm doing a soap here and she's
in the US taking different classes,"
he intimated.
His friendship with Concepcion is
a source of inspiration for Avelino.
"Ngayon, I am inspired.
Sometimes you just want to
inspire someone, ganu'n din siya.
She's been inspiring me also,
giving me advice," he said .
Avelino shared that he likes
Concepcion for her beauty and
brains.
In a separate report on Push,
Concepcion said that she enjoys
Avelino's company.
"Feeling ko parang hindi lang
siya 'yung basta nag papa-cute,"
she said .
Avelino is busy taping for
"Honesto," which will air its final
'After Earth,' 'Movie 43' 5
SERENA Dalrymple
Marian praised for sexy pictorial
KAPUSO actress Marian Rivera
is overwhelmed with the praises
she received following her latest
appearance in popular men's
magazine, "FHM."
Among those who expressed their
admiration of Marian were several
artist from the rival Kapamilya network
including, Anne Curtis, Kathryn
Bemardo, Jodi Sta. Maria, and Denise
Laurel.
"Nakakaloka ung body mo
@therealmarian. GANDROOOUZ!"
Enterta
gumanap na batang Marian sa soap
naming 'Endless Love.' Si Jodi, hindi
pa kami nagkakilala nang personal,
pero pareho ang makeup artist namin,
si Krist Bansuelo. Kaya maraming
salamat na na-appreciate nila ang
pictorial ko."
The set of photos, shot by lensman
Mark Nicdao at Balesin Island in
Quezon Province, is part of FHM's
summer-themed March issue.
One photo showed Marian
seemingly wearing next to nothing but
a pair of earrings and necklace.
The issue is being touted as the
magazine's "best ever."
"So honored that 'FHM' asked me
to grace their cover again. Everything
is sweeter the second time around.
Gracias," read Marian's Instagram post.
Marian also graced the 150th special
issue of 'FHM' in January last year.
(Michael Joe T. Delizo/mb.com.
ph)
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
(Reuters) - Big budget sci-fi
flop "After Earth" and ensemble
comedy "Movie 43" led the
Razzie Awards on Saturday
while annual favorite Adam
Sandler went home emptyhanded at the ceremony that
mauled Hollywood's worst films
and performances of the year.
"After Earth," starring Will
Smith and his teenage son
Jaden, picked up three gold
spray-painted raspberry
accolades: Jaden Smith for
worst actor, Will Smith for worst
supporting actor and worst
screen combo for the father-son
stars.
The $130-million film, co-
WILL Smith (AP Photo)
written by Will Smith and
directed by M. Night Shyamalan,
was a major flop for Sony Corp's
It's another boy for Gw.
NEW YORK (AP) - Gwen Stefani
and Gavin Rossdale's brood of boys
has gotten bigger.
A representative for Rossdale
has confirmed that the musicians
on Friday welcomed their third son,
Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale.
Rossdale tweeted news of the birth
Saturday and said Bowie and Flynn
were their mothers' maiden names.
Apollo's brothers are five-year-old
Zuma and seven-year-old Kingston.
The 48-year-old Rossdale is a
musician best known as the lead
singer of the rock band Bush.
The 44-year-old Stefani is the lead
vocalist of the band No Doubt, and
GWEN Stefani and
Gavin Rossdale
(AP Photo)
has released two hit solo albums.
She's also a fashion designer.
-nment
NESTORCUARTERO
Editor
I
liP on KG
! for KC Concepcion - who
mt on doing everything to
kinabibilangan nina direktor Lore
Reyes at Joel Lamangan, actorpainter Mike Austria at ang mga
choreographer na sina Geleen
Eugenio at Lyn Tamayo. For more
inquiries, maaaring tawagan si
Ms. Cynthia (861-8586). Email
address is dmvhapa@yahoo.
com.ph.
Rowena Agilada
BANG level na ang sikat na
talent manager at supervising
producer na si Manny Valera.
Nagtayo siya ng DMV House of
Acting & Performing Arts (DMV
HAPA) at ginanap ang blessing
nito last Sunday (March 2). Nagcut ng ceremonial ribbon ang DMV
talents na sina Alessandra de Rossi
at Janella Salvador. Dumating din
ang ibang DMV talents na sina
Polo Ravales, Jennica Garcia,
Althea Vega, Alex Medina, Kerbie
Zamora at Neri Naig kasama ang
boyfriend na si Chito Miranda.
Andu'n din sina Mother Lily
Monteverde, direk Mel Chionglo,
direk Gil Portes, Ricky Davao at
Malou Choa-Fagar (,'Eat Bulaga"
executive producer). Ayon kay
Manny V., dream come true itong
project. Matagal na niyang gustong
magkaroon ng studio kung saan
magde-develop sila ng iba't ibang
talents tulad ng acting, singing,
dancing, painting, atbp.
Bukas ang DMV HAPA sa lahat
ng gustong matuto (bata at
matanda). Magsisimula ang
summer classes on April 2. Located
ito sa 5 Scout Magbanua corner
Roces Avenue, QC near Amoranto
I
eep Razzies
Columbia Pictures last year,
grossing just $60 million at the
US and Canadian box office .
Relativity Media's "Movie
43," which features 16 offbeat comedy sketches with
stars such as Halle Berry, Kate
Winslet and Hugh Jackman, won
worst picture, worst screenplay
for its 19 screenwriters,
and worst director for its 13
filmmakers.
The Razzies, created in
1980 as an antidote to the
backslapping of Hollywood's
awards season and now in
its 34th year, is held on the
evening before the glitzy Oscars
ceremony, the biggest night of
honors for the film industry.
:!n &. Gavin
The couple met in the mid-90's
and were married in 2002.
z:=:=:
.IIII/PII
9
Barbara Miguel gets Queens
World best actress nomination
Timing
episode on March 14.
Concepcion is in the US
taking up classes on acting
and professional development.
(Rowena Tan/mb.com.ph)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Nominated
BARBARA Miguel
Stadium. Magtuturo rin ng film
production, taekwondo, ballet,
pagtugtog ng piano, guitar at violin,
modern dance, zumba, hiphop,
ballroom dancing. Ang teachers ay
Sobrang proud ang GMA Artist
Center sa talent nitong si Barbara
Miguel. Nominated ang
bagets for Best Actress
sa 2014 Queens World
Film Festival (QWFF) sa
New York City for her
performance in "Nuwebe"
kung saan ginampanan ni
Barbara ang isang batang
ina.
Nabuntis siya at
nanganak sa edad
nuwebe. Ni-rape siya
ng kanyang stepfather
(Jake Cuenca). Si Nadine
Samonte ang gumanap
na ina ni Barbara. Mula ito
sa direksiyon ni Joseph
Israel Laban.
Naunang kinilala at pinarangalan
si Barbara bilang Best Actress
sa Harlem International Film
Festival sa naturang pelikula.
Napapanood si Barbara sa "Carmela
(Ang Pinakamagandang Babae
sa Mundong Ibabaw") bilang
itinuturing na kapatid ni Marian
Rivera.
Final week
Nakabalik na si Solenn Heussaff
mula sa Vietnam kasama ang
Argentinian boyfriend niya. Panay
nga ang post ni Solenn sa kanyang
Instagram account ng photos nila
ng kanyang BF.
Trabaho cum bakasyon na rin
ang ginawa ni Solenn . Nag-TV
shoot siya para sa isang commercial
at photo shoot para sa isang
magazine. Namasyal din sila ng
kanyang BF sa iba't ibang lugar sa
Vietnam.
Final week ngayon ng "Adarna"
at happy si Solenn na naging
bahagi siya ng fantaseryeng ito
ng GMA7.
Mamaya sa "Ada rna," magaaway sina Robin (Saab Magalona)
at Dayana (Solenn Heussaff) dahil
kay Migo (Geoff Eigenmann).
Inundayan ni Dayana ng magic
sampal si Robin at nagkabulutong
ito.
Bihag ni Garuda (Michelle
Madrigal) si Lupe/Larka (Jean
Garcia). Inalisan niya ito ng
memorya at nagbago ang itsura.
Hindi nakilala ni Lupe si Ada at
sinaktan niya ang anak.
Angel bonds with Luis' family
BARELY a month after
announcing that they are back
into each other's arms, Luis
Manzano and Angel Locsin
took time off from their busy
schedules to spend quality time
with the Rectos.
Fans of the lovers were thrilled
to see the couple's respective
post about Sunday's family
bonding.
Angel shared on Instagram
a photo of the get-together,
expressing, "finally, a day off!
(Half day off pero keri na!:
p) dinner with my awesome
boyfriend's family. I missed
them soo much! Thanks Love ko
@Iuckymanzano."
Luis, for his part, posted a
photo of Angel with his mother,
Batangas Governor Vilma
Santos. He wrote: "Having
dinner with these 2 lovely ladies,
the mommy and the girlfriend
@therealangellocsin."
The reunited couple recently
trended on Twitter when they
shared their sweetness on
national TV via "Minute to Win
It."
A supposed impending
marriage was also reported, with
both Kapamilya stars having
allegedly asked Kris Aquino to
take part as "ninang ."
In a separate interview with
"Tapatan ni Tunying," Luis'
mother gave a nine out of 10
rating for her "future daughterin-law."
The multi-awarded actress
also doesn't mind if ever the two
would decide to settle down.
"'Pag ready na sila ... Ang alam
ko lang masaya sila ngayon ...
Wala naman problema. Di
naman ako ang makikisama.
Plus, the fact na 'di na bago si
Angel, at least, I know they are
back (together) and maligaya
sila sa isa't isa, mas maligaya
kami for them." (Jecelyn V.
Macahindog/mb.com.ph)
ANGEL Locsin spends 'half day off' with Luis Manzano's family.
(Instagram)
10
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Villar...
Review of PRA’s
mandate sought
Senator Cynthia Villar proposed Monday to redirect
the mandate of the Philippine Reclamation Authority
(PRA) to the development of inland areas and
existing reclamation projects instead of proposing
more reclamation projects.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on
Government Corporations and Public Enterprises,
stressed that reclamation should be a last resort and
should only be done according to public interest.
“Dapat rebyuhin ang pangalan nila na Philippine
Reclamation Authority, kasi parang ang naging
mandate nila ang gumawa ng reclamation. Before
it was PEA, Public Estate Authority, to maximize
potentials of reclaimed areas. Ang hindi ko
maintindihan, bakit ginawang reclamation authority.
Ngayon ang nagiging idea, magre-reclaim nang
magre-reclaim even if it’s not according to public
interest,” Villar said.
During the second hearing of the committee on
the resolution seeking a review of the powers and
responsibilities of PRA, Villar said inland development
should be favored more than reclamation to avoid
environmental damage.
“In other countries, like Hong Kong, ang reclamation
talagang pinag-iisipan nila, unless there is no other
recourse, they resort to reclamation. Ang primary
interest is public interest, not to make money, not
any economic interest,” Villar said.
(From page 7)
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has
basically admitted the same.Last week, Economic
Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who is
concurrently NEDA director general, released some
details of the updated Philippine Development
Plan (PDP), including the revised targets related
to the MDGs.
The revised Philippine Development Plan
(PDP) adopted 2016, the last year of the Aquino
administration as the new deadline to achieve
the following targets: Reduce the poverty rate
from 25.2 percent in 2012 to 18 percent ; Reduce
the underemployment rate from 19.8 percent in
2013 to 17 percent; Reduce the unemployment
rate from 7.3 percent in 2013 to 6.5-6.7 percent;
Economic growth, as measured by the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) remains at the range of
7 to 8 percent a year.
These targets are okay with me. I believe these
are realistic. If you really want to accomplish
s o m e t h i n g , yo u s h o u l d s e t g o a l s t h a t a re
achievable.
Of course, targets should not be unreasonably low
because that would make them so unchallenging
as to be boring. On the other hand, targets should
not be so lofty and overly ambitious because that
would make them impossible to achieve, so they
go to the “in your dreams” section – nice to the
ears, but people won’t bother with them.
Now that the MDGs have been revised down to
realistic levels, taking into account the conditions
existing in the Philippines, the next task is to begin
working on them, and working hard to achieve
them. This is because lowering the goals also
means that we are “waiving” our chance at making
excuses if we fail.
In fairness, achieving the lower targets does not
make them insignificant, compared to the original
MDGs set by the United Nations Summit of 2000. For
instance, using a simple arithmetical computation
and the projected Philippine population of 100
million for this year as basis, to reduce the poverty
rate to 18 percent by 2016 will mean saving nine
million Filipinos from impoverishment a year, or
18 million in the next two years.
In sum, we stay on track with the primary
objective of the MDGs: to help our citizens achieve
a better life.
Let’s get on with it!
( Fo r c o m m e n t s / fe e d b a c k e m a i l t o : m b v.
[email protected] or visit www.mannyvillar.
com.ph)
Reflections...
(From page 7)
Humility is the mark of spiritual maturity. The key to
humility is to give God all the glory and praise.
In the Gospel, Jesus refers to our “good deeds” that
include penance, almsgiving, and prayer. We should
not put them in a box with our names pasted on it
for everyone to see. What is important is that nothing
escapes our heavenly Father who sees and knows
everything. Since
God’s reward is the only thing that ultimately matters,
we entrust everything to God.
***
If you look at the heavens, you don’t see the tag:
MADE BY GOD. God is not insecure. Ask for a share
of divine humility.
***
SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS,
7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 8959701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected];
Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
11
Bb. Pilipinas 2014
early favorites bared
A BEAUTY contest perpetual
watcher lists down a few of the
early favorites in the current
search for Bb. Pilipinas 2014. His
list includes:
Pia Romero Wurtzbach, 24,
from Cagayan de Oro. A former
ABS-CBN artist, she placed 1st
runner-up to Mutya Johanna Datul in Miss Supranational 2013.
24 year old Cebuana Kris Tiffany Janson is a finance Analyst at
a packaging company in Manila.
Yvette Marie Santiago is a native of Daraga, Albay who at 20,
is already a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining the Bb.
Pilipinas 2014 pageant, she won
World Miss University in Korea
when she was only 17 years old.
Statuesque at 5’10” , Mary Anne
Bianca Guidotti is from Taguig.
She is 24 years old. She graduated with a degree in European
Studies major in International Relations from the Ateneo de Manila
University and is currently a Technical Assistant of the Executive
Director at the Community and
Family Services International.
Aklan native Ladylyn Riva is 26
years old. This ‘Lady’ is a registered nurse, a freelance makeup
artist, and a print and commercial
model. Ladylyn earlier won as
Miss Casino Filipino.
More thrills in ‘Rio 2’
CARLOS
Saldanha,
who co-directed and directed the global blockbuster “Ice Age” movies,
had long wanted to write
a love letter to his hometown of Rio. From his
imagination came a story
about a nerdy, highly domesticated bird who goes
on the adventure of a
lifetime in that wondrous
‘RIO 2’
city that produced the
highly successful “Rio”
movie released in April 2011 that
became a worldwide smash with
almost $500 million at the global
box office.
Now, his lead characters Blu and
Jewel voiced by Jesse Eisenberg
and Anne Hathaway are back in
“Rio 2” for a grand adventure into
the wild with Nigel the villain at
their trail. To fully realize the scope
and breadth of this magical world
and its vivid characters, Saldanha
brought together an all-star voice
cast, led by Oscar® nominees
Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar and Grammy®-winner Jamie Foxx, acclaimed musical artist will.i.am, actor-musician
Jemaine Clement, comedic actress
Leslie Mann, actor Rodrigo Santoro
(a Brazilian native), actor-comedian
George Lopez, and funnyman Tracy
Morgan.
Saldanha returns to Brazil and reunites his beloved characters in “Rio
2.” In the new film, it’s a jungle out
there for Blu, Jewel and their three
kids, after they’re hurtled from Rio
to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu
tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak
with the vengeful and villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome
adversary of all…his father-in-law.
The world’s favorite “Rio” characters are joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner
Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin
Chenoweth, and Oscar/Emmy®/
Tony winner Rita Moreno. “Rio 2”
also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle
Monáe and Wondaland.
Langit...
(From page 7)
I asked Secretary Singson
about the timing of the projects,
particularly about why they are
going to be started all on the
same year. He said that most of
the repair projects have been
approved as far as 2010. A good
example of this would be the
Lacson interchange, which was
supposed to be carried out a
few years back, but there were
concerns raised by UST that
needed to be addressed first prior
to starting the project.
Overall, the problem that is
Metro Manila traffic remains as
such – a problem that needs to
be solved. Hopefully, all these
projects are worth the wait. Sec.
Singson said that the results of
these projects can be seen in a
couple of years. But during this
span of time, all we can do is
brave the daily traffic and try to
make adjustments in our everyday
commute.
12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
AGOS
Comics
RICHEL G. DOROTAN/LOUIE CELERIO
Sports
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
NBTC stars get training
By TITO S. TALAO
Two days before they strut their
stuff in the 2014 Seaoil NBTC
High School All-Star Game, the
crème of the crop of the country’s
collegiate prospects will get the
chance to sample the methods
of Mike Jarin, coach of the Philippine Youth team to the FIBA U17
World Championship For Men in
August in Dubai.
Jarin, who led the RP Youth
squad to a stunning second place
finish in lsat year’s FIBA-Asia U17
Championship in Tehran and sits
on the bench of the Talk ‘N Text
Tropang Texters in the PBA and
the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the
UAAP, will conduct a training session on Friday with the select 30
who will participate in the All-Star
Game on March 9 at the Ynares
Sports Arena in Pasig.
“The players are up for a very
valuable lesson,” said Eric Al-
tamirano, Seaoil NBTC national
program director, of the session
which starts at 7 p.m. at the
Ynares Arena.
Team practice will follow with
the All-Stars’ respective coaches,
Jeff Napa of NU and JB Sison of
San Beda.
The All-Star Game will climax the March 6-9 Seaoil NBTC
League National High School Finals, the official grassroots development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas which
is backed by the MVP Sports
Foundation, Meralco, Smart,
NLEX, Maynilad, Philex, Philipine
Star and Molten.
No less than SBP executive director Sonny Barrios has thrown
his support behind the event.
“SBP is fully behind NBTC’s AllStars and we laud and appreciate
its efforts to actively make signifi-
cant contributions to our grassroots development programs
through the years,” said Barrios,
who has been invited to grace the
opening ceremony of the national
high school finals.
Division I bracketing in the
national finals is as follows: A:
Chiang Kai Shek, Hope Christian, NU-B; B: St. Francis of Assisi-Cavite, Sacred Heart SchoolAteneo (Cebu 2), NU-A; C: West
Negros (Bacolod), University of
San Carlos (Cebu 1), Iloilo Central Commercial; D: Sacred Heart
of Jesus Montessori (Cagayan de
Oro), Assumption College-Davao,
Southern City College (Zamboanga).
Division II groupings: A: Olongapo City National, AssumptionPampanga, Divine World Academy (Dagupan); B: University of
the Cordilleras (Baguio), Jesus
Bill Shaw golf meet set
The Bill Shaw Golf Classic,
Wack Wack’s signature memberguest team tournament, is putting up a seed fund of R500,000
for Typhoon Yolanda survivors as
it marks its milestone 25th staging today at Wack Wack’s West
Course in Mandaluyong City.
“We
have
earmarked
a
minimum of half a million (R
500,000) pesos for the Yolanda
victims,” said Wack Wack director
and chairman of the club’s Sports
and Games Committee, Carlo
Baniqued. “We might be able
to donate more if all those who
pledged to support this year’s Bill
Shaw will make good their promise,” Baniqued added.
The amount will be turned over
to the Tzu Chi Foundation.
The tournament actually kicked
off last Monday with the traditional ceremonial drive by the event’s
major sponsors and directors of
the club. It will be capped by the
awards night on Saturday where
a brand-new Hyundai Tuczon
and four round-trip Delta Airlines
Business Elite tickets to North
America will be raffled off.
Wack Wack, one of the first to
respond to the call for help in the
Visayas, actually raised a total
of P2MM earlier for the Yolanda
victims, mainly from Wack Wack
members and staff and realignment of part of funds originally
budgeted for social events.
Wack Wack President and concurrent chairman of the club’s Fellowship and Community Outreach
Committee, Philip Ella Juico, said
during the opening ceremonies
that, “Bill Shaw, after whom this
tournament is named was said to
have been a compassionate person. We therefore draw strength
and inspiration from Bill Shaw’s
outstanding qualities, and honor
him by donating this sum to the
Yolanda victims, through the Tzu
Chi Foundation which is known
for its humanitarian projects.”
The 25th Bill Shaw Golf Classic
features a full roster of participants
with 576 confirmed to play.
Answer yesterday
the Loving Shepherd (Naga), De
La Salle-Lipa, C: Reedley International School, San Isidro Parish
(Mandaue), Bethel Baptist Christian (Bukidnon); D: MMBL’s San
Benildo, Trinity University of Asia
and Jubilee Christian Academy.
National University’s Janhubert
Cani and John Paul, and Chiang
Kai Shek College’s Mohammed
Salim will join the Seaoil MakoLight team by Letran’s Ivan Villanueva, Hope Christian High’s John
Apacible, Jobert Mercado and Arjan Dela Cruz. NU’s Lorenzo Battad, San Beda’s Javee Mocon and
Ranbill Tongco, San Sebastian’s
Michael Calisaan, Xavier’s Jarrel
Lim, Allen Delos Santos of Claret
School Zamboanga, Glenn Gallardo of Sacred Heart of Jesus-Cagayan De Oro, and Keith Lowell
Pido of West Negros University.
San Beda’s Arvin Tolentino,
meanwhile, will banner the Seaoil
Extreme-Dark squad along with
Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena, St. Benilde’s Rashleigh Paolo Rivero, Far
Eastern’s Richard Escoto, Malayan High School of Science’s Justin
Serrano, NU’s Manuel Mosqueda,
SBC’s Adven Diputado, San Sebastian’s Alfren Gayosa and Ryan
Paule Costelo, La Salle-Zobel’s
Henri Lorenzo Subido, University
of the Philippine’s Diego Miguel
Dario, Xavier’s Isaac Go, Arnie Padilla of Sacred Heart School Cebu,
Joshua Edjan of Hua Siong College of Iloilo, and Allyn Bulanadi
of Assumption College of Davao.
13
Pinays
shine in
touch
football
By CLYDE MARIANO
The Philippines shone in touch
football by winning the Oakwood Rugby 10s at the expense
of Dubai Emirates Firebrands, 73, last month in Bangkok, Thailand.
Driven by their desire and
fiery determination, the undefeated Filipinas stamped their
class against the team from the
tiny oil-rich country.
“We travelled to Thailand with
strong determination to win because we want to show to other
teams we are champion,” said
Arabelle Jimenez during the
PSA Sports Forum yesterday at
Shakeys in Malate.
“The win was a big boost to
our international campaign.
Hopefully, we can win more
tournaments and give honors to
the country,” added Jimenez.
Jimenez said there are tournaments await the team this year.
“We are busy preparing because
we want to win more tournaments,” she said.
The members of the victorious team apart from Jimenez
are Claire Barberis, Nerice de la
Cruz, Arlene Trinkler, Alexandra
de Castro, Aleth Feliciano, Gene
Flores, Joan Javier, Nikki Lira,
Acee San Juan, and Maylene
Savina.
Escuela foils CSA’s
bid for twin titles
Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan
denied Colegio San Agustin-Makati
of a chance to nail two crowns
over the weekend in the Best Center-organized, Milo-sponsored 18th
Women’s Volleyball League at the
Xavier School gym.
CSA-Makati dominated Jubillee
Christian Academy, 25-13, 25-9,
to claim the 13-and-under Competitive Division title but Escuela
de Sophia hung though against
a game CSA before clinching a
hard-earned 22-25, 25-21, 25-19
triumph for the Developmental
crown in the same age bracket.
St. Scholastica’s College clipped
Aurora A. Quezon Elementary
School, 25-13, 25-23, for third
place in the Competitive Division.
St. Paul College-Makati defeated Saint Pedro Poveda College,
25-14, 25-22, for third place in
the Developmental Division.
La Consolation College regrouped after a first set loss to
turn back St. James Academy,
16-25, 25-15, 25-22, to claim
the 17-and-Under Developmental
championship.
Third place went to Colegio de
Sta Rosa Makati, fourth was Espiritu Santo Parochial Schill while
the Sportsmanship Award went
to St. Paul College Makati.
Hope Christian School claimed
the 17-and-under Competitive
Division title via a 25-20, 25-15,
25-19 triumph.
Third placer was Holy Family
School, fourth was St. Scholastica’s College while Escuela de Sophia received the Sportsmanship
Award.
14
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Sports
Resurgent Federer adds
to Indian Wells buzz
INDIAN WELLS, United States
(AFP) – Roger Federer will seek
to back up his Dubai title win on
Saturday with a record fifth Indian Wells crown starting this week
which if successful would be his
79th career title.
Federer, though, will face a top
class field with defending champion Rafael Nadal and Novak
Djokovic as the top seeds.
The $12 million ATP and
WTA hardcourt event begins
on Wednesday for the women
– where Maria Sharapova is the
defending champion – and Thursday for the men.
Federer won titles at Indian
Wells from 2004-2006 and again
in 2012 and showed top form
in reaching the Australian Open
semi-finals and taking his sixth
Dubai crown which
included
beating Djokovic in the semi-finals and coming from behind to
beat Tomas Berdych in the final.
“I think this is how you win
your first title again after a while,
and then hopefully from here on
it’s easier, especially closing out,’’
Federer said.
“There is a lot of pressure.
Sometimes I have been disappointed with my play when it really mattered. I was able to deliver
when I had to. I was able to come
up with the goods. It was one of
those tournaments I kind of need
this way right now.’’
The 32-year-old Swiss star will
have Stefan Edberg with him as
coach, one of four former Indian
Wells winners on hand to guide
others, with Michael Chang helping Japan’s Kei Nishikori, Boris
Becker working with Djokovic and
Ivan Ljubicic coaching Canada’s
Milos Raonic.
RACE TIPS
Today’s Races (Metro Turf)
Starting at 6:15 P.M
TIPSTER A – R1: Balatkayo/
Grace Giver; R2: Swerte Lang/
Bay Area Babe; R3: Umbrella Girl/
Mapaghinala; R4: Foreign Minister/Magical Boy;R5: Move On/
Maligalig; R6: Esprit De Corps/Mr.
Integrity; R7: Smart Guru/Ma’am
Mika; R8: Fort Courage/Oxygen.
TIPSTER B – R1: Grace Giver/
Balatkayo; R2: Bay Area Babe/
Real Excellent; R3: Chase Charlie/Remus; R4: Foreign Minister/
Magical Boy; R5: So Endearing/
ROGER Federer
Djokovic
outslugs
Murray
NEW YORK (AP) – Novak
Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-3,
7-6 (2) in an one-off match at
Madison Square Garden on Monday, with the pair mixed the usual
exhibition hijinks with some long
rallies reminiscent of their epic
Grand Slam meetings.
A born showman, Djokovic always has fun with the New York
crowd at the U.S. Open. When on
a game point Monday he shanked
an overhead into the net, the
Serb did push-ups in penance.
It was the first time playing at
the Garden for both.
“I was amazed by the size of
it,’’ Djokovic said. “With the history in the world of sports and
entertainment and music, it’s
probably the most impressive
and most important indoor facility in the world.’’
Murray grimaced more than
once after an unforced error as
if he were a few miles away at
Flushing Meadows. But he also
high-fived a fan after hooking in
a winner down the line. And the
Brit provides plenty of entertainment value simply with his ability
to run down nearly every ball.
Chasing a drop shot in the
first set, Murray wound up all
the way on Djokovic’s side of
the court, bumping into a TV
camera along the way. Djokovic
went over and jokingly massaged Murray’s quad, lest he
need a medical timeout.
During one changeover, they
pulled their phones out of their
bags and met at the net to take
a couple of selfies. Both tweeted
them during the next break.
“We might never get the chance
to play here again,’’ Murray said.
“Wanted to enjoy it. Hope everyone who came along had a good
time as well. That was the whole
point today.’’
“It has just been nice spending time with him,’’ Federer said.
“It’s clearly inspiring at this point
just hearing him speak about the
game.’’
Federer battled nagging injuries much of last year but sees
himself in a strong position to go
far in events and add to his record total of 17 men’s Grand Slam
titles, the most recent of them in
2012 at Wimbledon.
And based upon hard work in
the off-season, Federer says he
has a new spark of confidence.
“I feel I am in good enough
shape at least now and that’s
very encouraging,’’ he said.
‘‘I feel my best tennis is around
the corner. I’ve said that quite
a few times, but I feel like this
time it’s really the case. I wake up
with zero pain. I’m excited playing tournaments. It’s a good start
to the season.’’
Nadal, who has 13 career Grand
Slam titles, will try to match Federer as a four-time Indian Wells
champion, having won in 2007
and 2009 as well as last year.
Djokovic, the 2008 and 2011
Indian Wells winner, will also
be a contender, as will Berdych,
Britain’s Andy Murray and Australian Open champion Stanislas
Wawrinka, in his first event since
capturing his first Grand Slam
crown by beating Nadal in the
Move On; R6: Mr. Integrity/Esprit
De Corps; R7: Smart Guru/Mr.
Tatler; R8: Fort Courage/Pearl
Bull.
TIPSTER C – R1: Balatkayo/
Lucky Touch; R2: Bay Area Babe/
Real Excellent; R3: Mapaghinala/
Umbrella Girl; R4: Foreign Minister/Magical Boy; R5: Maligalig/
Move On; R6: Great Delta/Esprit
De Corps; R7: Ma’am Mika/Smart
Guru; R8: Fort Courage/Oxygen.
BEST CHOICE: R1: Balatkayo;
R2: Bay Area Babe; R3: Umbrella
Girl; R4: Foreign Minister; R5:
Move On; R6: Esprit De Corps; R7:
Smart Guru; R8: Fort Courage.
Lancer int’l tennis March 18-23
The 25th edition of the Mitsubishi-Lancer International Junior
Tennis Championships has drawn
a record number of 32 participating countries when it blasts off
on March 18 to 23 at the newlyrefurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis
Courts.
Among those competing in the
tournament rated one rung below
the Grand Slam are netters from
Australia, China, Great Britain, Serbia, Russia, United States, Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
Melbourne final.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt, 33,
could become only the third active player to crack the 600 match
win mark, joining Federer and
Nadal.
On the women’s side, Sharapova will be tested by 2012 Indian
Wells winner Victoria Azarenka,
2011 winner Caroline Wozniacki
and Australian Open champion Li
Na of China.
Li hopes to replace the absent
Serena Williams at the top of the
world rankings.
“I want to be number one in
the world,’’ Li said. “It’s a goal,
the dream for all athletes. I will
try as hard as I can.’’
Qualifying rounds are set March
16 to 17.
“We always wanted to prioritize
the youth, hoping that this tournament will continue to become
a venue for our local aspiring tennis players to become more competitive in the future,” said Froilan
Dytianquin, Vice President for the
Marketing Services of the Mitsubishi-Lancer, during the PSA Forum
at Shakey’s Malate yesterday.
Also in attendance in the weekly forum were Arlan Reyes, Se-
nior Manager for Advertising and
PR; Philippine Tennis Association
President Edwin Olivarez, secretary general Romeo Magat, and
Philippine Sports Commissioner
Buddy Andrada.
Signifying their interest to compete in the tournament as of this
week are Korea’s Lee Duck Hee,
who is ranked No. 13 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
boys’ juniors, and Sun Ziyue of
China, a semifinalist in the recent
Australian Open Juniors.
Sports
LeBron fires 61
MIAMI (AFP) – LeBron James
scored a career-high 61 points to
break the Miami Heat one-game
scoring record on Monday, sparking the defending NBA champions
over the Charlotte Bobcats 124107.
The Heat’s season win streak
stretched to eight games in a row
with a 16th consecutive victory in
meetings with Charlotte, whose
win drought against Miami now
spans four years.
James sank eight 3-pointers,
hitting 22-of-33 shots from the
field overall, and also grabbed
seven rebounds and passed off
five assists.
“It was a special performance,’’
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“He was efficient. The rim certainly looked like an ocean to
him.’’
The former Heat single-game
scoring record was 56 points by
Glen Rice in April of 1995.
On a night when Miami star
guard Dwyane Wade was rested,
Chris Bosh contributed 15 points
and seven rebounds.
Miami shot 55.4 percent from
the floor, including 16-of-28 from
3-point range.
Charlotte’s Al Jefferson scored
38 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.
The Heat improved to 43-14,
trailing only Eastern Conference
rival Indiana (46-13) for the best
record in the NBA and a homecourt edge throughout the play-
offs.
Charlotte fell to 27-33 as the
Bobcats and Atlanta fight for the
final two playoff positions in the
East.
Miami led 60-54 at half-time
before James went wild in the
third quarter, going 5-of-5 from
beyond the 3-point arc on his
way to 25 points in the quarter,
matching the Bobcats’ total team
output.
James scored Miami’s first eight
points of the second half, then
added back-to-back three-point
plays late in the period for an 8969 Heat lead.
James followed with his eighth
3-pointer for a 95-73 edge with
1:16 to play in the third and began the fourth quarter with four
straight points to reach 53 for the
night.
But with Charlotte still fighting to stay in the game, James
remained in the lineup and added
a pair of layups and a spinning
bank shot for a 115-99 Miami
edge with 2:23 to play.
After Jefferson hit a jumper for
Charlotte, James was fouled and
sank two free throws to cap his
scoring as fans chanted ‘’M-V-P’’
to the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
James set several other Heat
team records, including 22 baskets in a game, most points in a
quarter by a player with 25 and
most second-half points with 37.
It was his 10th time in his ca-
LEBRON James
reer that James cracked the 50point barrier.
Since James left the Cleveland
Cavaliers for Miami, the Heat have
lost the NBA Finals to Dallas, then
won the past two league playoff
crowns.
Elsewhere:
Memphis 110, Washington
104; Brooklyn 96, Chicago
80; Miami 124, Charlotte 107;
Detroit 96, New York 85; Milwaukee 114, Utah 88; Minnesota 132, Denver 128; L.A.
Lakers 107, Portland 106;
Sacramento 96, New Orleans
89
Tennis set in Pontevedra
The municipality of Pontevedra in Negros Occidental makes
its first-ever hosting of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express
Pera Padala regional age group
tennis circuit presented by Tecnifibre starting tomorrow with a
huge field clashing for top honors
in various divisions at the St. Michael Tennis Court.
The host city’s top junior players gear up for a tough challenge
against their counterparts from
Iloilo, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Bacolod, San Carlos, Cadiz, Sagay
and La Carlota, guaranteeing an
action-packed four-day battle for
supremacy in the event serving
as the sixth leg of the 29-stage
nationwide circuit sponsored by
Palawan Pawnshop and Technifibre.
“We are proud to be part of this
tournament not only for our youth
but also from those in nearby cit-
ies and provinces,” said Fr. Angelo
Ansola, the event organizer who
also heads Pontevedra’s junior
tennis development program.
“We hope to host more top-level
tournaments to boost the sport
here and at the same time be at
par with our neighboring provinces in junior tennis.”
Registration is ongoing with Fr.
Ansola waiving the entry fee to
accommodate all players. Events
on tap are the 10-unisex, and the
boys and girls’ 12-U, 14-U, 16-U
and 18-U categories. For details,
contact Philta referee Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
“Through the years, it has
been the commitment of Palawan Pawnsho to support and
develop our players by providing
top-notch tournaments like this,
especially in the countryside,”
said Palawan Pawnshop COO
Bobby Castro. “This tournament
will surely inspire our young
players to achieve a higher level
of play.”
Pontevedra is actually the second new city to host the country’s
premier junior tennis circuit with
Los Baños hosting the third leg
last month. Also expected to host
the circuit for the first time this
year are the Mandaue Tennis
Club in Cebu, the Roxas Sports
Complex in Roxas City, the Isabel
Tennis Club in Isabel, Leyte and
the Maasin Tennis Club in Maasin,
Leyte.
“This is in response to the
strong clamor to stage a tournament in various cities and provinces where the sport is popular,”
said Philta president and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez. “We are tapping new venues
this year as part of our effort to
promote the sport and discover
talents in the countryside.”
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
15
Marquez eyes
Pacquiao fight
Manny Pacquiao woke up to
the news yesterday that his revered Mexican rival Juan Manuel
Marquez has had a change of
heart and that he is now looking
forward to a fifth fight with the
Filipino icon.
Pacquiao admitted “that was
nice to hear” but it actually meant
little to him as he is focused only
on one man in his General Santos
City training camp.
Not even Floyd Mayweather is
taking away Pacquiao’s attention
nor does Marquez.
“I am focused only on Timothy
Bradley,” said Pacquiao before
plunging into another session
of banging bodies with Lydell
Rhodes, who is lending a hand
to Pacquiao’s buildup for the rematch with Bradley set April 12 at
the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Marquez, in a story that was published by the Los Angeles Times
yesterday, said he is now looking
forward to meet the winner of the
second meeting between Pacquiao
and Bradley, according to his longtime promoter Fernando Beltran.
But Marquez, 40, will have to
likewise hurdle his next assign-
ment, a May 17 slugfest with
Mike Alvarado in Los Angeles.
Marquez has fought Pacquiao
four times, winning just once,
the last being the one that struck
in everyone’s mind when he
knocked out Pacquiao in the sixth
round in Dec. 2012.
Marquez had earlier said that
there is no point in having to face
Pacquiao a fifth time because he
had already proven that he is the
better fighter.
But with Pacquiao a solid favorite to exact payback against Bradley, Pacquiao would have the one
thing that Marquez craves for.
If Pacquiao beats Bradley, he
will get the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown, a
title Marquez terribly wants since
taking it would make him the first
Mexican puncher in history to become a five-division titleholder.
Beltran said winning a fifth
crown has always been one of
Marquez’s biggest obsessions.
Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz
echoed his boss’s sentiments but
made it clear that the fighting
congressman is not looking past
Bradley. (Nick Giongco)
Azkals take on
Azerbaijan XI
Game Today
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
10:30 p.m. – Philippines
vs Azerbaijan
Stephen Schrock, Javier Patino,
Jerry Lucena and Roland Muller
will make their first national team
appearances under new coach
Thomas Dooley as the Philippine Azkals take on Azerbaijan in
an international friendly today in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The four overseas-based players take a break from their club
duties as they look to get familiarize with Dooley’s system in the
10:30 p.m. Philippine time encounter with the European side.
The Azkals are hoping to gain
some much-needed experience
from Azerbaijan, which is ranked
93rd in the world by the International Football Association (FIFA).
It will be the first time that the
Philippines with play a European
team since a 1-0 loss to Estonia
at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in
1997.
Dooley got off to a solid start
as Azkals coach when it settled
for a scoreless draw with fellow
Southeast Asian outfit Malaysia in
Saturday’s friendly at the Selayang Stadium in Selangor.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper
Patrick Deyto made an impression in his first-ever cap for the
Azkals as he courageously prevented the Malaysians from netting an elusive goal.
Deyto, however, could relinquish the starting spot to Muller,
who will likely get the start as
resident goalie Neil Etheridge will
miss the match after sustaining a
thigh injury while playing on loan
for Crewe Alexandra in the English third division.
Paul Mulders, who like Etheridge was part of the initial roster,
will also be out due to an injury
for SC Cambuur.
Schrock, who plays for German club Eintracht Frankfurt, will
make his first Azkals appearance
of 2014 while Patino of Thai side
Buriram United dons the national
colors for the first time since last
year’s 2014 AFC Challenge Cup
qualifiers.
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Alaska
battles
Texters
Djokovic raps Murray
14
Editor: REY C. BANCOD
•
Assistant Editor: TITO S. TALAO
By TITO S. TALAO
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
5:45 p.m. – Air21
vs Globalport
8 p.m. – Alaska vs Talk ‘N Text
Alaska Milk opens defense
of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup
against Talk ‘N Text today even as
Air21 takes on Globalport when
the second conference kicks off
at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alaska and returning import
Robert Dozier, who swept Vernon
Macklin and Barangay Ginebra San
Miguel in the best-of-5 Finals last
year, take on the Tropang Texters
and Richard Howell at 8 p.m.
Air21 and Herve Lamizana,
meanwhile, test the mettle at 5:45
p.m. of Globalport, now coached
by former University of Santo Tomas mentor Pido Jarencio, and its
import Evan Brock, who suited up
for Barako Bull before.
Howell played college ball at
North Carolina State and is an
NBA D-League veteran while
Lamizana, from the Ivory Coast,
is formerly of Rutgers University.
While the Aces are looking to
defend their crown, idle San Mig
Super Coffee are eyeing a more
valuable prize – the second jewel
of the Triple Crown.
The Mixers defeated the Rain or
Shine Elasto Painters, 4-2, in a tumultuous and walkout-marred Philippine Cup Finals last week and are
lined up for a potential Grand Slam.
Coach Tim Cone passed the legendary Baby Dalupan with 16 titles
and is one of only four coaches to
have swept all three conferences in
one season, having done so with
the Aces back in 1996.
They will make their debut,
along with former Brooklyn Nets
player James Mays, against Globalport on March 12 at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum.
Meantime, the possibility of Gilas Pilipinas joining the third conference – the Governors’ Cup – as
a guest team has been raised following coach Chot Reyes naming 17 PBA stars to the RP pool,
including those who suited up
in the unforgettable FIBA Asia
Championship last year.
Added to the squad that finished second to Iran and qualified
to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World
Cup in Spain this August are Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter,
Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee, San
Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter and
Meralco’s Jared Dillinger.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said having the national team
play in the PBA could be a winwin situation although he made it
clear everything will have to be
coursed through and approved by
the PBA Board of Governors and
the Office of the Commissioner.
“For you to become the 11th
team may be good because there
are many of our countrymen who
wanted to see you in the flesh. Hindi naman lahat yan makakapunta
sa Spain,” Barrios, as quoted by
Spin.ph, told the Gilas pool during
its first meeting last Monday.
“Whether it’s approved or not,
we’ll have another configuration
and then we’ll wait and see. But
indeed, there is a big clamor for
you guys to get together as soon
as possible,” said Barrios.
MIAMI Heat’s LeBron James reacts to the crowd after setting a team record during the second half
of an NBA basketball game in Miami against the Charlotte Bobcats. LeBron James scored a team
record of 61 points. The Heat won 124-107. Story on page 15. (AP)