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BSP plan to auction deposits ‘ill-timed’ T HE central bank’s plan to auction term deposits is coming at the worst possi- ble time for a government reeling from surprisingly bad economic growth data. parts within a prescribed period set by the Board of Investments (BOI) and introduce an enrolled model to the market using the parts manu- factured under the program. The PVI, on the other hand, sets production volume for parts and ve- hicles. The fiscal support will come in the form of tax-payment certifi- cates. Program participants can use www.businessmirror.com.ph nSaturday 18, 2014 Vol. 10 No. 40 P. | | 7 DAYS A WEEK nWednesday, June 3, 2015 Vol. 10 No. 237 A broader look at today’s business BusinessMirror THREETIME ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDEE 2006, 2010, 2012 U.N. MEDIA AWARD 2008 C A S “CARS,” A PESO EXCHANGE RATES nUS 44.5490 nJAPAN 0.3569 nUK 67.7323 n HK 5.7433 n CHINA 7.1859 n SINGAPORE 32.8630 n AUSTRALIA 33.8801 n EU 48.6653 n SAUDI ARABIA 11.8791 Source: BSP (2 June 2015) GETTING READY FOR THE BIG ONE Students at the Baclaran Elementary School in Parañaque City take part in an earthquake drill on Tuesday. Local government units of areas affected by the West Valley Fault are holding earthquake drills to prepare for the possible 7.2-magnitude quake announced by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. ALYSA SALEN CENTRAL BANK FRIENDLY FIRE HITS AQUINO AS PHILIPPINE GROWTH SAGS Two incentive schemes available under CARS THE BASIC NEEDS: FOOD, CLOTHING AND... INSIDE GOOGLE TAKES ON APPLE PAY, ANDROID OFFERINGS »D2 Life Wednesday, June 3, 2015 D1 Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • [email protected] Heralds of the Gospel SMART Infinity, the premium postpaid T T brand of Philippine mobile leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), recently unveiled a revamped range of plans, as it continues to innovate and offer services that are tailor-fit for the more affluent segment of the market. Smart Infinity now offers the Roaming Plan for frequent travelers, the Consumable Plan with flexible elements and the highest volume allocation for Long-Term Evolution (LTE), the Tri-Net Plan for those who need unlimited calls and SMS to Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text subscribers, and the Multi-Plan which comes with multiple lines under a single account. “These new plans are, by far, the most carefully designed services we’ve offered in the history of Smart Infinity. This is the result of us ‘listening’ intently and responding to what subscribers need from a premium mobile service provider—given their lifestyle, their habits, even their aspirations,” said Julie Carceller, head of Smart Infinity. The move is expected to sustain Smart’s strong start in the postpaid segment this year. The telco’s parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) continues to lead the postpaid market through its wireless units Smart and Sun—with total postpaid subscribers of 2.9 million as of the first quarter of 2015, or an 18-percent rise versus the same period last year. The same wireless units also boosted PLDT’s cellular postpaid revenues to P5.7 billion during the first quarter of the year, or an 11-percent year-on-year growth. With the new range of postpaid plans available, Smart Infinity subscribers will continue enjoying the superior Smart network, especially for mobile data use. “We know that mobile data has become indispensable to Smart Infinity subscribers. We have designed these new plans with that in mind, and thus they come with complimentary handsets that are among the most advanced, most powerful smartphones today,” Carceller added. Aside from this, Smart Infinity subscribers enjoy other VIP privileges, such as: n VIP Customer Service: M embers have a dedicated Infinity Relationship Officer (exclusive to Plans 5000 and 8000 members), access to n n VIP Rewards and Privileges: M embers have a whole array of year- round privileges, which can be simply accessed through the Smart Infinity Lifestyle App. Smart revamps premium postpaid plans, offers custom features B G R Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor T started the week commanding no small amount of attention from the global tech media—and with good reason. In Taipei at the annual Computex—properly known as the Taipei International Information Technology Show, one of the largest tech showcases in the world—Asus unveiled a slew of hotness for the personal technology market, including the ZenWatch 2 and a couple of ZenPad tablets, the former easily winning a lion’s share of the kudos for Asus’s stylish and wholly accessible rendering of Android Wear. It was only a couple of weeks ago when the the tech and lifestyle media around these parts, along converged at the World Trade Center (WTC) for the launch of the Asus ZenFone 2. No less than Asus CEO Jerry Shen flew in to bang the drum for the company’s flagship smartphone, touting such attention-grabbing features as the 5.5-inch Full-HD IPS+ screen that makes it fabulous for media consumption; a 13-megapixel PixelMaster camera with f/2.0 wide- aperture lens for high-resolution captures with zero shutter lag; and a 3,000 mAh battery that can not only power the phone throughout the day in typical everyday usage scenarios, but also be powered at less time with the company’s BoostMaster technology. Shen first took the wraps off ZenFone 2 in January at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and four months later, it was easily apparent at the Philippine launch that the Asus CEO had lost of his enthusiasm for his flagship. Play around with the smartphone at your favorite gadget shop, and no doubt you will quickly share Shen’s enthusiasm and perhaps even open your wallet. We have been able to play around with the ZenFone 2 for a week or so now, and while we’ve already mentioned that it packs in a 5.5-inch IPS+ display, we should add that the screen runs at 1920x1080 resolution and with a 403 ppi pixel density. Sure, the numbers don’t quite add up to the Samsung Galaxy S6’s 5.1-inch display with a 1440x2560 resolution and a 577 ppi pixel density, but they do measure up to the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. Of course, some will argue that iPhone 6 Plus’s display is brighter but then again, that comes down to preference. That said, it should be noted that despite sharing the same screen size, the ZenFone 2 is noticeably smaller than Apple’s flagship—and the reduced size makes for a much better ergonomic experience. memory, built-in storage capacities (16 gigabytes, 32 GB capacity), and, of course, price. All, however, are powered by an Intel Atom processor, PowerVR G6430 GPU, and known as Lollipop). The specs are certainly nothing to sneeze about, and all these come together to bring about a truly pleasurable, smooth-as-butter experience. The shooter that Asus has shoehorned into the ZenFone 2 is obviously something the company takes great pride in, as the launch event at the WTC not only focused on the various gee-whiz features of the primary rear-facing camera (Low Light mode, Backlight [Super HD] mode, and Super Resolution mode, among others, all ensuring incredible photos even when taken in dimly lit situations), but even had a live demo that did side-by-side comparisons of images captured—yes, right there on the stage during the presentation—by the ZenFone 2 on the one hand, and rival smartphones on the other. A live demo indeed. Whew! Asus definitely has balls. Guess which shooter turned out better images? While Asus’s choice of button placements (power/ sleep/wake button on top, volume rocker in the back a la LG) will no doubt draw mixed reaction from the market (as far as we’re concerned, it only takes a few days of getting used to), many among two smartphones- wielding consumers around these parts will be pleased to know that all the ZenFone 2 variants are a dual SIM affair. Alas, only one SIM can leverage the smartphone’s 4G/LTE muscle but, hey...you can simply use your so- called black SIM on the strictly 2G slot. That way, you can continue to send and receive those hot-and-heavy messages from not-your-wife/husband/girlfriend/ boyfriend/partner without having to whip out another phone in the middle of a meeting, right? While the Asus ZenFone 2 comes in only three variants, there are a plethora of accessories available that will especially delight those who are deep into personalization, including at least 10 back covers that can quickly change the look of the phone. Of course, if you ask us, the real deal-closer here is the aggressive pricing the company has adopted for its flagship. At its Atom processor and 64 GB built-in storage capacity), the ZenFone 2 is pegged at P14,995 SRP, still a tad less than what other nascent Chinese smartphone brands are commanding. How’s that for putting your mind in a state of Zen when deciding whether to go for the 32 GB variant or the 64 GB, hmmm? n B P D Los Angeles Times UNENDING scrutiny from regulators is keeping pressure on Google to get better about explaining how it tracks users and how they can tinker with privacy settings. On Monday Google unveiled a web site at privacy.google.com that answers questions more clearly than ever. In case you didn’t know, Google keeps a record of what web sites you visit, where you travel to and what videos you watch on YouTube. It probably has your name and phone number, but it doesn’t sell information that would identify you. If you use Gmail and Drive, Google also has access to the contents of e-mails and documents. Collecting all of that information makes its services more useful, relevant and secure, Google said. The data also is essential to its business of showing ads across the Internet, which produces huge profits and 90 percent of the company’s revenue. A 500-person security team at the 55,000-employee company, and technologies such as encryption, are deployed to protect the data, Google said. But people concerned either about their privacy or the security of that data do have options, and Google introduced a revamped privacy control center to show people how they can turn off features such as location- tracking on their smartphones or advertising that is based on search queries and Web visits. For instance, Web-goers might want to delete their browsing history after visits to web sites that could raise suspicions with their boss, parents or spouses. But Google’s new privacy web site notes that depending on your settings, Google might also have an easily accessible record of those Web visits. The privacy tool points to a Google page where those logs can be scrubbed. Google said “there’s much more to come” to make its vast databases of personal information easier to navigate. The company has had to answer to regulators in Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere who have raised privacy concerns. In April European Union officials also accused Google of abusing its search-engine dominance to favor its own comparison shopping services over those of its rivals. Google unveils simpler portal for users to delete data it has about them D4 Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Art www.businessmirror.com.ph BusinessMirror I by the war stories in Mindanao, the headlines cannot articulate the deep, far-reaching fear and trauma experienced by those who face death every single day. Renowned lens man Jun de Leon captured the haunted faces of those who are caught in the middle of the conflict in his recent exhibit, Children at the Crossroads , which was held at SM Aura Premier from April 24 to 27. From the thousands taken during his seven-day excursion in war-torn Maguindanao, 46 eloquent photographs were displayed to share the heart- wrenching stories of remarkable resiliency, inviolable spirit and quite hope. Through these photographs, de Leon urged the public to open their eyes and become witness to the atrocities of war. De Leon partnered with writer/editor An Mercado- Alcantara, and his son, Tim, who put the entire journey on film. Earlier this year, they had set out to ground zero (Mamasapano, Maguindanao) where they gained exclusive entry into the 45th Infantry Battalion camps, the evacuation centers, and even Camp Abubakar and Camp Afghan, the largest Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in the region. The trip took place weeks after the widely publicized Mamasapano incident, which resulted in the death of more than 60 people, including 44 police officers of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces. At the launch of the exhibit on April 24, Norombai Utto, the valedictorian of Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School, Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, spoke before the attentive crowd: “ Sana araw-araw graduation w w na lang, para walang military operation at para walang mamatay. Mag -invest tayo sa edukasyon, hindi sa giyera [I hope every day there’s a graduation, so there wouldn’t be any military operation, and no one would die. Let us invest in education, not in war]. “ Para sa mga taong may pananagutan sa atin “ “ at sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bayan, ito po ang aking pakiusap: Itigil na po ninyo ang giyera. Sa halip na kaguluhan ang inyong suportahan, sana po ay sa edukasyon at kaalaman kayo mamuhunan, at hindi takot ang magiging pundasyon ng kapayapaan sa ating bayan [For those who are responsible for what is happening in our country, I have one request: Stop the war. Instead of supporting conflict, invest in education and knowledge. Do not let fear be the foundation of peace in our country].” Present as well at the occasion was Corporal Julhaib Ajijul, the last man standing at a close-range encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in March, which killed five of his comrades. He is the proud father of an honor student who received three medals during graduation on March 27. (Ajijul had been given special permission to leave the battle zone temporarily in order to attend the graduation ceremony.) “ Marami na akong pinagdaanan na laban “ “ makarating sa Maguindanao. Galing kami sa gulo at sanay na. Sana ang gobyerno makamit na ang many battles before Maguindanao. We (the military) are used to conflict. But we hope that the government may finally end war and choose peace. We are tired of fighting, Filipino against Filipino],” shared the war hero. Through the eyes of a soldier who have seen his fellowmen die on the battlefield, and of a child who sees hope despite living in the crossfire, can we begin to understand the true cost of peace. Helping in the campaign for awareness, de Leon’s evocative prints take us out of our comfort zone and into the lives of our suffering countrymen. “I don’t have an agenda,” explained de Leon, regarding the purpose of his exhibit. “I’m not pro-peace or pro-war. I just want people to think. I want them to think before they say anything, before they press that keyboard.” Children at the Crossroads is supported by Canon s s Philippines Inc., the United Nations Development Program, Bench, Belo and SM Supermalls. The exhibit will be on display in different parts of the country at select SM Malls. n Jun de Leon’s ‘Children at the Crossroads: The faces of war’ Philippines showcases world-class artistry at Venice Biennale 2015 AFTER a 51-year hiatus, the Philippines returns to the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, the world’s oldest and most prestigious biennale of international contemporary art. In its comeback, the Philippine Pavilion was chosen by London-based artist and curator Pippa Koszerek as one of the 10 must-see national pavilions. The Philippine Pavilion, stationed at the European Cultural Centre-Palazzo Mora in Venice, Italy, showcases the works of renowned Filipino artists Manuel Conde, Carlos Francisco, Jose Tence Ruiz and Mariano Montelibano III. Made possible through the support of various government agencies, including the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board, the country’s participation in the 2015 Venice Biennale highlights Filipino contemporary art on the global stage. The Philippine Pavilion at Venice Biennale is curated by Patrick Flores under the theme, “Tie A String Around the World,” presenting a poetic and political reflection on the history of world making, the links between geography and politics, and the notions of nation, territory and archipelago. It is derived from Manuel Conde’s 1950 film, Khan , which was co-written and designed by Carlos Francisco and presented at the Venice Film Festival in 1952. At the end of the film, the conqueror stands over his dominion and promises his beloved to “tie a string around the world and lay it at her feet.” The newly restored Genghis Khan n n exhibited at the pavilion and presented along with the masterpieces of intermedia artist Jose Tence Ruiz and filmmaker Mariano Montelibano III. Ruiz’s artworks include the Shoal, an assemblage of metal and velvet that references the marooned BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Montelibano’s A Dashed State , meanwhile, is a multi-channel video piece on the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the disputed South China Sea. STATE OF ZEN FACES OF WAR LIFE D1 ART D4 www.dwiz882.com “Tatargetin na talaga sya ng grupo ni Mar Roxas. Kailangan na mag one-on- one kaming dalawa ni Mar Roxas, at para mangyari ’yun, kailangang mawasak nila si Grace Poe. Ready to fire na ’yung artillery nila.”—Vice President Jejomar C. Binay ON “KARAMBOLA SA DWIZ” SPECIAL REPORT TOWERING commercial buildings stand in contrast to the rows of crowded tenements lining the Pasig River, as a man sifts through the trash littering the river, in hopes of getting something recyclable he could sell to junk shops. NONIE REYES VALTE: “According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the program is expected to create about 200,000 direct and indirect jobs for the duration of the program.” B J M N. C C N. P Third of four parts T HE right to adequate housing is one of the basic human rights, Demolition Watch stressed. “Everyone has the right to a stan- dard of living adequate for the health and well- being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care, and necessary social services; and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control,” the group said. It is also recognized in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1966. “The States Parties to the present Covenant recog- nize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international cooperation based on free consent.” Also, the United Nations (UN) Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has underlined that the right to adequate housing should not be in- terpreted narrowly. Rather, it should be seen as the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity. ‘Adequate’ housing THE UN said the right to adequate housing con- tains freedoms, which include protection against forced evictions and the arbitrary destruction and demolition of one’s home; the right to be free from arbitrary interference with one’s home, pri- vacy and family; and the right to choose one’s resi- dence, to determine where to live and to freedom of movement. C A T HE government, under the newly approved Comprehen- sive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, has categorized the grant of perks to qualified investors into the Fixed Investment Support (FIS) and the Production Volume Incentive (PVI). This is contained in Executive Order (EO) 182, which details the CARS Program of the Aquino admin- istration that is meant to transform the Philippines into an automotive- manufacturing hub in the region. Vehicle assemblers, parts makers and shared-facility proponents can avail themselves of the P27-billion fiscal support under the EO over a five-year period. The FIS is meant for investors that will manufacture parts, estab- lish shared testing facility, deliver The weekly sales, aimed at soak- ing up excess cash that could spur in- vestments in risky assets, will allow lenders to compete for a fixed volume of deposit access to the Bangko Sen- tral ng Pilipinas (BSP). BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender, sees them helping push up the secondary-market yield on three-month government bills to as high as 3.25 percent by year-end, from 2.46 percent on Monday. Rising borrowing costs may make it harder for President Aqui- no to revive an economy where growth slowed to a three-year low of 5.2 percent in the first quarter. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the “significant negative surprise” would force it to review its expansion forecasts, even as it predicted a pickup in exports and public spending. “Both the central bank and the treasury will hold auctions,” said Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist at BDO Unibank in Ma- nila. “Hands down, people would go to the one that can offer higher yields. The borrowing cost for the national government could go up.”
