Edge Davao 4 Issue 40 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL. 4 NO. 40

December 05 - 11, 2011

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figures of the week STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE

Philippine Stock Index As of December 02, 2011

US DOLLAR = philippine peso As of December 02, 2011

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VOL. 4 NO. 40 DECEMBER 05-11, 2011

On the cover

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

It figures

Mindanao has bigger share in 2012 budget

$157 billion

n Ungab says budget is bigger and biased for the poor

HE 2012 General Appropriations Bill, simply called national budget, gives a bigger share to Mindanao compared to the 2011 budget. This was bared by Davao City Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, who is vice chair for finance of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. The lawmaker from the city’s third Congressional district said Mindanao leaders and their representatives in Congress worked hard to increase Mindanao’s share in the annual budget from 27 percent in 2011 to 32.8 percent of the P1.8-trillion budget in 2012. Ungab said the general appropriations bill was ratified by the Congress bicameral conference committee of the House and Senate last week and is expected to be signed by President Benigno Aquino III on December 15. As vice chair for finance of the House committee on

appropriations, Ungab is charged with the responsibility of deliberating on the budgets of the Department of Finance and its revenueearning agencies such as the bureau of internal revenue (BIR) and bureau of customs (BoC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Assets Privatization Trust, Bureau of the Treasury, Bureau of Local Government Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) board and Legislative Executive Advisory Council (Ledac). The Calinan-born lawmaker said the budget is propoor . “It is designed to achieve President Aquino’s priorities in promoting social services, supporting economic growth and reducing poverty,” he said. “The budget next year is higher than this year’s P1.6trillion,” said Ungab, adding, “We will also have a lower

HE Philippines’ having the most expensive power in Asia is also taking a toll on the finances of the government as its utility expenses is expected to hit at least P11 billion next year, more than double than what it was seven years ago. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara said that although the national government is setting aside P10.18 billion in the P1.812 trillion 2012 national budget for electricity and water use in its offices, the historical trend based on audit reports is that yearly it ends up spending almost a billion pesos more than what had

been originally budgeted.” “So next year, we are looking at an annual utility bill of P11 billion or something like P30.2 million a day, which is for national government agencies alone and does not include the utilities consumed by local governments,” Rep. Sonny Angara said. “Kung lalagyan mo ng metro ang konsumo ng gobyerno sa kuryente at tubig, lalabas na ang patak nito ay P1.25 million kada oras,” Rep. Angara said. “The government can actually build one classroom for every 30 minutes of its utility use,” he added.

Energy conservation necessary: Angara T

projected budget deficit in 2012 and lesser borrowings compared to the previous year’s.” All these augur well for Mindanao, where the poverty rate is one of the country’s highest, he said. He said the House committee started deliberating on the proposed budget on August 1st, soon after President Aquino submitted the money measure a day after he delivered his State Of the Nation Address (SONA). Among the highlights of the ratified appropriations bill is the increase of P500 million for irrigation projects of the Department of Agriculture, P351 million for the House of Representatives to provide for the actual requirements for personal services which were not provided for under the National Expenditure Program as well as the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), P96.69 million for the Senate for the operational requirements of

Rep. Ungab with Pres. Aquino [File Photo]

the 5th Global Conference of the Global Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), to bring the budgets of oversight committees to the Fiscal Year 2011 level, and for the repair and construction of committee rooms and executive conference rooms. He said the measure also sets aside P100 million for the initial operations of the newlycreated Governance Commission for Government-Owned and –Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). Proposed by Senator Franklin Drilon, the commission was established to closely monitor the performance GOCCs and to check their excesses in the past. Earlier, Ungab said that local government units (LGUs) hurting over their reduced share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in 2012 need not worry because it is a temporary situation that

will improve in 2013 and the years to follow. He said leaders and their constituents in the cities and provinces in the Davao Region can look forward to much bigger shares of the IRA in 2013 and beyond because of the country’s high revenue collections in 2010 and 2011. He said the reduction in the IRA next year is a result of the low tax collection in 2009. The creation of 16 new cities also reduces the share of the old ones. Ungab also has good news for Davao City residents saying that several projects are earmarked for the city. The Third District alone, projects worth close to P500 million are being lined for implementation, according to Ungab, who promised to bare details of the projects as soon as their implementation starts.

EXTRA budget (12.1 trillion yen) approved by the Japanese Parliament last week to finance post-earthquake reconstruction and boost an economy hit by slow global growth and a strong yen. The package is the latest government effort to revive an economy reeling from the impact of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which requires the nation’s biggest reconstruction work since World War 11.

P280 million

GRANT provided to the Philippines by the Federal Republic of Germany to boost implementation of biodiversity projects. National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the German and Philippine governments also stipulates that Germany will provide around P205 million worth of financial and technical cooperation funds to four ongoing programs.

$37.9 million

AMOUNT of global humanitarian funding being sought by the United Nations for Mindanao next year as the needs of displaced communities owing to lingering conflict have been complicated by a series of natural disasters that hit the area, as well as serious emerging clan wars among ethnic minorities.

$950 million

NEWEST BRANCH. Guests and top officials of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) spearhead the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon during the opening of the bank’s newest branch in Davao City last

November 20. In the photo are Jerome Camiña, the bank’s business manager with guests Harry Lopez, Mary Rose Tan of Rosegold Pawnshop, Gelli Zamora and Reymando Reyes of the 1st Tagum Rural Bank.

AMOUNT drug maker Merck will pay to resolve investigations into its marketing of the painkiller Vioxx. The US Department of Justice said Merck will pay $321.6 million in criminal fines and $628.4 million as civil settlement. It will also plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge that it marketed Vioxx as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis before getting US Food and Drug Administration approval. Evidence showed that the drug doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke.

DA confident on growth of PHL’s coffee industry

GRICULTURE Secretary Proceso Alcala is confident the country’s coffee industry will grow, dismissing reports it is headed downhill. Speaking at a press conference on Monday at The Marco Polo Davao where the 2nd Philippine Investors’ Forum was held, Alcala said the coffee industry in the country is not heading downhill, considering the impressive performance of the industry, particularly in Mindanao. Annual local demand for coffee beans is currently pegged at 64,000 metric tons (MT) valued at around P5 billion. However, actual yields is P34 MT, 80 percent of which is being purchased by Nestle Philippines. SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan KudaratSarangani-General Santos City) and the Davao region are the Philippines’ top coffee producing regions based on Department of Agriculture (DA) records. Edith de Leon, head of Corporate Affairs and senior vice president of Nes-

tle Philippines, the biggest buyer of green coffee in the Philippines, said four of the top five coffee producers in the Philippines are in Sultan Kudarat and Davao Region, while the other is Cavite. Alcala said with the volume of produce and the high demand for coffee, government together with the private sector like potential coffee investors and major markets like Nestle Philippines are currently aggressive in implementing the necessary interventions to improve the country’s current volume of coffee produce. The decline of the coffee industry in Mindanao was perceived due to the shift of coffee farmers in Mindanao and SOCSKSARGEN to banana. Alcala, however, said the result of production, although lower than the annual demand in Mindanao, is not an indicator that the coffee industry nosedived. DA has projected a 5 percent growth rate in the coffee production in country by 2012 and beyond

with the current interventions being made by government and the private sector. The ambitious projection is based on the growth rate obtained from January to September, 2011 of -7 percent compared to the same period in 2010 of -2 percent. Among the interventions being made by DA is making available about 1.3 million coffee planting materials for over 3,000 hectares of land by 2012. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza said about 1.5 million hectares are projected to be planted to coffee by 2016 starting 2012 with sprawling nurseries being developed by the government and private sector. He said aside from mobilizing coffee farmers in upland areas, state universities are also being tapped by government to develop coffee nurseries. With these interventions, about 20 new nurseries stand to be developed, Mendoza said. Alcala also said the

development of nurseries in preparation for the expansion projects for coffee production comes along with massive fertilization and improvement of postharvest facilities. “The government is doing its best to meet the coffee supply requirement,” he

said, adding the holding of the 2nd Coffee Investors’ Forum is another form of intervention in which coffee stakeholders from government and the private sector gathered to discuss the potential and opportunities in coffee farming. The first forum was held in Makati

City, Metro Manila last March. According to Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, about 10,000 hectares of land belonging to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) are currently planted with coffee. [PNA]

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December 05-11 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

Camella Condo Homes: ‘Your home in the city’

IVING amid the hustle and bustle of city life, urban Filipinos yearn to start and end the day in comfort and peace. That’s why comfort, affordability and accessibility are the most important qualities they look for when buying property. Each aspect of everyday urban living should be considered when choosing the perfect home. Living in close proximity to work and school helps lessen the stress from commuting. It also helps that essentials, like hospitals and supermarkets, are also nearby. As such, condominiums have become very popular among young professionals and even families who are just starting out on their own. With their relatively low maintenance, 24-hour security and accessibility to workplaces, schools and other modern conveniences, condos have become the most practical place option for many Filipinos. The popularity of condo living has been growing as seen from the numerous residential towers rising all over the metro in recent years. And more and more Filipinos are taking this option with enthusiasm and confidence. Camella, known for affordable housing projects in major destinations nationwide, has now expanded its offerings to include low to high-rise condominiums with Camella Condo Homes (CCH). A response to the need for more accessible and affordable residential options in the city, CCH is building a 10-story mixeduse condominium building in Pasig City with retail and commercial spaces on the ground

floor. CCH also presents Pacific Residences, Taguig, one of its successful pilot inner-city developments. Pacific Residences is a self-contained, fully integrated community with a collection of condominiums, single-attached homes and townhomes, influenced by the distinctive architecture of neo-Victorian San Francisco. Because of its convenient location along Mercedes Avenue, close to the Pasig City Hall and the Sta. Clara Parish, homeowners are freed from long commutes as they will be near the business district of Ortigas Center. Accessible via Ortigas, C-5, Edsa and Shaw Boulevard, Camella Condo Homes in Pasig is a mere 20 minutes from key points in Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Antipolo, Mandaluyong and San Juan. Pacific Residences, strategically located at Taguig diversion road that connects C5 and C6 roads, makes travel time to business districts of the Fort, Makati and Alabang shorter and more convenient. A rising star among the Metro’s mid-rise developments, units at CCH Pasig are priced between P1.4 million to P3.5 million. Buyers can choose a studio with an option to combine units or two-bedroom units with a balcony for only P8,500 a month. The studio unit measures at 21 sq m, while the two-bedroom unit has a floor area of 42 sq m. Buyers are also assured that quality materials will be used in every unit. At Pacific Residences, an enclave of well-appointed homes provides extensive space as your children and the fam-

ily’s living necessities grow. The Pamela home, a single-attached two-story home has a floor area of 94 sq m, with two toilet and bath with carport, balcony and provision for service area. The Natalie home is also a singleattached two-story home that has a bigger floor area of 111 sq m with three toilet and bath and a maid’s room. Aside from this, Pacific Residences also offers Queen Townhomes which present four models with varying floor areas ranging from 136 sq m to 177 sq m. CCH Pasig is Wi-Fi ready to give professionals and even students easy access to the Internet. It also has its own recreational amenities, such as a clubhouse, a basketball court and a swimming pool, just steps away from the main building. Parks and playgrounds are also present for kids to enjoy. Wide parking spaces are also provided for each unit. Meditation lanes, jogging paths and bike lanes are also scattered

throughout the Pacific Residences for revitalization and wellness. Coffee shops and restaurants will also be in the vicinity to create the ambiance of San Francisco’s Union Square. 24-hour security and an entrance gate with CCTV system are provided in both communities to ensure safety and privacy of every homeowner. Fire exits are planned to be located at both ends of the building as a safety feature, while a modern underground drainage system will be in place for efficient flood control. Camella Condo Homes in Pasig and Pacific Residences in Taguig are the latest condominium and residential developments of Vista Land & Lifescapes. To reserve a unit, call CCH-Pasig at 501-4021 and 09273379788 or Pacific Residences-Taguig at 2201990 or through 5841182. You could also like Pacific Residences on Facebook.

The economy

VOL. 4 NO. 40 DECEMBER 05-11, 2011

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

as of august 2010

Cebu Pacific Daily 5J961 / 5J962 Zest Air Daily Z2390 / Z2390 Cebu Pacific Daily 5J593 / 5J348 Philippine Airlines Daily PR809 / PR810 Philippine Airlines Daily PR819 / PR820 Cebu Pacific Daily 5J394 / 5J393 Cebu Pacific Daily 5J599 / 5J594 Cebu Pacific Daily 5J347 / 5J596 Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun 5J963 / 5J964 Philippine Airlines Daily PR811 / PR812 Cebu Pacific Daily 5J595 / 5J966 Silk Air Mon/Wed/Sat MI588 / MI588 Cebu Pacific Thu 5J965 / 5J968 Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968

STAT WATCH INDICATIOR

LATEST

1. GNP Growth Rate (At Constant 1985 Prices)

1.9 % 2nd Qtr 2011

2. GDP Growth Rate (At Constant 1985 Prices)

3.4 % 2nd Qtr 2011

3. Exports 1/

USD 4,128 million Jun 2011

4. Imports 1/

USD 4,503 million Jun 2011

5. Trade Balance

USD -376 million Jun 2011

6. Balance of Payments 2/

USD 222 million Jun 2011

7. Broad Money Liabilities

P4,423,849 million Jun 2011

8. Interest Rate 4/

4.48% Apr 2011

5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 6:00 Cebu-Davao-Iloilo 6:10 Manila-Davao-Manila 7:50 Manila-Davao-Manila 7:50 Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga 8:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 9:10 Iloilo-Davao-Cebu 9:40 Manila-Davao-Manila 11:30 Manila-Davao-Manila 12:00 Cebu-Davao-Manila 18:55 Davao-Cebu-Singapore 12:55 Manila-Davao-Manila 13:35 Manila-Davao-Manila

43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

Silk Air Thu/Sun MI566 / MI566 18:55 Davao-Singapore Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Cebu Pacific Daily 5J967 / 5J600 16:35 Manila-Davao-Cebu Philippines Airlines Daily PR813 / PR814 16:55 Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat 5J215 / 5J216 18:00 Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro Cebu Pacific Daily 5971 / 5J970 18:40 Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun 5J973 / 5J974 20:00 Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu Pacific Daily 5J969 / 5J972 20:30 Manila-Davao-Manila Airphil Express Daily 2P987 / 2P988 20:30 Manila-Davao-Manila Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday PR821 / PR822 21:20 Manila-Davao-Manila Philippine Airlines Sunday PR821 / PR822 22:20 Manila-Davao-Manila

15:20 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

First Muslim-owned hotel opens T HE first Muslim-owned hotel in Mindanao opened last Thursday, December 1, along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, this city. Samira Ali Gutoc, member of the board of directors of the the Al Amanah Islamic Investment Bank said the setting up of the El Bajada Hotel in Davao City is a symbol of strong ties between sectors in this city and bank. Gutoc said the hotel is also offering Halal food in its restaurant. She acknowledged the sincerity of the city in responding

to Muslim investors like this first major Muslim-owned hotel in the island. Gutoc said a lot of Muslim investors from countries like the Middle East often look for hotels that also offer Halal food and this hotel could be the answer. “And this might initiate entry of investors from other Muslim countries,” she said. “In Manila, there are Muslim lodging houses and inns but this I think is the first major investment of this kind,” she said. Gutoc added, “it also steps

up the plate of Muslim businessmen as professionals and could be a challenge to others”. El Bajada Hotel is owned by Esmael W. Ebrahim of Ebgum Enterprises. The hotel has a total of 70 rooms. Ebrahim, a businessman from Cotabato City, in an earlier report, said he had decided to invest in the hotel business after he was convinced by friends that the industry is booming. Ebrahim, whose business is more on agricultural produce, said “operating a hotel is not my line of business but

because I believe the industry is growing, I decided to accept the challenge”. Grace Joy Sevilla-Nasser, branch head in Davao of the bank said although Amanah Bank is already under the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), they were still given the go signal to follow conventional banking with the El Bajada Hotel account. “What we followed here is the Islamic banking or the conventional banking where we do not talk of interest but profit and other operating costs and system,” she said. [PNA]

PHL among top recipients Gov’t collection deficit of worldwide remittances doubles to P21 Billion

EMITTANCE flows to devel9. National Government P100,139 million oping countries Revenues Jun 2011 are expected to total US$ 351 billion this year, and worldwide 10. National government P 4,777 billion remittances, including outstanding debt May 2010 those to high-income countries, will reach 11. Peso per US $ 5/ P 42.81 US$ 406 billion for the Jul 2011 current calendar year, according to a newly updated World Bank 12. Stocks Composite Index 6/ 4,503.6 brief on global migraJul 2011 tion and remittances. The top recipients 13. Consumer Price Index 126.4 of officially recorded remittances, estimated 2006=100 Jul 2011 for 2011, are India (US$ 58 billion), China 14. Headline Inflation Rate 4.6 (US$ 57 billion), Mex2000=100 Jul 2011 ico (US$ 24 billion), and the Philippines (US$ 23 billion). 15. Core Inflation Rate 3.7 Pakistan, Bangla2000=100 Jul 2011 desh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Egypt and Lebanon are 16. Visitor Arrivals 317,443 among other large reApr 2011 cipients. While the economic slowdown is 17. Underemployment Rate /7 19.4% dampening employApr 2011 ment prospects for migrant workers in some 18. Unemployment Rate /7 7.2 % high-income countries, Apr 2011 global remittances, nevertheless, are expected to stay on a MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE growth path and, by (January 2009 - January 2011) 2014, are forecast to reach US$ 515 billion. Of that, US$ 441 Month 2011 2010 2009 billion will flow to developing countries, 45.11 47.637 Average according to the latest issue of the Bank’s December 43.95 46.421 Migration and DevelNovember 43.49 47.032 opment Brief, released Thursday at the fifth October 43.45 43.44 46.851 meeting of the Global

September August July June May April March

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:35 13:25 14:05

Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva. “Despite the global economic crisis that has impacted private capital flows, remittance flows to developing countries have remained resilient, posting an estimated growth of 8 percent in 2011,” said Hans Timmer, Director of the Bank’s Development Prospects Group. Remittance flows to all developing regions have grown this year, for the first time since the financial crisis. High oil prices have helped provide a cushion for remittances to Central Asia from Russia and to South and East Asia from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Also, a depreciation of currencies of some large migrantexporting countries (including Mexico, India and Bangladesh) created additional incentives for remittances as goods and services in these countries became cheaper in U.S. dollar terms. Remittance flows to four of the six World Bank-designated developing regions grew faster than expected --by 11 percent to Eastern Eu-

rope and Central Asia, 10.1 percent to South Asia, 7.6 percent to East Asia and Pacific and 7.4 percent to Sub-Saharan Africa, despite the difficult economic conditions in Europe and other destinations of African migrants. In contrast, growth in remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean, at 7 percent, was lower than expected due to continuing weakness in the U.S. economy, while the Middle East and North Africa, affected by civil conflict and unrest related to the ‘Arab Spring’, registered the slowest growth (2.6 percent) among developing regions. The Bank expects continued growth in remittance flows going forward, by 7.3 percent in 2012, 7.9 percent in 2013 and 8.4 percent in 2014. There are, however, some serious downside risks to the Bank’s outlook for international remittance and migration flows. Persistent unemployment in Europe and the U.S. is affecting employment prospects of existing migrants and hardening political attitudes toward new immigration. [PNA/APP]

OLLECTIONS of the government’s major revenue-generating agencies continue to improve but was offset by the 14.84 percent year-on-year expansion in spending resulting to the P21.26 billion deficit last October. Revenues rose by 5.52 percent to P103.94 billion against year-ago’s P91.50 billion while expenditures rose by 14.84 percent to P125.2 billion from P109.02 billion same period last year. “Revenue collections continue to improve as government expenditures were ramped up to boost growth and shield the Philippine economy from the present global uncertainties,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. Data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed that deficit last October rose by 102.2 percent, amounting to P10.743, from year-ago’s P10.51 billion. This brought the 10-month deficit to P74.25 billion, 72.53 percent lower than the P270.30 billion same period last year and way below the P300 billion ceiling set for this year. Revenues as of last October rose by P1.12 trillion, 12.87 percent higher than year-ago’s P993.22 billion. However, expenditures continue to be lower yearon-year after it only reached P1.2 trillion, 5.40 percent lower than year-ago’s P1.26 trillion. Specifically, collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which col-

lects 70 percent of government revenues, rose by 10.92 percent to P70.50 billion last October from year-ago’s P63.57 billion. While its year-to-date collections jumped by 12.80 percent to P756.76 billion from the P670.9 billion same period last year. “For the remaining two months, BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares believes her bureau’s P940billion 2011 collection goal can still be reached, banking on better tax administration to collect a total of P183.236 billion until December,” Purisima said. For the Bureau of Customs (BOC), its October 2011 revenues reached P22.84 billion, 1.18 percent higher than year-ago’s P22.58 billion. While its collections in the first 10 months this year rose by 1.84 percent to P217.78 billion from the P213.53 billion same period last year. Purisima noted that BOC’s cash collections expanded by 13.06 percent to P212.7billion from year-ago’s P188.203 billion while noncash collections contracted to P4.675 billion because of lower rice importation on account of good harvest year for the country. “Rest assured that we are continuously strengthening our trade facilitation efforts led by Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon and vigorously pursuing the crackdown against smugglers in a bid to take in more revenues for the government,” he said. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

agritrends

December 05-11 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

Model cacao nursery opens A

CDI/VOCA, an international non-profit organization that implements the USDA-funded CoCoPal Integrated Farming Systems Project in Mindanao opened earlier today the CoCoPal model cacao nursery situated at Km. 12, Bernabe Subdivision, Catalunan Pequeno, this city. “Presently, we are providing support to qualified nursery operators and partners in our project areas. In Davao City , we supported the establishment of a model nursery with 100,000 production capacity to showcase best practices in cacao nursery production,” said Nicholas Richards of ACDI/ VOCA. Seeing the need to assist cacao farmers in mastering the skill in farming, the CoCoPal projects started its assistance by showcasing

the best practices shown by some of the successful farmers and have it shown as a learning tool for new and interested farmers. CoCoPal promotes the integration of coconut and cacao in a Palayamanan system of rice farming. One of the components of the CoCoPal Project is the establishment of plant material facilities to ensure the supply of good quality seedlings. The project will also review the existing value chains for those crops at the outset of the program to ensure that activities focus on the opportunities and constraints within each value chain, resulting in increased farmer participation and benefits. More farmers have shifted to cacao farming after seeing the growing demand of cacao from interna-

tional market. Cacao is now among the top twenty export commodities of Davao region. Every year, the Bureau of Customs Region 11 comes up with a list of top 20 commodities exported from the region which are determined based on their export value. BOC 11 Export Division revealed that cacao has finally made it among the top 20 export commodities with a total value of US$1.4 million. Destinations of cacao beans exported from the region re Belgium , China , Germany , Malaysia , Netherlands , Thailand , and USA . The volume of cacao exports from the region increased by six fold from 151 metric tons in 2008 to 1,112 metric tons in 2009. [PIA 11/MAI GEVERA-MACAPAGAT]

FARM TO MARKET ACCESS. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently completed a 42-meterlong reinforced concrete suspension footbridge across the Dolol River, in Telafas, Columbio, in Sultan Kudarat Province, in partnership with the municipal government. Through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, USAID has completed more than 1,300

such community infrastructure projects in Mindanao, with counterpart contributions from beneficiaries of at least 25 percent of the total project cost. In the case of the Telafas footbridge, the contribution provided by the municipal government was about 33 percent of the total costs. USAID’s GEM Program is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority.

PhilRice develops micronutrient-rich BFAR starting ban rice varieties to curb hidden hunger on sardines fishing

HE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is developing micronutrient-rich rice varieties to help curb the hidden hunger problem in the country. During the recent 7th National Biotechnology Week, Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, director of the Crop Biotechnology Center of the Department of Agriculture, said rice fortified with iron, zinc and beta carotene are in the pipeline to help reduce the mortality and morbidity rates caused by micronutrient deficiencies. “We have replicated field trials of iron and zinc-rich rice in the experimental fields of PhilRice and in the International Rice Research Institute. With biofortification, we expect that

our staple food will soon contain 50-80 percent more of iron and zinc,” Alfonso said. He said biofortification or the method of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value is a sustainable and effective way of fighting hidden hunger as it facilitates easy and fast access to better nutrition. “Access is crucial in reducing micronutrient deficiency because it has no visible signs, making the ‘sufferer’ unaware of his condition. Because rice is a daily main component of our diet, more people especially in the rural areas, will have immediate and cheaper source of these micronutrients,” he said. Alfonso said 1.7 million Filipino children, mostly in the remote areas, suffer from

vitamin A deficiency while one in every 10 pregnant women lacks vitamin A. Globally, he said vitamin A deficiency causes the death of 670,000 children every year while 350,000 suffer from blindness. “These health conditions, especially of children, drive us to improve our rice varieties so they could contain the Golden Rice trait, or the ability of rice to produce high amount of beta-carotene in its grain. Let’s note that the body only converts beta-carotene into vitamin A only when needed,” he said. In developing the betacarotene-rich rice, Alfonso said the variety is also being evaluated to ensure that it will be

safe for health and to the environment. “Golden Rice will only be available to the market if studies would prove its effectiveness in improving the vitamin A status of the consumers. Safety and efficacy are the main requirements for this new type of rice to be released,” he said. Should Golden Rice be released, the plant breeder said that its seeds could be repeatedly used by farmers and its cost will be similar to other rice varieties as the technology had been donated for public good. He also said Golden Rice will be cultivated just like the popular and ordinary rice being grown by the farmers. [PNA]

“We have to study the market and we have to study how to get there,” he said. Because of the high production of durian in the city, Avila said they are now looking at the possibility of penetrating the foreign market. “Durian production in Davao City last year reached 26,000 tons and we noticed

this year its almost the same in the local market,” Avila said. “As of this time, there’s durian in the US, but it’s from Thailand. If Thailand can do it, we can also do it. The question is how to make it happen,” he said. Avila said they are pushing for durian to reach the world market since the city

government is focusing on agri-business which is the thrust of the administration of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. “We have to enhance our production in agriculture because we have vast idle lands in Davao City. We have great potential because we now produce durian all year-round,” he said. [PNA]

City agriculturist eyes durian export

AVAO City is studying the possibility of exporting durian to the world market, particularly the United States. Agriculturist office officer-in-charge Leonardo Avila III said a study is being conducted to determine the feasibility of exporting durian fruit from the City.

HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 9 (BFAR) started Thursday its three-month closed season for the fishing of tamban, a species used in processing sardines by 11 factories in Zamboanga. The closed season for catching sardines was supposed to have been implemented from November this year to January next year, but owners of fishing fleets servicing the sardines factories in the city asked for a delay by a month. The government is worried that over fishing will not give sardines enough time to spawn and increase its supply. Affected by the ban are thousands of workers in sardine factories and fishing fleets and factories that will have to lay off workers and have time to clean up and recondition their units and systems. BFAR director, Atty. Asis Perez, explained that the closed season will mean P190 million worth of sardines will be saved every night for the duration of its implementation. “It is just like you invest now to catch more fish later,” Perez said. Every 100,000 kilos of sardines is estimated to lay 225 billion eggs. However, only 10 percent of that (22,500,000) will become full grown fish, but because of the implementation of the closed season, these fish will be saved.

To enforce the ban, Perez said BFAR will conduct joint operations together with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 under regional director P/ CHF Supt. Elpidio De Asis Jr. and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Perez said these agencies have pledged their support to help in the strict implementation of the fishing closed season. “We are requesting the fishery sector to comply with this regulation,” the BFAR director stressed. He also emphasized that fishing is still allowed but in other areas not covered by the fishing closed season. Perez said his office will use P10 to P15 million to implement the closed fishing season and another P5 million for the research component. The office will also conduct a thorough research while the closed season is in effect. The office has already deployed three patrol vessels and research vessels in preparation for the implementation of the closed season. “We are prepared and we are serious. Gagawin natin yung dapat gawin,” Perez said. The penalty for violators are imprisonment of six months and one day to six years, or fine of P6,000 and forfeiture of the catch, with administrative penalty of cancellation of fishing boat and gear license. [PNA]

BizQUIPS

FINGERLINGS. (From left) Vice Mayor Utto Salem Cutan, Governor Migs Dominguez, Tomas Alcantara - president and chairman of Alcantara Group, a representative from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DENR regional director Datu Saikol, Alex Alcantara - Alsons Aquaculture Corporation executive vice president and

‘THAT explosions may have been cause by rido as the reports say. But we must be very cautious. We must tighten our security. We don’t know what comes next.’ Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias pose for the ceremonial --Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. release of assorted fish fingerlings to Sarangani Bay Friday, November 25, as part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the 200 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani. [COCOY SEXCION/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE]

Duterte appealing for citizens to be vigilant and cooperative with government security measures. (Mindanao Daily Mirror)

VOL. 4 NO. 40 December 05-11, 2011

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EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

governance

December 05-11 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

Mindanao LGUs supporting Barangay Justice for Peace

OCAL government officials from selected Mindanao conflict-affected areas expressed their support for the sustainability of the Barangay Justice for Peace project (BJP) in their respective areas, during a recent event marking the culmination of the project. At the gathering called BJP End of Congress held last week in Davao City, the LGUs of Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Saranggani, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay have donated almost P8 million pesos for the expansion of BJP activities, especially in the barangays where the impact is still not felt. BJP is a 2-year program

under the Mindanao Peace and Development Program of US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and is implemented by the Gerry Roxas Foundation. It aims to reduce violent conflicts in Mindanao barangays and strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the barangays. After two years, the program was able to train and mobilize not less than 3,000 barangay justice advocates all over their target municipalities and cities, and have resolved roughly 11,000 community conflicts. Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director expressed her appreciation for the commitments made by the LGUs

representatives to sustain and replicate the program. “I have worked for USAID for almost 30 years, and we have always wondered if anything that we have started will ever be sustained. This is the first time that I hear, straight from the officials that they will continue a project,” Steel said. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo also noted during the congress that in the entire Philippines, it is Mindanao where the barangay justice system is most important. “A peaceful nation can move forward faster, we hope that more barangays can benefit from this kind of program,” he added.

RECOGNITION. Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) chair Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario hands over a plaque of recognition to Department of Agriculture-

One of the highlights of the congress is the oath taking of the Mindanao Consortium for Barangay Justice Advocates, which serves the sustainability strategy of the BJP program. This consortium was organized

RFU-11 Regional Director Oscar Parawan for his invaluable support to the program. Also in photo is Atty. Wendel Avisado, DIDP executive director. [NOEL BAGUIO/DAVNOR PIO]

by the Gerry Roxas Foundation in partnership with the 8 LGU partners. “Let us rally behind each other to achieve piece. They have already started something, let’s continue it,” encour-

aged MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino. Antonino said that programs such as BJP is a beautiful legacy that people, especially government officials should support and replicate. [MINDA]

Casiño to X’mas shoppers: Lawmaker urges Congress to pass anti-kickback bill ‘Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy’

S the Christmas shopping rush continues, House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development chair Rep. Teddy Casiño is calling on consumers to buy Filipino-made products “to help spur the local economy and provide much needed income to our local producers, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).” Casiño’s call was echoed by Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) president Jess Aranza and National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA) president Bayan de la Cruz, who are all members of Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy!, a grassrootsbased movement to promote the consumption of Filipino-made products and to push for policies beneficial to local producers/entrepreneurs. «It is during Christmas that we see so much imported products being dumped on our country - from grapes, apples and oranges to Christmas lights, shoes and clothes. Sana huwag nating kalimutan ang ating mga kababayang Pinoy na lumilikha ng sarili nating produkto. Kung bibili rin naman tayo ng pang noche buena o panregalo, bilhin na natin ang gawang Pinoy,” said Casiño. He likewise called on returning OFWs to avoid the hassle of bringing in so many boxes of

imported goods and to shun duty free shops. “Ipakita natin sa ating mga kamag-anak at kaibigan na ang tunay na balikbayan ay yung bumabalik sa pagtangkilik ng produktong Pilipino. Mas maganda kung ang ating mga pasalubong, bagamat nagmula sa perang dayuhan, ay gawang Pinoy, pusong Pinoy.” The lawmaker stressed that the country’s MSMEs gain to benefit the most if Christmas shoppers buy Phlippine-made products. The sector is comprised of more than 750,000 firms, accounting for 99.6% of total establishments and contributing 61.2% of total employment. Most MSMEs are into the production of consumer goods, mostly food and retail services. “From a multiplier effect standpoint, it would be best for our kababayans to buy from tiangges and small stores that sell locally-sourced products. For noche buena, let’s buy locallygrown fruits from the market. Bumili tayo ng bibingka at puto bungbong, tsokolateng tablea imbes na imported instant chocolate. Kesong puti sa halip na queso de bola. T-shirt na gawa sa Bulacan o damit sa Baclaran, sa halip na imported sa France at US,” he stressed. Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month Last week, Casiño filed House Bill 5573 declaring No-

vember as the “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month.” «We set November as the Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month so as to give due time to our local producers to prepare their goods and so that the campaign would be on our shopper’s minds when they do their Christmas shopping,” he said. The bill mandates all heads of government offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as local government units, and employers in the private sector to “encourage and afford sufficient resources, time and opportunities for MSMEs to engage and participate in any and all activities to mark the month.” Activities for the month shall include MSME trade fairs, bazaars, marketing missions, information dissemination activities, education and advocacy campaigns, and similar events featuring Filipino products, manufactures, inventions, technologies and resources and shall be conducted in all national government agencies as well as cities and municipalities in the country. “With this bill we hope that the government will give more support to MSMEs and that our local entrepreneurs take the center stage at least during this month every year,” ended Casiño.

lawmaker has urged Congress to pass the proposed “anti-kickback act” in a bid to address the unabated irregularities in government transactions and projects. “We can’t change things overnight but we can do something at once,” said Rep. Roilo Golez (2nd District, Parañaque City), principal author of House Bill 264. Golez said he is confident the bill, which is pending before the House Committee on Revision of Laws, will be considered for early plenary action. “The bill will redound to the benefit of the limited government coffers and the public at large,” Golez said. “Corruption is a nationwide and well entrenched problem not only in the country but also in more developed economies. Kickback is one of the many faces of this problem,” Golez added. The bill defines “kickback” as fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation or any kind which is provided or given directly or indirectly by any contractor or the employee, representative or agent of such contractor, or the seller, lessor and lessee, owner or buyer of any kind of property for the purpose of improperly obtaining or rewarding favor-

able treatment by any person in connection with any transaction. The measure defines transaction as an offer made by a party or parties for the construction, remodeling, improvement or repair of any kind of property, the sale, lease, or obtaining of any right over any kind of property; the furnishing of obtaining of services, materials or supplies by any person. However, any payment of a commission to a broker, agent, or attorney-in-fact for any legitimate service done and recognized under existing laws or business practices is not covered by nor embraced in the said definition of transaction. Under the bill, any person who shall commit any of the acts declared unlawful under the proposed law shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than P5,000 nor more than three times the amount of the kickback in the transaction. If the offender is a public official or employee, he shall, in addition, suffer the

Tesda mulling visits to Minda industries

Neda forms multisectoral network on M&E T T

HE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recently launched the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Network Philippines, a group of development practitioners that aims to discuss and disseminate evaluation findings for programs and projects, and hopes to generate policy agenda for action. “The M&E Network Philippines provides a venue for continuing and meaningful exchange of ideas, experiences and lessons among stakeholders. It intends to develop a culture of results orientation among M&E units and practitioners and strengthen their capacities,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. during the 1st M&E Network forum held on November

7-8, 2011. Paderanga added that the NEDA initiated the launching of the network to advance professionalism in the M&E community and foster deeper understanding and appreciation of M&E practices in the country. M&E is a crucial part of the government’s overall planning process as it identifies efficiency and effectiveness of programs and projects and ensures that development results of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 will be achieved. “If done sufficiently and substantially, M&E provides significant performance measurement and information for learning and accountability at the national, sectoral and program or project levels,”

said Paderanga, who is also NEDA Director-General. “M&E also allows us to improve current practices and approaches. Through identifying the factors of success and failure, it enables us to better understand and analyze development processes and the impacts of development interventions,” he added. NEDA Deputy DirectorGeneral Rolando G. Tungpalan said that the network organizes people with common vision that will help government provide a clear results-based agenda in both short and mediumterm. “Our country has plenty of expertise in M&E that we could already claim that we have good building blocks in establishing the network,” said Tungpalan

during the forum’s press conference. The M&E Network Philippines includes members from the government, development partner agencies, academe, M&E practitioners and consultants, civil society organizations, and other organizations doing M&E for development. The NEDA-Project Monitoring Staff acts as the interim technical and administrative secretariat of the M&E Network Philippines. The establishment of the network was also supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Information on the M&E Network Philippines can be viewed in its website: http://devplan.neda. gov.ph/m&e-network/ .

penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from holding a public office. If an alien, he shall be deported after service of sentence without need of further proceedings. In case the offender is a corporation, partnership, single proprietorship, firm or any other commercial or legal entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the person who authorized or was responsible for the commission of the unlawful act. In addition, the license of the erring corporation, partnership, single proprietorship or other commercial firm or legal entity shall be cancelled. The amount of civil penalty shall be three times the amount of each kickback involved in the transaction; and an additional amount of not less than P10,000 nor more than P200,000 for each separate commission of prohibited acts under the measure. “Nothing in this bill shall be construed as diluting the viability of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, except that the offense of kickback shall be prosecuted under the law which imposes a heavier penalty,” Golez said.

HE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority mulls visits to industries in Mindanao next year in a bid to address the perennial concern on job mismatch. Tesda regional director Gaspar Gayona said the visits would firm up job opportunities for the technical and vocational graduates with the private companies

from all the industries in the island. “Many available job seats were not filled because graduates of educational and training institutions do not have the competencies required by the workplace,” Gayona admitted as he emphasized the need for the industry visits and researches.[PIA-11/CARINA L. CAYON]

BizQUIPS ‘PRICES increased as investors turned to safe-haven commodities, such as gold, amid heightened volatility in the financial markets in advanced economies.’

--Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr., NEDA director general (Phil. Daily Inquirer)

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 4 NO. 40 DECEMBER 05-11, 2011

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Prospects for progress and profit

HERE are only 2 reasons I can think of why some local governments cannot provide their communities the goods and services they require. One is the lack of funds to bring them about. The other one is the lack of political will. The lack of funds is real. It is a recognized problem. Lack of political will is something abstract, vague and subjective. Yet, I believe that when there’s political will, there’s also a strong possibility that everything could be done, including the generation of enough development funds. Political will is not about the absence of any problem; it is how problems and challenges are and should be addressed and responded to. Nowadays, lack of funds – which is real – is hardly an excuse for not being able to provide what communities should and must have. There are many ways to generate funds for local development as there are a thousand ways to skin a cat. The local government code (circa 1991 yet!) has placed enough powers and authorities to local governments so that they could generate and mobilize the financial resources they need. How local officials take these mandates is what I see as an ultimate gauge of their political will on this particular respect. RA 6957, as amended by RA 7718, or more commonly known as the BOT Law, provides creative approaches in the delivery of goods and services to the public. It enables the government – national and local – to build facilities or provide services without necessarily draining its coffers. Under this arrangement, the private sector shoulders all the financial burdens, and in the end, it takes its handsome share of the profit that could be generated from the operation of facilities or from the provision of services. Again, there are 2 reasons why this kind of arrangement is not seemingly attractive to both local government and the business sector. One is political will (again!) on the part of the local government to encourage its de-

velopment counterpart, the business sector, to partner in the delivery of goods and services. The other reason is the reality and the magnitude of risks in financial investment. Yet, financial risks, according to the RA, could be addressed. It only takes the partners to recognize them and make resolve to manage them together. While it’s a shared responsibility, much is expected of the concerned local government in ensuring that the risks are mitigated, if not totally eliminated. Then again, that’s political will. This arrangement - traditionally called joint venture and now called public-private partnership - has many variants, namely: buildoperate-transfer, build-andtransfer, build-own-operate, build-lease-transfer, buildtransfer-operate, contractadd-operate, develop-operate-and-transfer, rehabilitate-operate-and-transfer, rehabilitate-own-operate, management or operation and maintenance contract, lease or affermage, concession, divestiture, and joint venture. Public-private partnership (PPP) can be applied for most development projects that are otherwise difficult for local governments to provide on their own. These projects may include water and sanitation, flood control and drainage infrastructure; health services including hospitals and other tertiary hospital services; agriculture, fishery, livestock, and maintenance of irrigation systems; tourism services, including the development and promotion programs; social welfare services; computerization and other information technology; telecommunication services; low cost housing; maintenance and repair of infrastructure projects; community-based forestry projects; and other activities in sectors devolved to the LGUs requiring special and technical managerial skills or know-how. Given these, there are plenty of prospects, opportunities and possibilities to bring about progress to the community and profit to the willing funding entity. This kind of arrangement only entails creativity and political will (again?).

BizQUIPS

‘WHAT we need now is a new social movement that would reject corruption as a way of life and usher a new mass culture that highlights integrity in public service.’ --Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo in proposing a 6-point anti-corruption agenda. (BusinessWorld)

editorial

Quitain’s lament

HREE Tuesdays ago, Davao City Councilor Melchor V. Quitain took the Sanggunian floor to deliver a privilege speech lamenting the slow implementation by the executive department of ordinances crafted by the City Council. Quitain rattled off almost a dozen legislative measures in various stages of non-implementation. Worse, some ordinances have not even been implemented at all, he said. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is in her first term as city chief executive, took exception to Quitain’s privilege speech, saying that ordinances are being implemented but that the councilors may not be aware of it. Some measures are not enforced for being “unreasonable.” A cursory reading of the recentlypublished Code of Ordinances of Davao City, a milestone in itself, proves that both the mayor and Councilor Quitain may be right. The code contains some ordinances that border on the ridiculous, apart from grammatical lapses, which is par for the course

being the work of human beings. However, a considerable number of the unimplemented ordinances were approved when Quitain was still part of the city’s executive mill for a long time as city legal officer charged with passing upon all newly-approved ordinances, and as acting city administrator some of the times. It is therefore safe to assume that as a conscientious executive factotum, he knows why certain ordinances are not implemented in earnest or are better left to gather dust in the archives. His detractors claim, and we agree, that instead of engaging in the blame game, he should have come up with ideas to solve the situation since he has the wisdom and knowledge to make a respectable and authoritative analysis of the malady.. Yes, maybe he can start by asking the Sanggunian’s ordinance analyst (if such a position still exists) to go to work and review the ordinances in the code and come up with recommendations. Perhaps, a multi-agency task force can do a more thorough job.

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December 05-11, 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

FACE OFF

“If you look at all the decisions of the court involving the exercise of police power, there is always a state interest involved. That is where the balancing interest would come in. Tell us what law grants the DOJ to impair a private citizen’s right in order to serve public interest? The way you interpret the law shows that you are more powerful than the court.” ---Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De

Castro.

“Our target is that the Supreme Court may understand the possible consequences if they remove from the DOJ the power to issue [these orders] when necessary. I think we cannot be accused of abuse whenever we issue [these orders] because we don’t issue them all the time. We take into account all circumstances on a case-by-case basis. There might be a mistake sometimes, but I don’t think it’s an abuse [of authority].”

-----Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“The Court Administrator cum Acting Chief of the PIO is hereby advised to be careful not to go beyond his role in such offices, and that he has no authority to interpret any of our judicial issuances, including the present resolution, a function he never had from the beginning.”

-----Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno

“Justice Sereno has so eloquently made her point. We should all respect that. However, hers did not get the majority vote. We should not lose sight of the fact that a dissenting opinion is just that – a dissent,” ------Supreme Court administrator and

spokesman Jose Midas Marquez.

.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could be forgiven for believing she’s visiting two different countries – one called Naypyitaw, the other Myanmar. Naypyitaw is the new capital of Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma. It’s been built from scratch in the middle of nowhere. It’s still a work in progress, it was only designated as the administrative capital in 2005, and until recently was largely off-limits to foreigners. It’s a sprawling, surreal place with so few people that its eight-lane highways are almost deserted – a somewhat shocking site in this congested part of the world. For several miles down one stretch, I saw just three motorcycles and a truck transporting a group of workers who had been tending the landscaped gardens on either side of the road. Despite the apparent lack of people, Naypyitaw does have plenty of monstrous government buildings and villas, and several hotels and an international airport are under construction. “Where’s downtown?” I asked a Myanmar journalist. “I keep asking them that,” he replied, “But nobody seems to know.” For many, Naypyitaw is a symbol of military ego, a metaphor for the former junta’s isolation from the world – and its own people.

Myanmar’s new capital: A vast, empty city

Commentary By Ian Williams Myanmar’s new president, Thein Sein, a former army officer, is reportedly a modest man. But there’s little modesty about his sprawling palace, where he and other officials from the new and nominally civilian government received Clinton in an ornate reception room. It was so new you could almost smell the paint. The police made a big show of stopping what little traffic there was to make way for the Clinton cavalcade as it crisscrossed the city. There was never any danger of congestion. Myanmar has been so secretive that it’s not clear precisely when work began on the city, nor how much it cost. It is lavish by any standards, but almost obscenely so against the backdrop of the enormous poverty elsewhere in the country. It’s hard to say where the money came from – but the military had its finger in many busi-

ness pies, of various degrees of legitimacy. China has also been a big benefactor. The government justified the move by saying Yangon was too crowded, and that Naypyitaw was chosen because it is smack in the middle of the country. Though one bizarre explanation was that former military strongman Than Shwe was shaken by an astrologer’s warning that an American attack was imminent and Yangon was too exposed. Cynics suggested he was afraid of his own people as well. The real Myanmar Clinton flew late in the afternoon Thursday to the country’s old capital, Yangon, the city also known as Rangoon, seemingly a world away. Yangon, 200 miles from Naypyitaw, is a city of stunning pagodas and dilapidated, colonial-era buildings, including the run-down lakeside residence of pro-democracy leader Aung

San Suu Kyi. It’s a real city, with real people and a real soul. And for the most part, its residents are giving the benefit of the doubt to the reforms coming from Naypyitaw. Clinton met Suu Kyi for a private dinner Thursday evening, the meeting itself a remarkable sign of change. Many are still skeptical about the government’s intentions – although Suu Kyi isn’t among them. She was expected to tell Clinton she thinks President Thein Sein is sincere in wanting change, that he truly believes it is the best way forward for the country. Suu Kyi will likely test the reforms by standing for a vacant parliamentary seat early next year. It is an unusually positive response to the government’s claims of reform – she’s been persecuted for years by the regime for her pursuit of democracy, spending 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest. Last Thursday evening was the first time the two have met, and Clinton, while welcoming the reforms, is taking a more cautious public line. That, after all, is her job. Though it’s my guess that she’ll be enchanted both by Suu Kyi and Yangon – a good deal more so than the sterile meeting rooms of Naypyit.

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Kick their asses

HE recently concluded Southeast Asia Games that was held in Indonesia was a humiliating disaster to the Philippine delegation and to their millions of countrymen back home who followed the Games on television and news reports. This nation of 92 million could only win 36 gold medals, 56 silvers and 77 bronzes. Compare that with overall champion host Indonesia (182-151-152); Thailand (107-100-120); Vietnam (96-90-100); Malaysia

‘

Recall that in the 2005 SEAG hosted by the Philippines we harvested 91 gold medals to ran away with the overall title for only the first—and as it turned out—the last time in the Games. That was during the stint of Davao’s William “Butch” Ramirez as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

(59-50-81), and Singapore (42-45-73). But let’s not feel smug over the fact that Myanmar had (16-27-36); Laos (9-12-36); Cambodia (4-11-24); Timor Leste (1-16), and Brunei Darussalam (0-4-7). The last five countries behind the Philippines could only come up with 30 gold medals, six less than the Philippines. But the five

top countries above us had a total of more than 400 golds compared to the Philippines’ 36. Recall that in the 2005 SEAG hosted by the Philippines we harvested 91 gold medals to ran away with the overall title for only the first—and as it turned out— the last time in the Games. That was during the stint of Davao’s William “Butch” Ramirez as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). So, what happened to our country’s participation in the 2011 26th SEAG held in Indonesia? Why the disastrous results? Asked to explain, our top sports officials had ready answers: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco replied: “Lack of funds for training.” PSC chair Richie Garcia: “Many national sports associations (NSA) failed to achieve their targets (medals).” No kidding? So, how come Cojuangco and Garcia predicted on the eve of the Games that the Philippine delegation would win in the neighborhood of 70 gold medals! When that did not happen, some NSAs blamed bum stomachs caused by the food served their athletes before the final events. Why athletes from achieving countries did not suffer from bum stomachs was not explained Istoryaheee! When President Noynoy Aquino summoned NSA officials to Malacanang to inquire into the sports debacle, officials of only 14 of the 29 showed up. I’m sure those 14 represented medal winning athletes and had no qualms about facing the President while the 15 absentees were officials of non-performing NSAs who suddenly had bum stomachs themselves brought about, not by bad food, but by having to face the President under such circumstances. Perhaps afraid that whatever alibis they had in mind to blame for their failure would not wash with PNoy. Better not show up. One thing is certain, though. The time has come to rid Philippine sports of incompetent, corrupt officials and freeloaders and underachievers. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as the saying goes. Just kick their asses.

BizQUIPS ‘TODAY’S society faces lingering and emerging challenges, underscoring the importance of utilizing new and proven technologies in developing solutions.’

--Science Secretary Mario G. Montejo on the importance of biotechnology (Edge Davao)

10 VOL. 4 NO. 40 DECEMBER 05-11, 2011

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AboitizPower to send additional capacity to Mindanao by June ‘12

O augment the tightening power supply in Mindanao next year, in anticipation of the effect of the summer months and the continuing increase in demand for power, AboitizPower (PSE ticker symbol: AP), through its wholly owned subsidiary Therma Marine, Inc. plans to transfer one of its four bargemounted power plant units from Navotas by June 2012. “As Mindanao braces for a shortage of power, AboitizPower remains true to its commitment to the people of the island by providing a solution that will ensure that our economic progress will continue,” AboitizPower FVPMindanao Affairs Bobby Orig said. The barges are bunker Cfired diesel plants designed for peak load application, and will contribute to the country’s power supply needs. When fully operational, the barges will have an

aggregate deliverable generating capacity of 242 MW. It is worthwhile to note that the units have not been operating for almost five years. Upon their acquisition last May 2011, AboitizPower immediately implemented rehabilitation efforts on the barges, so that these will be able to deliver prime output. While C-fired diesel plants are not baseload power plants intended to run 24/7, they play a vital role in the Mindanao grid by providing back up power. Paking plants are designed to run on peak hours of the day when the demand of electricity increases ensuring reliable power to households, businesses and industries. AboitizPower intends to send one of the barges either to Nasipit, Agusan del Norte or Maco, Compostela Valley, where the company has docked 200MW power barge facilities, operated by wholly owned subsidiary

HE Civil Aviation Board (CAB) said on Wednesday it has granted an Airline Operators Certificate (AOC) to a local carrier to mount flights on domestic and international routes after it withdrew questionable provisions on its partnership agreement with Singapore’s Tiger Airways. CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said the agency agreed to grant the South East Asian Airlines

(SEAir) the certificate but they want to make sure that the new marketing agreement is truly reflective in accordance of the true accepted norms. “We have to be very vigilant, and the board will monitor the collaboration of SEAir and Tiger,” Arcilla said. SEAir and Tiger Airways partnership drew flak from other local carriers in the country, citing that the

Therma Marine, Inc. “By bringing in this facility, Mindanao is assured of continued supply of reliable and affordable power to fuel its economy and provide convenience to the people of Mindanao,” Orig added. AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services. It is a major producer of Cleanergy, its brand for clean and renewable energy Larry Secreto, Sales Director of Sony Philippines and Sony President Takao Kuroda with Ms. Earth Beauties. in the Philippines with several hydroelectric and geothermal assets in its generation portfolio and also has non-renewable power plants located across the country. The company owns distribution utilities that operate in high-growth areas in Luzon, ONY Centre Abreeza dates were handed the Sony ucts visit METRO PLAZA Visayas and Mindanao. (For Ayala Mall played the Network Walkman as to- LOCATED AT J.P. LAUmore details, please visit: www. perfect host to the vis- kens, placed in eco-friendly REL, BAJADA ( TEL No. aboitizpower.com and www. cleanergy.com.ph.) iting Miss Earth 2011 candi- bags – a signal of the com- 2263882 ) * SECOND LEVdates led by Takao Kuroda, pany going green. EL OF NCCC MALL DAVAO ( President of Sony PhilipWhat a perfect event to TEL No. 2993828 ) * SONY pines, and Larry Secreto, showcase a company’s show CENTRE AT THE 3RD LEVSales Director of Sony Phil- of concern for our environ- EL OF GAISANO MALL OF ment and a group of good- DAVAO ( TEL No. 2220968 foreign carrier would defi- ippines. Graciously welcoming looking gals promoting car- )* SAMSUNG CONCEPT nitely be benefitted by the SHOP 3RD LEVEL GAISAbusiness partnership, which the gorgeous ladies from ing for our mother earth. the two companies denied. Australia, Guam, South AfSony Centre is located NO MALL OF DAVAO ( TEL Earlier, the CAB had rica, and Japan was Ruben at the 3rd Floor of Abreeza No. 2228968 ) *SAMSUNG suspended the implemen- Bangayan- Sony’s formi- Ayala Mall with telephone CONCEPT SHOP 3RD LEVEL tation of a marketing deal dable partner in Davao City. number 321-2868 OF ABREEZA AYALA MALL between Tiger Airways and The beautiful candiFor more Sony prod( TEL No. 3210883 ) SEAir due to violations of the Cabotage Law. The cease-and-desist order was in response to the complaint filed by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and Zest Air. [PNA]

CAB grants certificate to SEAir T

Miss Earth candidates visit Sony Centre Abreeza Davao

Sun Cellular, the professional’s communications ally in Davao

HE working Filipino endures the compelling call of working everyday to ensure that there is food on the table. Rain or shine, every Juan or Maria is duty-bound to start the day and brave what lies ahead in order for them to sustain nourishment for the whole family. These times, anything that helps a Filipino save in order for them to keep something for the rainy days is much sought for. Keeping in touch with family for the working professionals used to cost a pretty penny, but thanks to the unlimited services of Sun Cellular, gone are the days when keeping a mobile line is a luxury. Today, anyone can afford to call their loved ones anytime,

anywhere. Davaoeños are known to be hardworking and practical spenders. “Here in Davao, hindi magtatagal ang mahal!” Rico Jumuad discloses. A station manager of the iFM radio station in Davao, Rico has been a Sun Cellular subscriber for the past 6 years and enjoys unlimited connectivity with his family, friends and work contacts all day long. “My primary reason for switching and using Sun Cellular is because of its unlimited service. I got a Sun Cellular Postpaid and sobrang sulit ang 350 pesos per month! Natuwa ako that’s why I got my 5-year old daughter a Sun Magic Zone Mindanao prepaid sim. Imagine, for 15 pesos per day naka-unlimited calls

DAVAO –BASED PACKAGING MANUFACTURING COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DEV’T. & MARKETING MANAGER • Male or Female 35-49 years old • Must have at least 5 years experience in industrial sales & marketing in various industries like chemical, pharmaceutical, food & agricultural industries • Previous experience in industrial and packaging supplies is an advantage • Can handle people, with integrity & willing to do field assignments • MBA Graduate is an advantage HR MANAGER • Male, 40 - 50 years old • Extensive HR experience in Manufacturing Industry • Good people management / Interpersonal skills • Responsible, hardworking, flexible & can work under pressure • Good communication skills & leadership quality • Trustworthy & pro-active SALES REPRESENTATIVE (FOR DAVAO - GENSAN) • Male or Female, 25 to 35 years old • Graduate of any 4-year business course • Must have good communication skills, initiative & is trustworthy • Responsible, hardworking & can work unsupervised under pressure • Willing to travel Email or send Comprehensive Resume with recent 2x2 picture and Transcript of Records to metroaceplastic@yahoo.com or The Manager, MP blue gate, Opposite Granland Bldg., R. Castillo Street, Davao City

and texts na din siya! And I can also call her anytime I want. Especially during long workdays when I have to stay late at the office, she can still call or text me to tell me about her day.” With Sun Magic Zone Call and Text Unlimited 15, Rico and his whole family get to enjoy unlimited Sun to Sun calls and texts plus 50 free texts to other networks for one whole day. “Most of my officemates are also with Sun Cellular. Ngayon, I rarely text. I just call all the time. And my first question to a new acquaintance or business contact: May Sun ka ba?” Rico laughs. Sun Magic Zone Mindanao, offers the lowest rate for unlimited texts within the Sun network in Mindanao. For as low as P10 per day, one can already avail of unlimited sun texting in Mindanao for 24 hours! PLUS you will get 40 free text to other networks! On top of that, Davaoeños using the Sun Magic Zone will get to enjoy Sun Magic Zone TEXTALL 15. Exclusively available in Davao, one can send text messages to ALL networks just for P15 pesos for one whole day. This special promo for the people of Davao will run thru September 17 to December 15, 2011. Visit the Sun webpage www.suncellular.com.ph to know more about the valueaded prepaid products offered in the Sun Magic Zone or log on to www.facebook. com/sunmagiczone to avail of other prepaid promos. You may also follow Sun Cellular on Twitter via www.twitter.com/suncelltweets for updates.

competitive edge

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

December 05-11, 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

DFA announces examinations for Foreign Service Officer IV

HE Department of Foreign Affairs announces the holding of the 2012 Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Examinations to recruit candidates for appointment to the position of Foreign Service Officer, Class IV. The examinations are composed of five (5) parts: 1) Qualifying Test, 2) Preliminary Interview, 3) Written Test, 4) Oral Test and 5) Psychological Test. The Qualifying Test is on 19 Feb-

ruary 2012. Applicants should be Filipino citizens, less than thirty-five (35) years of age on the day of the Qualifying Test and should have at least graduated from a four (4) year bachelor’s degree course or higher. Application forms may be downloaded from the DFA website (www.dfa.gov. ph) or may be personally secured from our office located at Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City. Duly

accomplished application form should be submitted in person not later that 05 January 2012. A non-refundable admission fee of five hundred pesos (P500.00) shall be collected from those who shall take the 2012 Qualifying Test only upon inspection and acceptance of their application. For inquiries, you may contact DFA Regional Consular Office Davao at telephone number 082-2244885.

the award to Alajar being its alumna and as a practicing librarian and a library manager. Alajar, who was appointed library clerk in 1973, recalled how she transformed the public library into a model book hub when she became chief in 1996. “In our city, we have set a standard for our library and it was acknowledged by many library associations”, Alajar said. Through Alajar’s leadership, the public library soared to greater heights when it was adjudged Outstanding City Library in 2009 by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCAA), National Library of the Philippines and the Philippine Librar-

ians Association, Inc. It has also attained some distinctions, like Alab ng Haraya Award Outstanding Library in Programs (NCAA), and Outstanding City Library (NCAA, 2001). Alajar, who retires in two years, had been cited as model employee by the City Government of Davao in 1999. She presently has under her 33 plantilla personnel, four district libraries and three reading centers. With the expansion of her many programs, Alajar attributes her success to her co-employees and the city’s leadership. “This is made possible through the help and support of Mayor Sara Duterte and former Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.

PHOENIX PETROLEUM PRESIDENT AND CEO AT THE CNBC ASIA 10TH ABLA AWARDS.Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. president and CEO Dennis A. Uy, a nominee to the 10th Asia Business Leaders Awards (ABLA), with host and TV anchor Maria Bartiromo and Asia Business Leader of the Year awardee

Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. The award ceremony was held on November 24, 2011 at a gala dinner at Capella Singapore.Uy was one of 41 business leaders in Asia nominated to the prestigious ABLA which recognizes excellence in business leadership.

HS Batch ’86 to honor ‘61 City librarian gets awards at Ateneo reunion, Dec. 30

HIEF of the Davao City Library and Information Center Nora Fe H. Alajar received a Service Award last week from the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) in a ceremony held at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Metro Manila. Alajar had earlier received the Outstanding Learning and Information Science Alumna award from the University of Mindanao. PLAI is an association of around 5, 000 licensed librarians in the country. The service award is the recognition given to an officer, trustee, or member for the continuous exemplary commitment and service to the association for at least four (4) years. Meanwhile, the UM-LIS department gave

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF THE DAVAO CITY 11TH Judicial region BRANCH 11 SPECIAL PROC. NO. 11504-11 IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ERRONEOUS ENTRIES APPEARING IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTHS OF AMIE FELNA KOYAMA RABANES AND JOYCE KOYAMA RABANES ALL REGISTERED IN THE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAVAO CITY AMIE FELNA KOYAMA RABANES AND JOYCE KOYAMA RABANES Petitioners -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAVAO CITY, Respondent x======================================x ORDER By this verified petition and for the reason therein stated, the above-named petitioners, assisted by counsel, seek for an Order of this court directing the Office of the City Civil Registrar of Davao to correct/change their certificates of live birth, to wit: In the Birth Certificate of AMIE FELNA KOYAMA RABANES: the date of marriage of parents from February 14, 1966 to February 19, 1966, and In the birth Certificate of JOYCE KOYAMA RABANES: the date of marriage of parents from February 17, 1966 to February 19, 1966. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance , the same is hereby set for hearing before this Court, sitting at the Hall of Justice, Candelaria St., Ecoland, Matina, Davao City, on December 14, 2011 at 2:00 in the afternoon, at which place, date and time any interested person may appear and show cause, if any, why the some should not be granted. Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper published in the city of Davao and of general circulation in the said city and the provinces of Davao determined by raffle in accordance with law. Furnish, each with a copy of the petition and of this Order the Local Civil Registrar of Davao City and City legal office of Davao City as counsel for the City of Davao. SO ORDERED.

Given this 3rd day of November, 2011, in Davao City, Philippines.

SGD) VIRGINIA HOFILEÑA-EUROPA Judge

Serve on: Atty. Jerome A. undalok-Davao City The City Legal Office- Davao City (with the copy of the petition) The Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC-Davao City (for raffling) (Edge Nov. 21, 28, Dec. 05)

[CIO/ROLDAN G. GORGONIO]

ATCH ’86 of the Ateneo de Davao University High School will host the premium school’s grand Alumni homecoming on December 30, starting at 6 p.m. at the Fr. Martinez Sports Center at the AdDU Matina Campus. Batch ’86 are the Silver Jubilarians, the sixth batch with female graduates in the Ateneo which used to be exclusive for boys until school year 1980-81. The president of the batch is Dr. Mark Benignos, a practicing physician. The AdDu Alumni Association president, Melvin Lacuna, also happened to be a member of HS Batch ‘86. Architect Agatha Ellen Salanatin-Valencia, program committee chair, said the reunion will honor the school’s HS Batch ’61, the Golden Jubilarians, which include Carlos “Sonny” G. Dominguez, former secretary of the Department of Agriculture and

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF Davao City SONIA C. MARTINEZ Mortgagee, EJF-REM CASE NO. 12,98411 – versus – IMELDA BITUIN MANAAY and ESTEBAN MANAAY, Mortgagor/s, x------------------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above-mentioned mortgagee against IMELDA BITUIN MANAAY and ESTEBAN MANAAY, with postal address at Sitio Basac, Mintal, Davao City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtness which as of November 3, 2011 amounted to Php 720,000.00, Philippine Currency, including interest,penalty charges and plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on January 5, 2012 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder for CASH and/or Manager’s Check and in Philippine Currency, the real property with all its improvements found thereon particularly described below, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-298888 “ A parcel of land (Lot 53-D-3-D-2, psd-11-054613 xxx) situated in the Barangay of Mintal, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx. Containing an area of TWO HUNDRED SIXTY (260) SQUARE METERS, more or less.” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above – stated time and date. In the event that the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on FEBRUARY 2, 2012 WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. This NOTICE will be posted in three (3) conspicuous public places in the City of Davao and in the place where the property is located and where the auction sale will take place for the information of the general public and the parties. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title herein above-described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be., Davao City, Philippines, November 16, 2011 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD) CONRADO P. MACUTAY , JR. Sheriff IV Noted by: ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio provincial Sheriff Cc: Mortgagee: SONIA C. MARTINEZ Mortgagor: IMELDA BITUIN MANAAY and ESTEBAN MANAAY Publisher: Edge Davao Posting : 3 conspicous places

Ministry of Natural Resources, and president of the Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Airlines and Manila Hotel, and now chairman and president of Halifax Davao Hotel, owner of the international Marco Polo Hotels chain, Linden Suites and Florsheim shoes. “With the theme ‘One BIG Knight..Party Atenista’ we are inviting all Blue Knights, meaning all graduates of the AdDU elementary, high school, college, law school and graduate school to attend the grand affair,” Valencia said. This is the first time the special event will be held inside an AdDU campus after many years, she said, adding that the affair will also be an occasion to formally introduce Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., new AdDU school president to the alumni community who are graduates of the school from

1948 to 2011. Also invited are members of the Davao Jesuit Community, the AdDU board of trustees and former grade and high school faculty. Co-presentors of the event are: The Marco Polo Davao, Linden Suites, and Florsheim and San Miguel Corporation, and Genesis 88 Advertising. Partners are Davies Paints and ABS-CBN and mega-sponsors are Phoenix Petroleum, Davao Light and Power Company, Apung Kula Buffet Restaurant, AMA Computer College Davao and San Miguel Foods Integrated Sales Homecoming tickets are on sale at P 300 at Apung Kula Bajada and Anda branches, Ateneo Alumni Association Office, AdDU Jacinto Campus, Open Box, GF, Victoria Plaza, GF, Plaza de Luisa Complex, R. Magsaysay Avenue, Sportshouse and GF, SM City Davao.

TESDA hits high employment rate Six out of 10 graduates of vocational courses of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Davao region were able to land jobs this year, buoying up the shares of skilled workers in the various industries in the country. TESDA Region XI (Davao Region) reported that 15,760 out of the total 25,272 trainees who completed their respective courses this year found employment after graduation. The number of graduates was culled from the total number of enrollees which reached 35,653. Of those who graduated, 20,510 underwent assessment, and 17,573 were issued certification as TESDA Specialista. TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the figure was very encouraging as this clearly indicates that the agency is successfully achieving its mandate to train for jobs and to produce graduates that industries need. “We are slowly coming to grips with the problem of mismatch between education choices and the skills required by businesses,” Villanueva said, adding that “at the end of the day, it’s

above all an issue of quality.” Graduates cannot just apply for jobs without taking and passing the competency assessment. More and more companies require job seekers to show proof that they possess the knowledge and skills they require. A technical vocational graduate, who passes the assessment, is issued a certification. The TESDA certification attests the competencies of the qualification and that he has earned the right to earn the badge of excellence, that of being a TESDA Specialista. This serves as a kind of quality assurance for TESDA graduates before they plunge in to the real world of work, said Villanueva, who was in Davao recently for the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Industry Forum. The forum aimed to provide the framework for evaluating the needs of the captains of the 11 industry clusters in the region. These are the prime movers of the economy involved in sectors such as banana, coconut, mango, seaweeds, woods, construction, information communication technology, livestock and poultry, machineries, tourism and mining.

BizQUIPS ‘WE hope that our judicial system will be prompt in the issuance of arrest warrants not only on the case versus former president Arroyo, but to all criminal cases that need arrest warrants.’ --Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (Mindanao Times)

ICTHUB

12 VOL. 4 NO. 40 DECEMBER 05-11, 2011

Asian digital leaders share strategies

EADING Asian publishers ended a three-day examination of online, mobile, tablet and social media on Friday, with part of their deliberations looking at content strategies. But the real focus was on how to profit from all their good content. Digital news delivery is developing rapidly, but revenues are not keeping pace. Strategies that produce significant revenues from digital content are the holy grail of publishers everywhere, and was much in evidence at Digital Media Asia, which concluded in Hong Kong on Friday. More than 300 publishers from 30 countries gathered at the event, organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), in an annual meeting designed to showcase digital publishing innovations. Some of their advice: More people are accessing websites via mobile than ever before, so redirecting them to mobile-optimized

sites is essential. Visitors won’t stick around if they don’t like the experience, that that will have an impact on revenues – advertisers are interested not only in unique visits and impressions but also on the time visitors spend on sites. Mobile-optimized sites retain traffic and encourage more page views per visit. That’s the lesson from Simon Shepherdson, marketing manager from Aspermont, a business-to-business publisher in Australia. When it comes to paidfor apps, user feedback and focus group discussions are necessary to find the optimum price to get maximum revenue. Those who rely on apps are “power news” customers who know value and will pay for it. “Readers are willing to pay for apps, something we all missed on the web,” said Mariam Mathew, chief operating officer of Manorama Online in India. Those who believe people won’t pay for news need to look at Aftonbladet in Sweden, which attracts half of

the Swedish internet population and gets nearly half of its advertising reverences from digital media. Sales Director Anders Berglund reckons that online journalism is crucial to boost revenues – but it has to be “fast-live” that reflects what people are really talking about. And the delivery must include social and interactive qualities, deeper content through multimedia and interactivity and constant innovation. If you want to get the most out of your digital platforms, engage the youngest people in your company in your digital strategy. That’s the advice from Cheryl Goh, head of E Media at the New Straits Times Press in Malaysia. The Straits Times’ “Wakalabs” does just that – it is a platform that engages, on a voluntary basis, the youth of New Straits Times and fosters ideas and innovation for products and services targeted at the youth audience. The company’s “Hackweekend” saw 60 young people stay in the office for 30 hours to build 13

new apps. Goh says E Media’s culture and its fun office help improve morale and attract young talent. More from Digital Media Asia can be found on the event blog at http://www. wan-ifra.org/blog_DMA2011 or on Twitter using #dmahk. Coming up for Asian publishers: Publish Asia 2012, from 10 to 12 April 2012 in Bali, Indonesia. WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses. Learn more about WANIFRA at http://www.wan-ifra. org or through the WAN-IFRA Magazine at http://www. wan-ifra.org/magazine

INDANAO Development Authority chair Luwalhati R. Antonino said the rise of information technology has accorded Mindanao new leverage in governance communication. Antonino recognized the advent of technological breakthroughs citing the new media that could set right the negative image of Mindanao. She said “communicating Mindanao has always been a challenge, especially in light of the way the island is perennially portrayed across national and international media platforms.” Based on previous study by MinDA, University of the Philippines-Mindanao and MindaNews Service, Antonino said “six out of ten stories on Mindanao by leading national dailies

carry heavy undertones of conflict and violence.” “Every picture and every word used to describe the island reinforces a great deal of misconception,” Antonino said when she addressed more than 150 government information officers during the 9th Mindanao Communicators’ Network Congress on Wednesday. She said that with not much channels to counter “the deluge of distorted stories and dispatch of information without context, Mindanao has succumbed to serious image problem.” However, she said that the “new media is slowly changing how the game is played across platforms.” With the emerging trend of social media in the country,

Antonino urged the information officers to bring the stories of Mindanao to “as vast expanse of audience as possible and dwarf those that rather paint a picture of discord.” Mindanao has 26 provinces, 33 cities, more than 400 municipalities and over 10,000 barangays. Anchoring on the greater context of governance communication, she told the communicators that their individual roles “extend beyond mere beacons of information.” She said that the new media allows public communicators to be the catalysts of social change, development and public welfare. Antonino lauded Mindacomnet for “taking on the challenge of serving as the

mechanism for collectively pursuing means to effect governance communication in Mindanao.” She called on the new set of officers of Mindacomnet “to make this network as dynamic as possible, by actively pursuing initiatives.” The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) leads the Mindacomnet, a network of communication officers from the government, non-government organizations, private sectors and the academe in Mindanao regions. The 9th Mindacomnet Congress held on November 28-30 in General Santos City carried the theme: “Strengthening Governance Communication through the New Media.”

Infotech accords Mindanao new leverage on governance communication - Antonino M

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

Do more with Globe BlackBerry Socia F

ACT: Your BlackBerry is more than just the BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM. Exciting fact: Globe Telecom has an innovative service for BlackBerry users allowing them to do more with their BlackBerry devices. Introducing Globe BlackBerry Social, another breakthrough offer from Globe which provides users unlimited access to their favorite social networking and instant messaging sites. Aside from access to the ever popular BBM, BlackBerry fanatics also get unlimited use of Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging with Globe BlackBerry Social. TV host Bianca Gonzalez and fashion icon Liz Uy can attest to how the service enables them to do more despite their busy schedules: guestings and hosting stints for Bianca, and pictorials and fashion shoots for Liz. Both manage to squeeze in some time with people who matter most thanks to Globe BlackBerry Social and the exciting services bundled with the offer. Bianca makes sure that she’s always equipped with a phone that can let her express herself and keep up with the pace of her lifestyle. Using her Globe BlackBerry Social plan, Bianca keeps friends and supporters close to her regardless of where she is or what she is doing. From sending an inspirational tweet to kick start the day, posting photos of her adventures and day-to-day activities on Facebook or chatting

away with her brother JC Gonzalez and godson who are based in the United States. Globe BlackBerry Social also empowers style and fashion royalty Liz Uy to do more than what she can handle. Every item in Liz’s wardrobe is chosen with keen precision - and her mobile phone is no exception. Sleek, sexy and with curves in all the right places, her BlackBerry suits her to a ‘T’. As a familiar face in the social scene, Liz knows that she needs more out of her phone than just looks, and as any good stylist will tell you, picking the right accessories is key. With Globe BlackBerry Social, Liz is always properly accessorized and powered up to keep her 160,000 loyal Twitter followers in the loop, ensuring that all of them are apprised of her latest fashion finds, events she is attending, and clients she is working with. If you are also on the lookout for a mobile internet plan that can empower you to do more even with your busy lifestyle like Bianca and Liz, to say that Globe BlackBerry Social is the perfect service for you is an understatement. Globe BlackBerry Social gives users full and unlimited access to BBM, Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging anytime and anywhere at a cost that’s easy on the pocket - only P299 for 30 days. Text BB SOCIAL ON to 8888 to subscribe now.

[CARINA L. CAYON/PIA 11]

Internet stock slips raise fears of new bubble Q Many of us go online for no reason: Study F

UICK cooling of hot stock market debuts by Internet darlings such as Groupon has fed fears of another speculative bubble, as social networking star Facebook prepares to go public. Local bargain community Groupon, professional social

network LinkedIn and consumer reviews website Angie’s List each saw stock prices leap during initial public offerings (IPOs) this year. But share prices in each company are now near or below where they were when the up-and-coming firms debuted

on the trading floor. “We are going to hit a bubble again... The question is, are we in a bubble or are we just in the early stages?” said analyst Lou Kerner of institutional investment firm Liquidnet. The current infatuation with new technology firms re-

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minds Kerner and others of the frenzied investor speculation during the 1994-1999 Internet boom, which ended with a historic bubble burst. “Groupon really highlights the difficulty in pricing shares of a company with a business model in its infancy,” Kerner said. “It’s a black eye to the banks (that championed the market debut) and to the company for going to the IPO altar when there was no reason to do that.” As with the legendary dot-com boom, investors enthralled by new technology are driving the values of such firms, according to the analyst. Today’s sweethearts are social media firms that leverage the power of relationships in online communities. “What you are seeing is very much a repeat of the 1994-1999 time period,” Kerner said. “Valuations climbed for a long time, eventually reaching bubble proportions... Now investors are nervous, wondering what stage of this wave we are at... It is our view that we’re still in the early innings.” There is no reason for panic regarding Facebook, which is rumored to be considering an IPO as soon as April, according to the analyst.

BIANCHA

OR anyone who needed official word, a new study confirms that many of us — and the majority of young adults — go online for no good reason at all. The report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that on any given day, 53 percent of 18 to 29 year-olds go online just to have fun or pass time. That should explain all those kitten videos. The report finds that the amount of time people

spend tooling around on the Web doing nothing corresponds with age. Only 12 percent of people over 65 say they went online the previous day for no particular reason. Of those aged 50 to 64, the study found 27 percent answered yes to the same question. In all, 58 percent of all adults said that they use the Internet to pass time or have fun at least occasionally. Of adults who use the Internet, nearly three-quarters surf the Web for no reason.

BizQUIPS

‘WE all have to employ our greatest powers in order to protect this industry which contributes around US$ 720 million in export industry earnings yearly.’ --Vice President Jejomar Binay, before the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (Edge Davao).

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

COMMUNITYSENSE DLPC continues CSR policy

HE municipality of Dujali, Davao del Norte got a substantial donation in the form of medicines from Aboitizowned Davao Light & Power Co. for its Serbisyo sa Katawhan Medical Outreach Project conducted last November 18, 2011. On the same day, Mabuhay National High School in Mabuhay, Carmen received five (5) units of brand new computers with three (3) units printers from the same electric distribution company. Last November 24, Davao Light donated five new computers and three printers to Southern Davao National High School in Panabo City and latyer in the day, the company also turned over two electrical rewiring projects on all the buildings at Dondoy Central Elementary School in Cagangohan, and at Gredu

Elementary School fronting the Panabo branch office of Davao Light. Dujali Mayor Lolita Moral thanked Davao Light for its concern for her people who are also customers of the utility. In Mabuhay, Carmen, Department of Education Supervisor Virginia Perandos, representing Division Superintendent Dr. Aurora B. Cubero, encouraged students to make good use of the computers from Davao Light by maximizing their use to enhance the student’s skills in information and communication technology. In Panabo City Acting City Administrator Henry Esparagoza, who represented Mayor Jose Silvosa, told audiences at Southern Davao National High School, Dondoy Central Elementary School, and Gredu Ele-

mentary School that with all the support given by the company to Panabo in terms of education interventions, Davao Light may as well get a new name and that DLPC should now mean “Davao Light the Power that Cares”. He added that rewiring the two elementary schools will redound to the safety and security of school children against fire incidents and obviate possible millions of pesos in fire losses for DepEd.. Computer donations and rewiring of school buildings are two of the projects under Davao Light’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program that are given more push this year. This is in addition to school building construction for public elementary and high schools, academic scholarships, armchair donations, and others.

Davao Light CSR Manager Vic Sumalinog turns over medicines to Dujali Mayor Lolita Moral. With them are Davao del Norte second district

December 05-11 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

Congressman Anton Lagdameo, and Davao Light Panabo Branch officials led by Engr. Reynold Felix.

Watch what you eat and drink! ‘Serbisyo Caravan’ in ComVal C By Jims Vincent T. Capuno

HE provincial and the local government units of Nabunturan hosted last week a one-stop-shop services of national government agencies (NGAs) through the “Serbisyo Caravan” of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region 11 (ARENA 11). More or less 40 NGAs joined the caravan and exhibited their prime programs. Many constituents of Nabunturan availed of the services offered at the Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School gymnasium. Among the services featured and availed of were surgical operations, medical and dental services, lectures,

consultations, briefing/orientation seminar, forum and counseling, processing of documents, licensing, online registration, technology training, scholarship program, business name registration, social pension for indigent senior citizens, distribution of wheelchairs and other assistive devices to persons with disabilities, distribution of land titles, others. Governor Arturo T. Uy was on hand to witness the caravan being flocked by his constituents The programs offered, especially the health services, proved to be a big help, especially to those who can’t afford surgical operations. ARENA 11 president

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& regional director of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Achilles Gerard C. Bravo, enjoined the crowd to make use of the available services. He thanked Governor Arturo T. Uy and Mayor Romeo C. Clarin for hosting their community outreach. The caravan aims to show the people that the government is working for them and that the services be availed of, especially by the poor, who find difficulty in transacting and processing their documents with the concerned agencies’ respective offices because of financial constraint like money for transportation and meals.

[GRACE ALMEDILLA, IDS-COMVAL]

BUTUAN (085) 342-8529 COTABATO (064) 421-4175

HRISTMAS is that time of the year when almost all people are happy. After all, it reminds us that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world to save us. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” the angel of the Lord said to the startled shepherds (Luke 2:10). Since it is a time of celebration, there are lots of eating and drinking. No wonder, a lot of people gain weight during this time. But since eating and drinking can’t be avoided, we suggest that you take the right kind of food and drinks – those that are proven healthy and good for your body. Let’s start with food. Chocolates abound during the Christmas season, so you can eat that. But select the dark ones. The real benefit of chocolate comes from the extremely high level of antioxidants found inside the active components. In fact, a Harvard study reviewed 136 scientific articles published between 1996 and 2005 on chocolate and its ingredients. Their analysis found that eating 50 grams of dark chocolate per day may reduce the risk of heart disease by 10.5 percent. In addition, eating dark chocolate may lower the risk of dying from heart disease by 19 percent. Plus, dark chocolate contains antioxidants universally praised for their ability to fight off free radical damage (which causes aging) and make you look and feel younger. Some people may not like nuts but they are very healthy. “Nuts are nutritional powerfoods, packed in protein, minerals and fats,” writes Dr. Willie T. Ong, author of How to Live Longer. “Yes, they’re fatty but don’t worry, the fats founds in nuts are good fats – monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.” Dr. Ong, a multi-awarded physician, adds, “Instead of eating junk foods reeking in unhealthy saturated fats (like potato chips and doughnuts), nuts can reduce your bad cholesterol (LDL) while raising good cholesterol (HDL).” Peanuts and cashew nuts also contain vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Almonds are very expensive but they’re very nutritious. The bad side of nuts: they are salty and are high in uric acid, so they’re bad for high blood pressure and those with gout. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, so goes a popular adage. Mayo Clinic ranks apples as one of the world’s healthiest fruits. “Apples are excellent source of pectin, which is a soluble fiber that can lower blood pressure and

sugar level,” Dr. Ong informs. “Pectin also binds with heavy metals like lead and mercury and helps the body eliminate these pollutants. Fresh apples are also good sources of vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects your body cells from damage.” The Philippine counterpart of apple is of course banana. Bananas are chiefly eaten raw, as a dessert fruit; in the ripe state they are sugary and easily digestible. Alexander the Great was so fascinated by its virtues that he described it as “the heavenly fruit that taste like nectar sweetened in honey.” A major study reveals that diets loaded with potassium-rich bananas may be able to cut the risk of strokes by one third. Scientists feel that many people can be protected against strokes and heart attacks by minimizing sodium (common salt) intake and by consuming plenty of potassium-rich foods of which banana is one. Tropical Fruits, however, cautioned: “Banana fruits contain serotonin and other compounds that increase blood pressure and might contribute to certain heart conditions if used in large quantities.” Forget the lechon and the ham. Settle for oily fish. “If you eat a modest amount of fish, you dramatically decrease your risk of dying from a heart attack,” says Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a researcher of the Harvard School of Public Health. Findings from 30 large studies conducted around the world show that people who consume just one or two servings of fish per week lower their risk of a fatal heart attack by an average of 36 percent. An article which appeared in Journal of the American Society for Clinical Nutrition said omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil prevent heart disease by exerting an anti-arrhythmic effect on the heart, by inhabiting the developing of narrowing arteries, by reducing the levels of undesirable lipoproteins in the blood, and by reducing blood clots within intact blood vessels. So, what drinks you should gulp down? Highly recommended is red wine.

It’s not only healthy but it also makes you young and vibrant. The reason: Resveratrol. In a review study conducted by Harvard University – which released their findings in the Nutrition and Metabolism Journal – it was found that Resveratrol can extend the life expectancy of every organism that, so far, it’s been fed to, including yeast, worms, and fruit flies. “The wonder substance seems to work in the same way as does drastic calorie cutting,” the researchers wrote. “Dramatic reduction of calories has been shown to increase the life span.” Next in line is green tea. According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, green tea’s health benefits are largely due to its high content of flavonoids – plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder. Additional benefits for regular consumers of green and black teas include a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and improve artery function. Just a reminder: tea contains caffeine which may cause heart palpitation, anxiety and high blood pressure. So, don’t drink too much of green tea. Coconut water comes in handy during the season. So, drink lots of it. “Medically, the buko juice is one of the purest sources of energy in the world,” says Dr. Jose P. Naval, an occupational physician based in Davao. “It is considered to be sterile because of its sealed enclosure in the nut shell.”

BizQUIPS

‘IT is important for us to protect our banana farms from the disease as this will directly affect the economy of the province.’ --Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario on the Panama Disease (Edge Davao)

suburbia

DENR launches Marine Center in Davao Oriental

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-11) together with local government units and other partner agencies opened last week the Regional Integrated Coastal Resource and Marine (ICRM) Center located at the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) grounds, in Mati City. This center is established under the ICRM Project in Davao Oriental which covers the municipalities of Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston and Mati City. The marine center will serve as a hub for biodiversity monitoring, research, training and demonstration activities for the Pujada Bay Corridor. The establishment of this center is necessary because the “Pujada Bay Corridor” is a vital point of convergence for bioregions of the Pacific Ocean and Celebes Sea. It is considered as an “extremely high” priority biodiversity

corridor. As such, it plays a critical role to meet the natural ecological, behavioral requirements of biodiversity and provides functional linkages allowing migration of species between areas The inauguration was participated in by various officials of Davao Oriental spearheaded by Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon, the Provincial Steering Committee, chair of the ICRM project, together with Districts 1 and 2 Congressional representatives Nelson L. Dayanghirang and Thelma Z. Almario, Dr. Ben Malayang III of Siliman University, Dir. Fatma M. Idris of BFAR II, Dir. Jim O. Sampulna of DENR-11, Dr. Lea Jimenez of DOSCST, among others. The ICRM project in Davao Oriental began in September of 2007 and was formally launched on February 8, 200. This project aims to provide for sustainable management and increased income for coastal communities of Davao Oriental. [DENR11,PR]

GROUNDBREAKING. Provincial officials headed by Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez, Maasim municipal officials headed by Mayor Jose Zamorro, barangay officials headed by Barangay Captain Dranreb Macagcalat and executives from the Alcantara Group headed by their president and chairman Tomas

Alcantara (inset) move ceremonial gravel at the groundbreaking ceremony for the 200 megawatt coal-fired power plant Friday, November 25, in barangay Kamanga, Sarangani. [COCOY SEXCION/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE]

DavNorte leads in implementing DIDP projects T HE Davao del Norte is leading the way in implementing farm-to-market roads and livelihood projects funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) locally-funded projects under the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP). The DIDP-Program Man-

agement Office (PMO) said Davao del Norte stood out among local government units of the Davao region in accomplishing various projects bankrolled by the Integrated Food Security Program (IFSP), which is a major component of the DIDP. The PMO said the province achieved a liquidation rate of 70 percent for the first and second tranches of fund releases

in 2010, as well as, 100 percent liquidation rate for the funds released in 2009 and 2008. Davao del Norte earned the highest grade in accomplishing the DIDP projects, according to Engr. Grace Magalona of the DIDP-PMO, in her report during the recent DIDP board meeting at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan in Mankilam, Tagum City presided over by DIDP chair Governor Rodolfo

P. del Rosario. The three component cities of the province followed suit in forging ahead with the implementation of the DIDP projects. The cities of Tagum and the Island Garden City of Samal both earned 100 percent accomplishments, while Panabo City settled for 92 percent. [NOEL BAGUIO/DAVNOR PIO]

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development 11 distributed social pensions to 190 senior citizens in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley during the Association of the Regional Executives of National Agencies (ARENA 11) “Serbisyo Caravan,” the second in a series. The agency distributed about P 407,500 to the beneficiaries with the bulk of the money intended for the fourth quarter benefits of the senior citizens in the province. Some of the recipients got their third and fourth quarter pensions. The social pension addresses the clamor for social protection to the most vulnerable as well as backs the full implementation of RA 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citi-

zens Act of 2010. The monthly stipend of P500 which took effect January 2011, augments the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens 77 years old and above. The agency, led by Assistant Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon, also disseminated information about its key poverty reduction programs. “We hope we were able to convey to the people in Compostela Valley the importance of the cooperation between DSWD and themselves in pushing forward our programs intended to alleviate their situation,” Razon said. Local officials of the province thanked the executives of the national agencies for their efforts to bring their services closer to the people. “This ban-

ner program is a blessing for us all because different community and outreach projects are at our doorsteps,” said Mayor Romeo C. Clarin of Nabunturan. The latest “Serbisyo Caravan” was participated in by 47 agencies with 49 executives in attendance. The first leg was held last August in Boston and Cateel, both in Davao Oriental where programs of national government agencies were also delivered directly to the people. Department of Budget and Management Regional Director and ARENA XI President Achilles Gerard D. Bravo said the event was intended to bring the government closer to the people. “This is one way of saying that the government is working for you; that the government is present.” [DSWD/LESLIE LAO-FRANCISCO]

AGITTARIUS Mines, Inc. (SMI) received recently the prestigious Philippine Quill Award of Merit from the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) for its Interactive Mining Information Center (iMIC) in a recognition ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. The iMIC received the Quill Award in the MultiAudience Communication category. This is the second time the iMIC has been recognized as a unique communication tool, having previously received the Bronze Award for Best Public Relations Initiated Campaign in the 2011 University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Tambuli Awards last June.

The iMIC is a multimedia interactive display that aims to inform and educate visitors on the use of minerals in daily life, the mine life cycle, the processes and the benefits of modern and responsible minerals development.

The iMIC also uses holographic technology in an insightful presentation on Life without Mining. SMI General Manager for Operations and External Relations Mark Williams expressed the value of iMIC’s technology.

Mountaineers advocate tourism, education and the environment DSWD distributes social pension checks to ComVal beneficiaries I T

N the early morning of November 26, more than a hundred people gathered at the James L. Chiongbian Provincial Capitol building. That day was a big day for Sarangani Province as it celebrates its 19th Foundation Anniversary and 9th MunaTo Festival. But those who gathered at the Capitol lobby that morning did not come for the festivities. They came for three important causes: tourism, education, and environment. From as far as Davao and North Cotabato and from the neighboring cities of General Santos and Koronadal and the province of South Cotabato, mountaineering enthusiasts participated in the 1st MunaTo EcoTrek to Atnayan Waterfalls in sitio New Canaan, barangay Pag-asa in Alabel. The sun shone brightly as we rode three dump trucks from the Capitol compound. Looks like God answered our prayer, I told myself. Our biggest fear is for heavy rain to pour down because, as per experience, when it rains, the water level in the river can rise in no time and begin to inundate the riverbanks. So it was a blessing that the sky was clear that morning. The mountaineers couldn’t hide their excitement as we started rolling. They got even more spirited as we were nearing barangay Pag-asa, where their eyes feasted on a panoramic view of the valley. They even enjoyed it when the trucks started to cross the river, thus the ride became all bumpy. After more than an hour of balancing stunts, we reached our jump off point for the trek. The books and seedlings were distributed to each participant. The books

were wrapped in plastic to prevent them from getting wet. God had been very good to send us low-lying clouds when we started the trek. All through the trek, it did not get very hot for the trekkers. The participants crossed the river 23 times and traversed hills to reach sitio New Canaan. Not only did they have to endure the distance and the difficult trail, each of them carried additional weight due to the books and the seedlings. Three-and-a-half hours later, we were already at sitio New Canaan, where the mountaineers built a tent city at our camp site. After which, we started planting the seedlings we brought. There were Acacia, Mahogany, and Spanish cedar. We did not want our efforts to go to waste; we chose an area where the locals can take care of the newly-planted trees. Barangay Kagawad Diansing Sampayon of Pag-asa assured us that he will see to it that the trees we planted will survive. During the welcome night, representatives from each participating mountaineering group were very thankful to have been given the chance not only to visit a new place but to also serve others by delivering books to the school and by planting trees. They said that they found the activity very meaningful. When I and my fellow Team Bundol Mountaineers conceptualized the activity, we emphasized that it should not just be a trekking to see the Atnayan Waterfalls. My team wanted to do a sort of an outreach activity. So, we set our objectives that included promoting tourism, supporting the National Greening Program,

and the Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan program of the local government of Sarangani, and eventually, facilitating progress in the area. The 1st MunaTo EcoTrek was hosted by Team Bundol Mountaineers, in cooperation with Madyaw Alabel Mountaineers Association (MAMA), and Magu Sarangani Mountaineers. It was almost an impossible dream for Team Bundol Mountaineers to organize such an activity given our limited resources, skills, and connection. We are thankful to MAMA, under the leadership of Narciso Grafilo IV, for rendering service by setting up the trail, acting as marshalls, and providing security and safety for the participants, and to Magu. Sarangani Mountaineers, led by Alma Corazon Gabuat, for linking us to the MunaTo Festival organizers and for helping provide transportation and logistical support. The activity turned out to be an overwhelming success. Furthermore, we owe a lot from Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QuEST) for providing the books. We are also indebted to the provincial government of Sarangani, tourism office, office of the provincial engineer, environment and natural resources office, and the municipal government of Alabel, especially to Vice Mayor Vic Paul Salarda. If there is only one way to measure the success of the activity, it would be the mountaineers shaking hands with you and personally telling you how grateful they are to have been involved in the activity. For me, there is not greater success than to inspire others to also start doing good things for the Earth and for other people. [Ariel Lalisan/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE]

SMI’s interactive mining display receives Philippine Quill award S BizQUIPS

‘NOT all bank accounts are registered with the Treasury, so it makes cash management more difficult for the government.’

--Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad explaining why starting 2012 all government agencies must register their bank accounts with the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

December 05-11, 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

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If there is one day where I forget to watch what I ingest, it would be on Thanksgiving especially when restauranteurs and certified foodies, Raffy and Carmina del Rosario are involved. The Thanksgiving spread had five different cheeses, grapes, escargot, a nice and crunchy haricot vert salad, some fresh pasta by Mia Pineda and of course the roast turkey and stuffing by Raffy. Seriously, Thanksgiving dinner at the del Rosario home has got to be one of the best buffets in Durianburg. And what is Thanksgiving without drink right? And did the wine flow! Many thanks to Carlos Lorenzana for bringing great Argentinean wines by Legarde. My personal favorite was the

2010 Altas Cumbres Torrontes which is crisp, fresh with a little metal tang. Dessert was courtesy of none other than Mr. Johnny Cupcake himself with a pumpkin whoopee pie and a decadent seven-layer bar with so many different sinfully good flavors including dark chocolate, walnuts, and pecans; truly a weight watcher’s nightmare, but hey, I ate three! Since I can barely cook and would rather open my mouth to eat, I chose to bring a deliciously divine strawberry cream cake by Osvaldo’s. True that Thanksgiving is not normally a Dabawenyo thing, but any excuse to gather great company together and share a meal sounds like a good excuse to me.

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Yahoo Philippines presents Y! Rocks Concert 2011 Yahoo Philippines is uplifting Filipino Music or OPM as they launches Y! Rocks Concert 2011 featuring Filipino artists that will be happen on December 8, 2011. Who’s going to perform? Well, you have the power to choose your favorite bands by casting your votes. Visit this page to vote http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/yrocks/ Fans decide who will perform by voting online from more than 40 OPM acts to choose from. The top 15 bands/acts in terms of the number of votes get to play the Y! Rocks concert on December 8 from 6PM to 11PM at the SM Mall of Asia, SM Cebu, and SM Davao.

Michael Williams directs musical for SM Supermalls Michael Williams, one of the country’s top theatre actors, was part of the original cast of Miss Saigon in the West End. He also went on to play Lun Tha (the romantic lead) in the touring and West End productions of The King and I. Since coming back from London in 1992, he has established himself in the lounge and trade show circuits but continued to churn out stellar work in the theater. He was acclaimed for his portrayal of Javert in Les Miserables; the lead role in Tartuffe and AAI’s Taking Sides. His serious knowledge of music and the musical theater served him in good stead in shows like Evita, and Carousel. He has also directed a number of successful musicals. This year, with Theatre Down South, he is set to showcase an exciting holiday show—It’s Christmas! The Musical. Experience an extraordinary SM adventure with “It’s Christmas! The Musical “, an original production of the country’s top theatre group. Find new favourites among the brand new songs created especially for this show! Celebrate your favourite season at your favourite mall, SM City Davao! Catch TDS’ Its Christmas: The Musical live at the Event Centre, 4 PM, December 11. Admission is free. For more information, please call 297.6998 local 126. Visit www.smcitydavao.blogspot.com or like SM City Davao on Facebook for event and promo updates.

Avant-garde fashion finds at Bauhaus

Step inside this newly-opened international concept store for a peek of the best and the latest in avant-garde fashion brands.

Originating from the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong, a favorite of Pinoys when it comes to shopping; Bauhaus offers a gamut of fashion-forward clothing brands from its in-house labels Tough Jeans, Salad, 80/20, and Twistedmind to other exciting brands such as Superdry, and Cheap Monday. According to Bauhaus Philippines brand manager, Clarissa Reyes, Bauhaus Philippines will essentially bring in these six core brands of the Hong Kong concept store with fresh, new styles arriving each month. Primer Group of Companies AVP, Paul Sy is equally excited about the retail giant’s new venture given Bauhaus’ unique concept and the many brands it carries. All original and unique, Bauhaus’products are guaranteed to be out of the ordinary and are designs that can only be found in Bauhaus. Different brands for different styles Tough Jeans: already a popular cutting edge jeans brand in the Philippines, Tough Jeans is actually one of Bauhaus’ in-house brands, which has always been popular for its high-quality craftsmanship coupled with its flattering cuts and standout styles. Salad: more than just a brand for stylish leather bags, Salad also offers pretty ladies’ clothing with a touch of whimsical details and the ever-changing Salad back pocket decorative stitching. 80/20: for a quirky take on your wardrobe staples such as print-on-print, patchwork, and “smart military”, 80/20 is another cool brand to check out for interesting pieces that are also very wearable. Twistedmind: enjoy the unexpected details of Twist-

edmind’s collection of men and women’s apparel that have been expertly crafted from high-quality fabrics to give you flattering styles that are also very fashion forward. Superdry: partly-inspired by Tokyo, partly-inspired by vintage Americana, this European brand is already wellknown internationally for its super comfy and fun line of t-shirts complemented by its brightly-colored bags. Cheap Monday: this European brand is already quite established in the international fashion circle having been nominated in Elle Magazine for Best Jeans Design sometime back. High-quality and immaculately handcrafted, Cheap Monday jeans are extra special because of its unique and humble origins in a small shop in Sweden. Matching the carefully edited selection of men’s and women’s clothing plus accessories is Bauhaus’ trademark visual feast featuring stylized graphics and other props to entice customers to pay the store a visit and enjoy its highfashion appeal. From small store interior details such as the Mao badges, kerosene and hurricane lamps, vintage tea pots, a vintage post box, and a scale to the in-your face indoor advertising that features stylized graphics that are in line with the current fashion campaign of the store’s different brands. So if you’re looking for that special piece to complete your outfit or if your sartorial taste is yearning for something more imaginative, do drop by the first Bauhaus store in Mindanao at the second level of Abreeza Mall.

The scenes and sounds of Christmas at Marco Polo Davao The Marco Polo Davao celebrates the holiday season with a cacophony of Christmas affairs and treats. Set a date with Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Yes, St. Nicholas is coming to town and he’s parking his sleigh at Marco Polo Davao. Gifts for the needy are most welcome as Santa will soon be knocking on orphanages to deliver goods and share a bit of merry making. Extend the merry making and delight in our nightly feasts in all food and beverage outlets. Our featured celebrations include the blockbuster buffets at Café Marco and Lotus Court for Christmas and New Year. Spend a night’s stay with us and make it a memorable bonding and sharing with family. We’re offering our month-long holiday room package at Php3,800.00 net, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two. You may also upgrade your room to Deluxe for only Php300.00 net. For reservations, please call (63 82) 221 0888 loc. 7340 to 7342.

Miss Earth visits SM Department Store Davao It was a day to remember as eight gorgeous Miss Earth 2011 candidates had their shopping spree at the newlyrenovated SM Department Store. Before shopping, they visited the FOREX Counter for their currency needs. The ladies had a grand time at Kultura where they purchased native gifts and souvenirs, the ladies also checked the latest in the Ladies Wear, Accessories and Shoes Departments, while some visited Watson’s and Homeworld. The Miss Earth 2011 candidates gushed about how the pleasant shopping experience and how well they were entertained by SM Department Store’s service staff. It was indeed SM Department Store Davao’s pleasure in providing top-notch service for our shoppers.

EDGEDAVAO HEALTH THE BUSINESS PAPER

Oral health and diabetes connection

iabetes has hit almost every family! This hereditary and lifestyle disease can hit any family or anyone. Thus, it would be best to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid it or delay its onset. Also, diabetes puts you at risk for certain medical conditions, including problems with your eyes, feet, kidneys, and heart. But having diabetes can also affect your teeth and gums. It can put you at higher risk for gum disease, tooth decay, dry mouth, and fungal infections of the mouth. That’s why it’s especially important to take good care of your teeth and gums. When you have high blood sugar from diabetes, your saliva and the fluid around your teeth and under the gums contains more sugars. Poorly controlled blood sugars can cause gum disease or periodontal disease by contributing to a buildup of plaque around your gums. Plaque causes irritation and infection around the gums that can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and eventually tooth loss. Gum disease causes the gums to bleed, look red, and be swollen. As gum disease gets worse, the gums pull away from the teeth and pockets of pus may form between the teeth and gums. In severe cases, there can be tooth loss. Studies show that people who have poor control of their diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than those who have diabetes that is well controlled. They also tend to lose more teeth from gum disease. What’s more, recent research

shows that having gum disease may make your blood sugars and diabetes worse. Some researchers think this may be because gum disease increases inflammation in the body. This inflammation makes it harder to control blood sugar. People with diabetes also have a decreased ability to fight infections. But prompt treatment of gum disease can help reduce the effect it has on blood sugar levels. See your dentist right away if you have any of these signs of gum disease: • Gums that are red, swollen, sore, or bleed easily • Gums that pull away from your teeth • Sensitive or loose teeth • Changes in the way your bite feels • Dentures that don’t fit correctly • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth Gum disease is the most common mouth problem for people with diabetes. But diabetes also puts you at risk for other mouth problems, because it reduces your ability to fight infections and high blood sugar makes it easier for germs and bacteria to grow in your mouth. Thrush, a type of fungal infection, is more common in people who have diabetes, especially those who smoke or wear dentures. Thrush causes

white or red patches in the mouth that can feel sore or burn. Having thrush can also make it hard to swallow and affect how your food tastes. If you have any symptoms of thrush, see your doctor or dentist. You may need to take an antifungal medication to treat it. You should also avoid smoking, maintain good blood sugar control, and if you wear dentures, remove and clean them daily. Some people with diabetes also have dry mouth and problems with healing. A dry mouth can cause soreness and ulcers, increase your risk for cavities, and may lead to salivary gland infections. If your mouth is dry, try drinking more water or chewing sugar-free gum. If you have problems with healing, it may take longer for your mouth to heal after any type of dental surgery. It can also increase your risk of infection. Be sure to let your dentist know you have diabetes. The good news is you can avoid many mouth problems by practicing good oral hygiene. Here’s what you can do to help avoid mouth problems with diabetes: Keep your blood sugar levels under control. Studies show that if your blood glucose levels are high, you are more likely to have mouth problems. Floss at least once a day.

December 05-11, 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

This will help prevent plaque from building up on your teeth. To floss correctly, use about 18 inches of floss. Slide the floss gently up and down between your teeth, then curve it around the bottom of each tooth. Ask your dentist to show you how. Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush at least twice a day, or after each meal and snack. Aim to brush for about three minutes. When brushing your teeth, tilt your toothbrush to an angle at the gums, and gently brush away from the gumline. Use small, circular movements. Brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth to help remove bacteria from your mouth. Replace your toothbrush when the bristles are worn -- usually about every 3 to 4 months. Ask your dentist if you should use an antimicrobial toothpaste or mouth rinse. Visit your dentist for a cleaning and checkup at least every six months. Depending on your oral health, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits. If you smoke, quit. Smoking increases your risk of gum disease and infection. Check your mouth and gums often for any signs of a problem. If you notice any changes in your mouth, see your dentist right away. Remember, the holidays are near! Thus, it would be best to keep healthy during this time of celebration.

UP AND ABOUT

Today, do more with Globe BlackBerry Social

Fact: Your BlackBerry is more than just the BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM. Exciting fact: Globe Telecom has an innovative service for BlackBerry users allowing them to do more with their BlackBerry devices. Introducing Globe BlackBerry Social, another breakthrough offer from Globe which provides users unlimited access to their favorite social networking and instant messaging sites. Aside from access to the ever popular BBM, BlackBerry fanatics also get unlimited use of Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging with Globe BlackBerry Social. TV host Bianca Gonzalez and fashion icon Liz Uy can attest to how the service enables them to do more despite their busy schedules: guestings and hosting stints for Bianca, and pictorials and fashion shoots for Liz. Both manage to squeeze in

some time with people who matter most thanks to Globe BlackBerry Social and the exciting services bundled with the offer. Bianca makes sure that she’s always equipped with a phone that can let her express herself and keep up with the pace of her lifestyle. Using her Globe BlackBerry Social plan, Bianca keeps friends and supporters close to her regardless of where she is or what she is doing. From sending an inspirational tweet to kick start the day, posting photos of her adventures and day-to-day activities on Facebook or chatting

sories is key. With Globe BlackBerry Social, Liz is always properly accessorized and powered up to keep her 160,000 loyal Twitter followers in the loop, ensuring that all of them are apprised of her latest fashion finds, events she is attending, and clients she is working with. If you are also on the lookout for a mobile internet plan that can empower you to do more even with your busy lifestyle like Bianca and Liz, to say that Globe BlackBerry Social is the perfect service for you is an understatement. Globe BlackBerry Social gives users full and unlimited access to BBM, Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging anytime and anywhere at a cost that’s easy on the pocket - only P299 for 30 days. Text BB SOCIAL ON to 8888 to subscribe now.

YOUTH TRENDS 18

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 4 NO. 40 December 05-11, 2011

A November to remember

he eleventh month of the year, November, has just ended. For most people November is sort of like the hump-month; a transition period that takes us from Halloween to the Yuletide season; a month that isn’t exactly one of the most exciting but is nevertheless worth the ride. It seems like Novembers have always been the grey spot in the black and white of the social calendar. It has always been the month of mundane, the bearer of boring, and for many years now, one that never seems to offer anything interesting for the partyphile. However, during the last stretch of this November, a handful of exciting events happened in Durian City that are somewhat noteworthy. If you were out of the loop during this November to remember, here is what you missed: November 19, 2011 Benmore Four Casks Blended Scotch Whiskey Bar Tour Benmore Four Casks Blended Scotch Whiskey is a relatively new Scotch Whiskey brand imported from Ireland and made by the good old people who bring us Johnny Walker. To promote the brand they contracted the help of bachelor-model extraordinaire Borgy Manotoc as the official brand ambassador. Along with Borgy and crates of the gorgeous amber-tinged drink, they set out to tour the country and visit the hottest bars weekend after weekend. For Davao, their destination of choice was Starr: Dine Party Shine where they gave away hot

Benmore items and of course, free drinks. Benmore Four Casks Blended Scotch Whiskey is sold at under 400 pesos, making it one of the most affordable Scotch Whiskeys available in the market today. In terms of quality however, Benmore is right up there with the best of them, making it a perfect to give away as gifts or to purchase for personal consumption. Unlike most Scotch Whiskeys, Benmore wants to appeal to a younger crowd; and to facilitate this, they have prepared a handful of recipes that are all available on their website benmorescotchwhiskey.com Whether you drink your Scotch on the rocks, with water, with iced tea, with coke, or with any other of their recommendations, you are sure to enjoy Benmore for its price, quality, and unmistakeable taste. November 25, 2011 Turkey Lurkey: The Confessions of a

Partyphile and Jack Daniel’s Thanksgiving Party Although Thanksgiving is not exactly a Filipino holiday, it is one that brings along great possibilities of merriment and alcohol overdose. Because we needed another reason to get drunk and because of the increasing American population in Davao City, Marco Polo Davao’s Eagles Bar collaborated with Jack Daniels and Confessions of a Partyphile to throw one of the few (if not the only) thanksgiving events in the metro. Turkey Lurkey proved to be a success as some of the most high-profile partyphiles were in attendance. For a door charge of 250 Pesos, bottomless cocktails were served for free, simple games were played, and bottles of Jack Daniel’s were given away. DJ Gary and DJ Ritchie Rich provided the auditory backdrop for the event as they dished out some of the

most popular American dance tracks to the delight of the dancefloor addicts in the party. Eagles Bar also prepared a special Thanksgiving menu that featured some of the most popular American bar snacks such as burgers and chicken wings that came with a Jack Daniel’s dipping sauce. All in all, Turkey Lurkey manage to combine an American Holiday with a very Filipino flair for partying making it a success. Listen to Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.

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games

Dabawenyo earns players’ nod

AVAO›S Jhonnel Ababa took the Player of Year honors while Calatagan Golf and Country Club the best course plum from the men of the tour who voted for the top awards at the close of the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. Ababa, winner of three of the 15 legs in this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., got 14 votes from his peers to emerge the runaway winner for the top player award. He bested last year’s Order of Merit winner Jay Bayron, who drew seven votes. Bacolod›s Juvic Pagunsan, the runaway winner of this year’s OOM title on the strength of his four-leg romp, took only five votes, the same number earned by Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador, the OOM winner in the revival of the pro circuit in

2009. Calatagan, that gem of a course in Batangas which hosted the 13th leg last October, was also unanimously chosen as the top course with 19 votes, besting Orchard, venue of the third leg, which got 12 votes. Narlene Soriano, PR manager of the sponsoring ICTSI, awarded the prizes to Ababa and Calatagan golf manager Dave Hernandez during closing rites of the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship ruled by Frankie Minoza at WW East last week. Mt. Malarayat, which hosted the second leg won by Angelo Que, drew five votes followed by Apo, Royal Northwoods and Canlubang, which got four votes apiece. Riviera, Cebu Country Club, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and Iloilo GCC took two votes each.

Incidentally, Ababa won at Calatagan, which he calls home, for his third victory in the circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. He scored a breakthrough win in Iloilo last July, nipping Bayron in the playoff then edged Cassius Casas by one to cop the ICTSI Riviera Classic crown last September. Ababa ended up third in the OOM ranking with P1,014,956 earnings, next to Pagunsan (P1,474,604) and Elmer Salvador (P1,049,919). Meanwhile, Riviera’s par-71 Langer layout proved to be the toughest course with Ababa finishing with a four-over 217 total to win. The lowest score posted in the season was 15-under 201 by Pagunsan in beating Salvador by five for the Orchard crown. [PR]

December 05-11 2011 VOL. 4 NO. 40

GOLFER OF THE WEEK

Morgan Pressel

ORGAN was born in Tampa, Florida. She grew up playing golf (starting when she was 8 years old) at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton Florida where she lives with her grandparents. She graduated from St. Andrews School in Boca Raton. At the age of 17 years, one month, Morgan gave up her amateur golf status and a scholarship to Duke University to play golf professionally. Morgan tied for second with Brittany Lang in the 2005 U.S. Women›s Open Championship. In 2004, she won four American Junior Golf Association tournaments. When she was 12 years old, she became the youngest person to qualify for the U.S. Women›s Open.

sports shorts

PAL LADIES INTERCLUB. A jubilant Manila Southwoods-Masters squad, led by skipper Beachie Abiera (second from right), hoist their championship division trophy with Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Jaime J. Bautista (middle) at the close of the recent PAL Ladies Interclub held at Davao City. Also in photo are

Sunshine Baraquiel (leftmost) and Regine de Guzman, who won the individual crown (Flight A bracket), and Felix Cruz, Jr. (rightmost), PAL VP for marketing support. Southwoods registered the most points scored (624) and largest winning margin (54) against runner-up Del Monte.

Phoenix-Suzuki Invasion Run heads to Mindanao

HOENIX Cyclomax Motorcycle Oil will power the 4th and final leg of the ‘2011 Suzuki Invasion Run’ as it hits the roads of Mindanao from November 30 to December 3, 2011. Around 88 riders from different bike clubs will participate in the 1,307km four-day invasion run along Central and North Mindanao. Participants will use Phoenix Cyclomax Motorcycle Oils as they go through Davao, Iligan, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, San Francisco, Compostela

Valley, Tagum, and finally back to Davao on December 3, Saturday. The participants will make fuel stops at Phoenix Mindanao stations along the way: Phoenix Acacia, Seagull, Valencia 2, El Salvador, Iligan, Pagadian, Puerto, Buenavista, Ampayon, San Francisco, Compostela, Kapalong, Sto. Tomas, and Phoenix Mankilam in Tagum. Awards for Best Club, Best Rider and Mythical Five will be given away.

TRAINING. The Davao Association of Tennis Clubs and Philippine Tennis Academy recently conducted another round of coaches

The Phoenix-Suzuki Invasion Run is held simultaneously with the Suzuki Invasion held at People’s Park, Davao City which will provide free service to all Suzuki motorcycle owners. Free oil, oil filter, check-up, tune-up, as well as fun and games await all Suzuki bike owners in Davao. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines is the fastest growing independent oil company today with an expanding network of operations nationwide.

WEET-SHOOTING Christopher “Bong” Go buried 12 of his 22 points in the final quarter to lead VMO in beating the Regional Public Safety Battalion, 83-71 in the ongoing Mayor Sara/Mayor Rody Duterte 9th AFP-PNP Basketball Tournament at the airconditioned Davao City Recreation Center. Go initiated the scoring spree in the last four minutes en route to their fifth straight victory. *** Louie Batoon topscored with 28 points to lead Holy Cross College of Sasa past Davao Jones Academy, 6359, in the cadet division of the ongoing United Basketball League at the Margarita gym in Bajada. Jan Raymund Yumo and John Paul Sabellano scored 22 points, each but their effort was not enough to stop Holy Cross tally its second straight win as they dropped to a 0-2 win-loss card. In the junior’s division, Holy Cross (1-1) downed Davao Central College(0-2), 52-48, Davao Jones (2-0) defeated Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary(0-1) , 59-42, and Lifestream International College (2-0) beat St. Peter’s College of Toril, 76-64. *** Holy Child High School managed to finish second place after losing to Sacred Heart of Cebu, in the Milo BEST National Passarelle finals, recently in San Juan. *** Oscar Villasenor of Alabel, Sarangani Province pocketed P75,000 by winning the 4th Mindanao Open 9-Ball Challenge, recently at the B3 of NCCC Mall. Villasenor shocked the crowd and his opponent Asian Games gold medalist Gandy Valle of Davao, 9-4 in the finals.

training at Eco2 Club with emphasis on foot work. The follow up session is in February 2012. [DATEC]

The 21-year-old is a two-time LPGA Tour winner and a two-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. In May 2010, Morgan won the Japan LPGA Salonpas Cup. On July 5, 2009, Morgan came in second in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. On October 19, 2008, Morgan won the Kapalua Classic in Hawaii. On April 1, 2007, Morgan won the Kraft Nabisco Championship and became the youngest women golfer in histor to win an LPGA tournament. Morgan›s sister Madison (three years younger than Morgan) and brother Mitchell (five years younger than Morgan) also play golf in junior amateur tournaments.

Aaron Krickstein, a top 10 professional tennis player (1983 to 1994), is her uncle. Morgan lives in St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida where she is the resident touring pro.

Football goes to Lasang, Toril

T seems that it’s going to take forever to change the landscape of Philippine sports development. It’s heartbreaking to know that a once sports power in Southeast Asia like the Philippines is time and again beaten by our neighbouring nations in the Southeast Asian Games. It’s sad that our top Philippine sports officials always have the lousiest excuses for failing to hit their target number of gold medals. My expectation was that after the dismal performance, they would tender their resignation as a matter of honor. Where’s the honor? None. Horror? Yes. *** I am very impressed with how the Davao Association of Tennis Clubs (DATEC) officials are doing these days. They recently conducted a coaches training at Eco2 Club and the next round of training is in February next year. With the help of friends, businessmen and tennis players, DATEC has found a way to be self-sufficient in the conduct of training and tournaments. Philta regional director Engr.Carol R. Angel would want to keep the events going in order to achieve in the near future the production of top caliber players and coaches in her tennis jurisdiction. Tennis players and their parents are lucky to have an “angel” taking care of them. *** For the first time, the 7th Mayor Inday Sara/VM Rody Cup Holcim Cement Inter-High School Fotball League wil be moving out of

the Tionko field. The Davao Football Association and Holcim Philippines officials have decided to bring the beautiful game closer to non-downtown kids. Aside from the Deca Homes Resort Residences Country Club which has been hosting the tournament courtesy of club manager Giovannie Paulo Soo, games will now be played also in Toril and Lasang. I know that this is going to be an extra cost to the sponsors but this is the best way to promote football to kids in the other areas, like Lasang and Toril. We have high schools like A.L.Navarro High in Lasang and Dona Carmen Denia High in Toril where there are a lot of sports talents waiting to be discovered. It’s not only from the private schools that football talents can be discovered. It has been proven in the past that many of our former national players from Davao actually were products of the public high school system. If the sponsors will continue to hold the games outside of the Tionko field, football, for sure, will be the next sport kids in the Lasang and Toril areas that they will be appreciating and eventually playing it. *** Happy birthday to George Walter Misa of the Davao Horse Club, Kristel S. of Manila Bulletin, Art Bonjoc of ABS-CBN, ma’am Yeng Laureano of A.L.Navarro High, longtime amiga Raymin ReyesSunga, former Ateneo High basketball star Carl Anthony Tech and fellow Holy Crossian Robert Rances.

games 20

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VOL. 4 NO. 40 December 05-11, 2011

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ANFLOCOR Group of Companies employees show off their prizes and freebies after winning top awards in PBGEA & Bayer CropScience Treebute Run.

Anflocor bags top awards in ‘Treebute Run’

MPLOYEES of ANFLOCOR Group of Companies dared to run some miles and survived the 3-, 5-, and 10-kilometer “Treebute Run” of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and Bayer CropScience Inc. last November 20. Winners from ANFLOCOR for individual events included Roberto dela Cruz, Freddie “Boy” Macatiog, Victor Remolar, Nathaniel Mariano, Lilian Beatriz Castillo, Gracelyn Semilla Leonila Rosal, and Jovy Dano. The most commendable among all other runners was Rannel Flores of the Real Estate Department who quickly grabbed the top spot in the 10K below-40-years-old male category, for which he received P6,000 cash, a medal and freebies. The ANFLOCOR runners also went into raptures over their cash prizes for placing 3rd in the most number of finishers and 3rd place for the team with the most number of points from

individual and group events. Many others also went home with raffle prizes and other freebies from the organizers. TADECO, member of ANFLOCOR Group of companies and among the few members of PBGEA, also went home triumphant with their winnings for individual and group event. TADECO landed 2nd, trailing behind Stanfilco, in the team competition after they garnered points from individual and group events. Winners of individual events from TADECO were Renato Vismanos, Mark Gil Gamosa, Ariel Sosmena, Reynjel Rico, Charito Aparico, Juanita Pande, Anna Loudette Bariquit, and Jade Francisco. The PBGEA and Bayer Treebute Run was organized to support the tree planting project of PBGEA in Waan Riverside, Ma-a, Davao City . The net proceeds from sponsorship and registration fees will be used to purchase one hundred fifty thousand worth of tree seedlings.