Edge Davao 5 Issue 142

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Unsa kahay hinungdan ‘tawon!

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Cop kills self

By Anthony S. Allada

Science\ Environment

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POLICE OFFICER reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself in the head inside the headquarters of the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office (DOPPO) in Mati City last Monday afternoon.

PO3 Roel Ramos was found lifeless with a bullet wound in his head at around 1:30 p.m. inside the DOPPO supply office. His issued service firearm, a .38 caliber revolver, was found beside his body.

Ramos was a resident of Lupon, Davao Oriental, and presently assigned at the PNP 11 Regional Internal Affairs Office (PNP-RIAO) based

Probers still looking into other angles Suicide committed inside police office

in Camp Catitipan.

He was in Mati City as part of his field work in the conduct of investigations involving fellow policemen.

Investigators said that even as they were giving weight to the suicide angle they are still looking into other angles that may shed light on the incident.

Ramos had served the PNP for almost 20 years, already a widower, Ramos was having a relationship with another woman at the time of his death.

NEW IDs. Senior citizens flock to the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building to claim their new identification cards yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR. ]

Sports

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Dads okay amended smoking ordinance

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Bigger fines on violators approved

SLAND Garden City of Samal City administrator Cleto Gales, Jr. has warned lot buyers amid the proliferation of dubious real estate projects in the city.

Recently, the Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board 11 chief, lawyer Miguel Palma Gil, bared that his agency is monitoring several illegal housing development projects on the island.

Considered as the premier tourist destination in the region, lot prices in Samal have shot up following the demand for lots in the area.

“We always remind potential buyers

to demand three things from real estate brokers: locational clearance, development permit, and license to sell.

The absence of one should be enough for them to cast doubt on the project,” Cleto said.

Last August, a project by the First Davao Millennium Property Ventures Services, Inc. also known as Millennium Property, was stopped by the HLURB 11. The real estate company is allegedly developing and selling lots located in barangay Limao, IGaCoS without the necessary permits.

Lawyer Palma Gil said Millennium Property does not even have a pending application before the housing agency, but it has gone ahead with selling lots.

FDADS, 11

Ramos is not the only policeman who allegedly committed suicide right inside a police office.

Last February, a policeman linked to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre of 57 persons committed suicide right inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. He was identified as PO2 Hernanie Decipulo of the 1508th Regional Mobile Group.

Also in May 2012, PO1 Maxgen Paco, while undergoing counter-insurgency training, killed himself inside his room within the training

camp in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.

In April 2009, PO1 Joelan Collendres, 24, a native of New Washington, Aklan, also shot himself dead inside a police station in Real, Quezon.

Insp. Bernard Espura of the Aklan Provincial Public Safety Management Company committed suicide inside the bachelor’s officer’s quarters of the Aklan Police Provincial Police Office in Camp Martelino, Barangay New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan in April of 2010.

In all those suicide cases, no clear motive was found by probers.

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Rotary club, DCWD to host peace forum

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N celebration of September considered in the Rotary Calendar as the New Generation Month, the Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao and its partner in service, Davao City Water District, will host a Peace Forum for the Youth on September 21, 2012, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Audio Visual Room of the University of Mindanao Bolton Campus.

The half-day Peace Forum for the Youth is intended to introduce to college students the different dimensions of the peace process in Mindanao – the reasons for conflict, the initiatives/activities done by all sectors, and possible contribution from the youth.

It is hoped that by raising their awareness, the participants may be able to build understanding and actively participate in the peace pro-

cess.

The resource speaker will be peace advocate and former cabinet secretary lawyer Jesus Dureza who will talk on the “Role of the Youth in Promoting Peace in Mindanao.”

Expected attendees are the different Rotary sponsored Rotaract clubs of Rotary International District 3860 headed by RC Waling-Waling’s Rotaract Club of Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku and Interact Club of University of Immaculate Conception.

These community and school based clubs are active in every Rotary activity..

The Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao hopes that the forum will help in promoting Rotary International 2012-2013 objective under the theme: Peace Through Service.

FIRE DRILL. Parents and teachers of Fil-Asian Mission Academy in Garcia Heights participate in a fire drill conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) yesterday. The fire drill targets to educate not only the students but also the parents and teachers.[ LEAN DAVAL JR.]

DRH eyes P350M revenue in 2012

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HE MULTI-AWARDED government-operated Davao Regional Hospital in Apokon, Tagum City is targeting an income of P350 million by the end of this year, showing an increase of P65-million, or 18-percent, compared to last year’s.

Hospital administrator Carlito U. Pillerin told members of the Rotary Club of East Davao in a recent speech at The Marco Polo Davao that in order to achieve the target, the hospital will have to adopt and develop a software for its information system that will monitor its patients as well as employees.

Pillerin said the 200-bed hospital was able to make money mainly from payment of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. for members

Pillerin admitted to the hospital.

Because of this, the DRH has been adjudged among the most improved government health facilities in the country.

With the enrolment of indigents in the government health insurance system, Pillerin said the hospital’s income will increase tremendously. Before the enrolment of indigents in PhilHealth, he said, about half of the supposed income of the hospital was written off annually be-

cause the patients could not afford to pay.

Once the indigents are covered by PhilHealth, the government also earns from them because Philhealth pays for their hospitalization, he said.

The hospital gets about P33 million annually from the national government as its budget for operations and maintenance. However, Pillerin said, the budget is so small, that the money is “only enough for hiring of contractual workers.”

He said the hospital’s income is enough to run it and provide better services to its clients. Last year, it served some 31,000 patients.

The information system, he pointed out, will monitor the movement of employees

By Anthony S. Allada

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HE STATE of the City Address (Soca) of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday afternoon will be anchored on her five-point direction agenda.

City Administrator Zuleika Lopez said the five points are Barangay Empowerment, Academe, Resource Generation, Peace and Order and Good Governance.

“The event will highlight the city’s accomplishments from July 2011 to September 2012 anchored on her 5-point direction agenda,” Lopez said.

The Soca will be deliv-

ered during the City Council session at 2 p.m. at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building.

Lopez said invitations have been sent out to representatives of the private and public sectors who will have reserved seats. Doors of the session hall will be closed at the start of the proceedings.

The mayor had said earlier that her speech will be shorter this time, perhaps only 30 minutes focusing only on the more important points.

“Accomplishments will be discussed and I will no

Doctor tears death certificate, defends self vs media attacks

By Carlo P. Mallo

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HERE IS nothing extraordinary in the tearing up of a spurious public document like death certificates, according to Danilo Ledesma, medico legal officer of the City Health Office, in an interview with Edge Davao.

Last September 10, Dr. Ledesma tore in half a death certificate which he deemed spurious. His action put him in hot water, and every day since then Ledesma has been lambasted by various radio commentators.

“Why would I sign the death certificate when it was not I who conducted the autopsy? It should be the attending medico

longer be talking about numbers this time,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio said her Soca will also be made available to the public and government offices.

As mandated by law, a copy of Soca report will be sent to the Department of Interior and Local Government while her report will be reproduced for public information through various modes like print publications, websites, and other modalities.

The mayor delivered her first Soca in October 2010, 100 days after she assumed as Chief Executive. [ASA]

legal officer of the institution that conducted the autopsy,” Ledesma said.

But since his name appeared on the death certificate, Ledesma found it necessary to tear the document in half.

“I even gave them the other half so that the details appearing in the document would not be lost,” Ledesma said.

The story began with the death of a certain Khean Marc Buscos, who allegedly died after he was injected with a vaccine at the city health center. The the autopsy was performed at the Southern Philippines Medical Center. However, the death certificate

contained the name of Danilo Ledesma as the attending physician.

“I asked them to go back to St. Peters Funeral Homes to get the correct death certificate.

But they wouldn’t listen, they refused to listen,” Ledesma said.

It was at that instance that Ledesma tore the death certificate in half.

“We do not take chances here. There are a lot of instances that these spurious documents are used to claim insurance, and can be used for other illegal acts,” Ledesma said, and appealed to the media not to resort to belowthe-belt bashing.

that sponsored members of PHIC would have no “balance billing”.

There are 18 hospitals contracted by PHIC nationwide to offer the Z benefit package and three are in Mindanao, one of them being the DRH. Illnesses covered by the Z benefit package are Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Kidney Transplant.

Dr. Rodel Flores, the chief medical training officer, said the new program brought by PHIC is called the Philhealth Z benefits package. He said the four chronic diseases covered in this package are considered the most common illnesses that patients cannot sustain because they

can drain people’s funds.

The Z package in coordination with the three agencies Department of Health (DOH), PHIC and DRH, offers this to patients undergoing the illnesses named.

Dr. Flores also said that compliance of the patients in the treatment of their sicknesses is very low, especially that most of the patients are in an average status.

According to him, this package covers the work up (check up), operation and therapy.

He said that the most common among the four cases is breast cancer because women have late detection due to their financial problems.

Philhealth bares Z benefit package

FDRH, 11

Sara to focus on her 5-point thrust State of the City Address 2012

EDGEDAVAO

By Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

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HE Philippine Health Corporation (PHIC) has bared its newest benefit package to its members.

The Z benefit package is offered at the lowest rate at the Davao Regional Hospital (DRH).

According to Karen Pilar, RN, transplant coordinator, the DRH has the cheapest kidney transplant cost compared to other hospitals where it would cost P700,000 to P1.2 million while DRH offers it for only P400,000. This was the rate even before the Z benefit package.

With the new Z benefit, the cash out of the patients or out of pocket would be even lesser, said Pilar, adding

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

SUBURBIA 3

Fund pledges for hospital in SoCot reach P118.4M

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CHECK-UP. Each of the identified malnourished children undergoes laboratory test and medical check-up as the Citywide Supplemental Feeding Program Re-launching kicked-off at Barangay Mankilam last September 12, 2012. [LEo tiMoGAN/Cio tAGUM]

Comprehensive feeding program seeks to address malnutrition T

O arrest the growing number of malnourished children in Tagum City, the City Nutrition Council re-launched the Supplemental Feeding Program to the identified 161 severely underweight preschool children from the 23 barangays that was jumpstarted in Barangay Mankilam last September 12, 2012.

Each of the undernourished children was

given first laboratory test and medical check-up to assess its physical condition before they could be enrolled in a 90-day feeding program as jointly conducted by the City Health Office headed by Dr. Arnel Florendo and City Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Mrs. Nora Lupiba.

These malnourished children, according to City health Action Officer and City Councilor Jo-

edel T. Caasi, who spearheaded the supplemental feeding program, were found out to perform poorly in school and were also susceptive to illnesses.

To ensure sustainability of the program and positive result in ensuring the improvement of the nutritional status of these children, the parents were oriented on the proper nutrition and feeding of their children.

The activity also saw the help of civic organizations such as the Tagum City Food Bank and the Rotary Club of Tagum that regularly conduct feeding activities in different barangays .

From 103 cases of severely malnourished children last year, the number rose to 161 this year due to increased population as a result to influx of settlers in the city. [MoNEt FEDERiso/Cio tAGUM]

HE provincial govOf the proposed P65.4 ernment of South million augmentation Cotabato has so funding from the DOH, far raised some P118.4 the governor said P50 million in funding com- million was set aside for mitments for the ongoing the building’s construcconstruction and devel- tion while the remaining opment of the provincial P15.4 million will be utihospital annex in Surallah lized for the purchase of town. the necessary hospital South Cotabato Gov. equipment.

Arthur Pingoy Jr. said SMC earlier increased Monday the Department its funding commitment of Health (DOH) Region for the project from P10 12 has proposed for an to P25 million to faciliaugmentation funding tate its implementation. of P65.4 million through SMC has been buildits budget for next year ing up its presence in the to speed up the develop- province following its ment of the hospital com- acquisition last year of a plex in Barangay Dajay in major coal mining projSurallah. ect in Barangay Ned in He said the addition- Lake Sebu town. al funding was on top of Sultan Energy Philipthe P28 million earlier pines Corp. sold its coal pledged by the agency un- mine project in Lake Sebu der its health facilities en- in June last year to SMC, hancement program for which also holds the coal the initial construction operating contract of Daphase of the project. guma Agro Minerals Inc. Business conglomer- in the same area. ate San Miguel CorporaStudies said the coal tion (SMC) had pledged mining area, which is an initial P25 million to part of the mineral-rich help fund the construc- Daguma Mountain tion of the hospital’s main Range, contains 426 milbuilding. lion metric tons of coal “The construction deposits. Initial exploraand related develop- tion and drilling results ment works have already have blocked 55 million started but we have yet metric tons of reserves to spend a single centavo that can be mined in 526 for the project. The ongo- hectares of the mountain ing works were funded by range. the pledges from the DOH The local government and SMC,” Pingoy said. is currently negotiating The municipal gov- with various government ernment of Surallah ear- and non-government enlier purchased a 4.8-hect- tities for additional conare lot worth P5.5 million tributions for the project, for the site of the provin- which was estimated to cial hospital annex, which cost P145 million when will be called Allah Valley finally completed. [Allen Community Hospital.

V. Estabillo/MindaNews] Cleansing of ARMM voters’ list:

61,000 double/multiple Bukidnon’s singing priests draw standing registrants discovered

ovations in Canada, huge audiences in US

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INOYS gave Bukidnon’s singing priests standing ovations in all their six concerts in Canada dubbed “concert of faith and prayer,” Conrado Casas Jr., parish priest of Lantapan town, Bukidno told MindaNews Sunday from Detroit, Michigan.

Casas said they held four concerts in Vancouver and two concerts in Toronto, where they were hosted by a family from Bukidnon. In all those cities, he said, the priests were invited to perform again next year.

Some of those who watched their concerts shed tears of joy, Casas said.

“Maybe they missed our country, especially for those from Bukidnon,” he added in his private message via social network.

So far, Casas said, they

received 95 percent performance rating by their audiences. “We are so happy,” he added.

Casas recalled that the best part of their tour was when they performed in cities where they were hosted by families of fellow Bukidnons.

The US leg of the tour, where they were joined

by Bishop Jose Cabantan, started on September 6 at the Philippine Consulate Office in New York.

Paring Bukidnon, as the singing priests are collectively known, performed in Detroit, Michigan on September 16.

Casas said they drew the biggest crowd so far in Queens, New York City.

Queens has the largest area and second biggest in population among the Big Apple’s five boroughs or districts.

He added that their first stop in Richmond

City, British Columbia, Canada had the smallest audience so far.

Casas said the tour, which is part of the Bukidnon Diocese’s fund-raising initiative to complete payment for the P10-million Diocesan Pastoral Center in Malaybalay City, is “our way of evangelizing the Pinoys through songs.”

According to the Church-run Ang Bandilyo newsletter, the diocese raised part of the amount from pledges generated from local concerts in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City.

The diocese launched its Project 555 to raise P5 million from local donors. So far, it has earned P3.62 million from local concerts, where Bishop Cabantan joined.

The Paring Bukidnon, a group of 13 priests from different parishes, will

perform until October 8 for their 29-city Canada and United States tour.

Their performances started on August 22.

From Detroit, Casas said they will have 15 concerts more before coming home.

Based on their pre-departure schedule, the priests will perform in Chicago (Sept. 18), El Dorado Hills Sacramento (Sept. 19), Our Lady of Lourdes, Colusa (Sept.

20), ELK Groove Sta. Maria Goretti, Sacramento (Sept. 21), Reno, Nevada (Sept. 22), Stockton (Sept. 24), Oakland (Sept.

25), Deli City or San Jose (Sept. 27), San Ramon (Sept. 28), Los Angeles (Sept. 29), Orange County (Sept. 30), National City, san Diego (Oct. 4), Mira Mesa, San Diego (Oct. 5), Bremerton (Oct. 7), and Seattle (October 8). [Walter I. Balane/MindaNews]

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HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has found through its Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) at least 61,416 double/multiple registrants in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as of September 11.

Records of 1,567,409 persons who applied for registration in the ARMM in July are presently undergoing cleansing through the AFIS but the process has not been completed, prompting the postponement, again, of the Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings. The ERB approves or disapproves the registration of applicants who trooped to the precincts in the five-province, twocity region during the tenday registration on July 9 to 18.

Comelec Resolution 9519 on September 13 moved to November 20-26 the ERB hearings which were originally

scheduled for August 1317 and later rescheduled to Sept. 20-26.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told MindaNews in a text message that the original timetables were set “with the assumption that AFIS would be running at maximum capacity which meant that we would be leasing additional server modules (called ‘blades’) but the blade lease was called off, for various reason, so we’ve had to readjust expectations.”

Comelec Resolution 9519 noted that as of 6:45 a.m. of September 8, the Information Technology Department (ITD) reported having completed “screening and investigation through the AFIS of only 610,397 records out of 1,567,409 registration records with 51,455 (8.43%) records with score 9999 (true hits) and 3,129 (0.51%) with scores below 9999.”[CARoLyN o. ARGUiLLAs/MiNDANEws]

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

For 2012 Future Policy Award

Tubbataha Reefs national marine park puts PHL in the shortlist T

HE Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park Act has put the Philippines in the shortlist for the 2012 Future Policy Award, according to a media release by the World Future Council (WFC).

“Six policies from five countries have now been shortlisted for the 2012 Future Policy Award, an international award that celebrates effective and exemplary policies. The Philippines are shortlisted for their Tubbataha Reefs National Park Act, 2010. California, Namibia, Palau, and South Africa are also still in the running,” the media release said.

“This year, the topic of the award is apparently the protection of oceans and coasts. At least 31 policies from 22 countries were nominated, ranging from integrated ocean and coastal policies, marine protected area programmes to laws regulating fisheries, train in marine products, marine litter and land-sea interactions.”

For the Philippines, the

Tubbataha Act of 2010 establishes the vital need for a national level policy to support local level action, giving perpetuity and authority to local level institutions to confront regional threats, such as illegal fishing, poaching and damaging fishing practices being done by foreign vessels.

Tubbataha has reportedly shown that “with carefully planned management, local communities need not bear the burden of closed protected areas, but can be their primary beneficiaries: as a nursery ground for fish, the reefs are supporting local artisanal fisheries.”

Located in the Sulu Sea, and 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Tubbataha is made up of atolls separated by an eight-kilometer stretch channel. The South Atoll is the smallest and the largest, the North Atoll; each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the Coral Triangle, a hotspot of marine biodiversity; and

despite threats, including overfishing, the reefs are in excellent condition, the media release further added.

The international policy research organization WFC that provides decision makers with effective policy

solutions grants the Future Policy Award.

The winning policy will be announced at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in September 2012. Winners will be celebrated at the 11th Confer-

ence of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, India, in October.

For this year’s theme, the World Future Council is partnering with the Secretariat of the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from the Okeanos Foundation.

[PNA]

illegal lumbering have increased significantly despite the log ban.”

EO 23 was issued by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on February 1, 2011 “to protect the remaining forest cover areas of the country not only to prevent flash floods and hazardous flooding but also to preserve biodiversity, protect threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species, and allow natural regeneration of residual forests and development of plantation forests.”

Among the evidences of large-scale illegal logging cited in the press statement is that “100 chainsaws were used to cut Lauan, Yakal, Narra and Falcatta trees in Sitio Gacub of Barangay Hinapuyan in Carmen.”

Logging equipment “like tractors and wreckers were deployed to make the extraction much faster,” it said.

More cutting At the center of the illegal logging activities is the 75,671 hectare managed forest of the Surigao Development Corporation (Sudecor) which cov-

ers Carmen and the towns of Madrid, Lanuza, Cortes, Tandag, Tago and San Miguel. Within this concession are five certificate of ancestral domain titles (CADT) given to Manobo communities.

Leaders of Lumads (indigenous peoples) also confirmed that the logging moratorium has ushered illegal loggers into their areas.

Paquito Maka, also known as Datu Pahilona, Manobo chief in Lanuza, said illegal logging in several upland communities is now widespread. But he admitted that some Lumads are also engaged in the trade in order to survive.

“Sa pagkakaron amo nang gikontra ang EO ni Aquino kay wa man hinoon nasumpo ang illegal logging. Gipahunong ang kumpaniya pero nanulod naman hinoon ang mga illegal” (We are against the EO because it hasn’t stopped illegal logging.

It stopped the company from logging but illegal loggers have taken over), another Manobo Datu, Eladio Montenegro or Datu Makaligoy, said.

The Datu, now based in Barangay Puyat, here told MindaNews that illegal logging is now also rampant in the towns of San Miguel and Tago.

Sudecor’s plight Sudecor had a Timber License Agreement (TLA) that expired in June 2011 but has an Integrated Forest Plantation Management Agreement (IFMA) approved in 2009.

The IFMA, however, has been put on hold because of the logging moratorium declared last year.

Sudecoris also facing a review pending the request of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for them to seek a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) from the tribal communities covered in the five existing CADTs. When the logging moratorium was imposed, Sudecor had to shut down its operations as the EO specified that IFMA holders are also banned from logging operations.

Rowil Aguillon, Woods Division head of Sudecor’s Management Committee, said the logging

LGUs’ development WHERE HAVE ALL THE FORESTS GONE? efforts to get boost Illegal logging intensifies in Surigao Sur despite total log ban

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UTHORITIES will guide Philippine local government units (LGUs) on mainstreaming poverty and environment (PE) concerns into respective development planning and programming initiatives to help better improve conditions nationwide.

Such assistance is part of the Philippines Poverty Environment Initiative (PPEI), a collaborative poverty reduction and environmental sustainability program of United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Program and the Philippine government withDepartment of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as leadimplementing partner.

“We’ll prepare a handbook and training manual on integrating PE linkages in planning and programming of LGUs nationwide,” DILG’s PPEI project management officer Rose Ann Cruz said Tuesday on the side of the Mining Philippines 2012 exhibit in Manila.

She said LGUs must be guided accordingly since not all these already mainstreamed PE concerns in respective planning and programming activities.

“We’re trying to find an entry point on how to really mainstream the matter in LGUs’ comprehensive land

use plan, annual investment plan, development plan and executive-legislative agenda,” she said.

LGUs that will benefit from information in the handbook and manual are ‘barangay’ villages, municipalities, cities and provinces, she noted.

Cruz said baseline studies authorities conducted last year in four pilot sites will be among inputs for the target publications.

The pilot sites are Bgy. Taganito in Claver, Surigao del Norte, Aroroy municipality of Masbate province; Toledo City in Cebu province and Benguet province, she said.

“In those sites, we’ll pretest the handbook and manual next year,” she noted.

Cruz said the government and its partners aim to publish both guides before 2012 ends.

Government and its partners commenced undertaking PPEI last year in line with the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan’s goal of enhancing nationwide competitiveness and growth.

The partnership seeks to strengthen local development planning on use of natural resources and revenues derived from these.

Such resources include mineral deposits around the country. [PNA]

SPECIAL REPORT

By Vanessa L. Almeda [1st of three parts]

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HE Aquino administration’s total log ban is endangering, instead of protecting, the remaining forest cover in the six towns of Surigao del Sur, as illegal logging activities have intensified at such an alarming scale, a church-led group in the province said.

“If the main intent of Executive Order No. 23 is to improve forest protection, how come illegal logging (has intensified) today at a scale so alarming, and illegal loggers seem to find refuge (in it),” Father Frank Olvis, Vicar Forane of the Diocese of Tandag’s Social Action Center (SAC), said.

Olvis heads the SAC zone of CarCanMadCarLanPar, the acronym for Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza and Parang towns in Surigao del Sur. The church-led group, which has been at the forefront of the anti-mining and anti-logging campaign in the province, lamented in a press statement sent to MindaNews last week that since January this year, “illegal logging, illegal cutting and

FWHERE, 11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

5

6

THE ECONOMY

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

‘Less yield but higher income from brown rice’ G

ROWING brown or “unpolished” rice through organic methods gives less yield but the variety commands a higher price compared to white rice, a farmer in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur said Thursday.

Clemencio Resola, 51, member of Magsaysay Organic Farmers Marketing Cooperative (Mofarmco), said he produces 65 sacks of brown rice with 60 kilo each. Six years ago, he produced 80 sacks of non-organic white rice before shifting to organic farming.

However, the income from brown rice is higher by 20 percent as its target farm gate price is P19 per kilo, while non-organic white rice is sold at P16 per kilo, he added.

Mofarmco participated in the brown rice campaign tour,

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part of the good food project initiated by the Oxfam International and Dakila – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism last September 13 at the Abreeza Mall here.

Mofarmco, the distributor of Magsaysay Rice or “MagRice” produced by farmers in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, retails organic brown rice at P40 a kilo.

Having 22 members and a total of at least 40 hectares of rice farms, the cooperative distributes MagRice to malls in the cities of Davao, Digos and General Santos.

Resola said the cost of production is also less with organic rice because the farmers make the pesticides and fertilizers themselves such as vermicompost, cow milk and honey.

Brown rice production saves on labor, energy, mainte-

nance cost and shortens milling time because rice millers can do away with polishing and re-polishing rice, according to Oxfam.

The local government unit (LGU) first provided the cooperative with organic farming technologies and seedlings until Magsaysay farmers became able to sustain the production, Resola said.

Grow campaign The good food project aims to encourage small farmers to produce brown rice, and consumers to include brown rice in their regular diet.

Jessan Catre, interim coordinator of Oxfam Mindanao Programme, told reporters that Oxfam’s Grow campaign helps shift the market’s thinking on brown rice through online campaign and social networking.

He added that aside from mall exhibits, the groups will also visit communities.

Noel Cabangon of Dakila, who attended the event, said shifting a mindset is not that easy and that is why the campaign takes a longer period as it is the culture of Filipinos that needs to be changed.

“Eventually it (brown rice) will be competitive and easily available. We value the benefit we get from brown rice.”

He said the LGU’s participation is necessary in the campaign because it is the political will of leaders that will help make brown rice more accessible to the consumers.

“It is for the public to make a choice. We can’t compel them but they have to be informed,” he added. [LoRiE ANN CAsCARo/MiNDAN-

SM City Lanang takes malling to a new level with green archi

M City’s newest premier mall in the Davao City, which is set to open on September 28 this year, takes malling to a new level with the adoption of green architecture components in the construction of the SM City Lanang Premier.

“We have installed a rain-catchment system capable of handling 550 cubic meters of water in accordance with the new city ordinance requiring a rainwater catchment system for all new constructions,” SM City Lanang Premier mall manager Clarice Lapeňa said during a press conference held at SM City Ecoland Monday, in preparation for the September 28 opening of the new mall.

Ordinance No. 0298-09, series of 2009, which mandates the proper harvest, storage and use of the city’s rainwater, was authored by former councilor Leonardo Avila. Establishments that will construct rainwater catchments in their projects are set to receive tax rebates from the government while violators will be penalized.

Avila earlier said that the rainwater catchment system will help mitigate flooding and canal erosion in the urban areas. Lapeňa said the RCS will prevent the overloading of the creek near the area.

The mall has also adopted other green architecture components such as the use of glass pavers in the open parking area. Glass pavers are considered an environment-friendly option as they are recycled from glass bottles. With proper sandblasting, the glass pavers become slip-resistant and provide maximum water absorption characteristics. The use of glass pavers in the mall’s open parking space results to minimum water run-off, Lapeňa said.

LED lights, which are more efficient and cost-effective since they last longer than the ordinary light bulbs, are used throughout the mall. Louvers were also used to deflect and block daylight, making the indoor cooling system more efficient.

And to minimize the carbon monoxide emission,

SM City has installed park finders in the parking lot.

The gadget will help drivers

Ews]

maximize their fuel use as they will easily determine the availability of a parking

PACKAGE. Regional Director Ma. Lourdes D. Lim of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) 11, right, says that the country’s development should

space when there is a green light, or the red light if it is occupied. [LAC]

be viewed as a package of different sectors during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Mall Monday. With her is City Agriculturist’s Office head Leo Avila. [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

ICT HUB 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Apple gets 2M orders for iPhone 5 in 24 hrs.

A

PPLE received more than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 in just 24 hours, the company said, pushing back many deliveries into October because of unprecedented demand. “iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, on Monday.

Apple unveiled the new version of its iconic smartphone last Wednesday and opened up pre-orders on Friday.

The company said the hot item would be available in 100 countries around the world by year’s end.

The first customers in the United States and several other countries are expected to get the device September 21, but Apple said some would have to wait.

“Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October,” an Apple statement said.

Apple’s US website said orders placed would be shipped in two to three weeks.

The iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store and its retail outlets, and for US customers through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless,

Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and other resellers.

AT&T said in a statement it set a sales record with iPhone 5 over the weekend, making it the fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered, but gave no specific numbers.

The carrier said it will be selling the iPhone 5 in AT&T retail stores on Friday.

In New York, a handful of people were already camped outside the Apple store on Fifth Avenue awaiting the new smartphone, but all were sponsored by companies or apps seeking publicity.

First in line was a man identifying himself as Sagitarius Catharsis, equipped with a chair, small table and blanket, who said he was promoting a local chat service called App Vibe.

Also in the queue was Keenen Thompson, 22, who said he works in “fashion” and was sponsored by Gazelle, a company which buys old phones and old computers in trade-ins.

“We already waited 18 days for iPhone 4S last year,” he told AFP. “We decided to do it again.

There’s no fun in ordering it on Internet. Here people pass by and talk.”

Joshua Chinchilla, 23, an account manager for the mobile banking app Refundo, said he and a colleague plan to be among the first to get the new iPhone early Friday.

He said his compa-

ny is providing chairs, and sweaters and that “tomorrow there will be thunderstorms, hopefully we’ll get umbrellas too.”

Some analysts say Apple could sell 10 million in the opening days and 50 million before the end of 2012.

Apple shares extended their rally Monday, gaining 1.2 percent to end at a new record $699.80, giving the world’s most valuable firm a market worth of $654 billion.

In after-hours trading, shares edged above $700.

Many analysts remained bullish on Apple because of the iPhone and other products, including a rumored new mini-iPad expected to be launched later this year.

“Bolstered by the iPhone 5, we believe Apple’s industry-leading software ecosystem and integrated hardware expertise will lead to a strong multiyear product cycle,” said Michael Walkley at Canaccord Genuity.

“We reiterate our buy rating and $797 price target.”

Ben Reitzes at Barclays commented: “The pace of this iPhone 5 roll-out is the fastest in the iPhone’s history and points to a big December quarter.”

Reitzes said the only thing holding Apple back is the possibility of “significant production constraints,” but added this would push “a significant amount of units into the December and March quarters.”

other cities in the report.

A similar level of patience is required to buy Apple’s smartphone in Delhi, where a worker needs 369.5 hours’ worth of income; Jakarta, 348.5 hours; and Mumbai, 338 hours.

In Zurich, on the other hand, one only has to work 22 hours to be able to buy an iPhone, UBS said.

Only 29.5 hours of work are needed to buy the Apple smartphone in Luxembourg; 32 hours in Chicago; and 32.5 hours in Miami and Sydney.

Manila, however, posted a slightly better performance by not ranking last

when it comes to the work time needed to afford a kilogram of rice (28 minutes), a kilogram of bread (70 minutes) and McDonald’s Big Mac burger (73 minutes), although the city’s performance belonged still to the bottom five.

“A rise in global average wages can be observed compared with 2009. This has had a consistently positive impact on purchasing power for certain goods,” UBS said.

The report compares consumers’ purchasing power with prices of 122 goods and services for a month until the end of May. [Yahoo!]

How long do Pinoys have to work to buy an iPhone?

A

RE you a Manila worker itching to buy a new iPhone?

If so, you would have to save over 10 weeks’ worth of income to afford one, UBS’ latest Price and Earnings study showed.

An average worker in the Philippine capital city would have to work 435 hours to earn enough money to buy a 16-gb iPhone 4S. This translates to 9.6 weeks assuming a 45hour work week.

A worker in Manila would have to endure the longest wait to own Apple’s hit mobile phone compared to those in 71

Customers hoping to buy the new iPhone 5 line up outside the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York on September 17.

The thinner, lighter, more powerful iPhone has been among the most keenly anticipated products in the tech world.

Made of glass and aluminum, it features a new design to nestle in one’s palm to naturally align with thumbs and works on the faster mobile Internet networks known as LTE. The US Federal Trade Commission warned meanwhile that scammers were already seeking to cash in on iPhone mania, with emails offering a chance to get one.

“Don’t reply, and don’t click on links provided in the message,” the FTC said. “Links can install malware on your computer and take you to spoof sites that look real but whose purpose is to steal Apple last week unveiled its new iPhone 5 -- a lighter, thinner and more powerful version of its iconic mobile device, staking its claim to leadership in your information.” the red-hot smartphone market.

F

Facebook shakes up engineering teams

ACEBOOK on Thursday said that it has shaken up its engineering teams to make targeting smartphones a top priority at the world’s leading social network.

“We have really just re-organized the company to build faster on mobile,” Facebook director of product management Peter Deng said during a briefing with reporters at the company’s campus in Menlo Park, California.

“In the past six months we transplanted mobile engineers to the other teams,” he continued. “Slowly, over time

we are making everyone a mobile engineer.”

Facebook users have been shifting from accessing the social network on desktop computers or laptops to smartphones and tablet computers, where the company doesn’t serveup money-making ads.

About 7,000 different models of mobile devices are used daily to connect with Facebook and the challenge is to tailor experiences for each gadget, according to Facebook product manager Mick Johnson.

A focus on HTML 5 technology to connect

across the spectrum of smartphones using mobile Web browsers resulted in lackluster results, according to Facebook.

“The performance wasn’t what our users expected and we weren’t happy with it either,” Johnson said.

Facebook released a rebuilt application for iPhones a few weeks ago and saw its rating in Apple’s online App Store go from two to four stars.

“Internally, we are psyched,” Johnson said.

“This is really just the start of the road for us; there are many things we want to do.”

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO Honoring a slain ambassador

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

OpiniOn

By DaviD RohDe

T

EDITORIAL

A

Decaying wharf and justice

NOTHER exciting development in Davao City has to do with the plan of the government to expand the international harbor at barangay Sasa. This is a very important project that would further promote trade and commerce in this part of the country. Right now, the wharf is in a state of disrepair as funds for its rehabilitation were diverted instead to the roll-on/roll-off program, later found to be grossly overpriced apart from being more than what the country needed.

National Economic Development Authority 11 Director Ma. Lourdes Lim said the government is ready to accept proposals from the private sector to upgrade and operate the dilapidated Sasa Wharf, the region’s primary port of entry and exit for imports and exports.

The expanse of the wharf is pockmarked with holes, exposed steel cables, and does not have a gantry crane that could expedite the loading and unloading of cargo on and off vessels. No less than Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) members have complained about the decaying facility and government’s failure to quickly fix it.

Lim said the government intends to implement an expansion program for the wharf which will increase its capacity for handling more cargo vessels. No less than Enrique Razon, the billionaire behind International Container Terminal Services, Inc., reportedly plans to bid for Sasa Wharf should the Philippine Ports Authority decide to privatize the port.

As it is the wharf has become too small for the rapid growth of the shipping and cargo-handling

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industry. A more modern wharf being developed by the Anflo Management Corporation of the Floirendo family in Panabo City threatens to overtake Sasa wharf as a premier port if the government doesn’t watch out. Given the usual lethargy government is notorious for, and the dynamism of the private sector, that is not impossible at all.

However, government has an ace in Sasa if its (government) officials will put their act together.

Unbeknownst to many of us, one half of the wharf of about 10 hectares was donated by the Reta family of Davao whose philanthropic Bangoy roots were likewise responsible for donating more than 60 hectares of the old Francisco Bangoy airport to the government. There is still space of about five hectares at the wharf still owned by the Retas which the family can sell or even donate for the expansion of the wharf. However, this is not possible if government, through the Bureau of Customs, continues to be unfair to one of the Retas, particularly businessman Rodolfo Reta, whose legitimate business –a designated examination area (DEA)- was padlocked by some Customs officials after he reported about a shipment of smuggled rice. The closure, which was questioned by Reta in court and the Ombudsman, was first done by Customs personnel of the past corrupt administration and perpetuated by new BOC centurions. Being fair to Reta could be a good start in the government’s desire to improve Sasa wharf. That is, if the government, starting with Customs Commissioner Raffy Biazon, is indeed sincere in this so-called expansion plan.

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( Conclusion )

HE reaction from other corners has been disappointing. Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi and Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued statements that condemned the video more forcefully than they did the killings of the diplomats.

The tepid responses are unjustifiable and reflect a widespread assumption among conservative Muslims that the United States government tacitly supports the video. In societies where leaders have tightly controlled public debate for decades, American explanations about the need for freedom of speech are viewed skeptically.

And in the United States, a predictably petty campaign spat emerged, with Mitt Romney and other conservatives accusing President Obama of responding to the attacks too meekly. Liberals, in turn, ridiculed Romney and questioned his mental state.

Among average Americans, the murder of Stevens is likely to reinforce a widespread desire for the United States to get out – and get out now – of the Middle East. After losing 7,978 American lives and at least $1.2 trillion in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are understandably exhausted with the region.

I agree that our military invasions have been disastrous but believe there are other tools we can use, from diplomacy to trade to technology, to support moderate Muslims.

A historic struggle between conservatives and liberals is underway across the Islamic world. It is vital that the United States find a way to more consistently, cheaply and effective support moderates in the region.

In many ways, Stevens embodied that new approach. The northern California native worked as Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and then gave up a career as an international trade lawyer to become a diplomat. He then spent twenty years working as a diplomat across the Middle East. In Libya, he coordinated aid to the Libyan opposition during the 2011 uprising. After becoming ambassador, he spent hours listening to Libyans and differentiating among them.

“He represented what you hoped would be the model of a new American diplomat,” said Ward, the former colleague. “He was much happier rolling his sleeves up and going to work and talking to Libyans.”

The best way to honor Stevens is to bring the perpetrators to justice, condemn the bigotry on all sides and increase our interaction with the Muslim world, not decrease it. That is the most powerful way to counter the conspiracy theories, prejudice and stereotypes spawned by extremists.

Bigots on both sides want us to fear, dehumanize and denigrate each other.

Three weeks before he died, Stevens re-opened the American consulate in Tripoli and announcedthat visas would be issued to hundreds of Libyan businessmen, journalists and students to visit the United States. He said that increasing trade, educational ties and interaction between the two countries was vital.

“Relationships between governments are important, but relationships between people are the real foundation of mutual understanding,” he said. “So, my message to Libyans today is ahlan wasahlan bikum.

You are welcome to visit America, and there’s the door!”

We should open doors, not close them.

EDGEDAVAO

F

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Where is the track leading?

EELING THE PAIN IN UNANTICIPATED WAYS – The present socio-economic mood isn’t helped by more negative news about how the Aquino administration is running the affairs of government. Political watchers debated continuously whether the PNoy leadership is still on track. Despite bold predictions of economists about a brighter economic outlook, new problems reportedly continue to brew, and President Aquino is under pressure. Not surprisingly, recent surveys show his popularity rating has plateaued and might be on the decline.

Even if the country at present is undergoing a gradual economic growth, the opposition bloc and severe critics say people are clearly beginning to feel the pain in unanticipated ways. Their nasty and bitter side comments are accompanied by a summary of the country’s current state of affairs. Unemployment rate rises at accelerating pace, shortages of some basic commodities have led to rising prices, long lines at stores and vocal protests. People had for months been resigned to the fact that higher fuel prices have hurt tremendously.

In fact, critics continue, the country’s socio-economic condition still looks good – only on the surface. But crime seems to be increasing despite claims by law officials to the contrary; in many instances, some rogue policemen along with equally scalawag military personnel are behind sensational cases of kidnapping, bank robbery and murder.

The illegal drug trade likewise continues unabated and deeply rooted in society.

PNoy’s problems don’t end there. The perception was that his leadership miserably failed to offer solutions and look for alternatives to solve the problem of power blackouts, the same problem that dogged the past administration of her late mother Corazon Aquino.

Of course, even the punishing to death of some OFWs working in the Middle East for major criminal offenses and of the hundreds more languishing in jail for various infractions of the law renewed perceptions that the Aquino dispensation has not been doing enough to protect the welfare of some 4.5 million Filipinos working overseas. No one, of course, said being the nation’s president would be easy – though PNoy has at times allegedly made it look so. Now the big question is: where is the track leading? Harsh political critics warn PNoy is faltering pointing out that political, social and economic growths are fast diminishing.

President Aquino, however, remains undeterred by the dire predictions and warnings. In the midst of perceived socio-economic imbalances, government economic think-tanks and fund managers, and private economists continued to be optimistic and predict the country’s economic growth rate will remain high. They noted that the trade

numbers recently have been encouraging, adding further that if there are bright economic spots in the country, then the business sector is in a position to exploit them to its advantage.

Providing a rundown, government economists emphasized that inflation is under control, government deficit has been wiped out and the exchange rate has been stable.

Exports likewise have improved significantly and the economy is being opened up, providing a stronger foundation for competition. But other economists are pessimistic still. For one, they lament the rudderless drift government has been in since PNoy assumed power in 2010. Moreover, the alleged ongoing factionalism among the President’s trusted people is the most serious aspect of the country’s interlocking problems.

While political experts may continuously argue about the country’s current state of affairs, people on the other hand, always have high expectations of the present man at bat. PNoy’s strong supporters and loyal sympathizers say that if he stays on the course he chartered in 2010, his topmost accomplishment should be the uplifting of the social and economic condition of the Filipino people and the Filipino nation. In the eyes of his believers, President Aquino has already shown he can work political mystic.

But between now and 2016, PNoy may need to crack the whip if need be and exert a lot more of wizardly – leadership character and administrative prowess to meet more challenges ahead.

(This piece is a chapter of a still unfinished novel. The characters are fictitious, but the story is based on the author’s personal encounters with victims of martial law. By victims, the author refers not only to those who suffered but also to those who lost their own humanity by inflicting inhumane acts on their fellow Filipinos.)

dimmed or shone brighter with the indignities of each torture session.

Karlo’s unwanted visitors always came as a pair, one in a sleek uniform with a stern, although well chiseled face, the other a burly, balding aide who never spoke and wore a blank stare and was barely aware of the prisoner’s presence, the kind of man who would exist only when it becomes necessary. It could have been an excellent subject in behavioral analysis, the way Karlo’s tormentors performed their job with the insensitivity and efficacy of programmed machines. The interrogator, the officer in sleek uniform, barked his questions – or demands – with the tone of practice.

He did all the verbal tasks, many times stooping down to shout in Karlo’s ears while grabbing the prisoner’s hair and angling his face upward, to see the pain and fear in his bludgeoned eyes.

The aide was as brutal in his silence.

No order was needed; he knew exactly when to turn the knob on that contraption that pricked Karlo’s naked body with a regulated amount of electric volts.

At times the shock entered through Karlo’s nipples, at times through his genitals. Either way, his limbs would lurch in a sensation that was more than pain. And whenever the knob was turned off Karlo would slump back, his breathing tired but fast, his whole being on the brink of total despair urging him to commit the convenient, shameful act of betraying his comrades and all the truths that he

had stood for. In between the electrocution the aide would land blows on Karlo’s cheeks, abdomen and lobes. At some intervals, the aide would light a cigarette and make an ashtray of Karlo’s arms, legs and belly. Karlo, however, proved to be a tough nut to crack the torturers had to use virtually all techniques at their disposal to break his spirit, or at least, his sanity – water cure, wet submarine, dry submarine, techniques the military had learned in Fort Bragg, reputed to be a training ground in the art and science of counterinsurgency for military officers in repressive Third World regimes.

But for five days and five nights in a row Karlo held on, sustained by sheer will and by forcing his mind to neglect the brutal, physical pain by drifting into a stream of pleasant memories, to his days as a toddler frolicking in the river with his mother, brothers and sisters, naked, innocent, laughing and unafraid of the sun. His spirit wandered back to the happiest corners of the past, until the pain from the beatings, the electric shocks, the cigarette burns and all waned into nothingness so that on his fifth night in cold hell, Karlo no longer felt fear when the interrogator and his aide walked in.

The predictable questions had become inaudible and the blows capable of inflicting pain no more, although Karlo was unsure whether it was his mind or flesh – or maybe both – that had turned numb.

Years after he regained his freedom, when a new government had assumed power and when he already had a family of his own and his children had all reached near-puberty, Karlo would harbor doubts whether he really survived the torture inflicted on him.

Rage and courage: Cold hell

N

VANTAGE POINTS

O matter how much he squinted Karlo could not make out if the walls of the room were made of bricks or of hollow blocks pasted together by concrete. The solitary source of light, a ten-watt incandescent bulb, hanged directly overhead from a ceiling worn out by rats, the elements and time, its faint illumination exploding on his bruised, bloodied face every time he raised his eyes, now almost closed by contusions and blood clots. He felt he could not move a muscle, not a hair even, maybe not even his spirit, the one thing that had kept him alive and able to breathe whatever remained of the little air of freedom around him.

Karlo struggled to recall every detail of what he had gone through and, in a mix of despair and feeling of abandonment, he tried to attach meanings to it all.

How many days had he been tied to this cursed chair of cursed men and women in this cursed chamber of… He found himself groping for words to describe the sadism and cold-blooded bestiality of his unwanted visitors in this cold hell that seethed with the hatred of the oppressors and the wrath of the oppressed, a place that had witnessed the strength of spirit of comrades who had suffered hell like him as well as, betrayal of comrades by comrades, of friends by friends.

Here the flame of subversion had either

9

Cybercrime law and obnoxious Facebook photo tagging

A

new anti-cybercrime bill has just been signed into law.

Republic Act 10175 intends to correct and augment whatever inadequacies previous laws had, particularly the e-Commerce law and the Revised Penal Code.

This recent measure has not been published yet on newspapers, the Implementing Rules and Regulations are yet to be crafted, but some netizens are already apprehensive of its unwitting implications. Central to their concerns are the possible unbridled curtailment of the speech freedom and that of the press.

By extension, bloggers share the same feeling.

Anyone who uses the computer and internet falls within the ambit of the law. And so are those who are into identity theft, hacking, Nigerian financial scams, cybersex and unsolicited ad emails, among others.

All right, this is not a legal brief. I am not a scholar of law, not even a lawyer myself yet.

Nor do I appear before Their Honors arguing a case with few pockets of boring legalese and worn-out hackneyed words, sometimes not even the Devil himself could understand, much less a young counsel trying to sound ala de campanilla.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 presents an altered playing field to cybercriminals. Many of those who would be guilty under the new law were previously prosecuted under lesser offenses defined by older and antiquated penal laws. The short title though is not perfectly apt. Probably, many have yet to realize that other equally significant provisions pertain to the use of digital information in improving the manner with which the government delivers basic services. Traffic management, disaster alarm system and protection of intellectual property of artists, among others, are also covered by the new measure. Under pain of already sounding redundant, I do not seriously consider heavily PhotoShopped photos of amateur and professional photographers alike as works of art.

They should be appropriately called as graphic designs, outputs of skilled workers and technicians, not of photographers as artists in truest sense. What is PhotoShop to photos is cosmetic surgery to the human face. Anyway, be that as it may.

Interestingly, RA 10175 also criminalizes unwarranted and unsolicited advertising emails, more commonly called as spam emails. In fact, it is very stringent. To avoid being prosecuted, you need prior consent of your intended recipient, which, I fear, is impractical considering the apparent difficulty in tracing the origin, particularly if a spammer only uses any of those internet cafes along the street. What is more intriguing is if the same provision may extend to the obnoxious habit of photo tagging almost anyone on your FB friend list. I have no objection to photo tagging per se, as long as it is relevant, shared experience, necessary to a profession, vocation or advocacy or highly informative, like notices of water disruption or power outages. They are most welcome, of course. But to find your own FB Timeline swamped with photos and graphics which are utterly off tangent, outrageously impertinent or contemptibly trivial is an altogether different matter. Only one word could best describe that habit: vainglorious. The restrained practice is obnoxious and an aberration to what is bright and beautiful with these social networking sites. Yes, psychologists opine that vanity was primarily behind FaceBook’s meteoric success. But who truly, deeply and genuinely cares about those lotions, sale offers, promos, lots for sale, spare parts, etc.? It is like shouting outside someone’s gate without having been invited to come in. The ethical way to do it is to put up an FB page. For now, we have the Timeline Review option. I particularly use it most effectively and most often.

FaceBook is inevitable. If you do not appreciate its vast uses and potentials, you must have been born in the 2nd century BC. Countless studies have revealed how effective it is in increasing visits to a site. A New York-based firm conducted a study and reported that FaceBook comes only second, next to Google, in generating internet traffic.

Internet is a human creation and it has its own faults. As with any human invention, it is either a bane or a boon. “Think before you click”, one TV campaign says. Most importantly, THINK.

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

2,500 seedlings planted for riverside rehab project

A

total of 2,500 seedlings have already been planted along the riverbank of Brgy. Tamugan for the on-going Riverside Rehabilitation Project of Davao City Water District and its partners. Recent addition were the 290 Malibago seedlings planted near the junction of

the Tamugan River and Talomo River specifically in Sitio Acacia and Sitio Davao Gulf by the students of the University of South Eastern Philippines (USEP) on September 10, members of the Women and the Environment in the Barangay (WEB) on September 1 and members of the Wa-

TREE PLANTING. Members of the Women and the Environment in the Barangay (WEB) help plant the 2,500 seedlings in Brgy. Tamugan specifically along the riverbanks of Davao River and Tamugan River through the Riverside Watershed Rehabilitation project of WEB, Davao City Water District, University of Southeastern Philippines, Watershed Management Youth Council, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Watershed Management Coordinating Council and the barangay council of Brgy. Tamugan.

tershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) on August 5.

Said activities are part of the agreement entered into

by DCWD, USEP, WMYC, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Watershed Management Coordinating Council and the barangay council of Brgy. Tamugan last October 2011 wherein all parties pledged to jointly use their manpower and resources to rehabilitate, enhance and maintain portions of the Davao River and Tamugan River by planting 5,000 trees along their riverbanks.

The agreement has also become very instrumental in extending help to the scholars of “Tahanan ng Pag-asa” in Lower Tamugan National High School. Aside from the tree planting activity conducted, the USEP students donated nine sacks of rice, goods and used clothings to the 10 beneficiaries of the school’s housing program. This program aims to encourage selected students who live in far flung barangays to pursue and finish secondary education by allowing them to live in a bunkhouse strategically located near the school premises. It can be recalled that June this year, DCWD gave donations to the students and for which school officials and the scholars were very thankful. [JoVANA t. DUhAyLUNGsoD]

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Notice is hereby given that IMELDA P. LEE, whose picture appears above, is no longer connected with Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. effective July 16, 2012.

Any transaction entered into

by IMELDA P. LEE in behalf of Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. will not be honored.

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

In Pantukan

St. Augustine Gold & Copper renovates school buildings

S

T. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd (SAGCL) announced that is has recently renovated the old Department of Education (DepEd) district supervisor’s office and built one classroom building for the Alternative Learning System (ALS). Both the office and the classroom are located inside KCES campus in Pantukan.

St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd (SAGCL) is the Toronto-listed mining

firm that is working to develop the King-king Copper- Gold Project (KCGP) in the municipality of Pantukan in Compostela Valley province.

“The company is “committed to supporting the growth of the people of Pantukan” said Clyde Gillespie, Director of Environmental Permitting for SAGC/KCGP. We are determined to help build a better future in partnership with the local communities.”

Mr. Gillespie says that these community assistance projects are part of SAGC’s efforts to engage the people of Pantukan in meaningful dialogues, hear everyone’s viewpoints arrive at a consensus on how best to proceed with this project.”

In addition to the school renovation, SAGC also conducted other community assistance projects such as medical outreach programs, com-

FST. AGUSTIN, 11

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Notice is hereby given that

JESSICA M. PADILLO, whose picture appears above, is no longer connected with Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. effective January 26, 2012.

Any transaction entered into

by JESSICA M. PADILLO in behalf of Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. will not be honored.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

LIvELIHOOD PROJECT. 2nd district Rep. Mylene Garcia joins participating women of the Rural Improvement Corps (RIC) of paquibato

Dads...

district as they go through a food processing training (in white apron).

The livelihood program of the lady lawmaker was made possible with

DRH...

FFROM 1

The project, which is located in Limao, Penaplata, has no development permit or registration from the city government of IGaCoS. He said the company has been selling portions of the property without (a) a

Where...

development permit, (b) a certificate of registration, and (c) a license to sell.

Aside from a robust real estate industry, most of which consist of resort residences, the island is also home to over 70 registered resorts.

“We expect tourism and the real estate industry to even grow as more and more people see the wonders of Samal, especially if the proposed Davao to Kota Kinabalu flights push through,” Cleto said.

reserve.

“We have adopted the policy since 1992 to ban logging in old-growth forests under silvicultural prescriptions,” Aguillon said. He explained that they cut trees at an almost a 50-year cycle, cutting only 10 to 15 trees for every one-hectare forest.

“What we found in Barangay Hinapuyan were trees

at least 30 years already and they were not supposed to be cut,” he said.

Since the temporary shutdown in 2011, Sudecor has withdrawn its 26 forest concession guards. The absence of the guards, however, has made it easy for illegal loggers to enter. [MindaNews] [toMoRRow: PANDo-

(KCES), “this shows how serious and committed St. Augustine is in helping the schools and the Pantukan community as a whole. We hope that we can continue our partnership for many more years so that many more students in Pantukan can benefit from their generosity.”

St. Augustine Gold &

Copper Ltd. is currently studying the feasibility of mining the King-king copper and gold deposit in Pantukan. In connection with this, they are conducting extensive environmental and social baseline studies, community consultations, exploratory drillings and other related studies within the area.

FFROM 4

moratorium has inadvertently perpetuated illegal logging activities instead of stopping it, with the vast concession area of the Puyat-owned company as haven for illegal loggers and greedy government officials.

According to Aguillon, 92% of its total concession is still forested, including about 20% forest

St. Augustine...

RA’s box]

FFROM 10

munity feeding, assistance to Barangay health services, improving the water system of Pantukan, and the donation of 1,500 school bags and school supplies to seven public schools in Pantukan.

According to Ms. Renee Jabines, the school principal of Kingking Central Elementary School

the assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

ROMANTIC NOvELS. A lady looks into a bookstore’s wide collection of romantic novels hoping to find something she likes at the Annex of SM City Mall Davao yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

FFROM 2

as well as patients. An average of two patients a month leave the hospital without being noticed by management.

The information system will also instill discipline among employees who will be monitored if they sneak out of the facility, Pillerin added. “That will mean an increase in their productivity,” he told the Rotary club headed by Florante Santiago, a ranking regional official of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) based in Davao City.

The hospital is one of the tertiary hospitals in the country that the government-run health insurance

company has identified as capable of offering specialized benefits for patients with life-threatening illnesses.

Pillerin said this would also help the hospital achieve its target. Under the Z benefits, patients with catastrophic illnesses can avail of special packages like P210,000 for acute lymphocytic leukemia, P100,000 for breast cancer, P100,000 for prostate cancer; and P600,000 for kidney transplant.

On kidney transplant, the 2007-2011 Transplant Census Report of the Philippine Renal Disease Registry identified the Davao Region-

al Hospital as the best among the 13 hospitals offering the service outside of Metro Manila.

Among all hospitals in the country, the DRH is reportedly number eight in terms of efficiency in kidney transplant.

In the Davao region, the DRH, the Southern Philippines Medical Center and the Davao Doctors Hospital were identified in the report as offering the treatment.

Early this year, the regional hospital opened its Cancer Center which has a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, a machine used in killing cancer cells.

as long as the institution or the hospital is accredited with the PHIC. He added that “the requirement for this would be the usual requirement of PHIC, like for surgical case, like breast cancer, you should have a minimum of nine months of payment to PHIC in one year, and must be updated.”

From the official publication of DRH, the Infocus, it was stated that the PHIC unveiled on July2, 2012 the Z

benefit package led by President Noynoy Aquino III and Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona. Z benefit is a benefit for any catastrophic illness that requires prolonged hospitalization. The package also covers necessary services that include payment for room and board, drugs and medicines, laboratory, operating room, and professional fees and mandatory services for the entire course of treatment.

Philhealth...

FFROM 2

The program is dubbed “Bag-ong Pag-asa para sa Masa.” Breast cancer operation could cost as much as P100,000 while if you are a PHIC member, the operation would be free plus the six sessions of chemotherapy.”

The other three illnesses also have the same coverage in the package.

Dr. Bryan Dalid from Cancer Center for Mindanao said Z benefits would cover all members with the mentioned illnesses nationwide

Edge Davao hiring editor, 3 reporters

EDGE DAVAO is in need for an editor and three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program.

The three reporters will be assigned to the business, science/environment and political beats.

On the other hand, the editor will supervise the reporters and do gate-keeping tasks.

An applicant must be a graduate of a four- year college course. For reporters, experience is not needed although preferable. The editor should have at least one-year experience in editing.

Interested parties are requested to send their applicant letter to Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, Edge Davao editor thru email address ajero_antonio@yahoo. com. For inquiries, please call Mr. Ajero thru mobile phone 09052422686 or landline 221-3601.

12 CLASSIFIEDS ADS

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VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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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PROPERTY FOR SALE

3 Door Apartment, lot 320 sq. m.

Located at Bo. Obrero near Victoria Plaza 10 M, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0932-532-7304

IDEAL FOR INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING PLANT, 3 hectares, Santa Cruz along the National Highway, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0927-706-2510

Deadline for submission of materials is 12:00 NN. Deadline for Friday and Saturday issues is 5:00 PM. Deadline for Sunday and Monday issues is Saturday 12:00 NN. For more information, please call our Advertising Office 2213601; 301-6235 and ask for Jane or Chay.

EDGEDavao

HealthandWellness

APARTMENT FOR SALE

PRIME PROPERTY FOR SALE ROBINSONS HIGH LANDS, 173 sq. meters, 1.5 M, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0926-305-1555 0942-966-2444

EDGEDAVAO

LOT FOR SALE 180 sq. meter, Farland Subd., Dumoy, Toril, P 350,000 only Contact: 0927-706-2510

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Tel No. (083)- 553-2211

Clinic We offer Pasta, Pizza and all Filipino foods

- Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Preferably a graduate of BS Mass Communication or related courses - Experience not necessary - Can work under pressure and within deadlines - Good command of the English language - A team player

Account Executives (2)

- Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/College Degree in any Business field.

- Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission

For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

South Osmeña, General Santos City Cell No. 09999923588 Tel. No. (083) 552-3297

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Shop at

DAVAO LILA DEPT. STORE SHOPPING PARADISE OF THE BUDGET-WISE AT ITS NEW LOCATION NEAR MANILA BULLETIN CAYETANO BANGOY ST. (FORMERLY PONCIANO REYES ST.) CORNER RIZAL STREET, DAVAO CITY CONTACT: TEL. #: 225-5258; 227-3959 CEL.#: 0932-2246429; 0915-4102303

LOTS FOR SALE ROYAL PINES SUBDIVISION MATINA DAVAO CITY SEMI VIEW LOTS BLOCK 3, LOT 5 – 404 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 3, LOT 7 – 349 SQUARE METERS VILLA JOSEFINA RESORT VILLAGE, DUMOY – PHASE 1 BLOCK 6, LOT 13- 240 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 17, LOT 6- 240 SQUARE METERS BLOCK 19, LOT 4- 240 SQUARE METERS (082) 225-5258, 0915-511-1985,

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EDGEDAVAO 14 SPORTS Malditas rout Singapore to end AFF campaign VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

T

HE Philippine national women’s football team drubbed Singapore, 7-2, to end its campaign in the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship Monday at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Fil-Am striker Heather Cooke led the Malditas attack after scoring three goals to bag a hat trick, while Abby Komarc, Patrice Impelido, Marice Magdolot and Samantha Nierras each contributed one goal apiece for the Philippines.

The Malditas jumped the gun early, scoring goals in the 19th and the 37th minute to take a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

The Filipinas continued their rampage at the start of the second half, hitting the back of the net in the 56th and the 58th minute to grab a 4-0 edge.

The Singaporeans, however, avoided a goalless score after burying a shot in the 71st minute.

Both squads then engaged in a furious exchange of goals, as the Malditas nailed a goal in the 76th minute before the Singaporeans answered quickly in the counterattack and scored in the 77th minute.

But the Filipinas pounded the opposition further, scoring off a penalty kick in the 86th minute and firing a goal in the 92nd minute to settle the final score.

Despite the victory, Malditas still failed to advance to the next round, only settling for third place after losing to the group’s two best teams – Myanmar in a 3-0 defeat last Thursday and Vietnam in a 4-2 loss last Saturday. Only the top two teams from the bracket will advance to the crossover semifinals of the tournament.

With their early exit, the Malditas continue their disappointing performance in the competition, failing to get past the group stages for the previous five editions of the tournament.

Michael Phelps

Phelps, Felix win top US Olympic athlete awards

N

EW YORK - Michael Phelps and Allyson Felix were named as the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) best athletes for 2011-12 on Monday for their gold-medal performances at the London Olympics.

Phelps won the male athlete of the year award for the third time after the swimmer captured four gold medals in London to finish his career with an unprecedented tally of 18 golds, twice as many as the next best from any Olym-

pic sport.

Felix won the women’s award after scooping winning gold in the 200 metres sprint and the 4x100m and 4x400m relays on the running track.

The women’s rowing eight crew won the team award while swimmer Jessica Long and wheelchair racer Raymond Martin won the top individual paralympic awards and the men’s quad doubles wheelchair tennis pairing won the paralympic team award.

The Davao City Judoka team led by their coaches, Paolo Tancontian (2nd from left) and Jay Aseneta (rightmost), pose for a photo during the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) media forum at the Tower Inn Hotel

yesterday. The team will compete in the “Batang Pinoy 2012” slated on September 21-22, 2012 in Marikina City. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

MVP leads PHL bid to host 2013 FIBA Asia tourney S

AMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manuel V. Pangilinan will lead the presentation for the Philippines’ formal bid to host next year’s FIBA Asia Basketball Championship.

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said that the presentation will be made Wednesday in the midst of the FIBA Asia Cup matches in Tokyo, where the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team is competing.

Barrios, along with PBA commissioner Chito Salud and former FIBA Asia secretary-general Moying Martelino, will be assisting Pangilinan in the presentation, which aims to seal the Philippines’ hosting of the event for the first time since 1973.

“I am upbeat and looking positively at our bid mainly because we, led by MVP, put in a lot of hard work behind” our presentation. It gives us extra strength when you

know that the country is behind you,” said Barrios.

According to Barrios, Pangilinan was scheduled to fly from Hong Kong to Tokyo.

The rest of the party flew to the Japanese capital yesterday.

Last month, the SBP hosted FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian, who was reportedly impressed by the new SM Mall of Asia Arena, boosting the Philippines’ chances to host the event.

Salud believes the country has a good chance to win hosting rights.

“I am very optimistic. I believe Manila with all of our ardent and knowledgeable basketball aficionados will be the perfect host. Add to that all of our logistical support and capability made available

by Mr. Pangilinan’s group of companies, there’s no doubt Manila will be the most appropriate host for the 2013

FIBA World qualifying tournament. They will experience the beauty of the Philippines and the warmth of real basketball fans,” Salud said.

Next year’s FIBA Asia

Championship serves as qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Three spots for Asian countries are up for grabs in the biennial cage competition.

that the five-time Trainer of the Year did not develop his defensive skills, as well as those of Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Roach reacted by saying that he actually wanted Pacquiao to fight American boxer Danny Garcia, who knocked out Khan in four rounds last July.

“I wanted (Pacquiao) to fight the guy Garcia, Danny Garcia. I wanted that fight because Amir Khan says that I don’t teach defense to him and Manny Pacquiao,” Roach said.

“Why did he compare himself to Manny Pacquiao?

It depends on what I taught him. Let’s see what Manny does with your opponent.

Manny wouldn’t lose a round,” he added.

Members of Khan’s team had said that part of the reason for the split was that Roach was dividing his time between the British boxer, Pacquiao, and Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Khan is rumored to have chosen either Naazim Richardson or Virgil Hunter as his new trainer.

Roach fires parting shot at Amir Khan

Cindy Matabalan, general secretary of the Tchoukball Association of Davao, left, proudly announces that the Davao Tchoukball men’s team got bronze and silver for women’s in the 5th Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships at the Western Negros University in Bacolod City. With her is Regional Director Jun Mendiola. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

M

ANILA – Hall-ofFame trainer Freddie Roach and former world champion Amir “King” Khan may have parted on friendly terms, but Roach nonetheless fired a parting shot at the British boxer last week.

Khan, who dumped Roach as his trainer after experiencing consecutive losses, is set to name his new coach in the near future.

Recently, Roach was quoted by ESPN as criticizing Khan, who had claimed

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

EVENTS

Life is good at the DAMOSA Fairlane DAMOSA Land’s first residential community Life is good when days are idyllic, family and friends abound, and modern city conveniences are within easy reach. And when the ANFLO group of companies of the Floirendo family envisioned a community with all these features, they came up with DAMOSA Fairlane.

DAMOSA Fairlane is an exclusive community of less than 300 units, the DAMOSA Fairlane is envisioned to be the first among a series of future housing developments to be developed fully

by DAMOSA Land. Located just a stone’s throw distance from DAMOSA Gateway, DAMOSA Fairlane is right at the heart of Davao’s vibrant Lanang district.

Just recently, DAMOSA Land held a priority viewing night for partners and company executives who have first dibs in choosing the lot and unit they wish to own.

I was lucky to have been invited to the private viewing at the Microtel Davao and was impressed by the

design and planning of the new community which features wide ten meter roads, additional easements and lush greens. The house models, that were named after vintage car models, were also impressive, with each model unit having three bedrooms on the second floor, a maids room and lots of open space on the ground floor for future home improvements.

“Great effort has been spent in planning and now developing DAMOSA Fairlane with no less than my brother Ricky personally overseeing the project to ensure that we deliver a community worthy of the discerning class of Davao.” says ANFLOCOR Group of Companies chairman Antonio “Tony Boy” Floirendo, Jr. He also hopes that the model block and model houses will be finished in time for DAMOSA Fairlane’s market launch in October.

Congratulations to the beginnings of a new bustling community.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

WOMEN

Cabin crew FLIGHT ATTENDANTS are the face of hospitality for each airline. They are the warm smiles that welcome you when you board the airplane, greeting you with a friendly chat or a jovial “hello.” To most people, a flight attendant reflects the glamour of air travel, and becoming one will open doors to globe trotting, international alliance, and a worldly lifestyle. This is the most common notion people have of this profession, and many long to be part of this “elite” and cosmopolitan mix of young professionals.

This prestigious line of work calls for innovative forward thinkers, who, by nature, are also travel hungry explorers --- quick to respond to guest’s needs and have the patience of a mother with its mission to tirelessly exceed customer expectations.

Their job is not just defined to police passengers and make sure they follow regulations, but also to provide assistance with food, drinks, safety, and all other essentials for and precautions in flying.

Reality, however, goes beyond a flight attendant’s pleasing façade built in a snappy chic uniform.

Not to mean that they’re anti-social, inhospitable, and hostile, but the life of a flight attendant is really not as glorious and elegant as it may seem underneath the layers of makeup and programmed poise.

The influx of budget airlines and promo fares these recent times have added more meticulous guests onboard whose needs flight attendants have to tend to, detail by detail. No two days are ever the same for a cabin

crew. Everyday is a different destination, a different set of passengers, and a whole new wave of characters and wishes to look after. While working long hours at any given day, even Sundays, flight attendants have tele-cine worthy lives to worry about in their hometown. Yet these woes and problems are hidden by their smiles and generosity to everyone onboard. I’d say they deserve more appreciation for their hard work, as these individuals, for all we know, travel continents just to provide and secure a future for their family.

Each has a story to tell, yet concealed underneath layers of foundation and lipstick.

Take the life of 28 year

old Jessica Patricio, the latest addition to the breed Filipino flight attendants.

This Dabawenya will be one of the faces who will represent the Philippines to passengers flying via Qatar Airways.

Jes is certified nurse who took side jobs as a model, as she embraced the responsibilities of a single mother. Her eyes and winsome smile won her a role in a shampoo advertisement alongside actress / TV star Angelica Panganiban. She became a regular on the runway and her face became more popular after series of fashion shoots with reputable photographers in Davao City.

“I knew being a flight attendant is not easy job.

I didn’t know how to live every single day of my life not seeing my son. What I used to make in this town was not enough to secure a good future for him, and I intend to give him all that he needs to achieve his hopes and dreams. This job opportunity with Qatar Airways is something that I’ve contemplated on for a long time. I weighed

the pros and cons. After months of thinking, and after I got the letter of acceptance from the company, I summed up my courage and embraced this new undertaking in life.”

“This will be a different adventure for me, and this is something I am not doing for myself alone. This is for my child. I think of my child’s future with every customer I meet. I may have to deal with hundreds of personalities each day, but no amount of sweat can ever equal to the fulfillment I feel whenever I am able to provide for the son. I try to communicate with him as much as I can, reminding him of his promise to do good in school, and of how much I love him. Being far and out of touch is such a huge sacrifice, but I know my son understands the reason why I took this job.

He is the sole reason why I am driven to do better at work, and to be stronger whenever I’d feel homesick and stressed out. In a way, I get to share the wonders of this world to him. Whenever we talk, I tell him the places I’ve been to, and how I will strive hard to have a little more than enough to be able to take him around the globe in the future.”

Photographer: Paul Borromeo Location: Leadfoto Studios Stylist: Meg Sta. Ines Clothes: MAGS

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTErTAINMENT

Scientology calls Vanity Fair ‘bigoted’

ThE ChurCh of Scientology has posted online an eight-page letter its lawyers sent to Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter on Aug. 16 vehemently denying the allegations contained in its October cover story in which the magazine claimed that church officials had organized secret auditions to find a wife for Tom Cruise in 2004 before he met Katie holmes.

The missive launched a full-scale attack on the article’s writer, special correspondent Maureen Orth, accusing her report of being filled with “shoddy journalism, religious bigotry and potential legal liability.” It also asserted Vanity Fair’s staff and contributors lacked journalistic integrity by relying on “demonstrably false” insinuations about Scientology leader David Miscavige, particularly the notion that the latter is somehow a “kind of third wheel” in the Top Gun actor’s relationships and marriage, while purposely ignoring magazine employees who knew the church leader personally.

“If rabid anti-Scientologist/anti-David Miscavige

apostates long ago kicked out of the Church are considered ‘sources’ of information, then certainly a respected and objective Vanity Fair employee with no axe to grind and who has seen Mr. Miscavige at Church convocations and celebrations year after year in the present time is a far better source of information,” wrote attorney Jeffrey riffer.

The letter added that Orth’s inquiries into the religious organization,

especially its auditing practices, are “blatantly bigoted.”

“Ms. Orth shows no sensitivity to Scientology’s religious beliefs as she apparently hasn’t a clue what those beliefs are,” continued the letter, adding that the “very tenor of Ms. Orth’s questions concerning such matters, on the order of ‘By the way, do you take sugar in your coffee?’ evidences her total ignorance and lack of respect for the beliefs of

Scientologists.”

The legal eagle went on to add that the magazine research relied on a “rogues’ gallery of unreliable ‘sources’” and amounted to nothing more than “tabloid gossip.”

A publicist for the magazine told E! News that the letter by riffer was written during the time Orth was writing the article, not in response to the story.

Vanity Fair previously told CNN, “we absolutely stand

by Maureen Orth’s story.”

Cruise’s attorney, Bert Fields, has also blasted Vanity Fair’s piece. While Oscar-winning writer-director, Paul haggis, who renounced the church several years ago in a highly public split and is now considered an “apostate,” stuck up for Nazanin Boniadi, the ex-Scientologist who is reported to have gone through the church’s audition process before briefly dating Cruise.

INdulge! A3

Mila and Ashton spread love in NYC IF and when Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis get around to actually announcing that they’re a couple, we can’t say anyone will really be too surprised.

After all, ever since the former That 70s Show costars were first rumored to be dating way back in April, the two have engaged in quite a bit of PDA, despite saying that they’re just friends.

From smooching at wrap parties to holding hands as they boarded a plane in Bali to hitting up a Los Angeles Dodgers game together with Kunis’ parents, there certain-

ly seems to be enough proof that things are getting serious.

Still not convinced? (yeah, right.)

Not only were Kutcher and Kunis spotted getting cozy and smiling as they strolled around the Big Apple, but they were also seen in Central Park doing a little puckering as well.

“Listen, [Ashton and I] hang out. We’ve known each other for 15 years,” Kunis told British Elle’s August issue. “We have mutual friends. We’re comfortable with one another.

That’s it! There’s no crazy love story, nothing more.”

OK, then.

Kate and Will welcomed by topless women Oh, ThE IrONy!

In the wake of all the drama since topless photos of Kate Middleton were published, the Duchess of Cambridge found herself over the weekend in the presence of a woman who was, well, you know. yep. As she and husband Prince William arrived in the Solomon Islands on Sunday as part of their ongoing Diamond Jubilee tour to the South Pacific, the two were greeted and given necklaces by locals wearing very little above the waistline.

The duchess certainly seemed to be amused by the situation at hand and appeared to make every effort to conceal her laughter.

It was a full day for the royals, who attended a

THE MISTRESS John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo R-13

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RESIDENT EVIL 5- 2D Milla Jovovich , Michelle Rodriguez

gala dinner at the home of the islands’ governor general, met up with women who work at a local youth center and handed out service awards to local do-gooders (all while Kate wore not one, but two fashionable outfits: a bright yellow Jaeger dress, and, later, a navy blue Mulberry one).

As for their plans tonight? Some much needed private time on a rare off-duty evening.

Meanwhile, lawyers filed a criminal complaint on behalf of the duke and duchess in a French court today against the publisher of Closer, the tabloid that ran the topless pics of Middleton.

R-13

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JUDGE DREDD Sylvester Stallone , Armand Assante R-16

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

PRIDYIDER Andi Eigenmann , Janice de Belen PG-13

12:30 | 2:25 I 4:20 | 6:15| 8:10 |10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge! uP AND ABOuT ENTErTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

AirAsia’s free seats promo is back!

BETTEr than a big seat sale, Philippines’ AirAsia today rolled out its Free Seats promo where guest can travel from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Davao and Kalibo with an all-in fare of P275 pesos one way.

“The P275 seat sale is actually a zero-fare promo where the seat is totally free and the guest is actually paying only P275 to cover the fuel surcharge, processing fee and government mandated fees such as aviation security fee and VAT,” AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan hontiveros announced at a press conference in Makati City.

The Free Seats promo will be available online at www.airasia.com from 18 - 23 September 2012, and guests will be able to travel from 1 April to 30 September 2013.

“AirAsia continues to change the landscape of low-cost travel. With our promos, planning a trip is easiest with our fares and rates all clearly laid out to our guests,” hontiveros added.

AirAsia flies daily to Davao and Kalibo (twice daily) and Puerto Princesa City (four times/week).

These services provide accessibility for local and international tourists to visit the world famous Boracay beach, Puerto Princesa underground river and Davao’s Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and other exciting tourist attractions. hontiveros also hinted that the zero base fare promo will also be offered on the Filipino carrier’s international destinations.

Currently, AirAsia flies daily to hong Kong, Macau and Kuala Lumpur.

For inquiry and to receive real-time updates on latest promotions, interact via facebook.com/ AirAsiaPhilippines and twitter.com/AirAsiaPh. Philippines’ AirAsia call center also accepts booking of regular fares via +632 588 9999 from Monday to Sunday at 0800hrs to 2100hrs (GMT +8).

Guests from Metro Manila may also purchase seats through AirAsia Travel & Service Centers (ATSC) located in SM North EDSA in Quezon City, in Mall of Asia in Pasay City and in Gaisano Mall in Davao City.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 142 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Pacquiao, Marquez look for KOs in 4th fight M

ANNY Pacquiao scribbled intently on a piece of paper Monday while promoters and managers hyped his fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez from the dais in a posh hotel ballroom.

Pacquiao eventually showed the paper to his trainer, Freddie Roach.

“He wrote, ‘I need a knockout,’” Roach said with a gleam in his eye.

Three compelling bouts in the past eight years still haven’t resolved the rivalry between Pacquiao and Marquez, so they’re stepping in the ring together for a fourth bout on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

And this time, they’re both looking for the only decisive ending to any fight: a stone-cold KO. “I want to erase the doubt of the last three fights,” Pacquiao said. “There’s so many people still asking if I won the fights. I think to myself, ‘Something is wrong. I have to do it again.’ This time, I will train hard to put this fight up in the history of boxing. I want to make this fight short. I want to knock him out.”

Although they’re extending a rivalry to rare lengths in modern boxing, the fighters and promoters believe fans will warm to the matchup when they remember just how good the first three fights were.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004, while Pacquiao won by split decision in 2008 and again by majority decision last year. The bouts featured knockdowns, wild momentum swings and fascinating contrasts in technique — but Marquez and many fans still believe he won all three fights, while Pacquiao says he clearly won the last two.

“It’s been an incredible ride,” Top Rank promoter Todd duBoef said. “People ask me whether it’s going to be hard to sell a fourth fight. Did you see the first 36 rounds? There wasn’t a dull moment.”

With a combination of unfinished business and unmatched financial reward, Pacquiao and Marquez both had plenty of incentive to get together again. They have fought at 125, 130 and 144 pounds, and their fourth fight will be a straight welterweight contest at 147.

Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) is coming off his first loss since 2005, a wildly disputed decision to Timothy Bradley.

Still stinging from that embarrassment, he says he’s going back to the ferocious, relentless style of fighting that made him an eight-division champion. Pacquiao hasn’t stopped an opponent in more than three years, a once-unthinkable drought for a relentless puncher.

“I want to be the other Manny Pacquiao, like when I was 24, 25 years old,” Pacquiao said. “I want people who watch this fight to be satisfied. I don’t care about a belt. I don’t care about the money. I want the win.”

Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs) has tested Pacquiao more than any opponent, with counterpunching skills and comprehensive boxing knowledge that can negate many of Pacquiao’s strengths. But Pacquiao also is a nightmare matchup for Marquez, whose relentlessness hasn’t been enough to overcome Pacquiao’s once-in-a-generation combination of speed and strength.

While Pacquiao has a plan to recapture his best form, Marquez believes the only way to be sure he’ll finally get

Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Juan Manuel Marquez, of Mexico, promote their upcoming boxing match during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday.(AP Photo/Reed Saxon) his hand raised is to stop the Filipino congressman. Marquez swore off the rivalry and nearly retired in frustration immediately after Pacquiao’s victory last fall, but agreed to return after a few months to cool down.

“I think I won all of the last three fights,” Marquez said. “I would like the referee to raise my hand. Everybody knows I won the fights, and I don’t know what happened with the judges. I have to take it out of the judges’ hands this time.”

Roach believes Pacquiao can end the argument for good if he’s serious about unleashing the primal toughness he saw in Pacquiao so many years ago.

“I’m really happy we’re both on the same page,” Roach said. “That’s a good attitude. Technically, we can’t outbox this guy, so we have to outfight him. ...

I don’t want the nice Manny Pacquiao,

touching gloves with the other guy and everything. That drives me crazy. You can’t be friends out there.”

The Hall of Fame trainer also claims he’s pleased Pacquiao ended up with this fight over a rematch with Miguel Cotto or Bradley. Although he emerged from the Bradley bout with the same frustration as his fighter, he found it easy to push it aside.

“Marquez is a bigger and better fight,” Roach said. “Manny dominated Bradley for 11 rounds, even though we didn’t get the decision, so nobody is going to buy that fight. Bradley sold six tickets the last time. Next time, he’ll sell four.”

Pacquiao is making another change in his preparation: He won’t train in Baguio, the high-altitude northern Philippines city where he has traditionally started training

camp before heading to Roach’s Wild Card Gym for the final few weeks.

Instead, Pacquiao and Roach will be in Hollywood for their entire training camp, dramatically reducing the number of distractions for the Philippines’ most famous person.

Pacquiao and Marquez will join the short list of rivalries that couldn’t be contained by a mere trilogy, including Sugar Ray Robinson’s six fights with Jake LaMotta and Robinson’s four bouts with Gene Fullmer. More recently, Israel Vazquez’s sensational rivalry with Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel’s brother, extended to four fights, concluding with Marquez’s third-round stoppage of Vazquez in May 2010.

“I never thought it would go to four fights,” Pacquiao said. “It’s a first for me.”

It’s Chinese-Taipei vs Phl in QF

C

HINESE Taipei defeated Qatar in thrilling fashion, eking out a 75-73 victory in their final outing in the preliminary stage of the FIBA Asia Cup to take third place in Group B of the competition Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Chinese Taipei secured the victory on a buzzer-beating dunk

by Lei Tien to break the game’s final deadlock.

With the win, Chinese Taipei moves into the knockout quarterfinal round against the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team, which finished in a triple tie for first place with Lebanon and China in Group A. Lebanon ended up with a tiebreak quotient of

1.068, giving it the top seed for the group with the Philippines (1.050) taking second and China (0.891) third.

In case of three-way ties in FIBA competition, tiebreaks are computed using the quotient from total points scored in games among tied teams divided by total points allowed.

SMART-Gilas is no stranger to Chinese Taipei’s top national team, which it defeated in the 34th William Jones Cup in Taiwan last month. After a two-day break, the Philippine team is expected to come out with guns ablaze in the quarterfinals, which begins on Thursday.

ny-tailed seventh grader at St. Francis of Assisi, crowned herself the fastest girl in the 13-under 100-meter dash before leaping for the gold in long jump.

The five-foot Gianeli clocked 13 seconds flat in the century dash, and covered a distance of 4.50m in long jump for her golden double. She’s expected

to compete in the relays, 200m and triple jump in the coming days.

“I’m happy to compete in my first Batang Pinoy.’’ said Gatinga who won silver in relays and bronze in long jump during the Pangasinan Palarong Pambansa early this year.

But the distinction of harvesting most golds of the day belonged to QC’s

Raissa Regata Gavino and Kirsten Chloe Daos who captured three golds each.

Gavino triumphed in the girls 12-under 400-m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, while Daos won in girls 15-under 200m butterfly and 400m free.

They then shared the gold in the 15-under 4X50m medley relay.

Taguig girl shines in Batang Pinoy

Vincent Gumapac shows his trophy won in the recent 10th Ansemo Ferrazzini Memorial Golf Tournament. (Boy Lim)

T

WELVE-YEAR-OLD Gianeli Gatinga of Taguig shone bright on a rainy morning when she captured two gold medals in track and field even as Team Quezon City went full steam ahead behind a pair of swimming stars in the POC-PSC Batang Pinoy 2012 at the Marikina Sports Complex.

Gatinga, a shy, po-

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 142 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

Pacquiao-Marquez iV

EDGEDAVAO

This time won’t be sweeter B EVERLY HILLS, California— Three compelling bouts in eight years haven’t resolved the rivalry between Pacquiao and Marquez, so they’re stepping in the ring together for a fourth bout on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

And this time, they’re both looking for the only decisive ending to any fight: a stone-cold KO. “I want to erase the doubt of the last three fights,” Pacquiao said.

“There’s so many people still asking if I won the fights. I think to myself, ‘Something is wrong. I have to do it again.’ This time, I will train hard to put this fight up in the history of boxing. I want to make this fight short. I want to knock him out.”

Although they’re extending a rivalry to rare lengths in modern boxing, the fighters and promoters believe fans will warm to the matchup when they remember just how good the first three fights were.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004, while Pacquiao won by split decision in 2008 and again by majority decision last year. The bouts featured knockdowns, wild momentum swings and fascinating contrasts in technique — but Marquez and many fans still believe he won all three fights, while Pacquiao says he clearly won the last two.

“It’s been an incredible ride,” Top Rank promoter Todd duBoef said.

“People ask me whether it’s going to be hard to sell a fourth fight. Did you see the first 36 rounds? There wasn’t a dull moment.”

With a combination of unfinished

Manny Pacquiao and Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez kick off their publicity campaign for their December 8 fight. The two has battled to three savage fights in the past that ended in decisions. business and unmatched financial reward, Pacquiao and Marquez both had plenty of incentive to get together again. They have fought at 125, 130 and 144 pounds, and their fourth fight will be a straight welterweight contest at 147.

Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) is coming

off his first loss since 2005, a wildly disputed decision to Timothy Bradley. Still stinging from that embarrassment, he says he’s going back to the ferocious, relentless style of fighting that made him an eight-division champion. Pacquiao hasn’t stopped an opponent in more than three years, a

once-unthinkable drought for a relentless puncher.

“I want to be the other Manny Pacquiao, like when I was 24, 25 years old,” Pacquiao said. “I want people who watch this fight to be satisfied. I don’t care about a belt. I don’t care about the money. I want the win.”