Edge Davao 5 Issue 133

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VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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For discrimination vs differently-able

Worker sues Gaisano Mall Violators face fine of from P50,00 to P100,000

By Carlo P. Mallo

Property

Sports

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HE MANAGEMENT of the Gaisano Mall has been criminally charged by a differently-able female worker of the Davao City government for violating Republic Act 7277, or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, for allegedly discriminating against her when she prevented her from doing her job as cinema house ticket checker on account of her being a deaf mute.

In an affidavit complaint filed with the Davao City Prosecution Office last August 30, Grace Sarion, a widow with two children and graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education, said Gaisano Mall cinema supervisor Jessica Canaza rejected her assignment there after Esperanza G. Parinas, city government moviehouse inspector,

brought her August 14 to Canasa as the city’s newly-appointed personnel of the City Treasurer’s Office.

Parinas reported the rejection incident to City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola, who was quoted as branding the action of Gaisano as “ disturbing, considering that management has no business limiting or refusing the city government (employee) who is going to act as movie ticket checker, not to mention also the patent disregard of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.”

In an August 16, 2012 letter to Redendo E. Martinez, president of the Association of Differently Able Persons (ADAP), Joe Choa-Shi, comptroller of DSG Sons Group, Inc., owners of Gaisano Mall, justified the act of super-

LTO laments

FWORKER, 12

AFFIDAVIT. Grace Sarion, a mute and deaf, holds her affidavit of complaint against the management of Gaisano Mall of Davao after it refused to accept her as a city government-paid movie ticket checker on the account of her disability.

City streets teeming with vehicular traffic

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HERE is an estimated 150,000 vehicles plying the city’s maze of streets and highways on an average day, a volume which the Land Transportation Office 11 deems is already the tipping point for the infrastructure.

[LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Annual increase is 5 percent Motorcycles = LTO headache Of the 150,000 vehicles in Davao City alone, 22,000 are motorcycles.

LTO 11 estimates that there are

about 350,000 vehicles throughout the Davao region.

“We should really start prepar-

ing for a heavier volume of traffic as new vehicle registrations every year increases by as much as five percent,” LTO 11 chief Gomer Dy said during the Club 888 forum at The Marco Polo Davao yesterday.

FCITY, 12

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Runners, co-workers bid ‘adieu’ to Cherryl

EDGEDAVAO

By Anthony S. Allada

A

tribute run, wearing of black ribbons and white shirts, lighting of candles, a Holy Mass celebration and mass release of white balloons into the air early morning of last Tuesday in Davao City coincided with the late Cherryl Gay Grafilo’s burial in her hometown of faraway Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Grafilo, a graduate in Physical Therapy and working as a gym instructor of Holiday Gym and Spa, was robbed and brutally stabbed to death while on her way to work at dawn of last August 30.

The nightlong downpour and chilly breeze did not prevent some 100 runners, including Grafilo’s co-workers, from joining the “Run for Cherryl” in her memory.

At the Holy Mass, Fr. Glenn Eba gave an in-

spiring homily, sang that Cherryl’s untimely passing may have been brutal but had a glorious ending.

He recalled that the young lady once shared to her colleagues days before the incident that she wanted to have a picture with her looking like an angel, which wish materialized in the form of a picture printed on a tarpaulin.

“It signifies a glorious ending for Cherryl. I am sure that she is now in heaven,” Fr, Glenn Eba said.

Kim Florentino, a fellow worker, said her friendship with Cherryl would last “even if she is no longer around.”

The run was organized by Team Davao Runners, Team Titans and Holiday Gym and Spa with the support of other groups and individuals.

[ASA]

HE SAVING graces of the consistently dismal collection performance of the Bureau of Customs under the watch of Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon appear to be the ports of Davao and Clark, the only BOC districts which achieved their collection target during the month of July.

Davao collected P563 million against its P487 million quota, while Clark got P75 million collection, exceeding its P68 million threshold.

The Port of Manila was most deficient with a P2.19 billion shortfall. It made only P4.589 billion, which is 32.3 percent off its P6.779 billion assignment.

Davao customs collector

Martiniano Bangcoy said the increase in July was actually a contrast of the district’s poor showing in June where for the first time it registered a shortfall of -9% or failing to hit the P446 million target as the collection only reached to P404 million.

“We were challenged by that poor showing because we have been consistently on top by surpassing the monthly target of collected revenues,” Bangcoy said.

This came even as Commissioner Biazon, reported to be interested in running again for senator next May, increased the collection target by 31% this year.

Bangcoy said they are faring well in this year’s

Atty. Gomer Dy, regional director of the Land Transportation Office XI, admits that it’s hard to implement the law in areas like Diwalwal because of the peace and order situation in the said area during Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo Hotel yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Standard helmets cheaper Only ports of Davao City, Clark hit collection target than paying penalty-LTO T Of all 17 BOC districts

DLPC says

FONLY, 12

Preventive maintenance servicing will take 7 hrs

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HE Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) has announced that it will conduct Preventive Maintenance Servicing (PMS) on its distribution transformers solely for the Davao City Water District’s Talomo Sump Pump 1 operations.

“The PMS will entail a seven-hour power interruption only on the facility. No other power consumers will be affected,” DLPC assistant vice president for corporate communications Ross Luga said.

The scheduled PMS is the second and final phase of PMS for this year.

“This will prevent unexpected equipment break-

down and thereby avert unforeseen and longer water service interruptions in the future,” he said.

The power interruption will take place at 9:30 PM of September 7, Friday, up to 4:30 AM of the following day, September 8, wherein demand for water is the lowest.

But Luga assured that DLPC will exert all efforts to complete the PMS as scheduled or earlier. “However, there may be instances where maintenance work may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances,” he said, for which the ?company apologizes to the affected water consumers for the inconvenience the PMS may bring.” [ASA]

By Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

I

T IS more practical for motorcycle drivers to buy the standard helmet than pay penalty fees.

This was the terse advice of Regional Director Gomer Dy of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 11 to motorcycle drivers yesterday.

Violators of the “no helmet policy” will be arrested starting in January 2013, giving motorcycle drivers and riders four months from today to acquire the prescribed and standard helmet with Philippine Standard (PS)

mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.

According Dy, a standard helmet costs only P1,500, which is cheap when compared to the penalty fees ranging from P1,500 for 1st offense, P3,000 for 2nd offense, P5,000 for 3rd offense and P10,000 for 4th offense plus revocation of license.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has four months from September to pull out from the market substandard hel-

mets, Go said.

It is the DTI which determines the authenticity of the ICC sticker and the quality of the helmet. Go also added that their law enforcers also know how to determine authenticity of stickers and good quality helmets.

An average of 150 helmets a day is being checked by the DTI and by the end of the year they can only accommodate about 15,000 to 18,000 motorcycle owners.

This figure is less than the

50 percent of the number of motorcycles in the Davao region numbering about 66,000.

Violators of the “no helmet policy” numbered 250 to 300 a day at the start of implementation, but these days the number is much lesser due to better awareness of the law, according to Go. The Motorcycle Helmet Act RA 10054 is a National Law and there is no place in the country exempted from the law.

of the Ateneo de Davao University last September 1 and 2.

In the final round, XU-A faced off against teams Mindanao State University-Marawi C and two from the Ateneo de Davao University, teams D and H. XU-A served as

Opening Opposition in the final round on the proposition: “This house believes that the state should fund the search for technology that would allow their citizens to reset their memories.”

After due deliberation, the board of adjudicators comprising of Shiveena

Parmanand, Adrian Uro and Candice Chung rendered in their decision unanimously in favor of team XU-A. Other awardees at the event were Emiko Escovilla for Best Speaker and Akeem Fabila for Best Adjudicator.

Bautista said the AFP Southern Luzon Command covering the Bicol peninsula and the Cebu-based AFP Central Command still have no commanders and are led by staff officers on temporary status.

He added the 5th Infantry Division based

in Isabela, Cagayan and the 4th Infantry Division based in Camp Evangelista are also being led by staff officers on temporary capacity.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, chief of the Malaybalay City-based 403rd Infantry Brigade, assumed command of the

4th Infantry Division after its commanding general, Major Gen. Victor Felix, steps down from military service today after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 56.

“We have already presented the list of officers who are qualified to as-

XU captures 26th MPDC crown

By Edward C. Lactaoen

X

AVIER University’s debating team A (XU-A), comprised of Christian Aries Paye and Ma. Carmela Cua, bagged the championship of the recently concluded 26th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship.

The two day event was held at the Jacinto campus

AFP areas, divisions sans commanders

P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has yet to designate the commanding officers of two major Armed Forces of the Philippines area commands and two Army divisions based in Luzon and Mindanao, Philippine Army chief Emmanuel Bautista said Tuesday.

FAFP, 12

THE BIG NEWS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 133 •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 12 gun-related incidents during gun ban in Davao

D

ESPITE imposing a gun ban in August as a security measure for the Kadayawan festival, the city had recorded 12 gun-related incidents in contrast to only two incidents in the same period last year, Mayor Sara Duterte said Monday.

In a press briefing, Duterte said the police office has to explain the increase when the security forces including the military’s Task Force Davao were augmented.

“They need to re-assess and come up with an explanation,” she added.

She said that except for March and May the previous months this year had higher number of gun-related incidents compared to the same months last year. The month of April this year and in 2011 had the same number of incidents, she added.

Nine incidents were recorded in April 2011 and April 2012. For July, there were eight incidents this year and five last year.

Duterte said she expected the decrease in March because there was a gun ban, but asked why there was an increase in August when there was a gun ban too.

“Tinuod na pero kung wala ta mag-gun ban basig mas taas pa ana ang number of cases using firearms (That’s true. But if we did not impose gun ban, we might have had a higher number of cas-

es using firearms.),” city police chief Ronald dela Rosa, reacting to the mayor’s statement, said Monday in a text message.

Police said the 12 incidents recorded last month included murder but only three cases have been filed so far as the rest of the incidents have no suspects yet.

All permits to carry firearms outside of one’s residence were suspended from August 1 to 31, as approved by the Philippine National Police upon the request of the city peace and order council.

Police set up checkpoints and conducted operations such as Oplan Sita, Oplan Bakal and mobile and beat patrols related to the gun ban, a report said.

Recently, residents in Bariquit Compound, Bugac, Ma-a complained that some security guards of Le Jardin de Villa Abrille who were carrying firearms during a fencing operation in the area.

Asked for comment, Duterte said if the security guards were in uniform and on-duty, they may carry firearms despite the gun ban.

Chief inspector Caezar Cabuhat, spokesperson of the city police office, said earlier in a report that only soldiers, police personnel and other law enforcers on duty and in uniform were exempted from the gun ban. (LoRiE ANN CASCARo/MiNDANEwS)

gESTuRINg. P/S Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, Davao City Police Office director (gesturing in the foreground), and Lt. Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 69th Infantry Battalion, try to find the spot where the suspect threw

3

the hand grenade that left 48 people wounded at Purok 4 Brgy. Fatima, Paquibato District, Davao City. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

PHL global competitiveness up 10 notches to 65th P

HILIPPINES’ global competitiveness climbed 10 notches to 65th this year among 144 countries, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

In its Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013, WEF said the Philippines rankings improved from 75th last year and advanced 22 places since reaching its lowest mark in 2009.

The WEF report said the Philippines is one of the countries showing the most improvement in this year’s edition.

The Philippines makes important strides this year in improving competitiveness—albeit often from a very low base- especially with respect to its public institutions (94th, up 23 places).

Trust in politicians has

made considerable progress (95th, up 33), although significant room for improvement remains. The perception is that corruption (108th, up 11) and red tape (108, up 18) are finally being addressed decisively, even though they remain pervasive.

The macroeconomic environment also exhibits marked improvement (36th, up 18) and represents one of the strongest aspects of the Philippines’ performance, along with the market size pillar (35th).

In addition, the financial sector has become more efficient and increasingly supportive of business activity (58th, up 13).

Despite these very positive trends, many weaknesses remain to be addressed.

The country’s infrastructure is still in a dire state,

particularly with respect to sea (120th) and air transport (112th), with little or no progress achieved to date.

Furthermore, various market inefficiencies and rigidities continue, most notably in the labor market (103rd).

Despite the improvement in rankings, the Philippines is still behind Indonesia at 50th , Thailand 38th and Malaysia, 25th. The country is ahead of Vietnam at 75th place.

The most globally competitive country is Switzerland, followed by Singapore, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan.

“Persisting divides in competitiveness across regions and within regions, particularly in Europe, are at the origin of the turbulence

we are experiencing today, and this is jeopardizing our future prosperity.” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

“We urge governments to act decisively by adopting long-term measures to enhance competitiveness and return the world to a sustainable growth path,” Schwab added.

Xavier Sala-i-Martin, Professor of Economics, Columbia University, USA, said: “The Global Competitiveness Index provides a window on the long-term trends that are shaping the competitiveness of the world’s economies. In this light, we believe it offers useful insight into the key areas where countries must act if they are to optimize the productivity that will determine their economic future.”

unruly soldiers at an army Peace and Development Team detachment in Barangay Fatima.

The grenades were originally lobbed at the detachment but bounced off from the outpost’s protective netting unto to a covered court filled with people who were watching a circus performance as part of the village fiesta.

Lt. Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, battalion commander of the 69th Infantry Battalion denied the charges that the soldiers were drunk and were already unruly, this was verified

by several witnesses from barangay Fatima which included Roberto Punay, a barangay Kagawad.

“I was there in the detachment along with the barangay tanods which was overlooking the court, there were no drunk soldiers.”

Punay said.

“What if they saw you drinking, would it be a right reason to throw a grenade at you.” Suerte asked members of the media during a press conference held on September 4 at the Philippine Information Agency regional office in Davao City.

Suerte also brushed off insinuations that the presence of the army detachment in a populated village as the reason for the incident, saying that the Peace and Development Outreach Program entails soldiers of Peace and Development Teams to mingle with the barangay to learn about their situations and needs that could be addressed by the government.

“It is the throwing of the grenade which caused the destruction, not the presence of the detachment.”

Suerte added. [PiA11/RG ALAMA]

[PNA]

Army incredulous over grenade attack motive

“J

HEALTH CARE PROgRAM. Dr. Antonio Solar Jr. and Dr. Flora Mae Sumagat examine their young patients in Brgy. SAn Antonio, Agdao District during the Medical Mission of 2nd district Congresswoman Mylene Garcia while the staff of lady solon sort out medicines that were distributed free to 129 residents of the barangay.

UST because the person is drunk, doesn’t mean you had to throw a grenade at him.” an incredulous Colonel Lysander Suerte of the Army’s 1003rd Brigade said of the recent motives behind the grenade attack in Barangay Fatima in Davao City’s Paquibato district last Saturday evening which left 47 civilians injured.

Suerte was reacting to reports of a text message sent by suspected New People’s Army members to several mediamen that the motive of the attack was the presence of drunken and

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO

Infection risk posed by cats revealed E

XPERTS say more research is needed into a disease spread by cats after figures show an estimated 350,000 people a year in the UK become infected with toxoplasmosis.

Although only a minority of people - between one and two in every 10 - has symptoms, advisers say extra measures to control the disease may be needed.

The disease is spread by direct contact with cats or eating contaminated food.

The Food Standards Agency has released an official report.

Cat owners are assured that the risks can be managed with good basic hygiene and common sense.

British Veterinary Association past president and veterinary surgeon Harvey Locke said: “The biggest threat is to pregnant women and those who are immuno-compromised, which we have known for some time. It is useful to reiterate that they should take extra care but there is no need for people to get rid of their pet cats or choose not to have cats as pets.”

The report says there is a

As additional NGP partners

lack of data on the condition, making it difficult to estimate the real burden of the disease.

And it says the current consumer advice should be reviewed.

FSA chief scientist Andrew Wadge said: “This thorough and detailed report points out key gaps in our knowledge about this parasite and suggests areas where more research is needed which will help us in estimating how much infection is due to food and which foods might be the highest risk.

“The report also suggests we look again at our advice to vulnerable groups and ensure that it reflects current scientific knowledge.”

In about 80% of cases, a person who is infected will not be aware and will have no symptoms.

Others will develop mild flulike symptoms, but will not need treatment.

But toxoplasmosis - the disease in humans - can cause serious complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV and cancer.

And in pregnant women it can result in the baby be-

Gov’t eyes agrarian reform communities

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UTHORITIES target piloting soon a project mobilizing agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in seedling production and planting to help address climate change and other concerns under the 2011-2016 National Greening Program (NGP).

The project is among the proposed climate change undertakings the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) identified for implementation with assistance from its National Convergence Initiative (NCI) partners which are the environment and agriculture departments.

“The plan is for our target ARCs to grow fuelwood species for fuel and high-value commercial crops for increased livelihood,” said DAR Executive Assistant III Bench Valerio, contact person for the project.

DAR’s growing of fuelwood will help reduce the need to cut down other trees for fuel.

Experts earlier highlighted the urgency for conserving trees, noting these help absorb carbon emissions which are among greenhouse gases driving global warming that causes climate change.

Planting high-value crops will help generate additional livelihood for alleviating poverty in the countryside, they said.

Climate change, poverty, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are concerns NGP aims to address.

The project’s draft NIC agreement provides that the Cordillera Administrative Region as well as Regions I to XIII will have a pilot ARC covering 50 hectares of land.

Those 15 pilot ARCs will be transformed into plantations of fuelwood and high-value crops, the draft noted.

“Our plan is to establish one plant nursery per region,” DAR special programs chief and climate change champion Under-

ing born blind or with brain damage. Three babies in every 100,000 are born with the condition in the UK. Toxoplasmosis is a notifiable disease in Scotland but is neither a notifiable nor reportable disease in the rest of the UK. Gloves advice The culprit parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, can get into the food chain via cats faeces causing contamination of soil, water and plants.

Humans may catch the in-

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

fection from eating undercooked meat from animals harbouring toxoplasma or from contact with cat litter or contaminated soil.

Once infected, a person is immune from further infection for life.

The best way to avoid infection is to make sure you wear gloves when gardening or changing your cat’s litter tray, wash fruit and vegetables before eating and cook meat thoroughly - although it is possible to still enjoy it rare, says the Food

Climate change fund to raise bar on governance for poor

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HE creation of a climate change fund has further raised the quality of pro-poor governance of the Aquino Administration, particularly in the rural areas where economic activities are natural resources-based and are climate sensitive.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje stressed this Tuesday in view of the passage of Republic Act (RA) 10174, also known as People’s Survival Fund (PSF), establishing a climate change fund with an initial P1 billion per year.

“At a critical moment in the fight against climate change, the national

leadership has stepped up its response to the imperatives of climate change. President Aquino has practically thrown a lifeline to communities that will enable them to protect the productivity of their areas’ ecosystems in which their livelihoods are rooted in,” Paje said.

Calling it “Smart Fund,” the environment chief said the fund can be tapped directly by local government units and communities to support their initiatives to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risks. The PSF centralizes funds from both the government and the private sector and directs them to where need is paramount.

The fund will be handled by a board to be chaired by the Secretary of the Finance, with the vice-chair of the Climate Change Commission as the board’s vice-chair.

Other members of board will comprise of representatives from the departments of Interior and Local Government, and Budget and Management, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Commission on Women, and various financial institutions, business sector and non-governmental organizations.

Meanwhile, apart from being part of the advisory board for the Climate Change Commission, Paje said that under RA

10174, the DENR is vested with the responsibility of “oversee(ing) the establishment and maintenance of a climate change information management system and network, including on climate change risks, activities and investments, in collaboration with other concerned national government agencies, institutions and local government units.

RA 10174 was signed into law by President Aquino on Aug. 16, 2012 to provide long-term finance streams to enable the government effectively address the problems of climate change. It also amended RA 9729, otherwise known as the “Climate Change Act of 2009”.

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 133 •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Stat Watch

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities

USD 4,931 million May 2012 USD 4,770 million Apr 2012 USD -135 million Apr 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 4,580,674 million Apr 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

4.1 % May 2012 P131,403 million May 2012 P 5,075 billion Apr 2012

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt 11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74 46.31 46.03

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PHL economy resilient, amid slow growth of global economy T

HE country’s economy remains resilient amidst the unpredictable global economic environment, according to Monetary Board member Armando L. Suratos.

“Our country continues to thread the path towards sustainable economic progress amidst uncertain and slow growing global economy,” he underscored in his keynote address during the 2012 awards ceremony and appreciation tendered for stakeholders of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

He pointed out that the 6.3-percent growth performance in the first quarter of the year and the 5.9 percent in the succeeding quarter proved that the “sound macroeconomic fundamentals are well positioned to propel us to a higher

growth path”.

Higher economic growth also enabled the country to respond to the “increasing challenges in the external environment”, he added.

Suratos cited the improved economic prospects and robust remittance from overseas Filipinos continue to fuel household consumption and serve as growth driver of economy from the demand side.

He also credited this to the impressive increase in investment pledges and the expected increase in government spending as a result of the fast tracking of the public-private partnership (PPP) program.

On the supply side, Suratos said the increasing need for real properties of the services sector and robust business activities continue to

entice financial intermediation.

He said the expected recovery of the agriculture sector from natural disaster will contribute to economic growth.

“This hard-earned economic gain we’d taken together with the benign inflation outlook, stable banking system, sustained fiscal reforms and credit rating upgrades help bolster investor confidence in the Philippines and establish our path toward higher, sustained and durable economic growth,” he stressed.

He, however, cautioned that there is no room for complacency as there are “bigger uncertainties and bigger challenges” ahead.

Suratos said external factors such as “lingering sovereign debt crisis in Europe, slow recovery of

the United States economy and risk of a slowdown in China had dampen market confidence and heightened aversion globally.”

“As world’s largest economies, their adverse conditions led to sluggish global demand and stunted global economic growth,” he said.

In line with this, Suratos emphasized that need for “steadfast and stronger partnerships” as key to the farther improvement of the economy and to translate growth not just as broad-based but “sustainable and more inclusive.”

“By working as one and forging a stronger partnership, we can be assured that our growth will be sustainable and inclusive. Growth that translates into a much better life for all Filipinos,” he said. [PNA]

Ledesma said, pointing out there is moderate cost in doing business while meeting problems is increasing financial costs in other countries with China registering the highest with 64.1 percent, the Philippines at 46.7 percent.

There is also the problem of shortage of land/offices, rising land prices/rental,and the problem in skyrocketing payroll costs, he said.

He said investors outside of the Philippines are also facing difficulty in recruiting general staff, low rate of worker’s employment retention, problems of worker’s competency and difficulty of quality control (for manufacturing).

As far as the IT Programs are concerned, he said that among the registerable IT activities include

among others, software development and applications in business, e-commerce, education, media, entertainment, multi-media graphics animation, printing and other services, engineering, architectural and other design services, call center, data encoding, transcribing and other IT related services.

San Pascual said that in the country, there are 221 proclaimed IT Parks and Buildings where 121 are in Metro Manila while those outside of Metro Manila, 28 are in Luzon, 60 Visayas and 12 in Mindanao.

In Mindanao, six are found in Cagayan de Oro at Georgetown Cybermall, Limketkai IT Center, Ororama Megacenter Information Technology Center, Pueblo de Oro IT Park, Robinsons Cagayan de Oro and SMCO

IT Center; Davao City has 5 namely Damosa IT Park, Filandia IT Center, Luisa Avenue Square IT Building, NCCC IT Center, Robinsons Cybergate Davao; and one is located in South Cotabato, the Mabuhay IT Park.

He said investing in PEZA ecozones gets both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. It is a one-stop shop and a non-stop shop and one gets a red carpet treatment and no red tape in PEZA which is a certified ISO 9001:2008 for all its processes, at all levels, in all sites, nationwide.

PEZA was cited for its best practices among all economic zones worldwide in a study of Gohan Akinci Foreign Investment Advisory Services (FIAS) International Finance Corporation of World Bank (iFC-wB).[PNA]

PEZA declares 6 eco zones in Davao City

S

IX economic zones have been declared in Davao City by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) officials on Tuesday said.

This was revealed by PEZA head for promotions Elmer San Pascual, who was guest speaker of the 8th General Membership Meeting of Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII)themed,”The Path to Davao PEZA: Programs and Opportunities”.

However, San Pascual stressed that PEZA cannot create eco-zones, it only creates the environment.

San Pascual identified the sites as the Sutherland Global Services Philippines, Inc., an information technology (IT) enterprise with two sites; Synnex-Concentrix Corporation, also an IT enterprise; Opiniology Philippines, Inc., another IT enterpris;, VXI Global Holdings B.V. Philippines, IT enterprise; Sumifru (Phils) Corporation, an agro-development enterprise; and Legaspi Oil Company, Inc., agro-industrial development enterprise (transferee).

He said that with the 268 ecozones in the country, only three are PEZA owned and these were inherited from the former EPZA (Export Processing Zone Authority).

Of these ecozones, he said that in 2011 some 840,000 direct employment were generated and some four million Filipinos were employed directly or indirectly in these ecozones.

He also cited the entry of the Texas investments which chose the Philippines over China because they learned and knew that Filipino workers are better than Chinese.

Of the ecozones in the Philippines, he said 65 are in manufacturing, 172 IT Parks, 13 Tourism Ecozones, two Medical Tourism Parks and 16 Agro-Industrial Parks.

Based on the study of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Manila, Philippines has competitive advantage on business environment as compared to other Asian countries,

READY-TO-WEAR. Ladies scan an array of ready-to-wear (RTW) clothes displayed by a road side store yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.] as of august 2010

Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Silk Air Mon/Wed/Sat Cebu Pacific Thu Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat

5J961 / 5J962 Z2390 / Z2390 5J593 / 5J348 PR809 / PR810 PR819 / PR820 5J394 / 5J393 5J599 / 5J594 5J347 / 5J596 5J963 / 5J964 PR811 / PR812 5J595 / 5J966 MI588 / MI588 5J965 / 5J968 5J965 / 5J968

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 18:55 12:55 13:35

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Davao-Cebu-Singapore Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

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

Silk Air Thu/Sun Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippines Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun Cebu Pacific Daily Airphil Express Daily Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday Philippine Airlines Sunday

MI566 / MI566 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:50 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

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

6 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Del Rosario inks MOA for Pabahay sa Lumad

D

AVAO del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario led the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the housing project for members of the Langilan-Manobo tribe in Sitio Paiton, Dagohoy, Talaingod, this province.

The governor said the Pabahay sa Lumad project will provide decent shelter to 102 Lumad families affected by the implementation of the Lake Paiton development plan.

The project will be funded by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) in the amount of P10 million, and will be implemented by the Housing Assistance Program for Indigenous Peoples (HAPIP) of the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Del Rosario said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is also the HUDCC Chairman, is tentatively set to turn-over the check on September 14, 2012 at the project site.

The governor assured the culture and tradition of the Langilan tribe shall be respected in the implementation of the project, which, according to him, is a big boost to his thrust of establishing a working housing program for the poor, pursuant to his development agenda P.E.O.P.L.E. Joining the governor during the MOA signing ceremony at the Capitol were Mayor Basilio Libayao and Datu Oscar Bog-ot, who donated the 5-hectare land from the ancestral domain for the country’s pilot tribal housing project.

Mt. Hamiguitan sanctuary eyes UNESCO recognition

D

AVAO Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon is optimistic that the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary will get recognized by UNESCO as among the world heritage sites.

She told the media that a team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is due to arrive in October this year to do a ground validation at Mt. Hamiguitan which has been declared by the national government as a protected area by virtue of Republic Act 9303 issued on July 30, 2004.

Malanyaon revealed that the provincial government submitted to UNESCO in 2008 its application for world heritage recognition of Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary which hosts a pygmy forest of century-old trees growing at 3 feet to five feet tall.

Malanyaon looked at the latest interest of UNESCO to approve its application as a prospect of stepping up protection of the wildlife sanctuary in the Mt. Hamiguitan

Ranges which stretches along the borders of Mati City and the municipalities of Governor Generoso and San Isidro.

The three local government units (LGUs) have bonded themselves together to organize a management and development council to oversee the protection and preservation of Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rising at 5,345 feet above sea level, the Mt. Hamiguitan Range serves as the home of the 600-hectare pygmy forest which treasures more than 800 species of flora and provides sanctuary to various fauna among which is the Philippine Eagle.

Mt. Hamiguitan also cradles the “Tinagong Dagat” (Hidden Sea) which is a lake observed with its unusual low tide and high tide periods.

“We have more than what other world heritage sites have,” Malanyaon said referring to various species of plants, insects, wild flowers and animals aside from the wide stretch of bonsai field. [PiA-11/JEANEViVE DuRoN-ABANGAN]

PARTNERSHIP. Strengthening Public Private Partnership in the field of Education, Compostela Valley and Alcantara and Sons sealed ink during MOA Signing last September 3 in Compostela Valley Transforming Education Today (Comet), a reading and English

EDGEDAVAO

SHARINg. Indonesian Consul General Eko Hartono, left, listens as Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario shared his development thrusts for the province during the

consul’s visit at the Office of the Governor in Tagum City. [NoEL BAGuio/DAVNoR Pio]

AGUINDANAO Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu has dislodged Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario as Mindanao’s richest governor while Surigao City mayor Ernesto Matugas remains the richest Mindanao city mayor, based on their 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Only 12 of Mindanao’s 27 governors and 18 of Mindanao’s 33 city mayors have filed their SALNs with the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao as of August 31 and of this number, Mangudadatu, governor of one of the poorest provinces in the country, declared the highest net worth for 2011 at P390.61 million, 55% higher than his 2010 net worth of P211.77M. Mangudadatu declared no liabilities.

Del Rosario, who held the title of richest Mindanao governor for a dec-

for submission to the Ombudsman’s office on or before May 31.

Mangudadatu and Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., who posted a net worth of P32.75M, are the only governors in the five-province ARMM who filed a SALN for 2011, the Ombudsman’s records show.

OIC ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, who assumed post on December 22, 2011, filed his SALN as of yearend 2011, declaring a net worth of P4.34 million.

During a break in the GPH-MILF peace talks in Kuala Lumpur in May this year, when the five governors were present, the SALNs were among the issues discussed during a break. This was when the verdict on then Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona was about to be handed down.

MindaNews asked for their SALNs and when Mangudadatu was men-

tioned as being the second richest Mindanao governor as of yearend 2010, Mangudatu replied, “mas mayaman yan sa akin” (he’s richer), pointing to Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan. The Ombudsman’s office has no record of the SALN 2010 and 2011 of Tan and three other governors in Mindanao – Basilan’s Jum Akbar, Tawi-tawi’s Sadikul Sahali and North Cotabato’s Emmylou Talino-Mendoza.

It also has no record of the 2011 and 2010 SALNs of city mayors Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro and Jose Silvosa of Panabo.

MindaNews ranked the governors and mayors’ net worth (see Tables 1 and 2), based on the certified true copies of the 2011 SALN that MindaNews obtained from the Ombudsmans’ office.

Another column was added for comparison with their declared net worth in their 2010 SALN. [CARo-

agencies within Sarangani and General Santos.

With the theme, “Kawani, Ikaw ay Isang Lingkod Bayan,” Governor Migs Dominguez, in a message read by provincial administrator Vicente Camacho, said that it suggests “a manifestation that every government employee should be a role model of integrity and good service and thus, be a hero to the community.”

He pointed out that “integrity and unity,” is vital in guiding public servants

in appreciating the vision and mission “towards the attainment of every participation, accountability and transparency in government service.”

“Our vision for the Philippine Civil Service,” he said, “is to be “Asia’s leading center of excellence for strategic human resource, and organizational development and our mission is to make every employee a servant model.”[BEV-

Mangudadatu is Mindanao’s richest gov; Matugas is richest city mayor M

efficiency program of the province. Part of the Advocacy is the distribution of work books to the recipient school.

With Governor Uy is Nabunturan Mayor Romeo B. Clarin, NCIP Representative, DepED Assistant SDS Dee Diel Silva and Alcantara and Sons representative Paul Dominguez.

ade, declared a net worth of P211.77M for 2011, down from the 2010 net worth of P255.51M. Dinagat Mayor Glenda Ecleo is still third richest with P166.10M as of yearend 2011, down from P166.40M as of yearend 2010.

Matugas posted a net worth of P370.69M in 2011, down from P414.69M in 2010. But even with the drop in net worth, he remains the richest among the city mayors who filed their SALNs. Mayor Michelle Rabat of Mati, Davao Oriental followed Matugas with a declared net worth of P74.92M while Tangub mayor Philip Tan posted a net worth of P24.90M. The Ombudsman’s certification as of August 31, 2012 showed only 12 of 27 Mindanao governors (26 provincial governors and one regional governor) and 18 of 33 city mayors have filed their 2011 SALN, which was due for filing on April 30 this year, and due

LyN o. ARGuiLLAS/MiNDANEwS]

Sarangani, Gensan begin Civil Service month celebration

T

HOUSANDS of Sarangani and General Santos City public servants jointly opened the month-long 112th Philippine Civil Service anniversary celebration last September 3.

A parade of contingents from local and national government agencies around the Capitol compound was followed by an opening program. It signaled the start of the inter-agency sportfest between local and city government units and other line

ERLy C. PAoyoN/SARANGANi iNFoRMATioN oFFiCE]

PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 133 •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

7

Damosa Fairlane hosts exclusive presentation I

T will be an evening of cocktails and exclusive presentation at Microtel Hotels and Resorts in Lanang as Damosa Fairlane welcomes select partner tenants and suppliers of Damosa Land, Inc., the developer of this newest urban

residential community.

These prospective homeowners will get the chance to know more about Damosa Fairlane’s meticulously-crafted house

and lot packages as well as resort-chic clubhouse amenities and modern facilities that all create a rejuvenating ambience in a nurturing community.

“As our way of thanking our partner tenants and suppliers, we

A Lincoln house.

The perspective of the dining and kitchen area of a Lincoln model unit.

The master’s bedroom of a Lincoln model unit.

are welcoming them to a priority presentation where they can invest in a home that offers them fresh beginnings and wholesome community environment. And being in a city center address makes you get closer to your daily priorities,” said Ed Villaver, Vice President for Damosa Land, Inc. Aside from the special pricing and terms that are made available as of the moment, perks and privileges also await clients who will reserve or buy a unit at the end of the program.

This comes at the helm of the full blast land development happening at the 7-hectare property of Damosa Fairlane, 5-minutes away from DAMOSA District via Mamay Road: an ideal convergence spot of business and leisure.

The construction of the entrance complex and the installation of the sewage treatment facility have gone full speed. Moving inward, the road tracing of the main and minor roads as well as the underground drainage works are all going smooth as well.

Depending on the needs of the family, Damosa Fairlane has three house models to choose from, with approximately 100-150 sqm of living area. All models are complete with 3 bedrooms plus a maid’s quarter, a minimum of 3 bathrooms, lanai, garage, and provided with perimeter fence, and styled by renowned designers to give residents that sophisticated and tasteful house interior.

Limited to 200 units only, Damosa Fairlane is an exclusive subdivision that provides generous easements to each house for that much needed airy ambience and comfort for the family.

To complement this, Damosa Land, Inc. employed the construction of centralized utility banks to minimize the intervention of utility wires. Thus, telephone, electricity and cable lines are relayed via underground conduits to the bases, eliminating unsightly wires that are common in most subdivisions.

Damosa Fairlane is indeed gearing up for the eventual viewing of the model block that is complete with house units and interior by the end of this year.

Damosa Fairlane is part of a series of residential projects of Damosa Land, Inc. in Davao City and soon in Davao del Norte that are all designed to provide today’s discerning family a home in a nurturing community.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

The trust of a rogue ANALYSIS

By Mike Dolan

G

EDITORIALS

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The Shrine Hills, again

HE Matina Shrine Hills hogged the headlines again yesterday when the ongoing efforts to amend the decade-old Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance was discussed by Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at the SM Annex.

Cabling, chairman of the council committee on housing and urban development, bared that land use at the famous Hills will be the most contentious issue in the deliberations on the proposed changes to the two voluminous documents.

The importance of the twin documents cannot be gainsaid, especially at a time when the city is experiencing rapid development.

It is amazing, but true, that nowadays landowners are no longer free to do whatever they want with the land they own without considering the effects of such land use not only on their immediate neighbors but the entire populace of the city as well.

Such is the precarious situation obtaining in the Matina Shrine Hills. It is sad for the

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landowners, but it is present-day reality that they have to listen to public opinion before they decide what to do with their land, no matter how profitable their planned projects may be.

The picture right now is that most property owners in the area want to develop their property into high-end subdivisions and related highly profitable ventures. On the other hand, environmentalists oppose the projects, arguing that such projects could endanger the lives and property of thousands of people downhill.

Indeed, it will be the most difficult task of the city officialdom –first, the lawmaking body headed by Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and then, the executive branch led by Mayor Sara D. Carpio, to weigh the options and finally decide what policy direction to take on Matina Shrine Hills.

It is possible, too, that some parties who’ll feel aggrieved by any decision of the city council and the city mayor, may decide to take their grievance to court as a last resort. Then what?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

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KENNETH IRVING K. ONG LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Creative Solutions JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

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( 1st of two parts)

ERMANy’S paradoxical stance towards financial markets - lauding them for imposing economic discipline, lambasting them for short-termism and irrationality - has been advanced again in series of recent speeches.

Perhaps preparing the public for a renewed effort to realign skewed euro debt yields - as the European Central Bank is expected to outline this week - or maybe just underlining the need for more financial regulation and supervision, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel was scathing about markets this week.

She insisted Germany’s “guiding principle” remained that of a social market economy, where markets are not allowed to “run wild” and must serve the people rather than the other way around.

“When we look at international markets over the last five years, then we see that they haven’t served people, rather they enriched a few, and many people around the world have paid the price for this,” she told Bavarian festival goers on Monday.

“The main task for politics today is to bring the spirit of the social market economy into the financial markets so that international financial crises don’t repeatedly ruin what people have built up with their own hands and hard work.”

Noble sentiments for sure and hardly controversial. Five years of seemingly endless credit turmoil, bank collapses and market herding have hobbled the world economy and clearly expose the folly of free market excesses.

But the puzzling bit of the German message is that its skepticism about market efficiency comes in tandem with an insistence that other euro zone countries - and presumably businesses and households - should secure the confidence of those same markets it so deeply mistrusts.

In an interview with the Irish Times newspaper last month, for example, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble stressed repeatedly that bail-out countries such as Ireland or Greeceneeded to stick with austerity and reforms to rebuild the trust of markets rather than seeking more concessions from euro partners. yet, in the same breath, he implied that investors and creditors in the United States or Asia probably didn’t understand the nuances of reasonable policymaking.

“We cannot do anything that generates new uncertainty on the financial markets and lose trust which Ireland is just at the point of winning back,” he said, referring to Irish requests for direct European support for its banks - such as Spain received - that would reduce the heavy debt burden on the government.

“We will have to avoid generating a headline like ‘Aid program for Ireland topped up’ because then investors in California or Shanghai might not understand that this top-up is a reward for Ireland.”

RANDOM ARBITERS Now, doubting the sophistication or foresight of investors is consistent at least with Germany’s long-held market skepticism.

But the parallel insistence that these random players should be viewed as arbiters of good policy then seems odd.

“The Germans have had this long, weird interplay with the markets - they don’t like to be led by them, but at the same time my suspicion is they often try to use the markets to execute goals they want. I think that’s behind this complex situation still unveiling in Europe,” said Jim O’Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

EDGEDAVAO

T

Italy’s unelected democrat

HE great Italian caricaturist Altan had a cartoon on the front of La Repubblica last week, in which an Italian is sinking below the waves, shouting: “I’m drowning!” On the beach, a fat man whose swimsuit sports the German national colors, says: “Zat is how you learn, zpendthrift!”

This in a left-of-center daily that is supportive of the crisis plan of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and has set its face against anti-German populism. The press of the right has been less restrained: A recent front-page photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed her with a hand upraised, perhaps to wave -- but vaguely reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s minimalist Nazi salute, with the headline “Fourth Reich.” The article claimed that two world wars and millions of corpses were “not enough to quiet German egomania”. This in Il Giornale, a Milan daily owned by the Berlusconi family.

I smiled at the Altan cartoon on an Italian beach, where I was last week, looking about for signs of desperation. They were not dramatic, but observable. Simply, fewer people came. The soaring cost of petrol, which went over the 2-euro mark for a liter, was generally held to be the main culprit for the reduction in the annual hunt for the sun. It was little problem to hire a beach umbrella, to book a table for dinner, even to park. While most summers the political news is absent or silly, this year the Italian papers chronicled, daily, the fever chart of the Italian and European economy, and it was febrile indeed -- now a spurt of optimism, now a stab of doom.

B

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

cOMMeNtArY

By John lloyD

( 1st of two parts) The technocratic government led by Mario Monti, distinguished economist and former European commissioner, has seen little of the beach. The elected politicians, free from the usual business of government or opposition, were active, too: The political scene is as boiling hot as the climate. The left remains fractured and struggles for alliances and unity. The new populists, led by the comedian Beppe Grillo’s Five Stars movement, remain attractive to many because of Grillo’s attacks on a partly corrupt political class. yet he calls for an end to parliamentary politics, having run a blog column with a picture of Benito Mussolini, the prewar dictator, that evoked with approval his description of parliament (which he dissolved) as “deaf and gray.”

In the center, a loose coalition of Christian Democrats and secular liberals invoke the spirit and memory of Alcide de Gasperi, Italy’s long-serving postwar premier -- who presided over the rapid recovery of the economy in the fifties and positioned Italy as a founding member of what became the European Union. It seeks to tempt Monti into heading the Christian Democrats and running for elected office after his temporary mandate ends next April.

On the right, the immortal Silvio Berlusconi again dominates attention. The

near-universal assumption, one that I shared, that his resignation last November, amid jeers and a collapse in the support for his Forza Italia party, meant his political end underestimated his will for power. Or, say the many cynics, it didn’t take into account his fear that if he does not retain some measure of political power he will finally enter the maw of the justice system, which has tried to nail him for a quarter of a century. He has been addressing the still-faithful around the country, secure (he says) in the love of the people and in his country’s need of him. He is on trial in Milan for encouraging underage prostitution, and this past weekend a German model, Sabina Began, told the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano that he had impregnated her, and that she lost the child in a miscarriage (he denies it).

But this is still a country for old men, and at 75, this old man has the money and the media and evidently the stomach for another fight.

For the moment, though, Italy is Monti’s charge and care, and though he cuts and cuts, warns of hardships to come, and has no charisma in any conventional sense, he remains popular among an electorate desperate for him to succeed. And not just with the people: Both Moody’s and Fitch rating agencies lauded him last week, the latter saying he was “credible” and that if and when he leaves the scene, greater risks return. No hint of a scandal has attended him, and nothing serious of the kind in his cabinet, composed mainly of high-end academics. The political circus around him can look tawdry.

Making a sacred tour in the ‘happiness place’

HUTAN, the only country in the world that acknowledges the ‘happiness of its citizens’ as a benchmark for progress is a paradise for visiting tourists who admire its natural and placid surroundings.

The kingdom of Bhutan, which is landlocked by its neighbours India and China, is also home to numerous worship places of the Mahayana Buddhist sect, and attracts many pilgrims as well.

A trip to Bhutan, regardless of the purpose of the visit, is capable of exhilarating anyone right from the point where the plane takes off.

Druk Air, the only airline that flies into Bhutan, offers no in-flight entertainment but this shortcoming is more than compensated by the spectacular views of the Himalayas, the Mount Everest and the Chomolhari during the flight.

Druk Air’s friendly pilots help the passengers identify the mountains and even offer brief background information on the respective mountains.

The spectacular flight views allow the passengers to remain fixated on the magnificent views outside, pretty much till the landing announcement is made.

For those arriving in the country for the first time, the descent can be daunting as the pilots skillfully maneuver the plane through the numerous mountains that fortify the country.

What adds to the anxiety is the fact that the Paro International Airport sits at an el-

SpecIAL FeAture

By SaraSwathi Muniappan

Part 1 evation of about 18,000 feet (about 6,000 meters) above the seal level, and is one of the world’s most challenging airports to land in and where pilots have to strictly follow all visual flight rules.

Once they are landed safely on terra firma, passengers are bound to heave a sigh of relief.

A COUNTRY OF NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan is located an hour away from the Paro International Airport, and the journey to the city takes you through long winding roads.

The chilly weather coupled with views of farmhouses and meadows dotting the landscape, provide a wonderful panorama throughout the journey.

Despite being the capital, Thimphu is surrounded by mountains that are 6,600 to 12,500 feet high, and is a quiet and laidback city with just a few hotels and shops.

Visitors from the developed world will be happy to note that Bhutan has no traffic lights, at least not yet, since traffic control is a non-issue for the city.

Bhutan, with its population of slightly over 700,000 people, remained isolated from the world until recently, as its residents guard their traditions and customs

zealously.

Although, most locals and especially school going children are mostly clad in traditional garb, foreign influences in dress and culture seem to have permeated Bhutan.

“Five years ago, it was rare to see Bhutanese wearing western cloths, but now the majority of teenagers are shedding their traditional cloths for jeans and t-shirts, and western food such as their preference for pizza over Bhutanese food,” said a local resident.

However, other than it being the capital city and a wonderful place to visit, there is nothing much to do or see in Thimphu, other than taking a peaceful evening stroll.

TAKTSHANG, DOCHULA AND PUNAKHA Taktshang, a Budhist monastery built in 1692, which is commonly known as the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ is one of the main attractions in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Perched precariously on a precipitous cliff and at a height of 3,120 meters above the sea level, and towards the north of the town of Paro, a trip to this monastery serves as a test of physical endurance.

Horse rides that take you up to the monastery are available for Rs.900, as the Bhutanese currency ‘Ngultrum’ is pegged with the Indian Rupee.

The guide will give you some basic lessons before starting the journey, such as ‘when the horse goes uphill you bend forward’ or ‘when it goes downhill you lean behind’, etc.

9

Looks like its Marquez, buy don’t count on it yet

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I T H Miguel Angel Cotto taking another fight and passing away the opportunity to have his revenge against Manny Pacquiao, the chances of Juan Manuel Marquez getting a fourth and probably a last fight with the Filipino fighting congressman have improved considerably.

Pacquiao’s options and choices have been narrowed down following a shocking controversial loss to Timothy Bradley in June this year. Pacquiao’s current weight class has been wanting with marquee fighters with only a Floyd Mayweather Jr. date guaranteeing the Filipino boxing idol a blockbuster payday.

Marquez currently fights comfortably one division lower than Pacquiao’s welterweight class but recently decided to step up in weight hoping for a shot at redemption against his arch nemesis.

Marquez is Pacquiao’s kryptonite. The Mexican may not have the foot speed of Pacquiao but he possesses a pair of lethally quick hands that have brought so many troubles to the Filipino boxing icon. All their three previous fights were so close they could have gone either way. I believed Pacquiao narrowly lost that third fight with Marquez if I were to choose a winner (It was a draw on my scorecard). But what are the judges there for if we will not respect their decision? Although, certainly, we may not agree with them all the time.

Even if Marquez’s camp is now saying the fourth installment of the Pacquiao-Marquez rivalry is all but done except fort the contract signing, Team Pacquiao has not made any official announcement. Longtime Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr. however said that while nothing has been agreed upon, Marquez will likely be Pacquiao’s next foe if Top Rank’s Bob Arum will have his way.

Gacal however said another loss could spell Pacquiao’s doom as a marquee fighter.

So why has Top Rank’s Bob Arum failed to find a better match up for Pacquiao, his longtime cash cow?

Well, Pacquiao’s contract with Bob Arum will end in 2013 and there are speculations the eight-division world champion may go Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather’s way, i.e., opt out of his contract and become a freelance fighter. It is not an entirely bad idea. In fact, breaking away from Arum may even increase the chances of closing out a fight deal with Mayweather.

The seeming cold shoulder treatment Arum got from Pacquiao when he tried to have his prize ward sign up for a November 10 fight obviously left the American promoter frustrated. Arum knows Pacquiao cannot afford to lay off from boxing between now and 2013 – at least before the Philippine elections next year. But he cannot also just pick any opponent and hope that Pacquiao will agree to a lesser guaranteed purse. That is a sure recipe Pacquiao will finally bid goodbye to him after their contract expires next year.

Marquez, who is also promoted by Arum, could be the double-edged sword for Pacquiao, a convincing win, especially if it is a knockout, will boost his flagging stock.

But a loss will mark the beginning of the end of his glory days in boxing. Or maybe, Arum will finally give up on Pacquiao where both will sit it out and wait till it is game over for both of them next year. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for MindaNews and www.asiancorrespondent.com.]

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VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Realty Realty

FOR SALE: 1) 1-hectare commercial lot at p10,000/sq m, along national highway, facing east, beside nCCC panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at p2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at p800/sq m along the national highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at p1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along indangan road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the national highway in Bincungan, tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at p5.5M to p12.3M commercial/office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at p4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina town Center, along the national highway, Dumoy, toril. 9) ready-for-occupancy residential properties: 4Br/3t&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at p4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, toril.; 3Br 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at p3.751M to p5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion road. 10) 1Br/2Br residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, obrero, Davao City. 11) For aSSuMe (ruSh): 1Br res’l condo unit in palmetto, Maa. p600k negotiable. note: items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. if interested, please call Jay (prC reB lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Sotto ends ‘turno en contra’ speech

T

FFROM 1

HE Senate completed on Wednesday the period of amendments on Senate Bill 2865, or Reproductive Health bill, after Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III wrapped up its four-part ‘turno en contra’ speech on the controversial measure.

Senator Pia Cayetano, co-sponsor of the bill, made a motion to move on to the period of amendments after Sotto’s speech. ”It is my wish that we move on to the period of amendments. I am ready to answer questions,” Cayetano said.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson supported the motion of Cayetano, saying “if there are no more interpellators, Pia should be allowed to introduce committee amendments.”

The bill deliberations became intense after Sotto’s speech when Cayetano questioned the intention of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to interpolate the ‘turno en contra’ when in fact both Sotto and Enrile are against the bill.

Cayetano also said she received reports that the passage of the bill would be delayed but Enrile denied he had any plan to delay its passage. ”I have been in the Senate for a long, long time already and I have never been asked to state the purpose of my interpellation. I have never used dilatory tactics or

any manner of delaying the passage of any bill,” Enrile said.

“I resent being questioned to state my purpose. Who are you to challenge my purpose here?”

Enrile told Cayetano.

Enrile said that it was his duty to dissect the bill to see whether the proposal was destructive or not. ”It is our duty to dissect this bill no matter how unpopular our decision is,” Enrile said.

In his turno en contra speech, Sotto called the RH bill a population control measure that the Philippines need not to pass, saying there are already 23 laws, administrative orders and presidential decrees that address the reproductive health concerns specifically among women and their children.

He said the government was already spending nearly P8 billion a year to family planning program and reproductive health programs. ”We don’t need the RH bill to spend additional 3.5 billion every year for the programs where the government is already spending almost P8 billion,” Sotto said. ”Before we allot P3.5 billion for contraceptives, we should think of the innocent unborn child which we will deprive the chance to live. We have no authority to stop them from living in this earth,” Sotto said. [PNA]

“The government should invest more on infrastructure before the streets become congested.”

Dy added that as much as he would want to, he cannot limit the number of new registrations.

Come Christmas time, the volume of traffic in the city is expected to increase by as much as 15 to 20 percent as traders from the provinces are expected to source their Christmas stocks from the city. The volume of retail shoppers is also expected to increase as the month of December approaches.

Aside from congested

streets in the city, another concern of the LTO 11 is the surge in motorcycles. As of this year, the government agency estimates there are about about 22,000 motorcycles in the city alone.

The LTO 11 chief also lamented the surge in motorcycles as a “headache” due to the difficulty of monitoring and enforcing discipline among their drivers.

“Before you know it, iba na ang may-ari ng motor.

Tapos ang deed of sale isusulat lang nila sa yellow paper,” Dy said. “And it’s not only the owners who drive their motorcycles. It’s very easy to

lend it to anyone; it’s not like a car.”

Motorcycles have earned their notoriety in the streets for failing to follow basic traffic rules like staying on a single lane, use of signal lights, and swerving.

Dy plans to implement a new measure wherein those who are buying motorcycles will have to attend a seminar at the LTO 11 before their vehicles are released to them.

“We plan to make it a requirement before anyone can purchase motorcycles. We are now talking with motorcycle dealers so that we can enforce it effectively,” Dy said.

derly election next year.

The assumption of staff officers of the major commands and units on temporary capacity has raised speculations.

Normally, the AFP designates a replacement once the commanding officer reaches retirement age.

Sources told MindaNews that the AFP Board of Generals has reportedly chosen Major Gen. Ray

Ardo, currently the 6th Infantry Division chief to lead the AFP Central Command.

The Board of Generals also has chosen Major General Allan Luga to head the AFP Southern Luzon Command.

In the case of the 4ID, the board selected Brig.

Gen. Nestor Anonuevo to replace Felix. [Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews]

gRANADE ATTACK. Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte visits the victims of Saturday night’s grenade blast to extend financial assistance at Purok 4 Brgy. Fatima, Paquibato District, Davao City Tuesday afternoon. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

House passes landmark ‘Kasambahay’ bill

T

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday passed on third and final reading the landmark “Kasambahay” bill that seeks to uplift the plight of the about 2.5 million domestic helpers in the country.

The Kasambahay bill, House Bill 6081 or the Domestic Workers Act 2012, is one of the measures certified urgent by President Benigno S. Aquino III for Congress’s approval.

Its version has been passed by the Senate last De-

Worker...

cember.

Once enacted into law, the bill would provide all ‘kasambahays’ (domestic helpers) a comprehensive package of benefits that include better salaries, work conditions, and other benefits that will entitle them 13th month pay, 14-day paid vacation, and maternity or paternity leave among others.

San Juan Representative Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, the main proponent of the bill in the Lower House, had

earlier said that “after 15 years in the making, Congress will finally enact a bill that would protect household workers from physical and emotional abuse.”

“The Kasambahay bill would be a historic legacy for the 15th Congress,” he said.

The Kasambahay bill follows the new minimum set of international standards adopted by the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) through Convention 189 for the protection of household helpers.

inally charge Jessica Canasa, Joe Choa-Shi and the management of Gaisano Mall of Davao cinema for violation of RA 7277.”

Section 32 of RA 7277 provides that “No entity, whether public or private, shall discriminate against a qualified disabled person by reason of disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, promotion, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job

training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.”

Any person who violates any of its provisions shall be fined at least P50,000 to a maximum of P100,000, or imprisonment for not less than six months but not more than two years for their first offense. If the violator is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the officials thereof directly involved shall be liable.

With four months left in the year, Bangcoy expressed optimism that his district could once again surpass its collection target. Last year, the district collected P5.4 billion compared to its P4.6 billion quota, an 18 percent surplus, making it the recipient of a plaque of recognition from Biazon commending its big contribution to the entire bureau’s revenue collection of P266 billion.

The award coincided with bureau’s 110th founding anniversary celebration on February 6, 2012, at South Harbor, Port

Area, Manila.

On that occasion, the bureau also awarded Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. as the Top 7 importer in the country and the Top 1 importer in the Port of Davao City.

Bangcoy said that in 2011 alone, the revenue collected from Phoenix’s imported oil products reached more than P1 billion.

Phoenix has continued to expand its stations now numbering to 255, 169 in Mindanao, 15 in the Visayas, and 71 in Luzon. [ASA]

FFROM 1

visor Canasa. Joa-shi said Sarion’s “incapability to speak and hear might be misunderstood by our customers as non-accomodative which might have a negative impact on us which may prejudice our cinema, especially in the instances if she is left alone as movie checker.”

Sarion filed her complaint last August 30 with Prosecutor Oliver Saniel of the City Prosecutors Office.

Sarion said that she was executing the affidavit “to crim-

Only...

FFROM 2

monthly collection performance except for the month of June.

From its P414 million target, P451 million were collected in January, an increase of P37 million or 9%. In February, the collection reached P421 million against the P397 million quota (6% increase) while in March, P474 million was collected of the P448 target (still 6% increase). In April, the collection increased from the P444 million target to P462 million and in May, P464 was collected, higher than its P439 target.

ILO C189, which President Aquino III has ratified, defines domestic work as work performed in or for a household or households.

According to the ILO C189, household workers should be given reasonable working hours, weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, as well as respect for fundamental principles, including freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. (PNA)

City...

AFP...

FFROM 2

sume command but President Aquino has yet to sign the order,” Bautista told reporters during the turnover ceremonies in Camp Evangelista.

He denied that the delay of the signing has something to do with next year’s mid-term elections.

He said the AFP will stay neutral and will only help in the implementation of a peaceful and or-

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 133 •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

NATION bRIEFS

B

Running

AyAN Muna Representative Teddy Casiño will be running for senator in 2013 but without the help of either the administration Liberal Party or the United Nationalist Coalition.

In a statement posted on his blog, Casiño said he will instead run under the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).

According to its website, Makabayan comprises party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kabataan, Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees, Migrante, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and Katribu.

Conservation

D

UE to the upcoming El Niño weather phenomenon, state weather forecasters urged government agencies Tuesday to implement water conservation measures to ensure enough water for farming and irrigation.

PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section head Daisy Ortega said their models show the dry spells may particularly affect the eastern parts of Visayas and Mindanao, radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported.

Spam

T

HIS may not be a list the Philippines can take pride in topping.

Security vendor Kaspersky Lab said in its June 2012 spam report showed the Philippines was a top source of spam mail that hit the United States and Europe in that month.

Kaspersky said about 25 percent of the spam distributed in the US at the time came from Asia. “The Philippines is one of the top sources of spam that hit U.S. and Europe during a number of significant events in June,” it said.

I

No evidence

S oil in the Philippines truly overpriced? Not so, says the Independent Oil Price Review Committee, as it said Wednesday that it found no evidence that oil firms have been making excess profits.

In a press briefing, committee chairman Benjamin Diokno said the committee’s study on oil prices found that local pump prices are more responsive to changes in global oil prices than before oil deregulation.

A

Dead

radio broadcaster has been found dead in the southern Philippines, becoming the country’s sixth journalist to be killed this year, officials and colleagues said Wednesday.

Soldiers recovered the decomposing remains of Eddie Apostol in a marsh on Sunday, five days after his family reported him missing, said regional military spokesman Colonel

NATION/WORLD13

Can ‘buko’ bring the A PHL more billions?

WORLD TODAY

P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) think so, and the government is planning to invest at least P1.75 billion in the coconut industry.

PCA administrator Euclides Forbes told yahoo! Southeast Asia that most of the money will go to replanting and fertilization of coconut trees.

He said the PCA plans to 15 million coconut trees and fertilize 25 million of them in 2013. The PCA had planted around 14.6 million seed nuts as of July this year, PCA said in a separate statement.

The PCA will also increase the number of its centers offering coconut livelihood and intercropping programs to 300 from 120. It will also set aside a portion of its corporate earnings for research into prolonging the shelf life of VCO. This comes amid rising demand for coconut products like virgin coconut oil and coconut water.

Coconut products and by-products are already

among the country’s leading agricultural exports and are sold to at least 100 countries. Coconuts earned the country $1.96 billion last year, 20 percent higher than income from coconuts in 2010.

In 2011, the top exports were coconut oil, dessicated coconut and coco chemicals. The Philippines also exports virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coco coir and other by-products.

By the first quarter of this year, the U.S. had already imported around $3.9 million worth of coconut juice and demand has been growing. VCO exports also doubled to 4,422 metric tons worth $18.2 million in January to June 2012 against the same period last year, PCA said.

Forbes said the PCA also recommended increasing the amount of coconut bio-fuel mixed in fuel sold in the Philippines to 5 percent from 2 percent. He said whether the recommendation will be implemented is up to the Department of Ener-

gy. Coconut biomass can also be used as a source of renewable energy, he said.

In any case, the demand is expected to grow so much that the PCA will be planting in areas that do not traditionally grow coconuts. Forbes said they

will plant coconut trees in Ilocos, Bataan, Zambales, and Cagayan. The trees will take around seven years to bear fruit, which will be enough time for the government to build coconut oil mills in those areas. “Kasama sa plano ‘yan,” Forbes said.

Beijing of Clinton’s calls for a multilateral solution to the territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas.

Clinton told reporters that such disagreements did not have to hobble cooperation.

“I’m very proud of the strength and resilience that we have built into our relationship,” she said after talks with yang in the cavernous Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

“It makes it possible for

us to talk about anything, and to find ways to tackle issues frankly and forthrightly,” Clinton said, adding that the two sides would not see eye-to-eye on all the issues that are part of their vast relationship. yang also cast relations in a positive light, saying both sides could work together as long as “mutual respect for each other’s core interests and major concerns” continues.

“History and facts have repeatedly proven that Chi-

na and the United States have interwoven interests,” said yang.

The remarks underscored efforts by both sides to contain quarrels, especially as they focus on domestic politics. China’s Communist Party is preoccupied with a once-ina-decade leadership over coming months, while U.S. President Barack Obama is focused on a re-election fight culminating in November.

Clinton praised China for helping to apply pressure on Iran over its nuclear activities, and yang sounded a moderating note on Syria by balancing opposition to outside intervention with support for a “political transition.

“China is willing to maintain and strengthen dialogue, communication and coordination with the U.S.,” Chinese President Hu Jintao told Clinton, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.

“Maintaining stable development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade ties has an important impact on the two countries, as well as the revival and growth of the world economy.”

Alarmed

W

China, U.S. divided over Syria, sea conflict, but vow goodwill

C

HINA and the United States were divided on Wednesday over how to end the bloodshed in Syria and defuse tension in the South China Sea and other global troublespots, but stressed hope for steady ties as they navigate political transitions at home.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister yang Jiechi vowed goodwill after talks which had been preceded by criticism from

Sentenced

15-year-old Dutch boy was sentenced to a year in juvenile detention on Monday for stabbing to death a girl whose Facebook posts reportedly led to a contract for her killing.

The case, known in the Netherlands as the “Facebook murder”, caused widespread debate about the role of social media in violent crime.

orld leaders must take swift, coordinated action to ensure that food price shocks do not turn into a catastrophe that could hurt tens of millions of people in coming months, the United Nations’ food agencies said in a statement on Tuesday.

Global alarm over the potential for a food crisis of the kind seen in 2007/08 has escalated as drought in the U.S. Midwest has sent grain prices to record highs, fuelling a 6 percent surge in the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) July food price index.

C

Convicted

ambodia will deport a Swedish co-founder of Pirate Bay, one of the world’s biggest free file-sharing websites, who was convicted and sentenced to prison in Sweden for breaching copyright laws, a police official said on Tuesday.

Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, 27, has been living in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and was arrested last week after a request from Sweden, but he may not necessarily be sent back home directly.

Dead

A

n explosion at a fireworks factory in southern India left up to 30 people dead and dozens of others with serious burns on Wednesday, fire and medical officials said.

Television footage showed smoke billowing into the sky above a factory in Sivakasi, which is the centre of the Indian fireworks industry some 700 kilometres (430 miles) south of the Tamil Nadu state capital Chennai.

Deported

M

auritanian authorities have handed over Moamer Kadhafi’s ex-spy chief to Libya nearly five months after he was arrested for entering the country illegally, state television reported Wednesday.

“Mauritanian authorities hand over ex-Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi to Libya,” read a newsflash on the screen written in Arabic.

An official source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that Al-Senussi had “effectively left Mauritania”.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Stronger Malditas formed for AFF D

Marielle Benitez will lead the Philippines national women’s football team called the Malditas.

ESPITE lackluster performances in the previous years, the Philippine national women’s football team is setting its sights on an ambitious goal in the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship this September in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

“We want to make it to the finals,” Malditas coach Ernie Nierras said. “If we don’t make it to the finals, we will be disappointed.”

Nierras made the pronouncement despite the Malditas’ failure to get past the group stages in the past four editions of the tournament. However, he believes that this year’s lineup is the most formidable the country has ever had.

“The team that I have now, this is the strongest I’ve ever seen in the women’s national team,” Nierras said.

The Malditas will be led by team captain Marielle Benitez, a many-time UAAP Most Valuable Player from La Salle. The team also boasts a number of Fil-foreigners such as Fil-Americans Heather Cooke, Ashley O’Connor, Abby Komarc, Angeline and Patrice Impelido, Fil-Australian Nenita Burgess and Fil-Canadian Mallory Dayot.

The team will also be bolstered by players from the UAAP schools, such as Louella Amamio, Jowee-Ann Barruga, Aisa Mondero and Marice Magdolot from University of Santo Tomas; Inna Palacios, Samantha Nierras and Natasha Alquiros from La Salle; Isabella Fernando and Kathleen Rodriguez from Ateneo; Etang Ladero and Vanessa Mondero from Far Eastern University; and Cristina Delos Reyes from University of the Philippines.

Ronaldo: It’s not about the money

M

ADRID—Cristiano Ronaldo is still “feeling sad” at Real Madrid but denies it’s because of money as he committed himself to the Spanish club on Tuesday.

Ronaldo revealed his feelings after scoring twice in a 3-0 victory against Granada in the Spanish league on Sunday, saying professional reasons had made him unhappy at Madrid without revealing them.

“That I am feeling sad and have expressed this sadness has created a huge stir.

I am accused of wanting more money, but one day it will be shown that this is not the case,” Ronaldo said in a statement.

“At this point, I just want to guarantee to the Real Madrid fans that my motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to win all competitions will not be affected. I have too much respect for myself and for Real Madrid to ever give less to the club than all

I am capable of.”

Madrid has not responded to Ronaldo’s comments.

The 27-year-old Portugal winger’s statement comes after Spanish media has speculated whether his behavior has been part of a contract ploy, a problem with teammates or sour grapes after losing the UEFA award as Best Player in Europe to Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta on Friday.

Ronaldo’s teammates were just as surprised to learn their star player was unhappy, causing speculation to grow about his future at Madrid.

“If Cristiano is sad and needs the support of his teammates, clearly he’ll have it. He needs the support of the club also.

At Real Madrid we are a family,” defender Alvaro Arbeloa said. “He doesn’t have the problems that the majority of Spaniards do, but it’s perfectly reasonable that he’s sad.”

Captain’s picks for US Ryder team named

N

EW yORK—Davis Love III faced a tough decision when he filled out his Ryder Cup team with four picks, no different from the previous 11 US captains.

What helped is that he couldn’t go wrong.

Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk were locks all along, and Dustin Johnson became impossible to ignore when his game rounded into shape over the past two weeks. Brandt Snedeker was the final choice over Hunter Mahan, but really, it could have gone much deeper.

“He was in a no-lose situation,” said Paul

EDGEDAVAO

Azinger, the 2008 captain who was behind the changes of picking four players instead of two.

“He could have picked Hunter, Bo Van Pelt or Nick Watney and not gotten slaughtered. He maybe could have picked Rickie Fowler and not gotten slaughtered. Really, has it ever been the case when you could look at 18 names and all 18 names would have been OK?” The focus Tuesday from Times Square was on the four guys added to the American team. Not to be forgotten are the eight guys who previously earned a spot on the team.

This might be the most

talented US team since 1999 at Brookline, where the Americans staged the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

“I think we are extremely deep this time, I think deeper than we have ever been,” Love said.

The eight players who qualified have combined for 12 wins on the PGA Tour, including two majors (Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson), a World Golf Championship (Keegan Bradley) and The Players Championship (Matt Kuchar).

Even so, the strength is best measured by who won’t be at Medinah.

Nierras added that he is confident about their chances this year as they had better preparation this year.

“We’ve been training for eight months. Unlike last year na medyo hirap tayo, we are able to address all the needs this time,” Nierras said. “This is the only time that we played 30 games to prepare (for the tournament).”

The Malditas will battle Myanmar, last year’s finalist, on September 13, host Vietnam, also the 2010 champion, on September 14, and Singapore on September 17 to complete their matches in Group A. The Filipinas need to finish in the top two of their group to advance to the crossover semifinals and face the two best teams in Group B that features defending champion Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Kaka also defended Ronaldo but striker Gonzalo Higuain was mystified by his teammate’s feelings, while Xabi Alonso had little to add.

“I’ll only speak for myself, but I’m happy,” Alonso said as he joined Arbeloa for national team duty with Spain. “He is as he is.”

Ronaldo’s statement led to tongue-incheek questions about the feelings of football figures across the country, including at Madrid’s major rival.

“At Barca, we’re all happy,” Barcelona club spokesman Toni Freixa said.

Ronaldo joined Madrid from Manchester United for 80 million pounds (then $131 million) in 2009, signing a contract that ties him to the club until 2015.

Ronaldo is training with Portugal ahead of World Cup qualifying.

MVP. Al Vergara of Royal Mandaya Hotel-VMO receives his trophy and cash prize for winning MP honors in the recent Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Awarding the MVP prize were acting city sports development officer Cholo Elegino and assistant city administrator Erwin Alfaraque.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

The Green Rocks Snack House and Pastry Shop

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto, MBA Photos by Chef Llerma Gaye Javier

I MET her during my soul searching culinary days at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies Davao (CACS). The first time I saw her, she exuded that “I do not care” aura that, at times, we misinterpret as snobbish. Well, I too thought she was one but, lo and behold, she was as down to earth as most of our classmates at that time. Thus, we became instant classmates/friend/ carpool buddy (we both live in Matina) and even practicum mates. We clicked and bonded (together with Miyuki) and did almost everything together.

The last time I saw her was a year or two ago. We bumped into each other and that was it. Now, as I am working alongside her cousin, Ivan, past forgotten flames are rekindled. I found out that she really got into our whole culinary journey and is expected to

open a second branch of her pastry shop.

Last August 8 2012, she and boyfriend, Julius, opened their second branch alongside Sandawa Avenue in the metro. Inviting mostly their family and close friends, the said event was as jovial as a get together of people who loves to mingle, talk and share a common love and interest for sumptuous food.

Green Rocks Snack House and Pastry Shop exudes a cozy and vibrant feel to its interiors paired up with colorful cakes and pastries that lined their glass racks. Indeed a feast to the eyes even before it

reaches your mouth. Said shop serves a unique lineup of wonderfully crafted and colorful cakes with an even tastier filling. Take a bite of their angel cake with blueberry filling and you’ll crave for more. I have had the opportunity of munching on them during the event and I tell you, they’re all worth the carbs My dear friend also makes a wicked and awesome version of banana cake that is so light you could mistake it for a macaroon. I also love and adore her ROOTBEER CUPCAKE that she serves inside a tall wine glass with butter cream frosting and mallows. I fell in love the

moment I saw it and even more when I tasted it. I have been on a cupcake spree since that day.

I love how she came up with “lechon” and crab breads that she served to us during the opening.

Both were carefully crafted to look like the real thing.

And mind you, I took a bite off the “lechon” bread that made her shriek in amazement. It’s hard shell makes a nice outer layer for the soft bread inside that melts in your mouth life a cotton candy. Both are available in the shop.

Her love for the sea and everything about it is imminent in her DIVERS CAKE, a layer of soft angel cake lined with strawberry filling and strawberry and butter cream frosting is also something you should try. Though I am not a big strawberry fan, I fell in love with this cake as it is subtle and the flavors are not too sweet. Makes a great coffee companion too.

Her pastries speaks of how much sweet she is as a

person. No bias there. Her mini cakes, chocolate cupcakes, mocha flavored cakes and her chocolate crinkles are all so good you cannot stop munching on them.

More so, they serve short orders that totally satisfy your growing appetite for something freshly off the pan but within the budget.

Me and my officemates, Jeff, Jacob, Niknoy, Elle, Gladys, James and Akiss, make it a

weekly habit to order from their shop and have it delivered to our office during break time. Her baked macaroni has the right tanginess to it and the cheese is not so overpowering. The all time favorite siopao has soft white bun and the tastiest meat filling that could have you asked for seconds.

But most of all, I love their pansit served hot and off the pan. Paired with her soft buns and you’re all set.

The next time you are craving for something freshly off the oven and sumptuous food, drop by GREEN ROCKS SNACK HOUSE AND PASTRY SHOP along SANDAWA AVENUE and your next burp’s on me. They accept orders for cakes, cupcakes and other pastries.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

FOOD

Beyond an accompaniment…

it is a dish in itself

by Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto, MBA

AFTER a whacked up weekend in the beach, I decided to have a mellow fruity palate adventure and experimented on the versatility of fruits. Honestly, it took me some time to come up with recipes that would highlight the mild taste of the fruits but at the same time marries it with other flavors to come up with a whimsical recipe that is one of a kind and easy to prepare.

It is of no question that in this part of the globe, we are not as adventurous when it comes to salsa, dips and guacamoles unlike the others. We are not much into the “accompaniment” side of the culinary world but rather we focus on the main dish. This week, let us pay homage to three fruit inspired dips, salsa and sauce that, I believe I would be seeing more of in the metro. Enjoy as much as I did and remember --- your imagination is your limitation!

Sesame oil infused fruit salad wrap with buko pandan, mayonnaise and milk sauce sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds The highlight of this dish is not the sesame oil infused salad but rather the unique sauce that comes with it.

Try the sauce with other dishes and you would soon crave for more.

sweetened condense milk, mayonnaise and sesame oil in a large mixing bowl.

Mix thoroughly but make sure that the fruits are not mashed. Chill before using as a filling.

Prepare spring roll wrappers. Scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of the fruit salad mixture (depending on the size of your wrapper) and seal edges to prevent popping when deep fried.

Prepare oil and deep fry fruity spring rolls until golden brown. Set aside.

For the sauce: In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of powdered milk (any brand will do), 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 ½ tablespoon buko pandan [flavoring] and mix until smooth. Taste as you and adjust according to your preference.

Served whole of halved deep fried fruity spring rolls alongside with the sauce. Optional: sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

For the salad: Combine drained fruit cocktail,

Papaya and Black beans salsa with cumin, hot

sauce and balsamic vinegar This Caribbean-inspired salsa is great with grilled fish and is also very good by itself. Keep batches in refrigerator and store in airtight container. Therefore, the next time you will be serving nachos or burritos to your guests, you have a ready-made and uniquely assembled salsa.

Ingredients ¼ cup salted black beans, drained 1 cup ripe papaya, peeled, seeded and diced ½ red bell pepper, diced ½ onion, diced 3 pcs calamansi, juiced and strained

3 tablespoons chives, chopped 2 Tablespoons ground cumin 2 Tablespoon hot sauce 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoon olive oil Fresh cracked black pepper Salt Procedure

In a large bowl, combine black beans, papaya, bell pepper, onion , calamansi juice, chives, cumin, hot sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar salt, and pepper.

Mix well. Make sure that the dressing is diluted and always taste the mixture according to your own liking.

Chill salsa for an hour and two and serve alongside fish or quesadillas.

NOTE This particular salsa could be kept in the refrigerator for until 5 days.

Keep in an airtight container to lock in its freshness.

Cheesy chili guacamole with mayonnaise and condensed milk This is my unique way of saying “I am in love with everything about you – guacamole”. This dish could be tweaked and customized to easily suit one’s taste – you

Not-So-Fast Food 2

IT IS NO SECRET: we Davaoenos love eating out. We love fast food, we love quick service, and we love grease. However, not many food chains are actually conducive for little get-togethers with friends because they usually give off a sterile vibe.

So what can you do to marry your love for foodchain food and drinks with your love for hanging out at home? I suggest you take on the recipes I have below and prepare your favorite food-chain fare for your next house party. (Disclaimer: I’m not saying these recipes taste EXACTLY like your food-chain faves, but they definitely come close enough to remind you of those tastes) Stack them on top of each Note: I can’t really say the names of the restos we’ve copied these recipes from so just guess from the clues on the recipes.

Recipe Number One The Classic Hamburger from the Clown: I bet you didn’t know this, but that fast food actually still serves the classic hamburger if you ask for it. They don’t have it on the menu because their new BurgerM**o is cheaper to make and more popular

but you can still ask for the classic hamburger. If you want a Cheeseburger, simply add cheese to this recipe. Duh. a.) Make a “secret burger seasoning” by combining four tablespoons of salt, two tablespoons of MSG, a teaspoon of ground black pepper, and one fourth of a teaspoon of onion powder. b.) Divide a pound of ground beef (chuck) into ten equal-sized balls then make patties out of them.

other, carefully lining them with squares of wax paper.

Freeze them for at least an hour. c.) Grill your patties on a stove-top griddle and then season generously with your “secret burger seasoning.” Cook the patties until they are well done. d.) While cooking your patties, toast your buns on the griddle as well until they get some color. Make sure to toast only the inside parts of the top and bottom of the

bun. e.) Assemble your burger by placing the cooked patty on top of the bottom bum and then topping it off with a slice of pickle, some chopped onions, mustard, and ketchup. f.) Serve.

Recipe Number Two The Clown’s Popular Fries: You can’t have burgers without the fries, right? So here is the popular French Fry recipe you’ve always wanted to have. a.) Slice up two pounds of potatoes to make them look like French fries. b.) Place sliced potatoes in a saucepan with two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, two quarts of water, and two tablespoons of salt and bring this to a boil over high heat. c.) Have the mixture boil for ten minutes and then drain

can add jalapeno’s, chopped garlic, cilantro leaves and the likes. Your imagination is your limitation.

Ingredients ½ cup ripe, fresh Avocado, seeded, peeled and cut in chunks 1/2 pc small onion, minced 1 pc ripe tomato, seeded and diced ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sweetened condense milk 2 tablespoons hot sauce Salt and pepper, to taste Procedure In a mixing bowl, ash avocado, leaving some chunks, until mixture is just about right. Gently stir in remaining ingredients – taste as you go and adjust amount of spices as you please. You can add any other spices accordingly.

Chill for 30 minutes before serving -- best with nacho chips or plain corn chips.

Thank you for all your wonderful feedbacks. Keep them coming. Jeg vil se dig snart Do you want to be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit?

Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured. If you are interested, then email me at iamtheroyalchef@gmail. com. Happy Cooking!

The Partyphile apes the fastfood chains

the potatoes and spread them over some paper towels. d.) Freeze potatoes overnight. e.) On the day of frying, heat some oil in a wok and cook your fries for fifty seconds in three batches. Place cooked potatoes over some paper towels and let cool for thirty minutes. f.) After resting for thirty minutes, reheat the oil and re-fry the potatoes. Once you get a golden brown color on them, strain the potatoes out and immediately sprinkle some salt over them. g.) Serve.

Recipe Number Three Blended Ice Drink from some Starry Bucks: Have you ever wished to serve some coffee-shop quality coffee for your afternoon get-togethers at home? No?

Well after reading this easy how-to you may want to start considering it. This easy-as-pie recipe from pepper.ph mocks a certain coffee shop’s signature ice blended coffee-based beverage so you can make your own Venti anytime. a.) Empty two sachets of Nescafe 3-in-1 and a packet of Swiss Miss Classic Hot Chocolate (without the mallows) into a mug and add one fourth of a cup of hot water. Stir until combined. b.) In a blender, combine one and a half cups of crushed ice, two tablespoons of condensed milk, and the mixture you just made in a mug and blend it until you get a smooth consistency. c.) Transfer the drink into a glass and top it with some whipped cream and chocolate syrup. d.) Serve.

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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ENTERTAINMENT

The girlfriend that never was Vanity Fair’s Paul Haggis reveals who was Scientology’s first pick for Tom Cruise PAUL HAGGIS’ beef with the Church of Scientology is well known after he publicly rejected the religion several years ago.

So given his status as a former Xenu-phile, the Crash helmer is now in a unique position to comment on Vanity Fair’s October cover story, which alleges the church auditioned a female member by the name of Naz Boniadi to be Tom Cruise’s girlfriend before the A-lister hooked up with Katie Holmes.

And what Haggis has to say is pretty revealing.

In an email to Showbiz 411 published Sunday, the Oscar winner confirmed that he met Boniadi three years ago while he was looking into allegations against Scientology and before he wrote his nowinfamous resignation letter. “[Naz] never wanted it to come out, so I kept silent,” wrote Haggis. “However I was deeply disturbed by how the highest-ranking members of a church could so easily justify using one of their members; how they so callously punished her and then so effectively silenced her when it was done. It wasn’t just the threats; they actually made her feel ashamed, when all she had been was human and trusting.”

A rep for the church, Karin Pouw released a statement to E! News calling the allegations “hogwash.”

“There was no project, secret or otherwise, ever conducted by the Church

to find a bride (audition or otherwise) for any member,” read the statement.

“The allegation and entire premise of the Vanity Fair article is totally false.”

The spokeswoman also labeled Haggis an “apostate” who’s “attempting to grab headlines and falsely slander his former religion.”

The VF article has been the talk of Hollywood this week since alleging that Boniadi went out with the Top Gun star from November 2004 to January 2005 and even briefly moved into his house after being selected by Shelly Miscavige, the wife of Scientology honcho David Miscavige.

The report goes on to state that before meeting Cruise, the Iranian-born thesp was ordered to get rid of her braces, lose her red highlights and dump her then-boyfriend, not to mention sign a confidentiality agreement with the church.

After the relationship soured, the story alleges that a distraught Boniadi ended up telling a friend about her ordeal, and the friend reported her to Scientology officials, who punished her by having

her scrub toilets with a toothbrush, clean bathroom tiles with acid and dig ditches in the middle of the night.

Haggis added, “I’ve met quite a number of people who have been treated shamefully but are afraid to speak out. This story will draw attention because of our fascination with celebrity. Most of the others are just ordinary people whose stories, if told, would not appear in a magazine. They live in fear of retribution, legal, financial or personal, even some famous ones.”

The filmmaker concluded by expressing support for Boniadi, who left the church a few years ago and is now a spokesperson for Amnesty International.

“In Naz’s case, she has no right to feel ashamed.

She is not only a terrific actress at the beginning of a very promising career, she is a dedicated humanrights activist and a truly lovely and caring person.

The last thing she wanted or needed is this kind of publicity, but here it is, and I am sure she will deal with it with the same grace and dignity she exudes in her daily life,” he said.

Sm City General Santos celebrates its first Tuna Festival this weekend

JOIN SM City General Santos as the mall presents to its shoppers the first ever Tuna Festival Specials this weekend with more fun and excitement. Various activities have been lined up leading to the highlights like great buys and discounts from participating stores mall wide on September 7, 8 and 9, 2012 during mall hours at 10am-9pm.

SM City General Santos also brings to its shoppers back-to-back shows from both Kapamilya and Kapuso network this weekend. Catch the hunks, Gerald Anderson and Gabby Concepcion, together with Kaye Abad on September 8, 4pm at the Open Parking C for the Ka-

pamilya Caravan.

Fans of the Sid Lucero, Angelu De Leon, Carl Guevarra and Kristal Reyes will be entertained by them on September 9, 4pm at the Event Center of the mall for the Kapuso Mall Show. Admission is free for both Kapamilya and Kapuso Network Mall tours.

Also, shoppaholics can catch great discounts from participating stores mallwide with our Festival Specials from September 7, 8 and 9.

Tuna Festival is celebrated every month of

September in General Santos City to showcase and promote local fun and festivity to the national and global scene, strengthen partnership between the private sector and the local government and uplift the tuna fishing and processing industry as well as the local tourism industry.

It is indeed a Tuna Festival in Magandang Gensan at SM City General Santos. For more updates, call SM City General Santos at (083) 878 0667 or like the mall’s official fan page on Facebook, SM City General Santos (Official).

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT

From Sta. Cruz to the world

By Carlo P. Mallo

WHO would have thought that the coconut grits we enjoy on our imported chocolates and cookies actually come from our very own backyard?

Yes, you heard that right, from our very own backyard.

Just across the city border is the town of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, which is home to one of the two production facilities of dessicated coconut exporter, Franklin Baker Co Inc, one of the world’s top exporters of coconut products.

This year, the company is celebrating its 90th anniversary here in the Philippines. The company was established in August 1922 when Franklin Baker, Sr and his son visited the Philippines and together with 6 other individuals incorporated the Philippine Food Company with an authorized capital stock of P50,000.00 and set up a desiccated coconut plant in the Philippines (located in Sta. Mesa, Manila). Around 4 years later, the manufacturing facility was transferred to San Pablo City,

Laguna and the name of the company was eventually changed to Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines on May 13, 1926.

In 1927, the company was acquired by General Foods Corporation. In 1968, the company estab-

lished its production facility in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. More than bringing the Philippine coconut to the world, the company is creating a brighter future for thousands, if not millions of Filipinos by providing jobs directly and indirectly. If you would pass on a Friday along the stretch of national highway fronting the Franklin Baker facility in Sta. Cruz, you will notice how robust trade and economy is in the area.

Thousands of coconut farmers also depend on the company, by providing farmers another option where they can sell their coconuts aside from the unscrupulous copra traders.

Franklin Baker Co Inc is not just another foreign investment in the country, it is another glimmer of hope for the Filipino in the countryside.

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 133 •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

15

NO SWINgIN’ IN THE RAIN

Azarenka ousts Stosur

N

EW yORK (AP) -- So, Victoria Azarenka, what went through your mind as your high-tension, high-quality U.S. Open quarterfinal victory over defending champion Sam Stosur stretched into a third-set tiebreaker? ‘’you don’t want to know what I kept telling myself,’’ Azarenka deadpanned Tuesday. ‘’I would have to beep that, I think.’’

She went on to offer a cleaned-up version of what her thoughts had been - ‘’Don’t be a chicken’’

- while cobbling together a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5) rain-interrupted win that eliminated Stosur, put the top-seeded Azarenka in her first semifinal at Flushing Meadows and assured her of retaining the No. 1 ranking no matter what happens the rest of this week. ‘’Definitely I don’t want to stop. I really want it bad,’’ Azarenka said about the prospect of adding a second Grand Slam trophy to the one she earned in January at the Australian Open. ‘’I’m going to do absolute-

ly everything I have, you know, to give it all here.’’

Because of rain that halted play on and off through the day, Azarenka was the only woman who got to enjoy a singles victory at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. The other women’s quarterfinal on the schedule was suspended in progress because of rain, and four-time major champion Maria Sharapova will be trailing 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli 4-0 when they resume Wednesday.

Rain gives Roddick one more day

Victoria Azarenka (left) of Belarus celebrates after defeating Samantha Stosur of Australia to win their women’s singles quarterfinals match on Day Nine of the 2012 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Middle photo shows Azarenka come down after a slip. (Right) Maria Sharapova of Russia returns a shot against Marion Bartoli of France.

Sharapova match off S TRUGGLING Maria Sharapova will have another day to regroup after her rain-halted US Open quarter-final match against French 11th seed Marion Bartoli was postponed until Wednesday by tournament officials.

Tuesday’s third rain

delay arrived with Bartoli leading the Russian third seed 4-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

With more rain expected for the next few hours, officials decided to delay the conclusion of the Sharapova-Bartoli match, allowing for the start of Andy Roddick’s

men’s fourth-round match against Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro to start when dry conditions return.

Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer leads French 13th seed Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), 4-3 in a men’s fourth-round match also halted by showers.

B

LACK hood pulled up over his head, ice bag resting on his shoulder, Andy Roddick walked briskly into the parking lot to catch his waiting ride.

No time to linger or soak up memories at Flushing Meadows for the soonto-retire former champion.

After a rained-out night at the U.S. Open, he had to get ready for a quick turnaround and what he hopes will be a quick start when things resume Wednesday afternoon in his match against Juan Martin del Potro.

When Roddick returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium, he’ll be receiving serve with a 1-0 lead in the first-set tiebreaker.

Roddick was forced to sleep on the tie Tuesday night after going up an ear-

ONE MORE DAY. Andy Roddick’s retirement date will be moved one more day. That is if he loses in his rain-stalled match. ly break but giving it back with a rangy, flat forehand, when del Potro took advan- del Potro is the only man tage of three straight un- besides Roger Federer, Raforced errors to break in the fael Nadal or Djokovic to ninth game, then held serve win any of the last 30 Grand to even the set 5-5.

Slam titles.

They played for 55 minRoddick’s biggest test utes after a day of on-and- so far began in front of off rain at the season’s last thousands of empty seats, certainly owing to the Grand Slam tournament.

The seventh-seeded del rainstorm that sent fans Potro offers a whole differ- streaming toward the exit that leads to the 7 train ent kind of challenge.

Standing 6-foot-6 and back to Manhattan.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 133 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

CHAMPIONS. Members of Royal Mandaya Hotel-VMO with their supporters and officials whoop it up after clinching the championship of the recent Kadayawan Basketball Invitational. Right, Devon Sullivan soars high for a slam. (Jimmy Javier/RMH Photo)

gS basketball Cup returns G

AISANO South Cup, Davao’s premier inter-school league, returns to the basketball scene this year with colourful opening rites on Saturday at the newly-refurbished GS Skygym.

For the first time in the rich history of the school-based basketball league, the management of the Gaisano Grand Citimall llustre has prepared two festive opening rites with the first one on Saturday (September 8) at 1:30 pm at its 5th floor Entertainment Area.

“The opening on Saturday will be for the teams entered in mini, cadet and junior boys and girls,”

said Karla Giorgia P. Corcino, head of the Gaisano Grand Citimall Ilustre ad and promo department.

The second opening rites will follow four weeks after (October 6) for the college men and women division which has a combine total of 26 teams.

Corcino said “we will hold two opening ceremonies because we want the teams, the players, the coaches and school officials, to embrace the spotlight, which we believea they deserved”.

“The student-athletes are the main characters of the tournament, especially the kids,” she said.

Corcino, who is also the open-

ing rites director, kept the details of the program secret and hinted that a singer-actress from Manila will add color to the event.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios will grace the opening rites on Saturday and the former PBA Commissioner is expected to deliver a short message.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) spokesman Joey Romansanta will also attend along with SBP consultant Marcelino “Moying” Martelino.

Close to 90 teams are entered in the four-monthlong tournament which features competi-

tion in mini 12-under, cadet 14-under, junior boys and girls 17-under and senior collegiate men and women 24-under.

“It’s good to be back with another record breaking 89

teams in the fold,” said Corcino, who bared that 84 teams saw-action two year’s ago.

The mall management was not able to hold GS Cup last year due to roof renovation of its Skygym.