SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November 2009
Commission File Number 1-03006
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Ramon Cojuangco Building
Makati Avenue
Makati City
Philippines
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F Ö Form 40-F
(Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes No Ö
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ )
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some information in this report may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current beliefs, expectations and intentions as to facts, actions and events that will or may occur in the future. Such statements generally are identified by forward-looking words such as believe, plan, anticipate, continue, estimate, expect, may, will or other similar words.
A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. We have chosen these assumptions or bases in good faith. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. You should also keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this report or elsewhere speaks only as at the date on which we made it. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the statements in this report after the date hereof. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statement made in this report or elsewhere.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
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Page |
1
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Copy of the press release entitled Asia America Gateway submarine cable goes live that we filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
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6
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Exhibit 1
November 11, 2009 |
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The Philippine Stock Exchange
Disclosure Department
4th Floor PSE Centre
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center
Pasig City
Attention: Ms. Janet A. Encarnacion
Head, Disclosure Department
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In compliance with Section 17.1(b) and Section 17.3 of the Securities Regulation Code, we submit herewith a copy of SEC Form 17-C with a copy of a press release attached thereto entitled Asia America Gateway submarine cable goes live.
This shall also serve as the disclosure letter for the purpose of complying with the PSE Revised Disclosure Rules.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan
MA. LOURDES C. RAUSA-CHAN
Corporate Secretary
Page 1 of 6
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Exhibit 1
November 11, 2009
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Money Market Operations Department
SEC Building, EDSA
Mandaluyong City
Attention : Director Justina F. Callangan
Corporations Finance Department
Gentlemen:
Re : Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company
SEC Registration No. PW-55
In accordance with Section 17.1 (b) of the Securities Regulation Code, we submit herewith three (3) copies of SEC Form 17-C with a press release attached thereto entitled Asia America Gateway submarine cable goes live.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan
MA. LOURDES C. RAUSA-CHAN
Corporate Secretary
Page 2 of 6
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Exhibit 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC FORM 17-C
CURRENT REPORT UNDER SECTION 17
OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE
AND SRC RULE 17.1
1. November 11, 2009
(Date of earliest event reported)
2. SEC Identification Number PW-55
3. BIR Tax Identification No. 000-488-793
4. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
5. PHILIPPINES 6. _____________ (SEC Use Only)
Province, country or other jurisdiction Industry Classification Code
of Incorporation
7. 9th Floor MGO Building
Legaspi corner dela Rosa Streets, Makati City 1200
Address of principal office Postal Code
8. (632) 816-8553
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
9. Not Applicable
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
10. Securities registered pursuant to Sections 8 and 12 of the SRC
Title of Each Class Number of Shares of Common Stock
Licensed and Amount of Debt Outstanding
Page 3 of 6
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Exhibit 1
11. Item 9 Other Events
Attached hereto is a press release entitled Asia America Gateway submarine cable goes live.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized.
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PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY
/s/ Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan MA. LOURDES C. RAUSA-CHAN Corporate Secretary
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Date: November 11, 2009
Page 4 of 6
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PRESS RELEASE
Asia America Gateway submarine
cable goes live
MANILA, Philippines, November 10, 2009 The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and its partners in the 20,000 km-long Asia America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable network today announced the completion of its comprehensive test requirement, a milestone that now enables AAG to begin carrying commercial traffic.
The fully-operational 20,000 km AAG cable network is the first cable system to directly link South East Asia and the United States. The cable system links Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong and the Philippines to the United States, where it lands in Guam, Hawaii and California.
The AAG cable network has been planned and designed to avoid geographically hazardous areas with known seismic activities, increasing the reliability of the traffic between South East Asia and the United States. With an initial equipped capacity of 500 Gigabits per second, the cable network is upgradeable using field-tested DWDM technology.
In addition to linking the high growth South East Asia markets to the United States, this cable network also provides seamless connectivity to Australia, India, Europe and even Africa via common landing points/countries along its route.
The AAG cable network will more than double the PLDT Groups capacity to more than 250 Gbps, improve resilience and diversity, as well as position the Group to further bring to a higher level the quality of services to customers such as PLDT and Smarts broadband internet users, BPOs and call centers, as well as corporate customers.
The AAG consortium teams together with PLDTs network team worked tirelessly to ensure that the cable network was installed and implemented satisfactorily. The commissioning program included a full range of system testing and confidence trials in order to ensure the highest levels of service for the life of the cable.
The AAG consortium was formed in April 2007 to build this 2 Terabits per second fiber optic submarine cable network.
Page 5 of 6
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Exhibit 1
Aside from PLDT who helped spearhead this project , the AAG consortium is composed of the following: AT&T* (United States), Bayan Telecommunications Inc. (Philippines), Bharti AirTel Limited (India), Government of Brunei Darussalam (Brunei), British Telecom Global Network Services (UK), CAT Telecom PCL (Thailand), Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Philippines), FPT Telecom (Vietnam), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Indonesia), Saigon Postel Corporation (Vietnam), StarHub (Singapore), Telekom Malaysia (Malaysia), Telcotech Limited (Cambodia), Telstra (Australia), Telecom New Zealand International (New Zealand), Viettel (Vietnam), and Vietnam Post & Telecommunications Group (Vietnam).
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About PLDT
PLDT is the leading telecommunications service provider in the Philippines. Through its three principal business groups wireless, fixed line, and information and communications technology PLDT offers the largest and most diversified range of telecommunications services across the Philippines most extensive fiber optic backbone and wireless, fixed line and satellite networks.
PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:TEL) and its American Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI). PLDT has one of the largest market capitalizations among Philippine-listed companies.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the web at www.pldt.com.ph.
Contact persons:
Ramon R. Isberto PLDT Spokesperson Tel. No.: +63 2 5113101 Fax No.: +63 2 5113100 |
Horace A. Lavides PLDT Senior Manager Tel. No.: +63 2 8168684 Email: halavides@pldt.com.ph |
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY
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By : /s/ Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan Name : Ma. Lourdes C. Rausa-Chan Title : Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Legal Services Head and Corporate Secretary
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Date: November 11, 2009