Edge10 issue163 November 16, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Serving a seamless society

CHRISTMAS INFRA. An employee of the city government of Davao prepares the colorful light posts which will be installed at Rizal and Quezon Parks as part of the city’s Christmas decorations. Davao City led by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will open its Pasko Fiesta celebration on December 5. Lean Daval Jr.

THUMBS UP DCCCI says Duterte given respect, prestige

By ANGIE SAVERON

T

he Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. gave President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the thumbs up for the success of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit hosted by the Philippines.

“Not all presidents are given the same prestige and respect that the other world leaders did give to our president,”said Ronald C. Go, DCCCI president on Wednesday.

“I think the hosting really

highlighted what Philippines has to offer and we’re looking forward for more investments and tourist more development specially with the Philippines with what has shown,” he said.

He said is not only the ASEAN countries that took notice but also the United States and the Group of Seven (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom).

He said the signed agreements during the 31st ASEAN Summit should not only happen in the paper, considering the Philippines badly need to improve its infrastructure.

“I understand that one of the frustrations of the president (compared to what he used to do here in Davao) is

that it was very easy for him to implement plans and projects before and now it becomes a lot more dif�icult because of the red tape I think that something our country needs to look into,” said Go. He also expressed hope that the build, build, build projects will be to be implemented during President Duterte’s term. .

“The build, build, build must be pushed not only by one man but by all the differ-

THUMBS UP, P10

Unlimited Wagyu on the menu

EDGEDAVAO Sports MASKED MAN

Irving returns as Celtics win 13th straight

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

NEW CHAIR. President Rodrigo Duterte hands over the gavel to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to signify the turn over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chairmanship to the Republic of Singapore during the ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center on Tuesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

‘Keyboard army’drums up drug drive: report

M

EMBERS of a “keyboard army” are being paid to amplify the impression that the Duterte administration’s “brutal crackdown on the drug trade” has obtained widespread public support, a US-based democracy and human rights watchdog said in a report released on Tuesday.

“Reports of commenters paid to manipulate the online information landscape increased during the coverage period. News reports citing individuals involved said the commenters, which they characterized as part of a ‘keyboard army,’ could earn at

least PHP500 (US$10) a day operating fake social media accounts supporting President Rodrigo Duterte or attacking his detractors,” according to Freedom on the Net 2017, an annual country-by-country assessment of online freedom released by Freedom House.

“Other reports put the �igure at PhP2,000-3,000 ($4060) a day. Some reports noted the use of automated accounts or bots to spread political content. Similar content was also posted by volunteers,” it said.

The report said Duterte campaign’s used paid

T

By ANGIE SAVERON

P

olice Regional Director C/Supt Manuel Gaerlan has confirmed on Wednesday that the two suspects behind the murder of PO3 Wilfredo Garol at Sitio Luman, Barangay New Valencia Tugbok District on Monday morning are members of the rebel New People’s Army.

“Our intelligence re-

hitman of the communist

KEYBOARD, P10 port they are members and New People’s Army,” said

Aussie training help needs Congress nod

HE level of Australian military training activities with Filipino forces would depend on Congressional approval, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs of�ice chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, said Tuesday.

“Ang meron tayo ngayon is yung pioneering training and ang binabalak natin, kagaya ng binanggit

Gaerlan says Garol’s killers NPA hitmen

ni (AFP) Chief of Staff (Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero), is i-set up natin yan. Of course, the magnitude and extent, kung masyado nang malaki, will have to go through the process kung saan aaprubahan ng ating Kongreso (What we have now is pioneering training and our plan, as the AFP Chief of Staff said, is to set that up. Of course, the magnitude and

AUSSIE, P10

Gaerlan at the sidelines of the turn-over ceremony of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

He said this based on the description given by witnesses, adding that they still do not have the real names of the suspects except for their aliases.

He said that “Aside from dropping off his wife

to her work place ay nag magandang loob pa po dito sa dalawang suspect na naki-sakay, being a public servant he agreed to ferry this two men and then dun binaril si PO3 Garol.”

Garol sustained eight gunshot wounds, as indicated by the results of the autopsy conducted on his body leading to his death.

between both parties.”

“We will have to consult our leaders who are actively engaged in the peace process, regarding this matter,” he said.

Madrigal said that peace dialogues should be discussed within the community. For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chiefof-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said he supports the localized peace talks of the

city but they cannot ‘discount’ any possible threats to the community.

“We cannot discount the fact that as your AFP, we need also to address the armed threats,” Guerrero said.

Earlier, Duterte-Carpio said she wants to continue the dialogue with the CPP-NPA despite the rejection of the National Democratic Front of

Army chief lauds Davao peace talks

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

HE new leadership of Eastern Mindanao C o m m a n d (EastMinCom) has recognized localized peace talks initiated by the Davao City government with the rebel New People’s Army.

Newly-installed EastMinCom commander Lt. Gen Benjamin Madrigal told Davao reporters he welcomes the initiative of Mayor Sara Z.

Duterte-Carpio to resolve the problem of insurgency in the city ‘peacefully’.

Madrigal, however said “the outcome will depend on the direction of our national leaders.” When asked if his command is willing to pull out the military troops in the remote areas of the city as a prelude to the peace talks, he replied, “This will depend on what will be the agreement

ARMY, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Bayan apologizes for‘harassment’

T

HE militant organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan has apologized for the harassment of photojournalists attributed to its marshals during a rally in Davao City on Monday.

Bayan issued the apology in an e-mail message sent to media outlets on Wednesday.

Its message reads in part: “We apologize to the three photojournalists who felt harassed when confronted

by our marshals during our rally on Monday protesting US President Trump’s visit.

The incident involved Photojournalists Arjoy Ceniza of Mindanao Daily Mirror, Lean Daval of Edge Davao and Macky Lim of Sunstar Davao.

Marshals accosted them as Ceniza and Daval were photographing the rally. But when they presented their IDs, the marshals apologized.

We regret this incident

BAYAN, P10

DTI bats for E-governance

By JUDIE VEGA

T

HE information of�icer of the Department of Trade and Industry in the region has pushed for e-governance to improve transparency in of�ices and to eradicate corruption following the South Korean module.

Jenny Mendoza Information Of�icer III and Knowledge Management Regional Coordinator made the pitch following a weeklong training in South Korea.

She said South Korea has been practicing e-governance for the past 30 years.

She added that the DTI is already implementing IT based initiative and improving a delivery of

services.

“DTI-XI has always been keen about integrating information technology in its processes. Right now, we are �inalizing our IT-based performance monitoring system and e-library,” said Mendoza.

According to Mendoza, the IT-based performance monitoring system of DTIXI doesn’t only aim to keep track of all personnel’s performance, but also to readily identify their strengths and weaknesses so that necessary and appropriate interventions will be made.

This is in response to the

DTI, P10

MAKING WAVES. Evolve Pole Fitness Studio owner and chief instructor Tweetie Bullecir (right), together with instructor Marc Vince Bernal, promotes the studio’s second pole dancing recital slated

ANY WHICH WAY WILL DO. Porters make the metal cart they use to deliver merchandise their “bed” as they take an afternoon nap along Monteverde Street in Davao City on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

Police units alerted versus NPA attacks

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Police Regional Office has reiterated its call to all police officers to be on the alert against possible attacks on their stations or units by elements of the rebel New People’s Army.

PRO 11 regional director Chief Supt. Manuel R. Gaerlan told reporters the rebels are intensifying their attacks against government troops.

“We are telling our

personnel that it’s not your fault if there are NPA who attack a station but they should put up a �ight,” Gaerlan said.

“If you don’t retaliate,

on November 19 at CAP auditorium during this week’s edition of Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

whether there is a one-strike police or none, that is an act of cowardice and you will not be only relieved but you can also be removed from the service,” he added.

Gaerlan said based on their intelligence reports, the rebels will conduct tactical offensives especially during the month of December when the NPA celebrates its founding anniversary.

He said that usually, if

the NPA rebels celebrate its anniversary, they conduct ‘tactical offensives and attack against government forces.’

“That directive of the NPA continues that is why we are maintaining our full alert status,” he said.

Gaerlan also reminded all police of�icers to be more vigilant in their ‘personal or of�icial movement.’ He also con�irmed that perpetrators

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he has nothing to explain over reports of alleged human rights violations and extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

“I said I will not explain,” Duterte said during a press brie�ing following the closing ceremonies of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Summit.

He said that what he did was ask his Canadian counterpart to “investigate �irst and �ind out the truth.”

He said Trudeau was likely presented only with reports of EJKs but without the full details of the incidents.

Duterte stressed that he

answers only to the Filipino people adding that it angers him when a foreigner brings out the issues of extrajudicial killings without even investigating the truth.

“It is a personal and of�icial insult. That is why you hear me throwing down epithets and curses… because it angers me,” he said.

“When you are a foreigner, you don’t know what exactly is happening in this country. You do not even investigate. What happened to the right to be heard?” Duterte said.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau said Duterte was “receptive” when he raised concerns over “human rights, rule of law and extrajudicial killings,” and describe his informal talks

POLICE, P10

Nothing to explain over EJKs: Duterte P

NOTHING, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Indon fashion expo set in Davao City A THREE-DAY 1st Indonesia Fashion Expo (IFE) 2017 will be staged at the Abreeza Mall of Davao from November 24 to 26 that will highlight some Indonesian products that can be sold in the Philippines.

In a letter emailed on Monday, Indonesian Consul General Berlian Napitupulu said the staging of the expo is part of their effort to promote the economic partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia.

He said the expo will showcase some clothing products, bags, shoes, and fashion accessories from Indonesia.

The Super Shuttle Roro 12 docked at the KTS Port in Sasa, Davao City on April 28, 2017.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Davao-Bitung trade route on April 30. Mindanews File Photo It will include one-on-one business matching, with music and cultural performances and tourism promotion activities on the sidelines.

This year’s IFE is supported by the City Government of Davao, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism in Davao Region, he said.

City Mayor Sara Duterte and Mindanao Development Authority chair Abul Khayr Alonto will grace the opening of the three-day expo. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

THE DAY’S CATCH. Fishermen carry their fishing boat towards a coastal community in Matina Aplaya on Wednesday after a day out in the Davao Gulf. Prices of sea produce are slightly up in Davao City due to a low pressure area (LPA) affecting some parts of Mindanao. Lean Daval Jr.

Bio-diversity bill gets funding okay T

To protect diverse flora and fauna

he House Appropriations Committee chaired by Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles has approved the funding provisions of a bill that seeks to create an improved law for the protection and preservation of the country’s diverse flora and fauna.

Given the thumbs up by the Appropriations panel was a currently unnumbered substitute bill with the working title, “Ensuring The Preservation and Management of Protected Areas.”

The measure is a consolidation of House Bills No. 177 �iled by Occidental

Mindoro lone. district Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato and HB No. 133 �iled by AKOBicol Party-List Reps. Rodel Batocabe, Alfredo Garbin and Christopher Co. Nograles said both bills underscore the rich biodiversity in the Philippines as well as the need to protect such biodiversity.

“We can achieve this through the establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas within the classi�ication of a national park as provided for in the Constitution,” noted Nograles.

The proposed statute for all intents and purposes aims to improve Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.

“While NIPAS has served its purpose to some degree, there remains dozens of locations in the country that have to be of�icially proclaimed as protected areas so that they may be accorded the necessary governmental

efforts toward preservation,” Nograles said.

“These areas are teeming with beautiful and unique native species that, once gone, will never be seen again except on the Internet or in books. If that happens, then it only means we have failed in our task to be God’s steward for these life forms,” the Davao solon added.

The proposed measure identi�ies around 100 areas that should be established as protected areas with land or water classi�ication of a national park. These locations will add to those that have been previously declared as protected areas through Congressional action.

Phoenix net income hits P1.4B in 2017 L EADING independent oil company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (PSE:PNX) posted a net income of P1.437 billion in the �irst nine months of 2017, higher by 59% year-on-year.

The results included the impact of the newly-acquired LPG business. Excluding the non-recurring gains and expenses related to the acquisition, core income reached P 1.081 billion, higher by 9% year-on-year.

Revenues from the core petroleum business during the period were up 37% to PHP 32.6 billion on the back of robust volume growth in retail, lubricants, and LPG. Third quarter volume was particularly strong.

The Company completed 523 Phoenix retail service stations as of the �irst nine months of 2017. It also continued to acquire new commercial direct accounts, while expanding its market share within existing accounts, including

power, shipping, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing, among others.

“Phoenix Petroleum’s strong performance in the third quarter shows our commitment to growing the business through customer focus, operational excellence, and acquisition of complementary businesses,” said President and CEO Dennis Uy. Through acquisitions, Phoenix Petroleum continues to create growth and opportunities in highly attractive industries and markets that are complementary to its core fuel business and are underpinned by strong macroeconomic fundamentals.

On August 2017, the purchase of Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. (PEPI) was completed. PEPI has since been consolidated and renamed Phoenix LPG Philippines, Inc. (PLPI), a 100% owned subsidiary of Phoenix Petroleum.

Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, which ASEAN adopted in January 2007.

The declaration seeks to promote a decent, humane, productive, digni�ied and remunerative employment for migrant workers and acknowledge the need to address cases of abuse and violence against them.

The landmark document has provisions that include prohibiting employers from con�iscating their employees’ passports and allowing

workers to join unions.

The ASEAN consensus is the outcome of the noble work of the ASEAN labor ministers to uphold fair treatment of migrant workers across the region, and establish cooperation in safeguarding the interests and welfare of thousands of migrant workers in the bloc.

The summit ended on Tuesday in a ceremony where the Philippines passed on the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore. (with reports from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)

Consumer assent deemed ASEAN execs sign pact to help migrant workers must for digital pay plan

B

USINESSMAN Manuel V. Pangilinan said acceptance by consumers, not just having the necessary infrastructure, is needed for digital payment systems to be successful.

“Part of the challenge of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as a community and within each country is precisely to inculcate that consciousness and the practice of using

digital methods,” he said in one of the panel discussions during the three-day ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2017 that ended Tuesday.

Pangilinan, the chief executive of�icer (CEO) of Hong Kong-headquartered First Paci�ic Company Ltd, which owns Metro Paci�ic Investment Corporation, telecommunications company PLDT and Philex Mining Corporation. (PNA)

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday signed the Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

Duterte, this year’s ASEAN chairman, presented the signed document to ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh during the closing ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which coincides with the golden anniversary

of the regional bloc held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

The signing of the document is part of the activities of the regional bloc’s two-day summit in Manila.

The bloc identi�ied the protection of migrant workers’ rights as one vital measure to help bring forth a secure and prosperous ASEAN community.

Such move is in line with the Declaration on the

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

ASEAN achieves 8 of 11 priority goals: DTI

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday announced that the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has successfully completed eight out of 11 economic priority deliverables.

“There are 11 priority deliverables. Of the 11 priority deliverables, the Philippines together with the whole of ASEAN has been able to successfully, fully achieve eight,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez in a speech read by his Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo in a press conference at the International Media Center in Pasay City.

Lopez said that two other economic priority deliverables were “technically achieved” and one is “a work in progress.”

The eight economic priority deliverables are: 1. The Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment which aligns with the goals and four pillars of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) 2. The maiden voyage of the ASEAN RO-RO that plied the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route 3. The adoption of the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in September 2017 4. The development of the ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework (AIBF) that to promote

Inclusive Business in ASEAN 5. The adoption of the ASEAN Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (AWPEC) 2017-2025 in September 2017 6. The Philippines’ �irst full and comprehensive Country Visit exercise under the AEC 2025 Monitoring and &Evaluation Framework in the Philippines October 2017 7. The adoption by the ASEAN Leaders of the Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment in ASEAN 8. The ASEAN Declaration on Innovation, which will be one of the outcome documents that will be adopted at the 31st ASEAN Summit

Meanwhile, the two economic priority deliverables “technically completed” are: 1. The substantial conclusion of the discussions on the Region-Wide SelfCerti�ication Scheme this year 2. The substantial conclusion of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) this year

The 11th economic priority deliverable, which remains a work in progress, is the substantial conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). (PNA)

DESIRED GOAL. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 information officer III and knowledge management regional coordinator Jenny Molbog-Mendoza (right) shares valuable insights from the recently concluded 50th anniversary of South Korea’s e-Government and the World e-Governance forum held at Seoul,

South Korea which she participated in with Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) supervising administrative officer of Finance division Aurora Cuello during Wednesday’s @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

Quality education seen key to digital economy For ASEAN states to adapt an integrated region

A

Internet economy is changing our lifestyle, it is imperative that ASEAN enterprises be able to adapt quickly by integrating digitization into their business strategies and operations,” Ayala said at the ASEAN 50th anniversary

book “Advancing ASEAN in the Digital Age”.

“We have seen how startup companies are �lourishing in this environment where the nature of employment and entrepreneurship are shifting,” he said.

Teresita Sy-Coson, Vice-Chairperson at SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), urged other business leaders to innovate to compete in the new digital world of doing business.

“We need to upgrade our people and their skills. We need to recreate our organizations

to be more �lexible and agile so that changes can happen in months instead of years,” said Coson.

The book was jointly launched Tuesday by CIMB ASEAN Research Institute (CARI) at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) to commemorate ASEAN’s 50th anniversary.

CARI Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Munir Majid cited some estimates indicating that the Digital Revolution would add USD1 trillion to ASEAN’s gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2025. (PNA)

greater urgency, and commit to making sure such unethical and unlawful dumping never happen again in the future,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“The EcoWaste Coalition, together with our partners in the environmental justice movement in the Philippines and in Canada, will remain alert and not let our guard down knowing that the reexport of the trash shipments is only a theoretical possibility at this time,” she said.

Zero Waste Canada, a nonpro�it grassroots organization dedicated to helping end

the age of wasting through better design and education, recently emailed the EcoWaste Coalition af�irming their “support in this much too long ordeal,” saying “we will continue to shine a light on this until it is resolved.”

Trudeau yesterday told the press “it is now theoretically possible to take it back,” adding the legal obstacles have been addressed.

“Canadian legal regulations prevented us from being able to receive the waste back to Canada. We had legal barriers and restrictions that prevented us from taking it back, but that’s done now,”

he said, noting “there’s still a number of questions around who would pay for it.”

“Compared to the vague statement he made in 2015 on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, what Trudeau said this time offers a glimmer of hope for a country like ours that is struggling with our own garbage woes,” Lucero observed.

Trudeau disappointed environmentalists when he vaguely stated in 2015 that a “Canadian solution” is being developed, but made no �irm declaration of re-importing his country’s garbage.

(Ecocoalition)

ssociation of Southeast Asian Nations member states need to improve the quality of their education systems and training in order to adapt to and benefit from the digital economy for an integrated region, business leaders said.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and Chief Executive Of�icer of conglomerate Ayala Corp., said increasingly well-educated population bodes well for ASEAN’s future productivity.

“With how the mobile and

Russia to provide aid for NL railway system Canada’s vow to take back garbage lauded

R

USSIA is considering to grant development assistance for a new railway system in the northern Luzon region.

This was the result of a bilateral meeting Tuesday between Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov to discuss possible areas of cooperation in rails, roads, aviation, maritime and cable car.

“The Russian assistance will commence with a grant for the preparation of a detailed feasibility study.

Russia is expected to bring

with it its development experience gained in the course of building its 86,000 kilometers of mainline and 60,000 kilometers of secondary railway lines,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) spokesperson Asec. Leah Quiambao said in a text message to reporters.

The proposed railway system is envisioned to run from New Clark City in Tarlac, San Fernando, La Union to Tuguegarao in Cagayan.

Philippines and Russia have also discussed launching direct �lights between Manila and Moscow. (PNA)

T

HE EcoWaste Coalition welcomed the pronouncement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his press conference yesterday indicating that the festering garbage shipments from Canada could be repatriated to its origin.

“We welcome the fact that he discussed this drawn out dumping controversy with President Rodrigo Duterte and committed to follow up on the matter. Like many of our colleagues, we are cautiously optimistic that Canada will be able to take their garbage back, but they should do it with

6 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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PH’S JICA ALUMNI. Young leaders from the Philippines are the newest batch of JICA Alumni after completing the month-long JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Young Leaders) Water Resources Management Course in Tokyo and Hokkaido, Japan last November 07. Three out the18 alumni are from Mindanao.

Mindanawons complete JICA-funded program G T

GCash to adopt Alipay cashless payment model in China and rest of Asia

hree representatives from Mindanao recently completed a water resources management course in Japan, one of the programs under the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program.

Makmod Pasawilan of the Mindanao Development Authority, Ardi Abril Layugue of the National Economic and Development Authority Region IX, and Arvilyn Omblero, Iligan City Waterworks System joined 15 other young leaders from the Philippines for a month-long classroom and on-site training in Tokyo and Hokkaido.

The program aims to share knowledge on laws, policies, mechanisms, strategies, programs and projects, river systems, and best practices in the entire spectrum of water resources management.

“As an environmental planner and development manager for Mindanao, I saw the need to learn more on water resources management to

address the current and future issues concerning water such as scarcity, ground water subsidence, salt water intrusion, sediment disasters, and �looding,” said Pasawilan, who is the lone Bangsamoro representative to the program.

Pasawilan who is also involved with MinDA’s resource management and planning programs added that he will apply his learning in dealing with the water resources particularly in the Mindanao River Basin.

“Japan’s experience provided me the opportunity to value water - and by valuing water, we are indeed valuing life,” he added, citing the country’s effective policies, mechanism and �lood control measures in Japan that can be

considered in MRB and other river basins.

Mindanao is home to eight major river basins, namely the Agus River Basin, Cagayan de Oro River Basin, Tagoloan River Basin, Agusan River Basin, Mindanao River Basin (MRB-Cotabato), Tagum-Libuganon river basin, Davao river basin and Buayan-Malungan river basin. The MRB-Cotabato and the Agusan River Basin in the Caraga region are two of the largest river basins in Mindanao.

MinDA Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto also lauded the Mindanawons’ representation in the program, citing the need for more planners who will put into consideration the island-region’s inherent wealth including its watersheds, forests, and river basins.

“Water is essential for broad-based agricultural production and rural development. The sustainable management of our waters will re-

sult to ensuring food security and eradicating poverty,” Alonto said, while adding that he hopes for more Mindanawons to be able to take part in learning and technical sessions on sectors that are relevant to Mindanao, include peace and development, environment, and infrastructure planning.

The JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program aims to capacitate young leaders in the development sectors through specialized technical training. The Water Resource Management course is the second program to be completed this year.

The program is open to all Filipino citizens, 20-35 years old, who have been working for government of�ices, development organizations, and duly recognized non-pro�it organizations for at least two years. JICA is now accepting applications for the Agri-business/Agri-Eco-Tourism, which will commence on February 2018.

Ef�icient Government Internet (SECURE GovNet) project.

In partnership with Facebook, the project SECURE GovNet aims to build the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure, an ultra high-speed information highway that will greatly improve the speed, affordability, and accessibility of broadband internet across the archipelago.

The BCDA will build the

Luzon Bypass Infrastructure, consisting of two cable landing stations connected by a 250-km long cable network corridor, which will leverage the geographical advantage of the Philippines by providing a terrestrial bypass route for international submarine cable owners seeking diversity from the Luzon Strait.

“The cable will provide di-

rect connections from Luzon to internet hubs in the United States and Asia,” DICT Of�icer-in-Charge/Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said.

As the �irst party to utilize the infrastructure, Facebook will construct and operate a submarine cable system that will land in the cable stations on the East and West Coasts of

CASH is adopting the cashless payments model of Alipay, China’s leading third-party mobile and online payments platform, which is enjoying unprecedented success in China, India and the rest of Asia to give people ease, convenience, and security when purchasing goods and services from lowly street vendors to high-end shops.

Alipay is operated by Ant Financial which has earlier entered into a joint venture with leading Philippine telecommunications provider Globe Telecom and the country’s oldest conglomerate Ayala Corporation to boost the operations of Mynt, parent company of GCash mobile wallet service.

“I believe e-payments have a tremendous amount of potential in the Philippines given the continuous growth of smartphone penetration and the number of unbanked Filipinos. Only a very select group of Filipinos have access

to �inancial services so we want to provide that access to them. Part of �inancial services is cashless payments. It has taken off in other countries like China and India where the people have realized its value because of the convenience and security that it provides -- merchants and buyers don’t have to prepare change, e-money cannot be easily stolen, payments can easily be tracked, among other things,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. At present, 7 out of 10 Filipinos are unbanked while 9 out of 10 do not have access to formal credit. This situation has led to the popularity of cash payments in the country.

Eric Jing, Ant Financial Services Group CEO said: “Ant Financial is working closely with Mynt to bring digital �inancial inclusion to Filipinos.

Imagine a day when you can just pick up your phone and pay using QR codes when you shop, buy tickets, buy food.

GCASH, P7

PH launched ultra high-speed internet infrastructure project

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HE Presidential Communications Operations Of�ice (PCOO), together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), launched on Wednesday, November 15, the Strategic Engagement and Collaboration to Undertake a Reliable and

A Filipino shopper uses the scan to pay feature of the GCash App at a

ARMY, P7 store in one of the popular malls in the Philippines

COMPETITIVE EDGE 7

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Pole dancing creates waves

By JUDIE VEGA

I

n Davao City, the Evolve Pole fitness and Aerial arts studio is making a name for itself through its workouts that are guaranteed to tone muscle and to attain curves.

“Here is where you �ind �itness in a most exciting and challenging manner,” said Tweetie Bullecer, chief instructor and operation.

Now on its second year, the studio stresses workouts based on gymnastics.

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“Well, we know that getting �it and fabulous is de�initely something that needs commitment and determination, especially if you are less con�ident to try pole �itness , this will motivate you to work out more (and often),” she

and aerial hoops and the instructors who guide the students for safety of their students.

“Before the session we reminded the pole �itness is not ordinary, students need to have some extra care to avoid injuries during sessions especially for the beginners,” said Bullecer.

“Pole �itness sessions in your regular exercise may greatly improve just in one week for three sessions you

can experience the difference and improvements of your body,” she added.

“Pole �itness classes are unique because they focus on learning skills and being physically �it, havingfun while working out creating a family to cheer them up as motivation,” she said.

“Pole dancing is really hard and it is continuous progress, it is a constant battle with yourself if you can do it or not and by the next

day you were just shocked that you can already do some trick,” she added.

Bullecer said other forms of exercise where �itness goals are measured in weight loss, and improving skills that enable perform complex routines.

Interested parties can visit the studio at: Arroyo St corner R Castillo St, Lanang Davao City 8000 or contact 0917 794 6730 for more inquiries.

Another batch of pawikan hatchlings released in the Cleanergy Park

Luzon.

“In exchange for utilizing the bypass infrastructure, Facebook will provide the Philippine Government with spectrum equivalent to at least 2-million megabits per second (Mbps),” Rio said.

This 2-million Mbps (or 2-terabyte per second) capacity, Rio added, is almost equal to the current combined capacity of Globe and SmartPLDT, making the government virtually a third player in the telecommunications industry.

SECURE GovNet is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to develop a national broadband plan, which will enable the government to signi�icantly reduce internet cost and improve internet speed.

The said project will also facilitate the implementation of the government’s connectivity programs, such as the Free Public Internet Access, the National Government Portal, and other information and communications technology projects of government line agencies and local government units.

Also during the event, DICT OIC/Secretary Rio and BCDA President and Chief Executive Of�icer Vivencio Dizon, representing the Philippine government, of�icially sealed the Landing Party Agreement with Facebook’s Sourcing Manager Nico Roehrich.

“We are signing the Agreement with Facebook and BCDA to build the government’s �irst cable landing stations under the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project,” the DICT of�icial said.

“It’s a game changer. It’s going to change the way we communicate in our country, and it’s going to alleviate the daily struggles of people with respect to the internet,” Dizon added.

The event was also graced

by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Adviser for Economic Affairs Ramon Jacinto, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

PCO-Content

We’re leveraging technology to provide that. We will use technology to make �inancial services more transparent and easier to access especially for those who are underserved or unserved.

Digital payments with GCash is only the beginning of many new things. I am looking forward to GCash creating more bene�its for the individuals and micro and small businesses in the Philippines and to provide �inancial inclusion for everyone.”

Aside from the scan to pay feature of the GCash App which was allows QR scanning to pay for goods and services, GCash customers can also use the app to cash in, top up their prepaid credit, borrow load,

book movies, transfer money, and pay bills.

In China where Alipay started its operations, cash is becoming obsolete as people are doing away with paper money and coins to pay for about everything. Instead of cash, they use smartphones to scan QR codes – a type of barcode which includes the merchant’s information - and pay from their electronic wallet.

Electronic payment using QR codes has become a way of life in China that practically every business, big or small, even street performers are already part of the ecosystem.

Right now, over half a billion Chinese are using Alipay’s e-payment system.

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said.

Bullecer said the youngest student is 5 years old with the oldest at 53 years. The disciples are a mix of professionals, students and mothers.

“There are no quali�ications for pole dancing, any sizes and weights would do.

We have plus size students who can do amazing tricks,” Bullecer said that they have complete equipments like; we use pole, aerial silk

J

UST three weeks after the release of the new set of pawikan hatchling, another batch of baby pawikans was set out to the sea at the Cleanergy Park in Sitio Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya Davao City last November 10, 2017.

A total of 70 baby pawikans were released, giving a total number of 1,023 hatchlings released for the year.

These baby sea turtles came from the 7th nest discovered

IT’S TIME TO GO. Davao Light and Power Company employees along with guests and kids happily release another batch of pawikan hatchlings at the Cleanergy Park in Sitio Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City.

HELLO, PAWIKAN NEST NUMBER 11. Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. Community Relations Manager Fermin Edillon validates the newly found nest at the Cleanergy Park last November 10, 2017.

This is the 11th nest discovered in the park for the year.

last September 14, 2017 at the Cleanergy Park.

Present during the release were the Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. employees led

by Community Relations Manager Fermin Edillon together with the visitors from the Aboitiz Equity Ventures and the community.

Moreover, on the same day, the Davao Light found and validated another pawikan nest.

This is the 11th nest found in

the park for the year, making 2017 as the year with the highest number of discovered pawikan nests.

“Releasing these pawikan hatchlings is always an exciting moment. The kids really enjoy seeing the baby turtles as they start a new journey into the sea. It is also a great time for every visitor to learn about the value of wildlife conservation.” said Edillon.

More pawikan nests are

expected to be discovered in the Cleanergy Park in the coming weeks.

Cleanergy Park is a project of Davao Light and Power Co., an AboitizPower subsidiary, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation. It is a biodiversity park that is aimed to help preserve the pawikan nesting grounds, be a home of many thriving bird species and help maintain ecological balance for other sea and land creatures.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Insult

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is indeed a tough nut to crack. The President stood his ground amid world leaders who ask him about controversial issues like deaths related to the war on drugs.

Facing the leaders of advanced nations including US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Duterte kept them at bay before they could even �ire at him on this issue. President Trump did not rub it in though. And PM Trudeau did not pursue it after being told that the question is a “personal and of�icial insult.”

In the midst of global leaders gathered in the country and with opportunities for bilateral talks, President Duterte made his stance clear--never to question how the government runs the country. He also maintains that all questions on controver-

EDGEDAVAO

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sial issues must be facts-based and investigated.

The illegal drugs problem in the Philippines is the government’s business and not others.

As it stands now, the drug war has been the most controversial issue besetting the Duterte administration since its inauguration in July 2016. According to Philippine National Police records, there are at least 7,000 people killed in the anti-drugs crackdown but human rights advocates say this might be higher.

President Duterte keeps it clear--the drug war is part of the duty of the state to protect its citizens from this menace of society. Weighing down between preserving the lives of innocent civilians as against that of suspected drug addicts, pushers and drug lords, there is no question which comes more important.

EDGEDAVAO

T

HE ASEAN 2017, which coincided with the 50th founding year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Paci�ic Economic Conference (APEC) 2017 in Vietnam, was primarily a convergence of some of the famous world leaders.

Buried under the hectic schedule of meetings that come with any global conferences is the little-appreciated detail the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), where the events are held, was a legacy of Marcosian rule; it was built in 1974.

Chie�ly, the PICC became the face of the country’s urban and regional planning during Martial Law and, until now, remains an important landmark for global gatherings It’s a little known fact that it was President Ferdinand E. Marcos who actually put on fast track the urban development of the country. On June 11, 1978, he signed Presidential Decree No. 1517, which of�icially proclaimed urban land reform in the Philippines.

A revisit of the edict would show seven reasons for its adoption under his concept of New Society, namely: “{It] is declared objective of the New Society to effect social, economic and political reforms attuned to the establishment of a secure national community and to an improved quali-

N

EVER underestimate the power of smile. At one time, I was mad as hell when someone took the book I bought. I left it on top of my table before I left for work. When I returned home, it was gone. I really don’t have any problem with it if the person who took it just left a note that he was borrowing it. At least, with a note I can always ask the person if he is already done with the book.

But what really got my nerve this time was the fact that I had some scribbled notes on the said book which I inserted. I was afraid that whoever took the book might just throw away the notes I had written.

I was about to give up when my niece came to my room. “I am very much sorry, uncle,” she said. I was surprised; what had she done to me, I asked myself. She took something from her bag and with a big smile, “Here’s your book which I took without your knowledge. I forgot to leave a note.”

It didn’t matter if the book was lost. What mattered most was the fact that here was my niece and with a broad smile eased all those worries. “A smile is central to our evolution and one of the most powerful tools of human behavior,” explains Dr. Cacher Keltner,

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

‘Golden age of infrastructure’ ty of life for all citizens and for all others who may sojourn our shores; “[The] quality of human life in our times is inescapably determined by the relationship among population, resources, the environment, and intelligent policies; “[H]uman settlement is an integrative concept embracing the interdependence of man’s environment, human shelters and structures, and the design and organization of human communities consistent with a national framework plan, all for the people’s security and well-being. “[L]and is the ultimate platform of all man’s activities, and the crucial factor in determining the shape of human settlements; “[The] basic law of the land explicitly provides for the regulation of the acquisition, ownership, use, enjoyment and disposition of private property and for the equitable diffusion of property ownership and pro�its which includes land and land resources; “[The] traditional concept of landownership has aggravated the problem arising from urbanization such as the proliferation of blighted areas and the worsening of the plight of the urban poor and has spawned valid and legitimate grievances in urban centers giving rise to social tension and

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa violent con�licts; “[A] social reform objective is the New Society is to renew blighted areas, improve the conditions of the urban poor and resolve and redress legitimate grievances arising therefrom, while at the same providing incentives to progressive landowners and developers…”

Marcos’ grand design to achieve a ‘golden age of infrastructure’ in the country started right after he assumed the presidency as a result of winning the November 1965 national elections.

Hoppler, a real estate blog, provides some of the structural landmarks built and associated with the Marcos regime, namely: Cultural Center of the Philippines was created under Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966, and is found inside a 62-hectare complex in Pasay and Manila. It opened on September 8, 1969. On the other hand, the Folk Arts Theater, or the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas was inaugurated on July 7, 1974. It has ten sections and an amphitheatre with a seating capacity 8,458.

The National Arts Center or Makiling Center for the Arts at Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, was established in 1976 in ar 13.5 hectares of the Makiling Forest Reservation.

Nayong Pilipino was originally built in 1969 in a 32-acre theme park near the NAIA. It features scaled-down replicas of top tourist destinations and highlights Filipino creativity in arts and crafts. In 2006, it was moved to Clark as a major attraction of the Centennial Expo.

The People’s Park in the Sky was built in 1981 as guest house. Located within the park is The Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of Fair Love and a Doppler weather radar station. Originally known as Philippine Heart Center for Asia, the Philippine Heart Center in

Quezon City was established through PD No. 673; it was inaugurated on Feb. 14, 1975. Meanwhile, the Lung Center of the Philippines, created under PD No. 1823, was established on Jan. 16, 1981. A �ire destroyed much of the center on May 16, 1998; it was reopened on March 1, 1999.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute, formerly known as the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines in Quezon City, was established on January 16, 1981 as tertiary referral hospital. San Juanico Bridge, on the other hand, is the country’s longest. It is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an archshaped truss design. Its construction started in 1969 and completed four years later.

Two other Marcosian landmarks that need to be cited are the Cultural Center of the Philippines, established through Executive Order No. 30 signed in 1966; it is headed by an 11-member Board of Trustees. The Manila Film Center was built in 1981 and completed a year later. It was constructed to host 1st Manila International Film Festival.

The so-called ‘golden age of infrastructure’, which the Duterte administration has promised to surpass, bene�itted only Luzon, though.

frowning. There are several reasons but those reasons are not enough to let yourself not to smile.

Here’s one poet said, “If at times you feel you want to cry and life seems such a trial. Above the clouds there’s a bright blue sky, so make your tears a smile. As you travel on life’s way with its many ups and downs, remember its quite true to say one smile is worth a dozen frowns.”

The poet continues: “Among the world’s expensive things, a smile is very cheap. And when you give a smile away, you get one back to keep. Happiness comes at times to all but sadness comes unbidden and sometimes a few tears must fall among the laughter hidden. So when friends have sadness on their face and troubles round them piled, the world will seem a better place and all because you smiled.”

A smile can make a woman more beautiful. I have not seen a beauty contest where the contestants are not smiling. “Beauty is power; a smile is its sword,” Charles Reade pointed out. And someone commented, “I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.” (Frank) Gelett Burgess also said, “Thinking a smile all the time will you’re your face youthful.”

After all, a smile, according to

Charles Gordy, “is an inexpensive way to change your looks.” George Eliot surmises, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. American humorist Mark Twain also stated so: “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” Just a reminder: It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown.

If you can smile, why don’t smile at all. How unfortunate a person is, if he can’t smile anymore. Twice in his adult life, Ross Main had has his face paralyzed by Bell’s palsy, a disorder in which the seventh cranial never becomes in�lamed, probably from a viral infection. “I could only smile with half my face, and the result was this weird grimace,” he says.

Looking for peace between a husband and wife, or between enemies? The answer to that question is a big smile. As Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.” A smile, nonetheless, is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it.

“Today,” urged H. Jackson Brown, Jr., “give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.” A poet puts it more succinctly. “Smiling is infectious; you can catch it like the �lu. Someone smiled at me today and I started smiling too.”

The power of smile

a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied the importance of facial expression – including the variety and impact of smiles.

In 1872, Charles Darwin proposed in his book, The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals that facial expressions are biologically based and universal among humans.

However, the celebrated anthropologist Margaret Mead thought the smile was a cultural behavior that varied between societies.

There are several reasons why a person smiles. One indicator is that he or she is in love. Barry Manilow, referring to his beloved, croons, “I can’t smile without you.”

“A smile costs nothing but gives much,” someone once wrote. “It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

who has no more to give.”

“Smile and others will smile back,” Jean Baudrillard thinks.

“Smile to show how transparent, how candid you are. Smile if you have nothing to say. Most of all, do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others. Let this emptiness, this profound indifference shine out spontaneously in your smile.”

But more often than not, people stop smiling. It seems they are carrying the whole problem of the world. Even in the early morning, when they should face the new day with gladness, they are already

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

THUMBS UP... FROM 1 ent agencies and of�ices who should putting their acts together,” he said.

In Davao City, several councilors have expressed elation at the hosting of the ASEAN Summit.

They also expressed hope the summit would result to more investments in Davao City. “We are happy here (in the Philippines) because our government has been promoting unity in the midst of diversity as shown during the opening

salvo of the ASEAN Summit, “said Councilor Halila Sudagar, the Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative.

“We are very thankful that the government has recognized the need to serve all sectors in the Philippines,” she said.

“The Cultural Center of the Philippines as venue showcase the diversity of the culture of the Philippines,” said Councilor Melchor Quitain Jr. of the �irst Distict.

commenters to create the impression of widespread support for his candidacy.

It added: “Many of the accounts ‘continue to spread and amplify messages of support of [Duterte’s] policies now he’s in power,’ though it is not clear whether they are working with of�icial government channels.”

The report further cited the cyberattacks on websites run by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

PCIJ has published reports on alleged extrajudicial killings and other issues related to the war on drugs.

‘Antidemocratic agenda’ “Governments are now using social media to suppress dissent and advance an antidemocratic agenda,” said Sanja Kelly, director of the Freedom on the Net project. “Not only is this manipulation dif�icult to detect, it is more dif�icult to combat than other types of censorship, such as website blocking, because it’s dispersed and because of the sheer number of people and bots deployed to do it.”

“The fabrication of grassroots support for government policies on social media creates a closed loop in which the regime essentially endorses itself, leaving independent groups and ordinary citizens on the outside,” Kelly said.

“The solution to manipulation and disinformation lies not in censoring websites but in teaching citizens how to detect fake news and commentary.

Democracies should ensure that the source of political advertising online is at least

as transparent online as it is of�line,” she added.

Online manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 18 countries over the past year, including the United States, damaging citizens’ ability to choose their leaders based on factual news and authentic debate. The content manipulation contributed to a seventh consecutive year of overall decline in internet freedom, along with a rise in disruptions to mobile internet service and increases in physical and technical attacks on human rights defenders and independent media.

“The use of paid commentators and political bots to spread government propaganda was pioneered

by China and Russia but has now gone global,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “The effects of these rapidly spreading techniques on democracy and civic activism are potentially devastating.”

The report covers 65 countries, accounting for 87 percent of internet users worldwide. It focuses on developments that occurred between June 2016 and May 2017, although some more recent events are included as well.

It said that governments in a total of 30 countries deployed some form of manipulation to distort online information, up from 23 the previous year.

Leaders used paid commentators, trolls, bots, false news sites, and propaganda outlets, among other techniques, “to in�late their popular support and essentially endorse themselves,” it added. (MindaNews)

desire of DTI to be accredited in the Civil Service Commission’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Mgt (PRIMEHRM) Level III. As of now, they still in level II. She said that based on her experience in South Korea, e-governance can help improve the delivery of social and development services.

Manpower is trimmed down. All that is needed is a sizeable investment to integrate IT in all government processes.

“I am personally amazed with how fast the country implements innovation; from procurement processes to provision of social services to its clients,”said Mendoza According to Mendoza

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ENHANCEMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern witness the signing of agreements between New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Patricia Licuanan during the bilateral meeting at the Philippine

International Convention Center on Tuesday. The signed document is the Memorandum of Cooperation between the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Philippines Commission on Higher Education on the Comparative Analysis of New Zealand and the Philippines’ Bachelor’s Degrees. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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the Philippines (NDFP).

This is because, the mayor said, she has a duty to pursue just and lasting peace in the city as the representative of the City Government of Davao. She said she believes that this initiative can help achieve peace in the city but it will really depend on the rebels if they sincerely want

to talk peace with the local government.

Duterte-Carpio said that Local Peace Committee (DC PEACE) is given up to November 30 of next year and if there is no progress with the dialogue, she will order to stop it because there is no point to talk with the rebels if they do not want peace in the city.

of the murder of PO3 Wilfredo Garol of Baguio Police Station were identi�ied members of NPA. But, he cannot give the

names of the suspects because these people concealed their identities through the use of aliases or monikers.

extent, if it is too big, will have to go through the process of Congress approval),» Arevalo said.

This is possible as Australia has signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines in 2007 that was rati�ied in 2010.

The agreement is “intended to enhance cooperation on maritime terrorism and other security threats”.

Under the deal, Australian troops will train their Filipino counterparts.

The Australian government, through its military, has earlier expressed its willingness to train Filipino troops in urban warfare.

So far, the direction for the AFP and the Australian Defense Force is towards

collaboration, cooperation and more agreements, especially in the �ight against terrorism, Arevalo added.

“We will see (in) what areas tayo pwedeng magtulungan, kagaya ng intelligence, information sharing and all other platforms, especially HADR, kasama rin yan, but de�initely hanggang assistance lang tayo. Hindi sila pwedeng mag-actual participate sa combat (We will see in what areas we could collaborate, for instance intelligence, information sharing and all other platforms, especially humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, that is included, but de�initely, it will be limited to assistance.

They cannot participate in actual combat),” he said. (PNA)

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in South Korea, there are no face to face transactions and everything is done online, payment was done over their mobile phones.

“DTI-XI’s IT-based performance monitoring system is targeted to be done by December then implementation and adoption will be done early next year.

Just want to clarify that this e-governance initiative is just by and for DTI-XI,” she said.

Mendoza said DTI are also implementing communication tracking system before the end of 2017. This will help them to speed up further the documentation of incoming and outgoing communications of DTI-XI. Tracking and tracing of documents, including our Regional Director’s instructions, will become easier and training was through the initiative of USEP-Mindanao Center for Policy Studies.

has caused inconvenienced and disappointed members of the press. However, the zeal exercised by our marshals should not be interpreted as paranoia. In fact, our marshals accosted two military personnel from our rally on that day. In the context of continuing political killings and consistent insertions of intelligence agents in political rallies have made such security measures a necessity.

We hope we all learn from this incident so such situation could be handled better.

Our activities are always

welcome to the press, and we hope members of the media can also properly identify themselves with IDs to avoid inconvenience.”

Editors welcomed the apology but added that it was the militant organization’s look-out to ensure that photojournalists are not harassed.

“They did not impose themselves on the rallyists.

They were invited,” the editors added.

We hope we continue to �ind ways of cooperation for the advancement of people’s issues and struggles.

with the Philippine President as “very cordial and positive exchange throughout.”

Meanwhile, Duterte called on heads of states and other organizations not tot be easily taken in by reports coming from his critics whom he accused of fabricating records.

“Somebody here picks up the records of dead persons, they go there. You

only show before the United Nations a record of how many persons died you claim to be extrajudicially,” he said.

“You know, my advice to everybody, even the ones that I curse publicly is: Do not get your documents from the opposition and from the communists because I said, they are all falsi�ied,” Duterte said. (PNA)

late gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.

Juicing a carrot maintains its nutrient power, and is a tasty drink that can be drank at any time of the day. It is said that small amounts of carrot juice along with milk help to satisfy a baby’s requirement of vitamin A without fear of over-dosing. Pregnant women should also incorporate a substantial amount of carrot juice in their diets, as it has been proven to be good for prenatal health.

Combining carrot juice with other vegetables or fruit

juices like beet, tomato or orange creates a delicious blend that is highly bene�icial for health due to the rich vitamins A and E content.

In the Philippines, carrot is usually cooked with other vegetables for “chop suey” and other dishes. It is also eaten raw with lettuce and pepper.

Raw carrots sticks and curls are attractive garnishes and appetizers. Carrot tops are high in potassium, but are bitter. A small portion of the tops may be cut �inely and mixed with salads, or cooked in broths or soups for �lavoring. It is also made into cake, jam, wine, and dye. It also adds �lavor to butter. (Photos taken from the net)

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INdulge!

FOOD

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

Unlimited Wagyu on the menu IN ITS ENTIRETY, food is clearly both a blessing and a curse. It seeks to wade off any bad moods and can immediately exchange a frown with a smile so bright even the stars are blinded.

From kids to adults to young at hearts, food is the single most important entity that never fails to uplift anyone from anything.

Cociná (pronounced kotsina) is one of Davao’s newest dining places that aims to satisfy a craving.

Specialising in wagyu beef, Cociná’s repertoire includes a variety of gustatory dishes that used wagyu beef as its main ingredient. From pasta to steak to burgers, you’d surely have your stomach filled with wagyu goodness any time of any day.

The brainchild of Chef Gian Karlo Delfino, Cociná is crafted to reflect his love for food and meat. With years of experience from different restaurants and dining places all over Asia, Chef Karlo wants to share what he has learned and let us experience the magnificent flavours of the world with his fusion dishes.

His dishes are cored upon the interplay and marriage of flavours that are geared towards igniting the senses.

For him, his dishes are but a reflection of how he wants his ingredients and food to be. Of how he has become acquainted with them throughout the years. And that, for anyone who loves to experi-

ment inside the kitchen earns an achievement unlocked badge.

Now, what makes Cociná different from other gastronomic dining places? Aside from the fact that it’s the newest on the block, Cociná is the first and only restaurant that offers unlimited Wagyu Steak in Davao.

Yes, that’s unlimited Wagyu steak -- one of the most desired meat with intense marbling that produces a high percentage of unsaturated fat when it comes in contact with heat. Imagine a platter of beautiful wagyu steak on your dining table af-

ter a week of deadlines? Too hard to resist, right?

Every order of unlimited Wagyu Steak comes with different sauces that will surely have you craving in an instant. The sauces were concocted not to overpower the meat but rather to enhance its flavour even more. With or without sauce, every slice of wagyu steak is enough to have you saying goodbye to your diet and indulge.

Not only are they specialis-

ing in the many ways we can enjoy wagyu beef; Chef Karlo and his kitchen brigade are also aiming to introduce new dishes on their repertoire on a regular basis. Of which, he is excited for us to try their selection of desserts specially prepared by their in-house Pastry Chef.

At Cociná, your yearning to taste the many delightful flavours of the world will slowly become a reality -- as you discover the vast options

they have for you. With their unique approach to preparing dishes, you will surely have a grand time whenever you dine.

Cociná is located at #17 Jacinto Extension, Dona Vicenta Village, Davao City.

Again, congratulations on your opening.

For my latest food finds, follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and Facebook @theroyalchefeats. Happy munching, royalistas!

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

THE HOLIDAY FEVER HAS HIT ABREEZA MALL, thanks to the annual Abreeza Christmas Launch and its spectacle of joyous sounds and dazzling sights.

Held on November 12, Abreeza Christmas Launch: A Yuletide Musical Ride featured Christmas melodies performed by award-winning contemporary a cappella group Acapellago, as well as local musicians Champ and the Band and Glee, an all-girl group from Muzic’s Kool.

Acapellago has bagged honors both locally and internationally, being a two-time Grand Champion of Akapela Open in the Philippines, Grand Champion of the A Cappella Championships (International Category) in Singapore in 2015, Grand Champion of the Aka Acapella VIII in Singapore in 2016, and first runner-up of the Vocal Asia competitions in Taiwan in 2016.

At the Abreeza Christmas Launch, the crooners effortlessly combined heavenly harmonies with beatboxing to give a fresh twist to timeless carols and pop anthems. Now signed to Viva Records, they also gave the audience a live sampling of their recently released single “Pero Plano” and their rendition of the trending hit “Tatlong Bibe.”

As is tradition at Abreeza Mall, the Christmas tree, this time located at the Christmas Village at the Ground Floor Hallway, was lit up during the Christmas Launch. Decked out with golden lamps, towering trees, and other Christmas symbols, the magnificent installation designed by T’nalak Home is a gleeful reminder that

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

It’s officially

CHRISTMAS TIME

at Abreeza Mall!

the most wonderful time of the year is here.

The Abreeza Christmas Launch also encouraged the spirit of giving among its guests by introducing the scholars of HERO (Help, Educate, and Rear Orphans) Foundation, Inc., a non-profit group that aims to give educational assistance to the children of Filipino soldiers killed in action.

A donation box is at the Main Concierge for customers who would like to donate, while corporations are also invited to support the HERO Foundation’s efforts by ap-

proaching the concierge staff for more details.

Keeping up the holiday frenzy at Abreeza Mall is the mall-wide

Pre-Christmas Sale on November 13 to 19, where merchants offer discounts of up to 70% off. Furthermore, from November 17

to 19, Abreeza Mall gives shoppers more time to complete their gift lists with extended mall hours of up to 10pm. This early Christmas blowout allows shoppers to get a headstart on their Christmas spending and bypass the December rush.

For inquiries and up-

dates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @ iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Isuzu continues to expand its dealership in Baguio City IN STRENGTHENING ITS DEALERSHIP NETWORK IN THE COUNTRY, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC)—the local arm of Japanese carmaker Isuzu—has recently opened its newest showroom in the Summer Capital of the country, Baguio City.

November 16 – 17, 2017 Only

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Isuzu Baguio, which is situated at the heart of Naguilian Road in the City of Pines, City, will cater to the growing business for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The 640-square meter showroom is equipped with state-of-the-art new and complete service facilities.

The dealership is offering customers with PMS, check-up and maintenance, discounts on parts and service and on-site servicing.

Aside from the best-selling mu-X and D-MAX, the new dealership will also display its formidable truck line-up from the dependable allnew N-Series light-duty trucks for logistics and fleet needs, the medium-duty truck F-Series line-up, and the heavy-duty C & E-Series line-up suited for a larger scale business in the region.

All vehicles are now with Blue Power technology, a testament to the Japanese carmaker’s commitment in promoting clean environment.

The latest innovation of Isuzu aims to provide better engine output, low emissions, fuel economy and excellent durability in all Isuzu vehicles.

The official opening of the new dealership was attended IPC head honchos such as its Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda and Yasuhiko Oyama Vice President for

Sales, together with members of the local motoring media.

“We are very excited with the partnership with Isuzu Baguio,” Sakoda said. “The opening of Isuzu Baguio dealership signalized a huge demand in the business in the north especially in the business sector of fleet and mining industry. We are grateful that given the upcoming implementation of excise tax for next year, the company still progress an upbeat growth.”

“The partnership with Isuzu Baguio will further boost the brand and provide easier access for the residents who wants to use dependable and economical vehicles, both in personal and business use,” he noted.

Isuzu Baguio is owned and operated by INTECO Group of companies, which also owns and operates

Isuzu dealership in Quezon Avenue, Edsa, Pampanga, Dagupan, and Urdaneta.

At the start of the year, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturer of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) posted a remarkable stellar growth with 28-percent growth, allowing the commercial vehicle segment to dominate the chart.

“The automotive sector continues to grow every year and we are extremely optimistic to contribute in the growing truck segment,” Sakoda claimed.

Last year, IPC contributed 11-percent market share in the commercial vehicle segment.

Isuzu Baguio is located at 1 Naguilian Road, corner Sophia Devera, Baguio, 2602 Benguet. The showroom is open from 8:00AM until 5:00pm from Monday to Saturday.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

MVT BRIDGES PHILIPPINES, Purok Malakas, General Santos City for more information, contact: Shane S. Liquit, Marketing Consultant • Cellphone Number 09460154748.

11 SUBURBIA RISING prov’l hospital Davao Oriental is region’s sole Sarangani to open in December awardee for good governance G C EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

ITY OF MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL -- The province of Davao Oriental is a standout among the Davao provinces in this year’s Seal of Good Local Governance awards.

Of the �ive provinces in the Davao Region, only Davao Oriental has made it in this year’s SGLG awards. The Department of the Interior and Local Government says the Seal of Good Local Governance to be awarded to Davao Oriental on November 28 this month “symbolizes integrity and good performance through continuing governance reform and sustained local development.

It is a progressive assessment system adopted by the Department to give distinction to remarkable local government performance across several areas.”

The Davao Region is composed of the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.

81 provinces, 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities were vying for the awards. This year’s awardees like the province of Davao Oriental are eligible to access the Performance Challenge fund of the national government to �inance local development initiatives in furtherance of national goals and strategic thrusts. LGU access to other program windows and capacity development assistance from the DILG will form part of the incentives package, subject to national policies and guidelines.

In light of national government thrusts, organizational commitments, and emerging good governance frameworks, the Seal or SGLG further aligns its parameters to help meet expectations and contribute in realizing target outcomes relative to local governance. Most

notably accounted for is the Philippine Development Plan to help bring about the Duterte administration’s vision of inclusive growth, high trust society, and a globally-competitive knowledge economy, following the principles of “Malasakit, Pagbabago at Patuloy na Pag-unlad.”

For 2017, the DILG raises its overall assessment criteria from “3+1” into “4+1”. Peace and Order has been added to the core areas namely, Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, and Social Protection. This year, a new essential area, Tourism, Culture and the Arts, is likewise introduced to measure the efforts of the Local Government Units along these concerns.

Relative to the Philippine Development Plan, the areas of Financial Administration, Social Protection, Disaster Pre-

paredness and Cultural Preservation are aligned with the principle of “Malasakit” (enhancing the social fabric). The areas of Business Friendliness and Tourism, on the other hand, support economic growth consistent with the principle of “Pagbabago” (reducing inequality), while Peace and Order and Environmental Management are bedrock strategies for “Patuloy na Pag-unlad” (increasing growth potential).

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA According to the DILG which published recently the list of awardees through its website, the province of Davao Oriental has passed in four core areas, namely, Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, and Peace and Order. Davao Oriental also passed in other essential areas like the Busi-

ness-friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Protection and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

On Financial Administration, the DILG cited the practice of accountability of the local government unit and transparency by adherence to accounting and auditing standards and compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy (Good Financial Housekeeping); sound management of resources (Financial Performance); and optimal utilization of available mechanisms and resources to support local development (Financing Development).

On Disaster Preparedness, the DILG cited the province’s proactive actions to prepare for disasters through mobilization of local disaster risk reduction management structures and systems; development and implementation of appropriate programs and plans and the use of funds provided; building competencies of concerned personnel; and ensuring operational readiness with the availability of equipage, supplies and other resources intended for early warning and response.

By Ferdinand Zuasola

ENERAL SANTOS CITY – The provincial government of Sarangani is targeting to open by next month its newly-completed provincial hospital in Alabel town.

Sarangani Vice Gov. Elmer de Peralta said Wednesday they are currently �inalizing the arrangements for the operationalization of the hospital, which will initially function as an in�irmary level facility.

He said the local government is completing the requirements set by the Department of Health (DOH) for the issuance of the facility’s license to operate or certi�icate of accreditation.

The license from the DOH is a primary requirement for the processing of claims from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. once the hospital begins to operate, he said.

“We’re presently fast tracking the compliance of the requirements so it can operate by the �irst week of December,” he said in an interview over Brigada News TV. Aside from this, De Peralta said the provincial personnel selection board is currently processing applications for the initial 40 plantilla or permanent positions allotted for the hospital.

The new positions, which are composed of nurses and non-paramedic staff, was based

on an ordinance passed recently by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board, he said.

The of�icial assured that the funds for the hospital’s operations, which will start with 18 to 25 beds, is already in place as set in the provincial government’s 2017 budget.

The DOH and the provincial government have already spent around P150 million for the project, which was completed earlier this year.

The hospital’s construction started in 2012 through an initial P50-million grant from the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Another P75 million was later released as augmentation.

The agency allotted some P20 million for the acquisition of hospital equipment and P5 million for the construction of a two-story outpatient department and its operating room foundation.

Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao had committed an additional P200 million to facilitate the completion of the hospital.

When fully completed, the provincial hospital will have a capacity of 200 beds and operate as a tertiary facility. (MindaNews)

DOST’s road train makes maiden demo run in GSC

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY - The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) innovative “train-like bus” dubbed Hybrid Electric Road Train (HERT) made its maiden demonstration run on Wednesday morning in major roads here.

Dominador Lagare Jr., chair of the city council’s committee on transportation, said the initial road test is part of the ongoing preparations for the road train’s formal trial run that could stretch to at least �ive months.

The HERT’s road test, which started past 9 a.m. at the oval plaza, covered the city’s main inner roads and the national highway going to Barangays Katangawan and Tinagacan.

The passengers were composed of city of�icials and personnel led by Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas-Nograles and media practitioners.

Lagare said it will make another road test next week from the city proper to the city �ish port complex in Barangay Tambler.

He said they have no timetable yet as to the start of the formal trial run noting it would depend on the road tests.

“After the initial road tests, the actual trial run will immediately proceed,” he told reporters.

During the road train’s stops in Barangays Katanga-

wan and Tinagacan, Lagare said they asked the barangay councils for the list of passengers who would participate in the trial run.

Since the HERT is still on trial run, he said the passengers were pre-selected by the DOST and the local government.

The road train, which arrived late last month following a six-month test run in Cebu City, will cover a total of 17 stops along the national highway from Barangay Tinagacan to the city �ishport complex in Barangay Tambler.

It will take off at 4 a.m. in front of the Tinagacan Elementary School and will mainly cater to teachers, �ishport and tuna canning workers in four round trips daily, with two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The HERT, which was developed by DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center, is a “40-meter long train-like bus” that can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and is powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery.

The train consists of �ive interlinked air-conditioned coaches that can hold up to 240 passengers per trip.

It is powered by a generator set and a series of batteries, with each coach driven by an electric drive motor. (MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

12 HEALTH

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

Carrots as life insurance policy

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Y

OU ask, ‘What is life?” asked Russian author and playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov in a letter to his wife, Olga Knipper. “That is the same as asking, ‘What is a carrot.’

A carrot is a carrot and we know nothing more.”

That was in the past; but not these days. For instance, the name “carrot” comes from the Greek word “karoton,” whose �irst three letters (“kar”) are used to designate anything with a horn-like shape. The beta-carotene that is found in carrots was actually named for the carrot itself!

German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach once said, “We are what we eat.” Today, as someone puts it, “The medicine of the future will no longer be remedial; it will be preventive; not based on drugs but on the best diet for health.”

There’s an old Polish saying that goes this way: “If your husband is old and weak you must have him to drink the juice from two big carrots and one �irm celery.” Irena Chalmers, writing for “The Great Food Almanac,” seemed to agree; eating a carrot a day, she said, is “like signing a life insurance policy.”

“Unlike most vegetables that carry a high source of one vitamin or another, carrots are concentrated with Vitamin A, beta carotene and �iber, which work together to solve a number of maladies.

Whether if you consume

them cooked, raw or juiced, carrots will provide your body with its bene�icial nutrients,” wrote Ed Robinson in “The Health Bene�its of Carrots.”

Carrots are perhaps best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrients.

So, it’s not surprising to �ind numerous research studies documenting the cardiovascular bene�its of carrots. Some studies have shown that the cardiovascular system needs constant protection from antioxidant damage. This is particularly true of the arteries, which are responsible for carrying highly oxygenated blood.

A recent study from the Netherlands, in which participants were followed for a period of 10 years, has given us some fascinating new information about carrots and our risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, intake of fruits and vegetables was catego-

rized by color: green, orange/yellow, red/purple, and white.

Out of these four categories, orange/yellow (and in particular, foods with deeper shades of orange and yellow) was determined to be the most protective against CVD. Within this dark orange/yellow food group, carrots were determined to be the single most risk-reducing food.

“Participants who had

the least carrot intake had the least amount of CVD risk reduction, even though they still received risk-reducing bene�its from their carrot intake,” reports the World’s Healthiest Foods. “However, participants who ate at least 25 more grams of carrots had a signi�icantly lower risk of CVD. And the groups of participants who ate 50- or 75-grams more had an even more greatly reduced risk of CVD!” In addition to the diverse mixture of carrot antioxidants, there is yet another carrot phytonutrient that is believed to help explain carrot protection against CVD. Experts called it polyacetylenes, those “unique phytonutrients made from metabolism of particular fatty acids.”

Preliminary research on

animals and in the laboratory has shown that carrot polyacetylenes have anti-in�lammatory properties and anti-aggregatory properties (that help prevent excessive clumping together of red blood cells). So in addition to the unique mix of antioxidants in carrot, polyacetylenes may play a key role in the cardiovascular protection provided by carrots.

According to research from Harvard University, people who ate more than six carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more.

Everyone knows carrots improve vision, as it provides the highest vitamin A content of all vegetables. Health Online Zine shares this information: “The retina of the eye needs vitamin A to function, lack of vitamin A causes night blindness. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a substance

which converted into vitamin A in the liver. In the retina, vitamin A is transformed into rhodopsin, a purple pigment that necessary for night vision.”

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

Some studies have found that eating carrots may help lower the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer.

Recently, researchers have isolated a compound called falcarinol in carrots that may be largely responsible for anti-cancer bene�its.

“Falcarinol is a natural pesticide found in carrots that protects roots from fungal diseases,” the World’s Healthiest Foods informs. “In daily diet, carrots are almost the only source of these compounds.

A study conducted on mice found that those who were fed with either raw carrots or falcarinol had one-third lower risk of developing colon cancer than mice that were not fed with them.”

Carrots are good for the skin. Vitamin A and antioxidants from carrots protects the skin from sun damage.

De�iciencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.

Carrots can also help clean your teeth after meals. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots stimu-

HEALTH, P10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

13

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

US DEBUT Davao boxer Moralde sees action in US December 1

D

AVAO City boxing pride John Vincent Moralde is set to make his ring debut in the United States when he faces Toka Clary Kahn on December 1 in a 10-round featherweight bout at the Strand Ballroom and Theater in Providence, Rhode Island.

The �ight will be a yardstick for where the unbeaten 23-year-old prospect is at in his career after accruing a 19-0 (10 knockouts) record over six years as a pro. The show is promoted by Evander Holy�ield’s Real Deal Promotions, which handles Clary, and will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

Moralde, who is linked to a tragic boxing death after his Australian opponent Brayden Smith died hours after losing to him, is in tough for the �irst time against Clary (23-1, 16

KOs), a southpaw who is rated number 14 by the WBA at 126 pounds and has won four straight since his lone defeat, a �irst round knockout to Moralde’s compatriot Jhon Gemino in September of 2016.

“I’m so excited because it is my debut �ight in America,” Moralde, a veteran of 300 amateur bouts and a three-time national gold medalist, said.

“So that’s why I want to prove that Filipino boxers are strong and great boxers.”

Moralde has been in Miami training with Osmiri “Moro” Fernandez in Miami since July, rounding out his style in sparring against Yoandris Salinas, Walter Castillo and Harmonito Dela Torre, his stablemate from the Sanman Gym in the Philippines.

He’s recon�igured his training methods since work-

ing with the Cuban coach, sparring less frequently in more instructional sessions. He expects to be a better �ighter than he’s shown in the past, when he’s had uneven performances, like when he barely hung on to his unbeaten record after fading late and being dropped

by Jimmy Aducal in a split decision win in April of 2016.

“We train like amateurs here. We learn more technique,” said Moralde.

“I feel good and strong now. Maybe more stamina and more tactics. Like dirty tactics,” he adds with a laugh.

Moralde’s promoter Jim Claude Manangquil is hoping a win on national TV builds demand and interest for one of his top prospects.

“This will be a big opportunity for John Vincent Moralde. This is the �ight that could

put him in a world title shot if victorious,” said Manangquil.

Moralde is just one of Manangquil’s �ighters who have �ights in the United States coming up. Junior lightweight Harmonito Dela Torre (19-0, 12 KOs) is scheduled to �ight 2012 London Olympic Silver Medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar (8-0, 8 KOs) on the November 18 PBC card in Las Vegas headlined by Julian Williams-Ishe Smith, Manangquil says, while exciting knockout puncher Reymart Gaballo (16-0, 14 KOs) will face Ernesto Guerrero (27-21, 19 KOs) in Honolulu, Hawaii in the bantamweight’s �irst 10-round assignment.

Paralympian eyes World Championship berth 500 road wins for Pop

T

P

ARALYMPIAN Josephine Medina hopes to make it to next year’s World Para Table Tennis Championships in Slovenia.

The bronze medalist in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games is among the world’s Top 10 players in the women’s Class 8 category.

Medina has a total of 160 points, which is 30 points more than the ranking factor points needed to qualify in the World Championships scheduled on Oct. 15-21, 2018.

“By next year, they will release the quali�ied players.

I’ve already met the tournament credit factor of 130 points for the Asian Region and as of November, I am No. 7 in my category,” said the 46-year-old Medina in an interview on Tuesday.

According to the world rankings as of Nov. 11, 2017, Medina has a rating of 1337.

Chinese Mao Jingdian is at No. 1 with 1566, followed

by Thu Kamkasomphou of France (1486), Aida Dahlen of Norway (1455), Juliane Wolf of Germany (1411), Zu Mingyu of the United States (1374) and Zso�ia Arloy of Hungary (1341).

Elena Litvinenko of Rus-

PH BET. The Philippines’ Josephine Medina, a bronze medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is eyeing a berth in the World Para Table Tennis Championship. sia is No. 8 with 1286, followed by Chinese players Yu Hailian (1156) and Li Guiying (1094).

Medina has garnered 80 points last year for winning the gold medal in the PTT Thailand Open and US Open Para Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This year, she has earned 80 more points from the PTT Thailand Open, held from Oct. 18-21 in Suphanburi City and the 4th Taichung Ta-

ble Tennis Open held in Chinese Taipei from July 16-19.

“I hope and pray to qualify. It’s like the Paralympics, it’s hard to qualify,” said Medina, who was af�licted with polio.

Medina is a gold medalist in the ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia last August. She is also eyeing to win the gold in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 2018 World Championships in Slovenia will be

the �irst World title tournament for individual events after the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Previous World Championships, including the 2014 edition held in China’s capital city of Beijing, have featured both team and individual events and were held every four years.

The tournament has been restructured to hold team events in odd years and individual events in even years.

(PNA)

HE hometown kid ensured that San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich would get a milestone victory in Dallas.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 32 points in his hometown and the Spurs beat the Mavericks 97-91 on Tuesday night.

Popovich became the fastest NBA coach to 500 road wins. He got there in 835 away games, 41 fewer than Pat Riley. Those two and Don Nelson are the only coaches to win 500 on the road.

Aldridge, a product of Dallas’ Seagoville High School, scored eight points during a decisive stretch of the fourth quarter. He’s averaging nearly 23 points per game this season while San Antonio has been without starters Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker. ‘’I think I’m de�initely more con�ident and I’m playing my game more this year,’’ Aldridge said. ‘’I think Pop de�initely has tweaked some things where I can be myself more out there and play more con�ident, and it’s working out for us.’’

Aldridge’s coach notices the change in the forward’s second year in San Antonio.

‘’He’s been our most consistent player,’’ Popovich said. ‘’His effort level every night has been off the charts. He’s been a leader for us, helping the younger guys and new guys understand the system.’’

Patty Mills added a season-high 19 points for the Spurs.

Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. led Dallas with a career-high 27 points, and J.J. Barea and Harrison Barnes had 16 each. The Mavericks are 2-13 for the second straight season and �ifth time overall.

Just like in a loss to Cleveland on Saturday, the Mavericks cut a double-digit second-half de�icit to one point, but couldn’t gain the lead. ‘’Every time we made a mental lapse, they got going,’’ Barnes said. ‘’We know that is what they are going to do here and capitalize every time we made a mistake.’’

After Dallas got within 62-61 early in the fourth, Mills hit a long 3 and a driving layup, then Aldridge scored eight of his team’s next 13 points to put the Spurs up 82-71 with 5:03 to play. Dallas never got closer than four points down the stretch.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

MASKED ONE. Boston guard Kyrie Irving wears a mask against Brooklyn.

He scored 25 points.

MASKED MAN Irving returns as Celtics win 13th straight K

Pantino advances in PSC-Phinma netfest S ECOND seed Arthur Craig Pantino defeated Malaysian Jiang Keong Takeshi Koey, 6-1, 6-0, late Tuesday afternoon to reach the second round of the ongoing Phinma-PSC International Juniors 1 at the Manila Polo Club indoor clay court in Makati City.

Pantino’s victory sent him up against Japanese Nowa Matsubayashi, who prevailed over Filipino Manuel Balce III, 6-3, 6-3.

Joining Pantino in the next round are compatriots Michael Francis Eala, Matthew Garcia, Justin Suarez,

and wild card Jose Amon Tria.

The �ifth-seeded Eala demolished Laotian quali�ier Phathikone Kanyaphan, 6-0, 6-0; Garcia eliminated No. 7 Chinese Zheng Sida, 7-5, 6-2; Suarez outclassed Hong Kong’s Man San Chan, 6-1, 6-0; and Tria downed Hong Kong’s Kyle Lok Yin Tan, 6-3, 6-2.

Eala will next meet Japanese Kei Manaka, who won over Filipino quali�ier Rucel Cero, 7-6 (3), 6-1, while Garcia will be up against Japanese Ryota Ishii, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Indonesian Jerall

Yasin.

Suarez will face No. 4 Indonesian Odeda Muhammad Arazza, who rallied past Chinese Xie Yu Lun, and Tria will take on Taiwanese Kung Chun Jui, who ousted No. 8 Malaysian Darrshan Suresh, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Also booking second-round berths were top seed Japanese Shunsuke Mitsui, No. 3 Japanese Taiyo Yamanaka and No. 6 Malaysian Shamirul Shahril Mohd Adam Das. Mitsui blasted Filipino wild card Marco Ayala, 6-0,

6-0, to advance against American Jericho Grollman, a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Filipino wild card Marcus del Rosario.

Yamanaka defeated Filipino quali�ier Stephen Lhuillier, 6-0, 6-1, to advance against Singaporean Justin Oeni, who clobbered Filipino Virgilio Armando Bejosano, 6-0, 6-0.

Mohd Adam Das won over Filipino Joseph Gabriel Tiamson, 6-3, 6-2, to arrange a second-round showdown with Japanese Mikihisa Matsusaki, who conquered Filipino quali�ier Loucas Julian Fernandez, 6-4, 6-2. (PNA)

Team Standings F2 Logistics 3-0 Petron 5-1 Foton 4-1 Cignal 2-3 Cocolife 2-3 Generika-Ayala 2-3 Sta. Lucia 1-3 Iriga City 1-3 Victoria Sports-UST 0-3

OWERHOUSE F2 Logistics aims for a �irmer hold of the top spot when it clashes with Generika-Ayala today in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Action erupts at 7 pm following the 4:15 pm encounter between Cocolife and Iriga City in this prestigious club league sponsored

by Mikasa, Grand Sport, Senoh, Mueller, Rebisco, Island Rose, Cloudfone and UCPB Gen. Bannered by a pair of powerful imports in Maria Jose Perez of Venezuela and Kennedy Bryan of the Unit-

ed States, the Cargo Movers remain unbeaten following Foton’s sorry loss to rival Petron in this tournament that also has Ger�lor and Gold’s Gym as technical sponsors and ESPN5 as of�icial broadcast partner.

The Blaze Spikers creamed the reigning champions, 25-21, 25-22, 12-25, 25-20, in a �ierce four-set battle that lasted for nearly two hours, before a massive holiday crowd late Tuesday.

Lindsay Stalzer and Hillary Hurley displayed another strong offensive game, �inishing with 23 and 20 points, respectively, while middle blockers Mika Reyes

and Remy Palma took care of the defense to help Petron survive a 29-point explosion of Serbian Sara Klisura.

With that, the Blaze Spikers took the second spot behind the Cargo Movers with a 5-1 win-loss card while the Tornadoes fell to third with a 4-1 mark as the tourney approaches the crucial stretch of the single round eliminations.

After missing the league’s �irst two weeks, the Cargo Movers were off to a sizzling start as they clobbered the Blaze Spikers before prevailing over Sta. Lucia Realty and Cocolife for an immaculate 3-0 card.

F2 Logistics stakes clean slate P

Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre)

4:15 pm – Cocolife vs Iriga City 7:00 pm – Generika-Ayala vs F2 Logistics

YRIE Irving really dislikes having to play in a mask.

On the other hand, he loves what comes next: Boston putting its 13game winning streak on the line against the NBA champions. ‘’It’s de�initely an incredible streak we’re on, and now comes the whole media frenzy of will the streak end, and what’s going to happen on Thursday and the Golden State Warriors coming to Boston,’’ Irving said. ‘’So I’m looking forward to all that hoopla.’’

Irving returned to the lineup and scored 25 points while wearing the mask, and the Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-102 on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten since an 0-2 start.

Marcus Morris added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum scored 19 points for the Celtics, who have the NBA’s best record.

Golden State is next at 11-3, and Boston got good preparation for the game against a persistent Brooklyn team. ‘’The way that they converted on us in transition after our mistakes tonight, you can’t have that against Golden State.

You just get blown out of the gym,’’ Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ‘’We just have to play really solid on both ends and do what we do as well as we can and see where we stand.’’

Irving missed one game with a minor facial fracture after he was hit by teammate Aron Baynes on Friday. He �id-

dled with the mask frequently, but it didn’t seem to affect his play much. He made a jumper with 3:40 left after the Nets had closed within four points and drove for another basket about 35 seconds later. ‘’Today, just �inding his way and doing what he does, making big plays for us, coming through and sealing the game,’’ said Celtics center Al Horford, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Boston then �inally put it away with Jaylen Brown’s alley-oop feed to Tatum before Irving hit two free throws to make it 106-96.

Joe Harris scored 19 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who are without leading scorer D’Angelo Russell because of a bruised left knee.

Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert added 15 points apiece.

Irving has had to play in a mask before, and he’s done it well. He scored a then career-high 41 points in a loss at New York on Dec. 15, 2012, while with Cleveland. But he described it like having foggy blinders, restricting his peripheral vision.

The Celtics started 7 of 9 from the �ield to lead 17-4, but the Nets jumped ahead in the second quarter and countered every time Boston threated to pull away until the �inal minutes. ‘’I thought guys competed,’’ Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. ‘’We just have to do it in long stretches.’’

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 163 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017