Edge Davao 5 Issue 167

Ronda batok ‘central bankers’!

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VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

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Science/ Environment

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Woman said to have HIV

Cops round up 48 street girls

By Anthony S. Allada

5 alleged male pimps arrested.

Sports

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T

HE Davao City Police Office rounded up 48 prostituted women commercial and arrested five alleged male pimps Tuesday dawn in the premises of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regional branch building along Tionko Avenue and Arellano Street in Davao City.

DCPO chief Sr. Supt.

Ronald dela Rosa said the round-up came following a letter-complaint from the security division of the BSP regional branch on the nightly sex trade being done on the streets around its office building.

Dela Rosa said the prostitution problem is not their priority because “we have a lot more incidents of criminality to look into,” obviously referring to the series of anti-carnapping operations and the neutralization of the so-called “Buak-Kotse Gang”.“But we had to act on the complaint, result-

ing to the operation,” he said.

Operatives of the San Pedro Police Station, Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) and the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB), all of the DCPO, swooped down on the bank’s premises and rounded up the women and brought them to headquarters aboard several police vehicles for questioning and profiling.

Dela Rosa said that for the meantime the prostituted women will be turned over to the WCPD for counselling and safekeeping, but were eventually released after pleading to be given a second chance to go straight.

The operation was also the result of a report that a prostituted woman believed to be positive for human immune defficiency (HIV), is still engaged in the sex trade in the area. The report has yet to be validated, however. [ASA] ROUNDED UP. A report that a prostituted woman who frequents along Tionko Avenue and Arellano Stree around the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to solicit customers is allegedly infected with AIDS prompted the police

80 of every 100 students quit study of priesthood

T

HE calling to the vocation of priesthood is facing a serious problem not just here in Mindanao but in the entire country as well.

This was the assessment of Dioscoro “Dodong” D. Ocon, a former seminarian, who along with other former seminarians, are organizing a fun run as a form of re-awakening on the real situation of diocesan priestly formation at the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary (SFXCS) in Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

The run will also raise badly needed funds to promote priesthood as a vocation. Another group encouraging to study in the seminary is the Serra Club.

Ocon, who entered the seminary in

1975, told reporters during the Kapehan sa SM Monday morning that 80 percent of seminarians who entered the seminary dropped out, which means that only two of every 10 seminarians become priests.

That many of those who become priests also get out of priesthood is an entirely different story.

“This is really a serious problem that the seminary is facing right now. That’s why, as former seminarians we organized ourselves to hold this fun run to encourage the young ones to respond to the calling of priestly vocation,” he said.

The fun run dubbed “iRun for Priest-

F80 OF EVERY, 11

to round up 48 prostituted women and five suspected pimps seen in the said area for recording at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) early Tuesday morning. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

BJMP donates bus to Davao City jail

EDGEDAVAO

By Anthony S. Allada

D

AVAO City jail detainees will henceforth be transported to court hearings or to the Davao Penal and Prison Farm aboard a brand new bus valued at P4,.5 million.

The bus is a donation by the Bureau of Jail and Management (BJMP) as part of the bureau’BJMP regional director Sr. Supt.

Amelia Talento said the donation of the P4.5 million jail bus to the Davao City Jail is part of the BJMP modernization program aimed at providing efficient services in jail management.

“This bus can be used in bringing prisoners to

the court or in time when they are already committed to the prison farm,” Talento said.

She said the bus can carry around 40 prisoners including six jail guards who would accompany them in designated areas.

The bus has also its own sound system where a jail officer can use the microphone to instruct inmates boarding the vehicle.

As of this date, the city jail located in Maa here has more than 1,000 inmates, including women offenders who were kept in separate prison building.

Children’s Month in Davao celebrated

I

N celebration of the Children’s Month, non-government organization Child Alert Mindanao recently conducted the Art Showcase with the theme ‘Bata Atimanon Para sa Maayong Kaugmaon’. The NGO continues to advocate child protection in the community.

Child Alert Mindanao organizes communities in order to help them build their own child protection mechanisms. Currently, it organizes five barangays in Davao City, namely Talomo, Dumoy, Crossing Bayabas, Toril Poblacion and Daliao.

Child Alert also offers services such as capacity building for service providers and children, data banking, and establishing protective networks and referral system for chil-

dren who are victims of violence and abuse.

In celebration of this year’s Children’s Month, Child Alert organized several activities in order to raise awareness on child protection in the community and to also showcase the talents and skills of the children coming from the organized communities.

“Through our activities, we wish to alert the LGUs, parents and even the children about the plight of most children in the country,” said Bernardo Mondragon, executive director of Child Alert.

According to a recent survey of the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are about 5.59 million child laborers in the Philippines.

NSO administrator Car-

In Compostela Valley

FCHILDREN’S, 11

Ex-gov. Caballero, daughter run for provincial board seats

F

ORMER Compostela Valley governor Jose Caballero and daughter Kristine Mae Caballero are both running for seats in the provincial board in the May 13, 2013 mid-term elections.

Interestingly, the two are running as independents against five other aspirants – four of whom are incumbents belonging to the administration’s Liberal Party under provincial chair, Gov. Arturo Uy, who is seeking reelection unopposed.

If the Cballerios win, two of Uy’s candidates will notmake it to the five-seat board.

The young Caballero was originally part of Uy’s team along with other incumbent board members –

Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Cesar Richa, Ruben Flores, and Moran Takasan – but was dropped from the group after the governor learned that his old political rival, the former governor, filed his certificate of candidacy for board member through his lawyer Roland Tusay.

Kristine was replaced

by Nabunturan municipal councilor Mark Tristan Humol to complete the LP lineup for the provincial board.

The former governor did not see any problem running along with his daughter since they are reportedly representing different sectors.

“My daughter represents our women and youth sector while I can represent our farmers in

FEX-GOV., 11

PEACEFUL RALLY. Akbayan party-list members led by Randy Conteras stage a peaceful rally against critics and fellow leftist group Anakbayan

who’s calling for the former’s disqualification in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office at Magsaysay Park yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Hermes Club, Librado foundation to tackle Cybercrime Act in fora A

MEDIA group and a foundation advocating for workers’ rights will tackle the controversial Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2o12, in separate symposia today and on October 26 in Davao City.

The Hermes Club, a themed media group hosted by the Waterfront Hotel and headed by regional director Efren Elbanbuena of the Philippine Infor-

mation Agency as “Zeus” (equivalent of president), will hold “Istoryahan sa Waterfront Insular” at 11 a.m. today.

Lawyers Jesus G. Dureza and Carlos Zarate, both former Davao City chapter presidents of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and part-time journalists writing opinion columns, will discuss the implications of the law in media practice.

On the other hand,

the Nonoy Librado Development Foundation, Inc. (NLDFi), a non-profit, nonstock and cause-oriented organization inspired by the late city councilor Erasto “Nonoy” Librado, is inviting media practitioners and campus journalists to a roundtable discussion on the law at 2 p.m. of October 26 at the TNS Buffet, corner San Pedro St. and Legaspi St. Lawyer Zarate is also the main resource person

in the NLDFi roundtable discussion.

This developed following the arrest and detention for one day of one Esperlita “Perling” Garcia, 62-year-old anti-mining advocate in Nueva Vizcaya, on libel charges last Thursday is believed to be the result of a violation of the Cybercrime Protection Act. Environmentalists and netizens are giving their support to Garcia in her case. [AMA]

Karlo wants PNP internal affairs placed under OP

D

AVAO City Congressman Karlo A. Nograles has proposed that the internal affairs service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) should be placed under the supervision and control of the Office of the President to rid the police of scalawags and misfits spawned by the “mistah” system which is prevalent within the police organization.

Nograles said the PNP’s internal affairs service and the National Police Commission have been largely ineffective in the campaign to cleanse

Says it will get rid of ‘mistah’ system the police of scalawags and misfits because of the prevailing culture of brotherhood among policemen.

“Honestly, I can’t fault them for this culture of brotherhood because you really cannot remove this bond, especially because they went through the same hardships during training. Right or wrong, they tend to protect each other lest they want to be ostracized,” Nograles said.

Nograles said the current campaign of the PNP leadership to get rid of

scalawags could really take-off if its IAS is “removed from the wings of the PNP to be more effective and credible.”

Even the recruitment process should be reviewed, Nograles said, as he noted that the pattern of abuse in the police service may also have something to do with the recruitment and training of new policemen.

“There seems to be a prevailing perception that cops can get rich quickly which attracts many recruits, some of whom

even resort to cheating just to be able to become a cop,” Nograles said citing the April 2011 PNP entrance examination where at least 387 passers were discovered to have cheated, possibly through leakage.

“These cheats should be permanently barred from entering the police service instead of simply issuing a temporary ban.

As far as I’m concerned, they have lost their right to be part of any law enforcement agency or any public office or employment for that matter,” Nograles said.

SUBURBIA 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Koronadal eyes dog impounding facility

T PANTAWID MOA. [from left] OIC Director Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD, Pantawid Pamilya Deputy Program Director Wadel S. Cabrera III, and Hagonoy Mayor Franco M. Calida sign Tuesday the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of Pantawid Pamilya in Hagonoy. With them is Mayor Pedro F. Caminero Jr. who also

signed the MOA for Padada town. Davao Region is now fully covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program benefitting some 168,624 poor households as of September 2012. [DSWD/CARMELA CADigAL-DuRoN]

In people development

Gov. Del Rosario cites role of spirituality T

HE separation of the Church and State may be a time-honored principle but in the province of Davao del Norte, spirituality is an important ingredient in fulfilling the roles played by the provincial employees and the provincial government.

“When I committed myself to leadership in government, I also committed to support programs that will enhance the spiritual aspects of the people,” Davao del

Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said yesterday during the regular Monday Convocation at the Provincial Government Center.

He said the development of the people’s spirituality is embodied in his “People” agenda which stands for People empowerment, Education, Optimum health and social services, Public-private partnership, Link to the world and Employment and livelihood opportunities.

People around the

world, he said, are touched by religion and for many believers it is their pastors and priests that serve as the rock of their lives.

“This October we are giving tribute to the pastors and priests who help guide our people during their most desperate moments,” he said.

Del Rosario commended the canonization

by Pope Benedict XVI of Pedro Calungsod on Sunday, saying “he is a good role model for the Filipino youth.”

Reverend Hector P. Guzman, administrative pastor of the Tagum United Methodist Church and guest speaker during the Convocation, said “you cannot separate your Christian life from your work in government.”

Guzman said the work of a pastor or a priest is not an eight-hour job because their obligation does not stop at five in the afternoon. There are times when clergies and church workers have to minister to their members even at night. [LAC]

HE Koronadal City local government is pushing for the establishment of an animal impounding facility in a bid to control the proliferation of various stray animals, especially of rabies-infected dogs, along the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

Dr. Charlemagne Calo, city veterinary office chief, said they are currently drawing up plans for the development of the city’s animal impounding center as well as a system that would effectively keep stray animals off public areas within the city.

He said the move was part of their continuing “step by step” interventions to control the spread of rabies and address the rising cases of road accidents in the area that were caused by stray dogs and other animals.

“Our goal to eventually clear our city’s streets and neighborhoods ofall stray pet animals, specifically dogs, and make sure that they are confined within household areas,” he said.

Calo said they are initially planning to conduct an inventory of stray dogs and other animals within the city to facilitate the formulation of the area’s animal impounding system.

He said they will particularly look into the number of stray dogs in specific areas in the city on a daily basis so they could measure the size and capacity of the impounding facility that would be built later on.

“We’ll adopt a man-

agement system that will allow the rounded up stray animals to only stay at the planned impounding center for three days.

If no one will claim them, we will put them to sleep in a humane way,” Calo said.

He said they are also planning to send some of their personnel to trainings on management of animal impounding centers and in dog-catching.

Data from the city veterinary office showed that the dog population within the city’s 27 barangays currently stands at around 14,000.

But such figure only covers dogs that were served by the local government’s continuing dog vaccination program.

Calo said they want to make sure that the impounding center will have a proper system to prevent the overcrowding problems experienced by some localities.

He said a number of the existing impounding centers in several key cities in the country were supposedly built without proper systems and studies, triggering the overcrowding of as much as 20 dogs per cage.

Calo said they have not yet identified a location for the proposed impounding center, which are usually built in outskirt areas.

The facility’s location should be far from residential communities and there should be an available area for the proper disposal of its wastes and the unclaimed animals, he said. [Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews]

HE ground-breaking Care for School Chairs Program of Tagum City which is a brainchild project of Mayor Rey T. Uy adds color to newly-established classrooms of Alas-as Elementary School located Taal, Batangas which is built through the initiative of Ayala Foundation’s Ten Moves Campaign.

Tagum City’s Social Responsibility have gone far to the farthest elementary school in the Philippines, said Gina Estipona a Senior Manager of Ayala Foundation, Inc. in an interview.

Ten Moves, a campaign of “Bayanihang Pampaaralan” based in Manila which seeks support for the schools needing classrooms, conducted its survey to the candidate schools in Tagum City. Together with the team was Gina Estipona, a Senior Manager of Ayala Foundation, Inc. who toured La Fil-

ipina National High School, Tagum Comprehensive High School and Magugpo Pilot Elementary School to see the real situations of the students.

The campaign had its initial launch held in Miko’s Brew last day which has been attended by school representatives and non-government organizations like the Rotary Club of Tagum – Golden Laces, Sunlife, Institute of Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, among others.

The NGO motivates the public to act towards participating on addressing the increase in demand of classrooms in every public school in the Philippines. As they reached Tagum City through the initiative of Manolita Junasa, the Ten Moves aims to encourage every citizen in the city to participate for the said cause. [LouiE JAy LoSARiA/Cio

chairs PhilHealth Corp. to enlist more Tagum-fabricated used in Batangas school poor beneficiaries in GenSan T

T

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is set to conduct a sweep of various communities here next month to facilitate the enlistment of more households, especially the poor, into the government’s health insurance program.

Nol Valila, acting head of the PhilHealth service office in General Santos City said such move is part of their efforts to ensure that all households in the city are enrolled with PhilHealth and properly covered by its health insurance services.

Dubbed “Operation Suyod (sweep),” he said the initiative is specifically focusing on the enrollment of poor and marginalized households in line

with the implementation of the universal health care program of the Aquino Health Agenda.

“We will literally sweep our local communities and search for those who are not yet PhilHealth members so we can enroll them,” Valila said.

He said they will look into the population data of the city’s 26 barangays and compare them with their membership database for the area.

Based on the government’s 2010 census of population and housing, the city’s total population stands at 538,086.

Valila reiterated the importance of availing PhilHealth coverage, especially for the poor, as it now covers a range of

services.

“If you purchase medicine, have an x-ray, undergo an operation or get the services of a doctor, you’ll get refunds and some other benefits through your PhilHealth membership,” he said.

Last week, the PhilHealth service office here released 12,137 free health cards to poor or indigent residents in 24 barangays in the city.

The recipients were among the identified poor households in the city under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Dr. Miriam Grace Pamonag, PhilHealth Region 12 field operations chief, said the premiums

for the health insurance were shouldered by the national government through the Department of Health.

PhilHealth Region 12 had identified around 290,000 households as target beneficiaries for the program, which covers hospitalization benefits, free consultation as well as diagnostic tests from any Philhealth-accredited hospital and non-hospital health facilities in the region.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato. [Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews]

TAguM]

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Beluga whale ‘makes human-like sounds’ R

ESEARCHERS in the US have been shocked to discover a beluga whale whose vocalisations were remarkably close to human speech.

While dolphins have been taught to mimic the pattern and durations of sounds in human speech, no animal has spontaneously tried such mimicry.

But researchers heard a nine-year-old whale named NOC make sounds octaves below normal, in clipped bursts.

The researchers outline in Current Biologyjust how NOC did it.

The first mystery, though, was figuring out where the sound was coming from.

When a diver at the National Marine Mammal

Beluga whales are known as “canaries of the sea” because of their frequent, high-pitched calls.

Foundation in California surfaced saying, “Who told me to get out?” the researchers there knew they had another example on their hands.

The whales are known as “canaries of the sea” for their high-pitched chirps, but while a number of anecdotal reports have

described whales making human-like speech, none had ever been recorded.

Once they identified NOC as the culprit, they caught it on tape.

They found that vocal bursts averaged about three per second, with pauses reminiscent of human speech. Analysis

of the recordings showed that the frequencies within them were spread out into “harmonics” in a way very unlike whales’ normal vocalisations and more like those of humans.

They then rewarded NOC for the speech-like sounds to teach him to

make them on command and fitted him with a pressure transducer within his nasal cavity, where sounds are produced, to monitor just what was going on.

They found that he was able to rapidly change the pressure within his nasal cavity to

Scientists link deep wells to deadly Spain quake T

F

ARMERS drilling ever deeper wells over decades to water their crops likely contributed to a deadly earthquake in southern Spain last year, a new study suggests. The findings may add to concerns about the effects of new energy extraction and waste disposal technologies.

Nine people died and nearly 300 were injured when an unusually shallow magnitude-5.1 quake hit the town of Lorca on May 11, 2011. It was the country’s worst quake in more than 50 years, causing millions of euros in damage to a region with an already fragile economy.

Using satellite images, scientists from Canada, Italy and Spain found the quake ruptured a fault running near a basin that had been weakened by 50 years of groundwater extraction in

the area.

During this period, the water table dropped by 250 meters (274 yards) as farmers bored ever deeper wells to help produce the fruit, vegetables and meat that are exported from Lorca to the rest of Europe. In other words, the industry that propped up the local economy in southern Spain may have undermined the very ground on which Lorca is built.

The researchers noted that even without the strain caused by water extraction, a quake would likely have occurred at some point.

But the extra stress of pumping vast amounts of water from a nearby aquifer may have been enough to trigger a quake at that particular time and place, said lead researcher Pablo J. Gonzalez of the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Miguel de las Doblas Lavigne, a geologist with Spain’s National Natural Science Museum who has worked on the same theory but was not involved in the study, said the Lorca quake was in the cards.

“This has been going on for years in the Mediterranean areas, all very famous for their agriculture and plastic greenhouses. They are just sucking all the water out of the aquifers, drying them out,” he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “From Lorca to (the regional capital of) Murcia you can find a very depleted water level.”

De las Doblas said it was “no coincidence that all the aftershocks were located on the exact position of maximum depletion.”

“The reason is clearly related to the farming, it’s like a sponge you drain the wa-

ter from; the weight of the rocks makes the terrain subside and any small variation near a very active fault like the Alhama de Murcia may be the straw that breaks the camel(asterisk)s back, which is what happened,” he said.

He said excess water extraction was common in Spain.

“Everybody digs their own well, they don’t care about anything,” he said. “I think in Lorca you may find that some 80 percent of wells are illegal.”

Lorca town hall environment chief Melchor Morales said the problem dates back to the 1960s when the region opted to step up its agriculture production and when underground water was considered private property. A 1986 law has reduced the amount of well pumping, he said. [AP]

Management, which estimated that 45% or around 13 million hectares of arable land in the Philippines are either moderately or severely eroded due to massive deforestation and adoption of unsustainable land management practices in the upland areas, further compounded by the unabated use of “urea” in modern farming.

“This led to soil degradation and lower agricultural

output despite application of modern farming practices,” she pointed out.

The Senator also said that land degradation in the country has affected more than 33 million Filipinos and is likely to contribute to widespread and severe poverty in the rural areas.

“The 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) reveals that

poverty incidence among farmers and fisher folk are at 36.7% and 41.4%, respectively—much higher than the 26.5% national level,” Legarda said.

The proposed bill aims to establish a National Soil and Water Conservation Program which shall foment synergy between agricultural productivity improvement and sustainable land management.

Legarda files bill to promote soil and water conservation

S

ENATOR Loren Legarda recently filed a proposed measure that aims to curtail the problem of soil degradation.

Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that she filed Senate Bill 3308, or the Soil and Water Conservation Act of 2012, after noting a 2010 report by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water

produce the sounds.

To amplify the comparatively low-frequency parts of the vocalisations, he over-inflated what is known at the vestibular sac in his blowhole - which normally acts to stop water entering the lungs.

In short, the mimicry was no easy task for NOC. “Our observations suggest that the whale had to modify its vocal mechanics in order to make the speechlike sounds,” said Sam Ridgway, president of the National Marine Mammal Foundation and lead author on the paper.

“The sounds we heard were clearly an example of vocal learning by the white whale.”

[BBC Nature]

NGCP donates P5M worth of used batteries to ABS-CBN Foundation HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) recently donated used lead acid batteries worth P5 million to ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) in line with the organization’s Bantay Baterya Project.

The project aims to create a sustained public awareness on the health and environmental hazards posed by the indiscriminate handling of junk batteries and to recover and reprocess junk batteries in an environmentally safe manner.

The project requests companies for donation of used, junk lead acid batteries earmarked for disposal.

The used batteries will be properly hauled by the Bantay Kalikasan arm of the AFI and the Philippine Recyclers Incorporated (PRI) from several NGCP substations all over the country.

These will be handled, treated and disposed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. PRI shall also reprocess the donated batteries determine its monetary value and turn-over the revenue from the recovered materials to ABS-CBN Foundation.

Henry T. Sy, Jr., NGCP president and chief executive officer, signed a memorandum of agreement with the foundation and PRI to formalize the power transmission company’s full support for this environmental project. Sy was then represented by Anthony L. Almeda, chief administra-

tive officer, at the turnover ceremony in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

“We value this partnership campaign for the proper disposal of waste, especially used batteries which can harm the environment.

We perform our mandate as transmission service provider while being fully aware of our responsibilities to the environment and the general public. By partnering with Bantay Kalikasan and AFI, we are assured that our initiatives are put into good and sustainable use,” Almeda said.

He also urged everyone to donate their used lead-acid batteries to the Bantay Baterya Project of ABS-CBN Foundation.

“It is for a good cause, and it is a step towards the protection and rehabilitation of our environment,” he emphasized.

Proceeds from the used batteries will be used to support the operations of the Bantay Kalikasan Hotline and the Save the La Mesa Watershed Project as well as NGCP’s various corporate social responsibility projects.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power grid.

It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines and towers, substations and related assets.

[PNA]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012 DTI to monitor Christmas lights and similar items

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry is asking consumers to be more vigilant of products they see in the market, adding that it would intensify monitoring of Christmas lights and decorations starting this November.

“We began monitoring stores as early as this month of October and will intensify same in November onwards, the time when Christmas decorations are in high demand,” DTI 11 regional director Marizon S. Loreto said.

Strict monitoring is being done in all provinces of the region although

the focus is in Davao City since most of the bigger outlets and stores selling these decorations are based here.

DTI’s inspectors do not only focus on the ICC stickers but also on other aspects of the goods to ensure their quality.

Loreto said more partners from the private sector are needed who have heightened awareness and conscious of consumer rights so they will be able to tell the businesses about possible violations,” she said.

She has noted that many stores offer cheap

Using mobile phones

THE ECONOMY

STARTUP. Tina Amper, founder of TechTalks.PH (right), promotes the 1st

FDTI, 11 Startup Weekend Davao slated on November 9-11, 2012 at the Philippine

5

College of Technology during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. With her is Dulce Rose Lada. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Country’s first branchless bank drives more transactions in the countryside T

HE results of a mobile banking pilot in the countryside affirm the Filipinos’ readiness for cellfone-driven financial services.

Dubbed as the Banking the Unbanked (BTU) project, this is the country’s first cohesive at-

tempt to provide branchless, cashless banking services to the countryside, using one of the most ubiquitous tools of today—the mobile phone. The program was implemented by PlaNet Finance Group through its subsidiary company,

mBank Holding (MBH), in partnership with leading wireless services provider, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to benefit members of the low income market who otherwise have little or no access to formal banking services.

The 18-month pilot utilized Smart’s award-winning Smart Money platform to provide mobile-based financial solutions such as micro-savings and micro-loan services to a test market of Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers com-

posed of farmers, airtime retailers, market vendors and other low-income earners, who remitted capital build-up deposits and loan amortizations using their Smart mobile phones.

What sets the BTU apart from other mo-

bile-based initiatives is that all transactions— from Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, account activations, capital-build ups, loan disbursements and collections--happen over-the-air (OTA). It is secure, cashless and pa-

FCOUNTRY’S, 11

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 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Using mobile phones

Country’s first branchless bank drives more transactions in the countryside T

HE results of a mobile banking pilot in the countryside affirm the Filipinos’ readiness for cellfone-driven financial services.

Dubbed as the Banking the Unbanked (BTU) project, this is the country’s first cohesive attempt to provide branchless, cashless banking services to the countryside, using one of the most ubiquitous tools of today—the mobile phone. The program was implemented by PlaNet Finance Group through its subsidiary company, mBank Holding (MBH), in partnership with leading wireless services provider, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to benefit members of the low income market who otherwise have little or no access to formal banking services.

The 18-month pilot utilized

Smart’s award-winning Smart Money platform to provide mobile-based financial solutions such as micro-savings and micro-loan services to a test market of Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers composed of farmers, airtime retailers, market vendors and other low-income earners, who remitted capital build-up deposits and loan amortizations using their Smart mobile phones.

What sets the BTU apart from other mobile-based initiatives is that all transactions— from Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, account activations, capital-build ups, loan disbursements and collections--happen over-the-air (OTA). It is secure, cashless and paperless mobile banking in its truest sense, made possible

by Smart Money’s menu-based

financial solutions such as micro savings and micro loan services. Once launched commercially, the offerings of the BTU project will be rolled out to different locations in the Philippines, and potentially, other countries.

“This project was launched to let members of the underserved sector enjoy the full range mobile banking services despite their geographical and income limitations. We are happy that our efforts have helped revolutionize mobile banking services in the countryside,” said Arnaud Ventura, co-founder of mBank Holding, and PlaNet Finance and President & CEO of MicroCred.

“Smart’s participation in the BTU project underscores our commitment to provide affordable, relevant and accessible

financial services to Filipinos.

Through our tried and tested mobile money platform and Smart’s “nationwidest” coverage, we hope to pave the way for more inclusive financial services that will benefit the unserved and underserved communities of the Philippines,” said Tricia V. Dizon, Smart Financial Services Head.

The BTU has a huge potential to benefit Smart’s predominantly prepaid market, many of which have limited access to formal banking services. As of June-2012, Smart has 50.9 million subscribers on its GSM network, about 98% of which are prepaid. This is supported

by Smart’s extensive and modern digital communications infrastructure—covering all of the country’s 1,629 cities and municipalities.

T

with agriculture and quarantine officials the existing policy for the importation of grouch mango fruit from the Philippines At present, Australia only allows the entry of mangoes coming from Guimaras Island.

“In fact, we still have a

pending request for our mango exports. We want to push for the entry of mangoes not only from Guimaras, but also those coming from Samal Island and Davao del Sur,” the official said.

In August 2010, the DA said that Biosecurity Australia has allow the entry of fresh man-

goes from the Davao del Sur following a long-term cleanliness policy and quarantine practices the Philippines Bureau of Plant Industry.

However, Manila has not been able to conduct initial shipments of mangoes to the continent, Alcala said. [PNA]

PHL eyes mango trade deal with Australia, New Zealand

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand that will allow the entry of more Philippine mango varieties in the continent in exchange for higher dairy products.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that agriculture officials expect to discuss with their counterparts in Australia and New Zealand the possible technical support for the development of the Philippines’ dairy industry, as well as possible export of mangoes to the continent.

“Australia wants to export kangaroo meat. At the same time, they want to help us improve genetic quality of our livestock,” Alcala said.

“For New Zealand, we have a special concern in agriculture technology, which we can replicate in our National Dairy Program,” he said.

The DA chief, however, admitted that they would still discuss the proposal to accept kangaroo meat from Australia, noting that there was still no specific guideline on its importation.

Alcala will accompany President Benigno Aquino III in his state visit in Australia and New Zealand.

While in Australia, Alcala said that they would discuss

REFRESHING. After long hours falling in line to get a voter’s registration, a lady buys coconut juice to refresh herself at Magsaysay Park yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ICT HUB 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Top Facebook exec quits to join London’s Tech City J

OANNA Shields, head of social media group Facebook’s operations in Europe, is leaving to join a British government-sponsored venture to create London’s answer to Silicon Valley.

Tech City Investment Organisation was set up in April 2011 to attract inward investment focused on an area in London’s east End, dubbed “silicon roundabout” and supporting start-ups looking to expand.

It has signed up companies including Cisco, Google and Intel.

“The success of Tech City shows just what can happen when we back some of our most innovative and aspiring companies to grow,” Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement on Sunday.

Shields, will join TCIO in January, said she would lead a drive that hopes to

make London the number one location for tech in the world.

Her departure will be a blow to Facebook, the world’s biggest social network, as the U.S. group seeks to reassure shareholders after a rough reception on Wall Street since its high profile listing in May. Concern about its slowing revenue growth rate has seen its market valuation halve - Facebook shares closed at $19.00 on Friday, compared with a $38.00 issue price in May. “Facebook supports the UK Government’s vision for building a stronger technology-based economy and start-up ecosystem, and we wish Joanna every success,” a company spokesman said.

Earlier this week, Facebook opened an engineering centre in London, its first outside the United States. [REuTERS]

Facebook Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Joanna Shields, speaks as Jonathan Labin, head of Global Marketing Solutions for the Middle East and North Africa, and Christian Hernandez, Director of Platform Partner-

Apple expected to debut ‘mini’ iPad

A

PPLE on Tuesday is expected to pull back the curtain on a “mini” version of its iPad to battle Amazon and Google in the hot, crowded arena of tablet computers with smaller screens.

As is its style, Apple has remained mute regarding what it plans to unveil at the media event, which will be held in the California city of San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Invitations bore only time and location details along with the message “We’ve got a little more to show you.”

However, rampant rumor fueled by industry insiders foretells the arrival of an “iPad Mini” priced

from $249 to $399.

“I don’t think they have any choice,” said independent analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

“The reality is that the smaller tablets seem to be much more popular because they are lower priced and easy to hold.”

Apple set the tablet computer market ablaze with the first iPad in early 2010 and stuck with its 9.7-inch (24.6-centimeter) screen while rivals introduced lower-price tablets with screens closer to seven-inches (18 centimeters).

Amazon’s seven-inch Kindle Fire proved popular last year, and a new version was launched last month.

Meanwhile, a Google Nexus 7 powered by Android software joined the Samsung Galaxy in the seven-inch tablet market.

With Kindle and Nexus tablets starting at $199, Apple will be forced to keep its price low for

its new model and “will not have its normal profit margin,” said Roger Kay, a consultant and analyst with Endpoint Technologies Associates.

Some blogs say Google may come out with a tablet as low as $99. [AFP]

The quarterly earnings missed expectations for the second time in a year but analysts said the decline was a shortterm trade-off as mobile advertising revenue becomes a bigger part of its business.

Chief Executive Larry Page, speaking on an earnings call, said that Google’s mobile business, which includes app sales and advertising, was now generating revenue at an annualized run rate of

$8 billion, up from about $2.5 billion last year.

“This run-rate ... speaks to how GOOG has positioned itself to win regardless of platform,” Nomura Equity Research’s Brian Nowak wrote in a note, although he cut his price target on the stock to $840 from $900 because of the short-term outlook.

Google shares closed down 8 percent at $694.37 on Thursday.

The stock was up 1 per-

cent at $700 in premarket trading on Friday.

Piper Jaffray & Co, RBC Capital Markets, Raymond James, Robert W. Baird & Co, Susquehanna Financial Group, BMO Capital Markets and Evercore Partners also lowered their outlook on the Google stock by an average of $44.14.

Analysts at Barclays Capital, however, raised their price target by 4 percent to $780. [Reuters]

A man is seen playing a game on an iPad. Just weeks after its momentous launch of the iPhone 5, Apple is back with what is expected to be another hot gadget -- a ‘mini’ version of its market-leading iPad tablet. [AFP]

Analysts cut Google price targets

A

T least seven brokerages cut their price targets on Google Inc’s shares after the company missed Wall Street earnings expectations, but analysts said growing mobile advertising revenue points to better times ahead.

The earnings report, released hours ahead of schedule due to an error on Thursday, revealed slowing sales in Google’s core Internet advertising business.

ships, look on during a news conference for the opening of Facebook offices in Dubai May 30, 2012. [REuTERS]

Yahoo’s new CEO takes on the mobile challenge

Y

AHOO Inc’s new CEO Marissa Mayer sketched out her plan for revamping the mobile and search advertising business on Monday, outlining publicly for the first time her vision for getting the ailing Web company back on its feet.

Mayer, once a rising star at Google Inc who took charge at Yahoo in July, told analysts on a conference call she wanted to focus Yahoo’s efforts around the “daily habits” of users such as email, the home page, Internet search and mobile devices.

But her top priority is to fashion a coherent strategy to manage the industry’s transition to mobile devices, a fundamental shift that some of the most innovative Silicon Valley companies - from Facebook Inc to Google Inc - are struggling with.

“The mobile wave is a huge wave for us to ride,” Mayer said on the conference call.

The 37-year-old CEO talked about working more closely with software provider and Web search partner Microsoft Corp, while employing technology to shore up its display ads business through such features as automated buying.

She added that the company is likely to begin withdrawing from international businesses that

fail to grow. This month, executives said the company will pull out of South Korea, a market full of local rivals. And she said that the company would primarily focus on “smaller-scale” acquisitions to bolster Yahoo’s products, assuaging some shareholder concerns that the company could embark on an expensive shopping spree.

Yahoo shares were up more than 4 percent at $16.50 in after hours trading on Monday.

“She handled the call very well,” said Gabelli & Co analyst Brett Harriss.

“You have the tone of a professional CEO who just wants to block and tackle better and move the company forward,” he said, noting that he detected echoes of Google’s business approach in Mayer’s comments.

Roughly 700 million users visit a Yahoo website every month - putting it in the top ranks globally. But the amount of activity people engage in on many sites is steadily declining and its smartphone offerings are deemed lackluster.

SHIFTING COURSE Mayer is expected to focus on revamping Yahoo’s technology and products, shifting course from the media-centric approach embraced by her immediate predecessor, Ross Levinsohn. [Reuters]

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO The tracks of my fears Commentary

By John C. ABell

T

EDITORIAL

E

Cybercrime Law: Sword of Damocles

SPERLITA “PERLING” GARCIA, an antimining advocate in Nueva Vizcaya, was arrested and detained overnight as a result of the libel charge filed against her by the mayor of their town over a critical item which she posted on her Facebook account.

In reaction, Makabayan partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño said the arrest of Garcia proves that even without the controversial Cybercrime Protection Act, particularly the provision on libel, people can still file libel cases based on Facebook posts or other electronic means.

“This just goes to show that the Cybercrime law is not only unnecessary, but is very dangerous and an added threat to freedom of expression. The suspended law aims to upgrade the penalty for online libel to a prison sentence or a much higher bail,” said the senatorial bet.

Casiño said millions of people now use social media to express their personal views on a whole range of issues and topics. “Unlike the traditional mass media, which undergoes

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strict editorial regulation, social media is unregulated, precisely to allow ordinary people to participate in the discourse.”

Earlier, a similar view was expressed by another Teddy-–Rep. Teddyboy Locsin, who said that a libel case can still be filed by people who feel aggrieved by criticism on social media even without the Cybercrime law. For redress, people libeled online can still avail themselves of the already existing laws, he said, adding that creative litigants, prosecutors and judges can do this.

We agree with the views of the two gentlemen.

This administration promised to act favorably on the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) and the decriminalization of libel and we believed it. The FOI and decriminalization is nowhere near being passed by the two Houses of Congress. As if this was not bad enough, what the P’Noy administration did was to approve posthaste into law the Cybercrime Protection Act. If this is not paradoxical, what is?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEy Consultant kENNETH IRVING k. ONG Creative Solutions

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( Conclusion )

HE warnings of the self-interested fear mongers are probably right about one thing — there would be fewer websites. But they are wrong about the impact. Paring the glut of junk ads that we wade through now would leave us with a healthier Internet. Content-farm garbage — those drivel-filled how-to “articles” that somehow bubble to the top of searches — would dissipate, in turngiving Google better things to do than reprogram its algorithms to turn a blind eye. We’d be more private, and be barraged by less drek. It’s a win-win.

Less is not a bad thing. Infinite options are not a sign of quality, only of abundance (my editor reminds me this also applies to the crowded New York City bar scene). And on the Web, as in TV, that means an abundance of advertisers.

The Web, like every robust medium, is unique, largely supported by selling an audience to third parties. But unlike TV, the Web began as a commercial-free zone and thrived before it became a marketing playground, before the big corporations moved in and developed that pristine landscape with more resorts, gas stations and banks. Neon signs, once frowned upon, abound.

The Internet will be just fine, thank you, without those eyesores. The invasive, keystroke-logging corporate culture that threatens to take its ball and go home isn’t actually paying for much quality. The sites you love are not going to be threatened if the junk circus leaves town. Only the bottom-feeders will.

Publishers aren’t keen to go on the record with this point of view, but it’s hardly a secret to the marquee content sites that they’d benefit with less crappy competition and fewer crappy ad networks.

“Opposition to DNT is this cockamamie claim that individuals would not be able to have ads targeted to them,” one prominent print and digital publisher told me. “But the people who really lose out if DNT is implemented are the ad networks who simply buy cheap targeted eyeballs.”

This is what New York Times reporter Natasha Singer has poetically dubbed “the surveillance economy.”

“As it currently stands, the Web is simply about buying audiences,” the executive said. “Implementing DNT would enable them to target communities — and more creatively.

TiVo’s ultra-fast-forward and Dish’s “Auto Hop” — and premium TV services like HBO and government-subsidized programmers like the BBC — have recalibrated the balance of power between buyer and seller on the world’s most successful ad-supported medium. Do Not Track similarly holds the promise of a better economic model that would increase quality by making advertising dollars scarcer.

There would be fewer things on the Web — which is exactly what the advertisers are threatening. Thing is, fewer trees makes for a more friendly forest.

Without more consumer control over TV, do you think we’d have more Breaking Bad — or My Mother The Car? Think about it. There is, arguably, more bad TV post-Tivo, but it is mostly of the reality sort, the kind of TV that costs a fraction of episodic and serial programming — an economy that is itself a ramification of viewer fragmentation. And (because of DVRs) it is easily avoidable.

Even if the Web’s sludge somehow managed to survive, is there any chance the sites you value would disappear under Do Not Track? Or will there instead be even more of them?

EDGEDAVAO

W

ARNING IS NOT ENOUGH – Health authorities say that the banned drugs peddled in the sidewalks of Chinatown district in Davao City can be dangerous for humans. Now the local agency of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) is investigating and has warned the consuming public anew on the proliferation of the banned drugs. The FDA, the lead agency tasked to regulate and monitor food and drug products says these are the same stuffs that were target of previous confiscation. Aside from seizure, FDA people even have the temerity to rattle certain arrests. Is that so, gentlemen? Whose legs are you pulling down this time?

The serious problem is coming to a head. Here comes the FDA statement, which began with identifying the banned drugs being illegally sold were those promising to enhance sexual potency and promote weight loss. The FDA found that the banned commodities, most of which are imported from China, although surprisingly they obviously don’t want to mention its origin contained high level of mercury.

Medical experts and the FDA have declared the allowable presence of mercury should exceed one part per million, but the banned drugs contained 1,000 ppm and this is considered at a very dangerous level – a health hazard.

Again, as we’ve mentioned earlier the FDA obviously did not identify the origin of the banned drugs except to give clues that they could have been sneaked into the city using either the cities of Zamboanga and General Santos as the port of entries. Goodness gracious! Is there something to hide,

L

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

AST September 24, my dear friend and former classmate in college, Roy Christian, was ordained as a priest in Negros Occidental. I am very happy for him, having made the ultimate choice of serving God and His people. Roy is no ordinary priest. He was a bona fide member of the bar---a lawyer. After college, he went to a law school, reviewed for and passed the bar. Shortly thereafter, he decided to abandon the mundane world of law practice and studied again, that time, for priesthood. To many of our college pals, it came as a surprise. It is easy to go to law school, but it is somehow difficult to pass the bar. I saw it coming though. In fact, I was shocked when he studied law, instead of formally studying the Bible and Vatican encyclicals and canons.

During our UP days, Roy was active in a campus religious organization, reportedly linked to the most conservative lay organization under the Vatican. He preferred reading religious books, instead of reviewing for our political science major examinations. One of our teachers then was the late Prof. Ted Ledesma, said to be the only one who flunked then Ms. Miriam Defensor. It was rumored that the now feisty senator challenged Ted to an academic debate, which was gamely accepted by our teacher. Miriam won and got her passing mark.

Now, back to Roy. Once, he invited us to their study center and brought us inside an adjacent prayer room cum chapel adorned with gold-plated statues of saints and filled with lots of books. I teasingly asked him if they kept a copy of Karl Marx’s Das Kapital.

He said no. He explained that all the books

Causes for concern gentlemen?

The banned drugs are becoming a serious health problem and its victims patronize the illegal products unknowing of the negative effects. So what’s really behind the proliferation of these unregulated drugs and the sidewalk peddlers conducting their trade with impunity, and worst, right under the very noses of law enforcement units and concerned government agencies? Holy cow!

The mercury-laced drugs are “hightech” miracle that would promote weight loss and promised to enhance sexual potency. However, medical experts and clinicians found that patients who used the products are more than 30 times as likely to develop skin infections or colon cancer and other cancer-related diseases. These infections even when treated with antibiotics are lethal in some 10 percent of cases.

Some studies advised that all prospective users should consult experts for recommendations such as the proper application and use of prescribe drugs.

Unrecognized, chemically-laced drugs especially those with high mercury content attack slowly and furtively. Initially, it produces subtle symptoms so a person being affected is often unaware that anything is wrong. Slowly but gradually, it damaged the skin, body tissues, clog blood vessels and injure the internal organs. Health authorities and medical practitioners acknowl-

edge that there are causes for concern. If taken in large quantity, banned drugs could even result in instant death. Unaware consumers are really helpless, which can be devastating.

Now back to the previous question: what prompted the FDA people not to identify the origin of the banned drugs that proliferated in the city’s sidewalks? Is it being done on purpose and for what reason?

Above all, it’s just a matter of investigating the crucial issue and immediately right after, the FDA will soon realize that most, if not all of the banned drugs are imported from China. Say what they will but many Chinese products notably cosmetics, beauty treatment items, slimming drinks and foodstuffs have no required labeling such as if they contain known toxins, allergins or an entirely new substance. It’s a sort of puzzle and some worried consumer groups are trying to know how these banned drugs gained entry into our seaports and airports and other point of entries.

The word inefficiency, of course, is the catch. When it comes to performance of their designated tasks, we have a concerned government agency and law enforcement pockmarked with inefficiency.

The result of all that inefficiency – layers of increased fear that is passed on to wary consumers and end-users that face the real danger – health problems. The saddest part is that those certain arrests of violators and the much-hyped crackdown against unscrupulous sidewalk peddlers and ambulant vendors reported in media are nothing but just an image enhancement strategy.

They’re good at it.

around us were for the salvation of the soul.

“What about the nourishment of the human body, particularly that of the workers of the world?” I insisted. He just smiled and continued touring us, knowing it was no serious joke, apparently. Ours was a three-member gang then. Roy was and still is ultra-religious. Edmund was a publicly admitted atheist after his four-year stint as an altar boy in high school. I was sort of a lost soul, vacillating between reformed version of Christianity and Theravada Bud-

innate strong character of a person. Notwithstanding endless debates on the ivory tower on nature versus nurture in the development of the human personality, it is strongly asserted that we are inherently born good. It was no small feat for Roy. No doubt about that. Despite my misgivings about Christianity, particularly its character of being very of-this-world, it is admirable for one person to forfeit law practice and the abandon the material boon it brings.

Our mini-triumvirate in college believed that the Homo sapiens in us has radically evolved into a Homo consumerus, which is good for business but not quite excellent for the human soul. Many of us have finally evolved into selfish, myopic and materialistic young beings, caring less for the country and the less unfortunate. Most of the young care only for things personal and convenient. As long as nothing perceived personal is taken from them, we have no qualms.

That partly explains why modern Filipino youth do not find corruption and its many innovative versions as strongly atrocious and dreadful. It would take a lot of re-educating before they realize that corruption is also stealing things personal from every ordinary Filipino, youngsters included.

The recent elevation of Beato Pedro Calungsod to the sacrosanct list of saints ushers renewed hopes among the youth of this country. San Pedro Calungsod was a teenager when he made the ultimate sacrifice, dying while defending the faith. Well, there is no need now for another dead teenager. To every modern young Filipino, it is not anymore how we will die. What matters most is how we live---for others.

Admirable vocation

‘Our mini-triumvirate in college

believed that the Homo sapiens in us has radically evolved into a Homo consumerus, which is good for business but not quite excellent for the human soul.’ dhism (interestingly, a godless religion). In the end, I thought I am comfortable with secular humanism.

At the time when many of today’s youth seem always in a mad rush to establish a profession, decent job or good business, Roy took a different path. Among others, his ordination brings to the fore the

9

Don’t disparage Nur Misuari aDVoCaCy minDanoW

By JeSS G. DurezA

P

( Conclusion )

RINCIPLED --Nur, even during the procedures for his departure took a principled stand and insistent that he had done nothing wrong. He argued, with raised voice, with the Malaysian immigration officers that they had no basis to hold him or treat him that way or that he violated any Malaysian law. He even refused to sign any document that would facilitate his exit from Malaysian soil. It was rightful indignation, I thought. The Malaysian officer finally said: “You are in Malaysian territory and your passport has no entry stamp on its face so you entered illegally.” He was right. But Nur remained adamant. Finally, I volunteered to sign any document just to allow us to leave in haste. NUR’S TRAVAILS --- And off we went without delay. We walked briskly towards the waiting plane. Nur must have not dreamed of this to happen that night. The C-130 engines hummed back to life, not even totally cooled down yet after that long trip from Manila.

On board the C-130 several thousand feet in the air, Nur who was seated next to me in those provisional seats, slumped back, appeared so relieved and told me about his travails inside the Malaysian detention area.

Contrary to the popular view back home that he was princely or royally treated by the Malaysians, his detention cell was dark, without any contact with the outside world. No newspapers to read. He would even insist at times to be allowed to “see the sun.”

JABIDAH MASSACRE -- The way he was treated by the Malaysians was way off the way he was accorded courtesies and even protection at the height of the Muslim rebellion when Malaysia then considered the MNLF and Nur as their ally in the Sabah problem. Remember that the Muslim uprising, with Nur in the forefront, was triggered by the discovery of a failed Philippine government secret plan to invade Sabah in the infamous “Jabidah Massacre” where some commando-trained Muslims who were being prepared to do a foreign mission to invade Sabah were massacred in an island in the south in a deadly “cover-up operations” to prevent the story from leaking out. One survivor however told the story to the world.

Nur and his commanders used to crisscross the southern waters and sought sanctuary in Malaysian soil, of course with the knowledge or quiet tolerance -- if not assistance -- of the Malaysians during those friendlier times.

With this in mind, we should not be surprised why Nur now is nurturing deep seated and seething dislike and grudge towards the Malaysians. You can’t blame him.

NO HANDCUFFS, PLEASE -- Back to Nur in the plane. There was some minor discussion among the police officers who accompanied me whether the SOP of using handcuffs on Nur and the religious imam who was his constant companion, should be done. I thought it was unnecessary and it was quickly settled. The Muslim Imam fell to sleep in a jiffy in a seat at the back while the lady nurse took the reglamentary blood pressure tests. I volunteered too.

My BP, as I expected was high. Those were fast clip and high strung events we all just went through.

DECOY -- When we were approaching Philippine airspace to land, we diverted the flight from the Villamor Air Base to a military airfield outside of Metro Manila as we got information while in-flight that some newspaper and TV reporters were stationed and waiting at the base for our landing. Somehow the “secret mission” was no longer secret anymore.

We landed in another airbase but still there were a few reporters spotted waiting there. So we had a decoy group appearing to have disembarked from the C-130, with a shrouded man, to a waiting van that the reporters chased in vainful search for Nur while we took off from a waiting helicopter to whisk him to Sta Rosa, Laguna where Nur was turned over for his detention.

CAREGIVER -- A detention facility that was more of a home with some fixtures, although surrounded by a barbed wire fence became his home, including his family, for sometime in the middle of a sprawling PNP training camp.

Eventually, while still under my watch, he was moved to a house in the old Manila area where he stayed until he was released on bail and eventually acquitted by the trial court for the rebellion charges filed against him. Again, the rest is history.

In all those times, I was sort of Nur’s caregiver. Looking back, It was a privilege to be one. .

(Lawyer Jesus G. Dureza was government peace panel chair in the negotiations with the MILF under the Arroyo administration from 2001 to 2003 and was later named Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (2005 to 2008). He heads Advocacy MindaNOW Foundation, Inc. and was recently named publisher of the Davao Citybased Mindanao Times. This piece is from his syndicated column, Advocacy MindaNOW).

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Members of a visiting cooperative listen to Emily Cancio, supervisor of the Call Center Service, during her presentation on customer service processes.

Tudaya Hydro

Opens access roads to community

Davao Light hosts H electric co-op visits D

AVAO Light and Power Company hosted visits of various electric cooperatives from all over the Philippines.

The company visits, which started last July 2011, were in response to electric coops’ requests.

As of present, Davao Light has had accommodated a total of 29 on-site visits.

For this year, the coops

that have made their visits are SOCOTECO II, SURNECO, ANECO, and ZANECO. Also in the list are SURSECO II, ASELCO, TARELCO II, NEECO I & II (Area 1 & 2), CASURECO IV, ANTECO, CASURECO II, CANORECO and COTELCO. The visit, which was a whole day activity, involved series of presentations and open forum discussions. One of the pre-

sentations was an overview about Davao Light and its parent company, Aboitiz Power. The operations of the host’s various services were also presented. Among these were the customer service, anti-pilferage campaign, human resource programs and basic accounting processes.

Delegates were also given a tour to company

facilities such as Customer Service area, Control Center and Maa Training Center.

On top of the visits, Davao Light has conducted Live-line lineman skills training to one electric cooperatives namely SOCOTECO II. Through the visits, the host and the visiting companies are also able to share their best practices.

Village, Hilsha I & II, Pioneer Subd., Megaville Subd., from Villafuerte St. to Palarca Compound towards Purok 1,2,4,5 and 10 in Barangay Dacudao, and Barangays Los Amigos Ula and Tacunan.

With the division of the WSS, the Calinan WSS will serve to consumers in Crossing Cogon towards Barangay Dacudao and the Riverside WSS will serve the residents of Barangays Los Amigos, Ula, Tacunan including

Biao Tienda.

The utility is now implementing infrastructure projects in Riverside Water Supply System. It has awarded to Sinian International Corporation the construction of facilities of Riverside production well no.

2 located at Brgy. Los Amigos. The total project cost is 9,158,338.69 pesos and it will be completed by January 2013.

Also the utility is reconstructing the pumping

facilities of Riverside production well number 1 and its the target date of completion is on April 2013. The total cost of the project is 9, 979, 999.99 pesos.

DCWD is operating eight water supply systems these are Calinan-Riverside, Malagos, Tugbok, Dumoy, Lubogan, Toril, Cabantian and Panacan which serves more than 182,000 service connections. (SyLViA

DCWD develops riverside water supply system

D

AVAO City Water District is planning to divide the existing Calinan-Riverside Water Supply System by year 2013.

Currently, the present system is serving the following areas: Crossing Cogon to Calinan Proper down to Davao-Bukidnon Road including Bagobo Village, Lanzona Village, Francisco Village, Babad Compound and Purok 7, from Datu Sibing St. to Durian Village, Estrella

TO THE REMOTEST BARANGAY. Second district representative Mylene Garcia cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the turn-over of a two classroom

EDGEDAVAO

EDCOR has started development of access roads to its Tudaya hydroelectric power project. When complete, these will also serve as farm-to-market roads for the community.

Work is ongoing for temporary and permanent roads as the construction of the 13.6-MW project progresses.

Project Manager Rodolfo Laguna said that the access roads are in addition to the 48 kms already developed for Hedcor’s Sibulan hydros.

“We, the farmers, are grateful for Hedcor’s assistance... they give us the means to work hard and deliver our produce directly to the market,” tribal leader Datu Rudy Agtag said in behalf of his

colleagues.

The company is taking advantage of the good weather to fast track the completion of the construction. Two plants are simultaneously being constructed. These are the Tudaya 1 and Tudaya 2 hydropower plants. According to Laguna, the construction period for both plants is expected to take around 18 to 20 months.

Aside from new roads, host communities also gain from the Hedcor’s CSR projects. The company conducts regular medical missions, assists children to go to school, and executes water management initiatives like tree planting, river clean ups and other river bank preservation activities.

MAy L. VoSoTRoS)

1-strory building at Salapawan Elem. School in Brgy. Salapawan, Paquibato district. The lady solon accompanied by former Congressman Vincent Garcia

and former city councilor Rally Bangoy were welcomed by school and village officials led by Brgy. Captian Doming Bucayla.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

80 of every...

FFROM 1

hood” organized by Ex-Seminarians of SFXCS to be held on November 18, has two objectives – to help the miserable state of the seminary building and to attract more men to enter the seminary.

He said a lot of factors can be attributed to the dropping out of seminarians from the seminary.

Like any other college, the SFXCS adopts the two-semester format in the yearly educational curriculum with the seminarians taking the same course, Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy.

Every semester, the seminary rector conducts an individual evaluation among the seminarians whether they should con-

Children’s...

tinue in the next semester or not, based on behavior or academics. Some have left the seminary for personal reasons.

Hence, from first year to fourth year, it is expected that the number of members in each batch will reduce.

After the five-year study at SFXCS, another five years formation will be added to the Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) at a neighboring building.

But as commonly noted, even the number of those who have already been ordained as priests still leave the ministry for one reason or another.

Which should be cause for alarm to the Church. [ASA]

CARNAPPED. Wilfredo Galagala (4th from right) presents to Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte an accessory of his carnapped vehicle after a raid in a property allegedly owned by Ryan “Baktin” Yu at Park Lane St., Sarphil Subd.

Ex-gov...

FFROM 2

FFROM 2

melita Ericta also stated that 2.993 million child laborers are in the worst forms of child labor such as prostitution and drug trafficking.

“We wish for the materialization of the Philippines’ goal to reduce child labor by 75%, come 2015. As for our part, we

DTI...

will continue to lobby for changes in the community level,” added Mondragon.

The recently conducted Art Showcase was the first part of Child Alert’s tripartite celebration of the Children’s Month.

Last October 13 and 14, a total of 150 children from

the organized communities participated in the poster, collage and slogan making competitions.

The outputs reflected the local theme and perspective of the children.

The remaining activities for the celebration are the Sports Strife and Culminating Festival.

FFROM 5

Christmas decors but that consumers should consider not just the price but also the safety of the products they are buying.

Davao del Norte field office acting provincial director Vedastito Galvez, also noted a marked improvement in Fair Trade Laws compliance in the provinces. Retail, super-

In Brgy. Wilfredo Aquino, Agdao Monday night. The accessory is the only part of Galagala’s vehicle that was recovered. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

markets and hardware stores, he said, are now observing the price tag law.

“We were also able to resolve three consumer complaints which paved the way for a refund of up to P193,915 in favor of the complainants,” he said.

Loreto said consumers

are encouraged to patronize products that have been certified in terms of quality and safety for their own protectionand that DTI’s campaign is in line with the celebration of Consumer’s Month with the theme “Get Organized, Be Heard, Be Empowered.”[LAC]

Edge Davao hiring editor, 3 reporters EDGE DAVAO is in need of an editor and three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program.

The 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.

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 may send their application 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.

the province,” he said in an interview Tuesday morning.

He said as the province’s former top executive “I can do a lot to serve and infuse ideas for good provincial leadership, for good governance and for public

Country’s...

service. I can humble myself for the sake of public service. It is not the position that is important but public service.”

He added that their presence in the provincial board is for the sake of check and balance.

Caballero was the first elected governor of Compostela Valley after its creation in 1998 from mother province of Davao del Norte. He held the governor’s post for three terms ending in 2007. [ASA]

cia V. Dizon, Smart Financial Services Head.

The BTU has a huge potential to benefit Smart’s predominantly prepaid market, many of which have limited access to formal banking services. As of June-2012, Smart has 50.9 million subscribers on its GSM network, about 98% of which are prepaid. This is supported by Smart’s extensive and modern digital communications infrastructure—covering all of the country’s 1,629 cities and municipalities.

The pilot has demonstrated a demand for accessible and easy-to-use financial services that will allow subscribers to save in an account, transfer money, receive funds, reload airtime, and pay loan amortizations. The pilot also demonstrated the importance of having a reliable and extensive network to make such an effort successful.

The BTU Project complements other Smart offerings that provide seamless and efficient mobile commerce and banking solutions to the unbanked sector. Smart Money is currently being utilized to disburse loans for airtime reloading to microentrepreneurs under the Hapinoy program.

Smart has also successfully rolled out its Islands Activations Program to 58 remote Philippine locations to enable Filipinos to perform money transfers via Smart-powered cellphones. Just recently, Smart was tapped by the USAID for its Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) project which seeks to boost mobile money transactions in the country using Smart Money.

Smart’s efforts to provide more accessible banking services have also earned local and international recognition.

Smart was the only Philippine telco to receive a Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) fund Grant from the GSM Association (GSMA). For its efforts to provide underserved markets with communication and microenterprise opportunities, Smart also received the Best Mobile Money Service award at the 2009 Asian Mobile Awards held in Hong Kong, and the 2008 World Business and Development Award given by the International Chamber of Commerce, Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum and United Nations Development Programme in New York.

FFROM 5

perless mobile banking in its truest sense, made possible by Smart Money’s menu-based financial solutions such as micro savings and micro loan services. Once launched commercially, the offerings of the BTU project will be rolled out to different locations in the Philippines, and potentially, other countries.

“This project was launched to let members of the underserved sector enjoy the full range mobile banking services despite their geographical and income limitations.

We are happy that our efforts have helped revolutionize mobile banking services in the countryside,” said Arnaud Ventura, co-founder of mBank Holding, and PlaNet Finance and President & CEO of MicroCred.

“Smart’s participation in the BTU project underscores our commitment to provide affordable, relevant and accessible financial services to Filipinos. Through our tried and tested mobile money platform and Smart’s “nationwidest” coverage, we hope to pave the way for more inclusive financial services that will benefit the unserved and underserved communities of the Philippines,” said Tri-

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- 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

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

HealthandWellness

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) readyfor-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.

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

APARTMENT 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

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EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Tel No. (083)- 553-2211

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No(s). 1003189 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract NO(s) NNN400267455 issued to GLADYS FLORANGEL I. ORTIZ was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

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

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 VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 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

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KRISTINE

Please be informed that ROSABELLA L. LONZAGA whose picture appears above is no longer connected with PAMBATO CARGO FORWARDER INC. company since November 2011.

Any transaction made and entered into by Ms. Rosabella L. LONZAGA using the name of PCFI in favor of her present company after the said date will not be honored by this office or may report this matter to our office at telephone number 741-31-13/741-31-31/ 741-31-63. The public is likewise advice also that PCFI is not connected or affiliated with MATATAG FORWARDER INCORPORATED.

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14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Donaire still waiting on potential Arce fight

N

ONITO Donaire admits time is running out to make a blockbuster Jorge Arce showdown on Dec. 15.

Over the weekend, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum was quoted as saying by a TV executive that an announcement is due anytime soon, sending the fistic world in a frenzy.

Appearing during the PSA Forum yesterday with his wife Rachel, Donaire said he can’t afford to wait for a week or two.

“I have to know soon because there’d be things to do for training camp,” said the FilipinoAmerican puncher, who usually trains in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Donaire said he will just relax and rest if Arum can’t make an agreement in the next two weeks.

Not to mention the left hand that he injured during his easy win over Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka last Oct. 13 in Los Angeles, Donaire said

Dec. 15 is just several weeks away.

But Donaire said that the Dec. 15 date still remains feasible since he makes sure he works out regularly and doesn’t allow himself to bloat.

“I run and work out,” said Donaire, looking trim in a long-sleeve shirt.

But Arum has to make his move, Donaire stressed.

“It’s been all talk and I haven’t seen the contract,” said Donaire. “But I’d love

EDGEDAVAO

to do the fight with Arce.”

Arce is best known for his never-

say-die attitude and bodypunching in the ring, and coupled with Donaire’s punching prowess, it is a matchup made in heaven.

Woods eyes ‘decade’ of Serena favored to win WTA finale battles with McIlroy

I

STANBUL - Victoria Azarenka looks favourite to end the year as world number one but few of the eight women who qualified for this week’s season-ending WTA Championships would argue that Serena Williams still rules the roost.

Williams, the 30-yearold American ranked third in the world, won the last two grand slams of the season, either side of claiming singles and doubles gold at the Olympics.

With her injury problems and health issues behind her, she has appeared all but unbeat -

Tommy Gainey reacts after hitting a birdie putt on the 16th green during the final round of the McGladrey Classic PGA Tour golf tournament Sunday in St. Simons Island, Ga.

able in the second half of the season.

She has not played a match since beating Azarenka to win her 15th grand slam title at Flushing Meadows but will be re-charged for the start of the Championships in Istanbul on Tuesday, where Williams faces Azarenka, China’s Li Na and German Angelique Kerber in round-robin action.

The other group features last year’s season-ending champion Petra Kvitova, Maria Sharapova, Sara Errani and Agnieszka Radwanska.

The sensible money will be on Belarussian Azarenka and Williams taking the top two spots in their group and going on to meet in next Sunday’s final.

H

ONG KONG - Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods said Monday he was looking forward to a “decade” of battles with US PGA champion Rory McIlroy as the world’s top two prepare to go headto-head in China next week.

The 23-year-old McIlroy, who has won two majors in as many years, is viewed by many as the heir apparent to 36-yearold Woods, whose last triumph in one of golf’s major championships came at the US Open in 2008.

Woods’s victory at Torrey Pines came shortly before his career imploded amid a scandal surrounding his private life which saw the American drop out of the top 50.

But three PGA Tour wins this year have propelled him to number two in the rankings.

N o w Woods says h e ’ s ready to challenge t o p ranked McIlroy

and will aim to put one over on him when they meet on October 29, after his America side came second best to the Northern Irishman’s Team Europe at the Ryder Cup last month.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun going head-to-head with Rory,” Woods said of their 18-hole medal-matchplay contest at Jinsha Lake Golf Club in Zhengzhou.

“We’re going to go out there and hopefully play well, give it a go and entertain the gallery,” he added, predicting there will be many more classic contests between them over the next few years.

“We’ve all seen how talented Rory is. It’ll be fun to battle him for the next decade or so and hopefully we’ll have many battles to come,” he added in comments released by the organisers.

McIlroy regained the world number one spot

Tiger Woods from England’s Luke Donald following his US PGA Championship victory in August, adding to the US Open title he won in 2011.

The “Duel at Jinsha Lake” is expected to draw huge galleries as fans in

China get a rare chance to see the world’s top two in action in a country where golf is becoming increasingly popular.

“I enjoy head-to-head events, so it’s great to do this in China,” Woods said.

walked over to Gainey in the scoring area and gave him a hug. It was a reminder to the 37-yearold Gainey just how far he had come.

Gainey twice worked on the assembly line for A.O. Smith, wrapping insulation around hot water tanks until a downturn in the economy cost him his job. He played minitours that no longer exist, and made a name for himself on a Golf Channel reality series for wearing two gloves. He fashioned his own swing from his days playing baseball.

It was Furyk, of all people, who pulled Gainey aside last year and told him he was good enough to win. ‘’I played nine holes with him and he just told me, ‘Tommy, when you were on the mini-tours, you were kicking their tail, and now you get out here and you struggle a little bit.’ He said, ‘Man, don’t change your game.

Just keep going at it. You got the game to be out here and to win. Just keep your head up and just keep trying, and sooner or later it’s going to happen.’

‘’Who knows what would have happened if we didn’t play nine holes together, or even had a talk?’’

Tommy ‘’Two Gloves’’ Gainey couldn’t have imagined winning like this.

Seven shots behind going into the final round, Gainey came within one putt of a 59, and then had to wait more than two hours as David Toms, Furyk and Love - who have combined for 49 wins, three majors and 17 Ryder Cup teams - tried to catch him.

None of them could.

Gainey wins 1st PGA Tour at Sea Island

S

T. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Moments after Tommy Gainey narrowly missed his putt for a 59, he walked off the 18th green at Sea Island with a twoshot lead over Jim Furyk and Davis Love III, who still had 10 holes to play in the McGladrey Classic. ‘’Got a long way to go,’’ Gainey said.

More than two hours later, after Furyk needed a birdie to force a playoff and instead made bogey, he

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Behind the lens

M

arlon advincula’s childh o o d dream of bringing law and order into his life as a top litigator is nothing less than a blur now whenever he’s asked about his younger years. Instead of a briefcase, he carries around a luggage of cameras and studio lights. He has developed a more subjective mind, rather than the “I object” attitude.

Being an expert in computer programs, having graduated with a degree in Information Techology, he took his first assignment in photography as a photo “re-toucher” at the lito Sy studio in 2004. opportunity came a-calling when the studio manager, roy oliveros, asked him to take his 1x1 ID photo. The camera, back then, was sort of a rocket science for him as he had never used the DSlr before. roy showed Marlon some basic settings on the camera. after seeing how it sparked his student’s interest, he taught him more than just a brief 101. “Then he asked me if I wanted to become a photographer. It was like an instant promotion, right then and there,” Marlon recalls.

“I learned more about photography when I finally got to work side by side with Mr. lito Sy, shooting for portrait, fashion and weddings. He is a very passionate photographer and a strict teacher.

Judging from his set of photos online, his trained eye has the capability to foresee magic and bliss in between scenes and moments in a wedding.

I learned from him the discipline, dedication, and love for photography.

Working with him is every photographer’s dream.

He’s not just a good teacher, but also a cool friend.”

Marlon stayed on with lito Sy’s production outfit for almost six years before he decided to branch out his talents and work with other talents. “In 2009, my friend, Vinz Valdellon, introduced me to Paul Borromeo. Even before we were introduced, I was already familiar with his work, which I got to

browse through online.

I have always been fascinated by his lighting techniques. Soon, I was given the chance to shoot with him at his studio, and that experience added more ideas in my think tank.

Whenever we work, we do not only shoot but we also share techniques and pegs. It came to the point that we decided to share our advocacy with the budding breed of shutterbugs by conducting a portraiture workshop. From there, lyrical light Work-

FBEHIND, A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

When Hollywood meets Halloween at Abreeza Mall

GLiTTEr, glitz and glam await shoppers as Hollywood meets Holloween in Abreeza Mall on October 28, 2012. Dress up in your Oscar’s best and be a part of this red-carpet event not just for kids but for the kids-atheart.

You are in for a Spooktacular Holly-ween experience as the day is filled with fun, magic and surprises! Start the day off with the traditional trick-or-treat around the mall from 10 am till 7 pm. Kids in costume may fill up their bucket with candies and goodies from stores with the unique Hollyween star badges. After collecting your treats, head off to the 2nd Floor robinsons Hallway for some amazing tricks in Hocus Pocus, a magic show at 1 pm. Don’t miss that one minute of fame, as you walk down the red carpet, flash that million-dollar smile and get photographed by your very own paparazzi.

The roof Garden at the 3rd floor hosts a unique afternoon of Hollywood glamour. Dress up like your favourite Hollywood star and be a part of Hollywood Blockbuskers, rubbing elbows and getting photographed with famous celebrity look-alikes. What’s more, if the fans love you, you can bring home as much as P 8,000 in cash! Celebrity wanna-bes may register at the Concierge Counter until October 24, 2012. With the hottest stars coming in from the entertainment capital, we might even be lucky to have Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson come back to life for this not-to-miss party!

This year’s Hollyween blast gives way to an adorable bunch of stars – our glamorous pets! Dress up your pet and join the Halloween Pet Parade Competition at the 3F roof Garden at 4 pm. Pick out your favorite movie character and dress up your pet just like him/her for a chance to win P 3,000 in cash! interested participants may register by calling (082)2867483 or 09228215121 or by visiting The ArK Veterinary Clinic at JDS Bldg., Jacinto Ext., Davao City.

Don’t miss a day of magic, fashion and fun with a unique Holly-ween twist at Abreeza Mall on October 28. For more information on Abreeza Mall’s Holly-ween events, promos and contests, check out posters or visit Abreeza Mall on Facebook and Twitter.

Marco Polo Davao celebrates Confessions of a Partyphile

iT is Confessions of a Partyphile’s LAST PArTY! Say goodbye to Confessions of a Partyphile on October 27, Saturday, and let’s party hearty for the very last time at Marco Polo Davao’s Eagle’s Bar!

Dance to the house party beats of D.J. Gary Tomas as Eagle’s Bar explodes with new cocktail concoctions and Jaeger bomb train shooters FrEE for every group of ten guests. And that’s not all! Students of legal age, with school identification card, will also get to enjoy a 30% discount on our ala carte food menus.

Or if hunting is the game, be on the lookout as we invite ramp models to party with is at this explosive party destination.

For reservations and inquiries, please call (082) 221 0888 local 7222 or 7223.

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

HEALTH

4 ways your smartphone is hurting your health HarDly a month goes by these days without a new study revealing that smartphones are either a) ruining your life, or B) not.

We’ve all heard about the potential link between cellphone use and brain tumors. and though the research is still inconclusive, studies showing them to be completely safe tend to be less rigorously designed and funded by the cellphone industry, whereas studies finding risks are produced with better science and have no financial conflicts of interest.

What’s more, we’ve recently seen research linking cellphone radiation to sleep disturbance, behavorial changes in kids, and reduced sperm count and erectile dysfunction in men who carry their phones in their front pocket. again, these were small studies, easy to dismiss, but one thing is clear: Cellphone radiation isn’t making us any healthier. you can minimize the danger with a few simple steps: * Don’t make your phone strain for a signal, which increases the amount of radio-frequency radiation it’s pumping out. Wait for four bars, or don’t make the call. * Spend less time talking, and more time texting.

The farther the phone is away from your body, the better. * Use a wireless headset or the speakerphone, which puts it at a safer distance. * Point the number pad toward your body if you store the phone in your pocket; the radiation is emitted from the back of the phone, so you can broadcast more of it away from your precious bodily tissues. recently, House democrat Dennis Kucinich introduced a bill that would, among other things, fund more exhaustive studies and—in the meantime— require warning labels on cellphone packaging.

Still, don’t wait for an act of Congress before you start looking suspiciously at your smartphone. The radiation dangers aside, here are four other (scientifically proven!) ways it’s messing with your health.

1. Your Cellphone Is ...

Destroying Your Ability

And though the research is still inconclusive, studies showing them to be completely safe tend to be less rigorously designed andfundedbythecellphone industry, whereas studies finding risks are produced with better science and have no financial conflicts of interest. to Focus you don’t own your phone—it owns you. researchers in Finland found that most people obsessively check their menu screen, news, e-mail, and apps, even though the likelihood of seeing new and interesting information keeps decreasing.

“The more you do it, the less you gain,” says study author antti oulasvirta, Ph.D. Your move: oulasvirta recommends setting specific times to touch base with your touchscreen, such as on the hour—or half hour if the withdrawal is too much.

2. Your Cellphone Is ...

Making You Sick all that tapping, typing, and swiping may

make your touchscreen as germy as your computer keyboard, according to a study published in the Journal of applied Microbiology. “We found that about 20 percent to 30 percent of viruses on a glass surface similar to a smartphone screen will transfer to your fingertips,” says study author Tim Julian, Ph.D. and it’s a short trip from there to your mouth or eyes.

Your move: If your phone has Gorilla Glass (many do, including the iPhone) and it’s not coated to resist fingerprints or glare, you can safely clean the screen with a disinfecting wipe, like Clorox’s. also avoid texting and crying, so you have no reason to wipe your eyes.

3. Your Cellphone Is ...

Hurting Your Eyes The combination of holding your phone too close and staring at a sadistically small font can lead to eye strain, headaches, dry eye, and blurred vision, according to research from the SUny State College of optometry.

Your move: Increase the font size to twice the smallest size you’re able to read, says study author Mark rosenfield, o.D., Ph.D., and maintain a distance of at least 16 inches between the screen and your eyes. If you’re reading for longer than a few minutes, take regular 20second breaks.

4. Your Cellphone Is ...

Causing You Stress you bought your phone so you’d be accessible 24-7, but now you never seem to have time to unwind.

Why? Because you’re never unreachable, you’re constantly expecting to be reached. In fact, a University of Worcester study showed that this constant stress can actually trick people into believing that their phone vibrated from a new text or e-mail even when no messages came in.

Your move: Start by shutting off your phone for an hour every day, and slowly work your way up to 2-hour breaks. and, no, while you’re sleeping doesn’t count. (yahoo!

Health)

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTErTAiNMENT

Lindsay Lohan family drama: Why she isn’t headed into Britney Spears territory LiNDSAY’S evercharming father, Michael Lohan, has indicated that he wants to establish a conservatorship that would affect Lindsay’s life in the same way that Britney Spears’s father and fiance have essentially taken over hers.

And i wish him good luck with that. Because, according to people who would know, Michael’s bid isn’t likely to stick.

Look, a personal conservatorship, if that is indeed what Michael wants, is not an easy thing to get, attorneys tell me. “it takes a lot,” says Bryan Sullivan, partner at Early Sullivan. “You have to show that someone is incapable of taking care of their own affairs and creates a risk for themselves and or others.”

And while Lindsay may not have the best reputation at the moment, her situation is still a far cry from where Spears was in 2008. We’re talking head-shaving and involuntary psychiatric holds (Spears), versus public family squabbles, nonhit-and-run accidents,

and nebulous shenanigans on and off set (Lohan).

Even if Lindsay were abusing alcohol or other substances—as Michael has alleged—that alone couldn’t persuade a judge to hand over the keys to Lilo’s life.

“Otherwise,” notes A-list attorney irwin Feinberg, “what you would have is every single addict as a potential conservatee.”

Sullivan agreed that she would be surprised to find a conservatorship (if

sought) actually granted: “Lindsay is still is functioning, whereas Britney was having massive mental breakdowns.”

Still, some experts wonder whether it’s only a matter of time before Lohan ends up in the same boat as the onetime pop superstar.

“Essentially, you have to show that she is unable to care for herself and unable to make medical and financial decisions regarding her life,” family attorney Lisa Helfend Meyer tells E! News.

Jessica Biel wedding dress details, designer revealed:

Mrs. Justin Timberlake wore pink wedding gown

JESSiCA Biel is not your typical bride.

And not because she married Justin Timberlake in front of a star-studded group of witnesses in picture-perfect italy last week.

Though photos of the big day have yet to be released, it was revealed today that Jessica opted against wearing traditional bridal white for her walk down the aisle, and instead went with a pink dress designed by Giambattista Valli.

The breaking sartorial news comes courtesy of fashionista and stylist Bobbie Thomas, who posted the information on her blog, though it’s unclear if she was present

for the vow swap and saw the gown for herself or is simply friends with those who did see the no-doubt beautiful dress firsthand. in addition to the fashion-forward decision to wear color for her big day, Thomas says the Vallidesigned dress (who also reportedly provided attire for the bridesmaids and mothers), featured a full,

princess-like silhouette.

So far, there’s been neither a confirmation nor denial of credit from the designer, and ditto for the reputed couturier for the groom.

According to Thomas, Justin was outfitted by none other than Tom Ford for the ceremony.

Can’t wait to see photos!

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

STYLE ENTErTAiNMENT

Behind...

FFROM A1

shop was born. It was a creative venue where we put up a whole production for all the photographers to explore with and shoot.”

Early this year, Marlon finally took a brave step to go solo and offer his services to clients as a wedding photographer. It was a career move that showed a lot of promise, especially for this visual artist.

Judging from his set of photos online, his trained eye has the capability to foresee magic and bliss in between scenes and moments in a wedding.

“I take on both the traditional and modern approach when it comes to wedding photography. It’s all about the emotion. I call my style Multidimensional. I always try on different techniques, what the clients want, and what my eyes see. I also find harmony and romance with the vintage look.”

When asked for some pointers, especially for

those who are learning photography, Marlon shares, “read, study and practice. Do not limit yourself to one style or what the others are doing. Be bold and try all techniques.

Eventually, you will just discover your own style. Train your eye, be open to all possibilities, and the rest will follow. like what my mentor, lito Sy, once said, you should shoot with your all your heart.”

Checkout Marlon advincula’s websites at http://www.marlonadvincula.blogspot.com and http://trunkzamakuza. multiply.com for his portfolio of wedding, fashion, and portrait photos. For inquiries, please call 09207916920 or 0923-4411171. you may also visit his studio located at the 2nd floor of Sulit Bldg, across ateneo de Davao gradeschool campus, Mcarthur Highway, Matina, Davao City.

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 167 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012 NBA GMs pick Heat to repeat as champions

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hE general managers (GMs) of the National Basketball Association (NBA) favor the Miami heat to repeat as champions in the 2012-2013 season.

The heat won their second franchise title last June after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the NBA Finals.

In the NBA’s 11th annual survey of league GMs, it was revealed that many of the NBA’s top executives believe the Miami heat will retain their title this season.

Seventy percent of NBA GMs picked the heat to win the 2013 NBA Finals, with only 23.3% saying it will be the reloaded Los Angeles Lakers that will win, and 6.7% favoring last season’s losing finalist Oklahoma City.

Sixty percent of NBA GMs also picked the Lakers to win the Western Conference, while 36.7% picked the Thunder.

According to NBA. com’s John Schuhmann,

the NBA GMs have predicted the correct winner of the title only five times in the last 10 years.

Individual awards LeBron James, meanwhile, is the favorite to repeat as Most Valuable Player, with 66.7% of NBA GMs picking the heat forward to win the league’s top individual award.

If James wins the MVP again, he will join an elite list of players who have won the award four times, which includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six MVP awards), Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four).

James was also the GMs choice as they player who “forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments.”

James was also picked as the top small forward in the NBA. Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers was picked as the best point guard, while Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was the choice as top shooting guard.

YRACUSE, N.Y. -Carmelo Anthony winced at the thought. ‘’My streak is over,’’ he lamented.

Jason Richardson made a three-point play and hit a pair of 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers held on to beat the New York Knicks 98-90 on Monday night in an exhibition game in the Carrier Dome, spoiling Anthony’s return to his college roots.

It was an outcome Anthony was unaccus-

tomed to in the Carrier Dome. As a freshman at Syracuse in the 200203 season, he led the Orange to a 17-0 record at home in the dome en route to the national championship, then left for the NBA. ‘’It’s just great to be back in this building once again, knowing how many memories that I have,’’ Anthony said. ‘’A lot of fans supported me tonight. It was a fun game. At this point, it’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about what we take from the game, just getting better.’’

Sixers thrash Knicks 98-90 S

New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, center, grabs a rebound against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game, Monday, in Syracuse, N.Y.

Lance Armstrong (front) was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by the UCI.

Armstrong stripped of Tour titles

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ENEVA -- Seven lines of blanks. From 1999 to 2005. There will be no Tour de France winner in the record book for those years.

Once the toast of the Champs-Elysees, Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of his seven Tour titles Monday and banned for life for doping.

As far as the Tour is concerned, his victories never happened. He was never on the top step of the podium. The winner’s yellow jersey was never on his back.

The decision by the International Cycling Union marked an end to the saga that brought down the most decorated rider in Tour history and exposed widespread cheating in

the sport. ‘’Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling, and he deserves to be forgotten in cycling,’’ said Pat McQuaid, president of the governing body. ‘’Make no mistake, it’s a catastrophe for him, and he has to face up to that.’’

It’s also devastating for Tour de France organizers, who have to carve seven gaping holes from the honor roll of the sport’s biggest event and airbrush Armstrong’s image from a sun-baked podium on the Champs-Elysees.

No more rides through Paris for the grim-faced cancer survivor bearing the American flag. No champagne. From the sport’s perspective, it’s all gone.

‘’We wish that there is no winner for this period,’’ Tour director Christian Prudhomme said Monday in Paris. ‘’For us, very clearly, the titles should remain blank. Effectively, we wish for these years to remain without winners.’’

Armstrong’s fiercely defended reputation as a clean athlete was shattered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency two weeks ago, when it detailed evidence of drug use and trafficking by his Tour-winning teams. USADA released its report to show why it ordered Armstrong banned from competition back in August. Monday’s judgment by the UCI was just the necessary next legal step to formalize the loss of his titles and expel him

from the sport.

It will likely also trigger painful financial hits for Armstrong as race organizers and former sponsors line up to reclaim what are now viewed as his ill-gotten rewards, though the cyclist maintains he never doped.

Prudhomme wants Armstrong to pay back prize money from his seven wins, which the French cycling federation tallied at (euro) 2.95 million ($3.85 million).

Armstrong also once was awarded $7.5 million plus legal fees from Dallas-based SCA Promotions Inc., which tried to withhold paying a bonus for the rider’s 2004 Tour victory after it alleged he doped to win.

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five Division Series with the Cincinnati Reds.

“They played with more heart, more determination than any club I’ve ever seen,” said manager Bruce Bochy after hoisting the National League championship trophy. “They were relentless, they didn’t want

to go home.

“They had a never-say die attitude. They wanted to win for each other rather than themselves. These guys just never quit, they kept believing and I couldn’t be prouder of a group of guys and what they accomplished here.”

The game ended in pouring rain after light misting earlier, with the final out fittingly recorded by second baseman Marco Scutaro, who caught Matt Holliday’s pop up to set off a wild celebration and minutes later accepted the series MVP award.

Giants rout Cardinals to reach World Series

HE San Francisco Giants routed the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series on Monday to complete a stunning comeback and advance to the World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

The Giants, the 2010 World Series winners, trailed last year’s champion Cardinals 3-1 in the best-ofseven series but completed three straight victories by a combined score of 20-1 to win the National League championship four games to three.

San Francisco will host the American League winning Tigers, who swept the New York Yankees 4-0 to win the pennant, in the first two games of Major League Baseball’s championship starting with the opener of the Fall Classic on Wednesday.

The victory for the Giants was their sixth do-ordie triumph of the postseason, after fighting back to win the last three games on the road in their best-of-

The San Francisco Giants celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals to advance to the World Series after Game 7 in their MLB NLCS playoff baseball series in San Francisco, Monday.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

Batang Pinoy Mindanao elims set T HE Mindanao qualifying leg of the Philippine Olympic Commission-Philippine Sports Commission (POCPSC) Batang Pinoy Games 2012 will be held on November 7-10 in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The opening ceremonies is set on Nov. 6, said lawyer Guillermo Iroy Jr., executive director of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Dapitan City mayor Patri Bajamunde-Chan signed a memorandum of agreement on Thursday with the PSC, paving the way for the 2011 Palarong Pambansa host to feature another multi-sport event

designed to discover talents for the national pool.

“We’re looking forward for another chance for the people of Dapitan to join hands by working closely for the Batang Pinoy,” said Bajamunde-Chan.

It will be the fourth regional qualifier of the talent discovery program for athletes 15 years old and below after potential national members were identified in Marikina City last month (National Capital Region leg) and in Lingayen, Pangasinan (Northern Luzon) last week.

The Batang Pinoy Games, which will culminate in a national championship in Iloilo City on Dec.

5-8, will be having its third leg in Southern Luzon to be hosted by Calapan City, Mindoro next week.

Aside from showcasing its rich historical heritage and the hospitality of its people, Dapitan will host 10 sports—arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, lawn tennis, karatedo, taekwondo, table tennis and swimming— during the five-day Mindanao qualifier.

“I’m sure there are many young athletes out there in Mindanao capable of someday representing the country in international tournaments. They’re just waiting for the right time to be discovered,” said PSC chair Richie Garcia.

He said the top performers in each of the five regional qualifying legs will advance to the Iloilo national finals, where the outstanding athletes get a chance to join the developmental pool preparing for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

Unlike the Northern Luzon leg in Pangasinan where the national championship for baseball and cycling were held, all of the events in the Mindanao leg will serve as qualifiers to the national finals, Garcia added.(PNA)

The McLaren driver suffered a gearbox failure while leading in Singapore, rear suspension issues in Japan which

limited him to fifth position and an anti roll-bar failure in Korea last time out that meant he only scraped a point for tenth position.

This poor run has realistically eliminated Hamilton from contention in the 2012 drivers’ championship, but he insists he will deliver on his form at the Buddh International Circuit this weekend.

“I feel

I’ve been driving better than ever recently - even if the results haven’t quite shown it – so I’m headed to India determined for another good result,” he said.

“I think we’ll have a car that’s a match for the circuit and I can’t wait to get out there and start practicing on Friday.”

McLaren’s constructors’ title hopes took a hit in Korea with Jenson Button also being taken out on the first lap, and the team is now 83 points behind leaders Red Bull in the standings.

Hamilton ‘driving better than ever’

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EWIS Hamilton believes he is driving ‘better than ever’ even if recent results have masked his true form.

The Briton’s title challenge has been struck down by poor reliability since his dominant win in the Italian Grand Prix last month.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton

EDGEDAVAO

World middleweight champion Sergio Martinez

Martinez eyes shot at Mayweather

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UENOS AIRES - World middleweight champion Sergio Martinez would like a shot at Floyd Mayweather but said on Monday he would not lose sleep trying to pin down the elusive American.

“Mayweather skirts around things so it’s complicated to focus on going after him,” the 37-year-old southpaw known as ‘Maravilla’ (Marvel) said on a his first return home to Argentina since winning the title.

“I must look for my own path and if Mayweather appears, that will be phenomenal,” added Martinez, who beat Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr for the WBC crown in Las Vegas last month.

“For me, there’s no doubt he’s the best boxer in the world. I always want to face the best, it would be a

great opportunity for me,” he told a packed news conference at the Caesar Park hotel in Buenos Aires.

Mayweather is an undefeated fighter with titles in five divisions.

Before fighting again, though, Martinez needs to fully recover from a left hand injury and also have a knee operation.

“My left hand is improving well but it still hurts a bit because I had two fractures that have welded well,” he said.

“With my knee, I need to keep working with my doctor to prepare for an operation on November 12.”

Martinez, who has emerged at the very top of boxing late in his career after a decade climbing the ladder in Spain, said he expected to be fully fit to fight again next April.

next round. They are set to compete in the inaugural LA Viking Cup in California this November.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian champion Vietnam was drawn alongside Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain in Group C. Myanmar, also a familiar foe of the Malditas, joins Chinese Taipei, Palestine and India in Group D. Group A, meanwhile, features Uzbekistan and Middle East squads Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait.

After a round-robin format of play, only the team with the best record from each group will advance to the 2014 Wom-

en’s Asian Cup, where China, South Korea, defending Asian champion Australia and reigning Women’s World Cup titlist Japan have already qualified after finishing in the top five of the 2010 edition of the tournament.

North Korea, the runners-up of the Women’s Asian Cup two years ago, has been banned from the competition after five of its players were implicated in a doping scandal in the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.

The 2014 Women’s Asian Cup serves as the qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Malditas drawn with tough Asian sides

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HE Philippine national women’s football team will face tough opposition in the qualifiers for the 2014 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup. In a draw conducted last Friday at Malacca, Malaysia, the Malditas were bracketed alongside Bangladesh and football powerhouses Thailand and Iran in Group B of the Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in May next year.

The Malditas last saw action in the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship last September where they finished third in their group but failed to advance to the

Philippine Women’s National Football team