Edge Davao 5 Issue 218

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

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Ombudsman decision on corruption

Collector’s ouster not implemented Patay mali!

By Anthony S. Allada and EJ Dominic C. Fernandez

Suburbia

Sports

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S of Thursday, January 3, the deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao’s decision dismissing from the service a former acting district collector of customs in the port of Davao and an assistant wharfinger and penalizing two others is not yet implemented as there is still no order for implementation coming from the commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

This was learned from acting district collector lawyer Martiniano B. Bangcoy, currently acting district collector of customs in the port of Davao.

Bangcoy was referring to the November 29 decision of

Collector Bangcoy wonders why media men got a copy of the decision ahead of his colleagues Honest BOC employees say inspired

by Ombudsman’s decision the office of the deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao on an administrative case ordering the dismissal of lawyer Anju

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POWER RATE INCREASE. People are seen walking by the main office of the Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. (DLPC) along Ponciano Reyes Street yesterday. An increase in electricity rate welcomes Dabawenyos in the first month of 2013 as DLPC’s application for recalculated Maximum Average Price (MAP) was recently granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission. LEAN DAVAL JR.

Boni Militar’s original baby

IRR vs smoking awaits Inday’s signature

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HE new implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the much-acclaimed Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City originally crafted by Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar and the new Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance authored by Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV has been complet-

ed and is now awaiting the signature of Mayor Sara D. Carpio.

This was bared by Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, action officer of the Anti-Smoking Task Force, who said the IRR stipulates a stricter implementing of the City Ordinance

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2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO DOH 11 says No disease outbreak DSWD needs more volunteers in typhoon-hit areas for repacking of relief supplies VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

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HE concerted efforts of the Department of Health-Region 11 (DOH-11), local government units and non-government organizations have prevented any disease outbreak in areas affected by Typhoon Pablo, a health official said Friday.

Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., DOH-11 regional director, said in a phone interview that there has been no disease outbreak, despite expectations that an outbreak would occur in calamity-stricken areas especially on the third week.

It has been a month since Pablo devastated the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental last December 4.

Dumama said in avoiding outbreak such as measles and diarrhea, they conducted massive vaccinations among five- to six-year old children in the affected communities.

He cited that the municipalities of New Bataan and Compostela in Compostela Valley were some of the areas that had anti-measles vaccinations, after they received reports of such cases there.

In preventing diarrhea outbreak, the DOH has helped in treating water systems in the affected areas, and provided water containers for the people’s safe drinking, Dumama added.

Dumama also said that anti-tetanus vaccines were also given to the residents, although he had not known of any reported case of tetanus as yet.

In the Cateel District Hospital, which has been taken over by the Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) to assist the typhoon victims, most patients attended to at the tent inside the compound were given anti-tetanus vaccines.

Most of them were wounded from splintered woods, broken glasses and nails while they were rebuilding structures and cleaning up debris.

Volunteer doctors in the district hospital told MindaNews on Thursday that the makeshift clinic intended for check ups and admissions had an average of 200 to 300 patients a day.

There were 11 volunteer doctors in the district hospital, Marites Estrelloso, the head nurse on-duty in the Cateel District Hospital, said in a text message Friday.

At the hospital, there had been 45 patients, 19 of them admitted, she said, adding that most of their illnesses were pneumonia and dehydration as of Friday afternoon.

Common illnesses among typhoon victims were upper respiratory tract infections such as cough and colds, but they are not alarming, Dumama told MindaNews.

He said that many doctors and specialists from the Southern Philippines Medical Center and the DRH had taken rounds in the district hospitals in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Some doctors were volunteers from public hospitals in Zamboanga, Sulu and Basilan, Dumama added.

He said that the DOH aims to restore health centers back to normal in Pablo-hit areas by repairing barangay health centers and district hospitals, and providing the medical tools and equipment destroyed or lost to typhoon.

“Unless we attained the normalcy, we will not leave the affected areas,” he said.

[Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/ MindaNews]

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HE Department of Social Welfare and Development Office in Davao Region has called for more volunteers to help in the repacking of relief goods for the survivors of typhoon Pablo in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela at the Interagency Relief Operations Center within the compound of the Department and Highways 11 in Panacan.

Evangeline Grandeza, integrated-gender development officer of the Pantawid-Pamilyang Pilipino Program of DSWD 11 said the number of volunteers involved in the packing of food packs intended for the survivors dwindled since Christmas Day as warm bodies took a break for the holidays.

She said that workers

from the DSWD, police and soldiers are leading the effort of packing and loading the relief goods to cargo trucks which bring the assistance to the relief hubs in Trento, Agusan del Sur and Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

“We laud the effort of the police and the soldiers under the Eastern Mindanao Command for mustering volunteers to help us repack the relief goods, but we need to sustain the effort as more residents in towns hardest hit by the typhoon still need help,” Grandeza said.

She said campus based organizations, fraternities, civic organizations and motorcycle clubs offered assistance on the first two weeks of the disaster relief operation but they were also gone for the holidays.

Grandeza appealed to the city residents to keep the interest to help sustained and be included in their routine for the sake of the survivors of the typhoon.

“Let’s continue our volunteer work for the sake of the typhoon victims,” she said.

Grandeza cited the need to organize the entry of volunteers since there are days that their number is overwhelming but oftentimes, only few come to help in the repacking of goods.

She stressed that the relief operation must keep up with the needs of the families in hardest hit areas.

“We have to help. We cannot postpone the hunger of the people who need our assistance everyday,”

Grandeza said.

She said workers from the DSWD, Police Region Office XI and the Eastern Mindanao Command are the current backbone in the repacking efforts.

Grandeza said that despite the presence of government personnel, the repacking effort needs the support of 150 volunteers for an eight-hour a day work.

She said lunch and dinner are free for volunteers, but they are also encouraged to bring their own food.

Grandeza also discouraged families especially those with children to volunteer since there are danger zones within the repacking area like stacks of sacks of rice and canned goods. [PIA-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

DISPLACED. Evacuees take shelter at a tribal hall for fear that they will be caught in crossfire between the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army in Barangay Tambobong, Baguio District, Davao City yesterday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

A month later, search for missing Rebs kidnap, free 14 brgy. residents

By Che Palicte GenSan City fishermen still on

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UTHORITIES are not calling off anytime soon the ongoing search and rescue operations for the 352 fishermen from General Santos City and nearby Sarangani Province who have remained missing following the onslaught of typhoon “Pablo” exactly a month ago.

Navy Commander Edward Ike de Sagon, acting spokesperson of the Task Force Maritime Search and Rescue SarGen (Sarangani/General Santos City), said Friday they have not considered giving up their operations despite the negative sightings of survivors and any of the unaccount-

ed fishing vessels in the last several weeks.

“We’re still in the search and rescue mode and that will not change unless the task force decides to terminate the operations,” he said.

The official said that as a matter of procedure, they are looking at two main considerations before deciding on terminating a search and rescue operation.

“One was if the missing subjects were already found and second was if there is reasonable cause for us to believe that we will not be finding any of them,” he said.

De Sagon said the op-

erations are presently depending on the aerial search, which involve two Islander planes of the Philippine Air Force and a P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft of the United States Navy.

He said they focused on the aerial search since the scope of the operation’s search area has been made wider.

De Sagon said the aerial search operations earlier this week covered the southern portions of Balut Island in Davao del Sur towards the Indonesian boundary and the seas located around 1,000 nautical miles off Mindanao’s eastern seaboard.

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total of 14 residents of Tambobong, a mountain barangay in Baguio District, Davao City were allegedly forcibly brought to places where they investigated and then released after questioning by armed men said to be members of the New People’s Army operating the fastnesses of Davao City.

Media practitioners went to the area to verify reports made by the command of the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

The report also stated that several families had left their homes for fear they would caught

Cagfu members among those abducted, interrogated and freed the in the crossfire if the rebels and the soldiers would come to a shooting war in the area.

Although many of the more than a dozen barangay folks taken by the rebels first hesitated to tell their stories, some of them relented when upon being informed that those who wanted to gather information from them were members of the Davao media.

As can be gathered from the interviews, some of those “abduct-

ed” but released later were members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGUs) were held captive and some are interrogated by the New People’s Army (NPA). The abduction reportedly started on December 23.

Boy Betil, a resident of Brgy. Tambobong , was allegedly abducted by the NPAs last December 23 to Sitio Sayawan in Marilog. Witnesses said that the victim was tortured and believed

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ARMM OIC, peace groups laud Villarin appointment

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INDANAO peace groups lauded the appointment of Tom Villarin as undersecretary for political affairs saying that his voice can add to the strengthening of the Bangsamoro framework agreement arrived at between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“He is from Mindanao and has long been part of network of peace advocates,” said Atty. Maryann Arnado, chairperson of the Mindanao Peace Caucus.

“Tom’s long track record in development work in Mindanao suits him for a very challenging job,” said Fr. Eliseo ‘Jun’ Mercado, a Cotabato-based prelate heading the Institute for Autonomy and Governance.

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Malacanang recently signed EO 78 last December 2012 establishing the Transition Commission for the Bangsamoro political entity for Congress to act on the proposed comprehensive law by 2015.

Villarin hails from Davao City and was former executive director of a local NGO doing peace advocacy, sustainable agriculture, and participatory governance work. He recently finished his Masters in Development Management degree at the Asian Institute of Management.

“We in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are proud to see him in Malacanang,” said Samira Gutoc, assemblywoman for Lanao del Sur in the Regional Assembly.

VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

DENR to plant 8 million trees in Bukidnon in ‘13 T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Bukidnon is targeting to plant a total of eight million endemic and fast growing trees in Bukidnon this year as part of the National Greening Program of the government.

Dr. Felix Mirasol, Bukidnon provincial environment and natural resources officer, said Thursday their target is to regain 16,000 hectares of Bukidnon’s 48,000 remaining denuded forest areas this year. He esti-

mated 500 trees could be planted in a hectare.

The 8,000 hectares is the core target of DENR with another 8,000 hectares by Bukidnon Forests, Inc. (BFI).

BFI, previously the Bukidnon Industrial Tree Plantation Project (BIPP), obtained a 25year BFI Industrial Forest Management Agreement due to expire in 2016. BFI is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) under the National Resources Development Corporation.

As BIPP, it was funded by

School exec appeals for help for school children

school official in New Bataan, Compostela Valley has appealed on kind-hearted individuals to extend further help to the school children affected by Typhoon Pablo as classes resume on Monday.

Marcelino delos Reyes, district supervisor and principal of Cabinuangan Central Elementary School, said that many of the pupils lost their houses and belongings during the flashflood a month ago.

He said many of the school children are now in need of basic school supplies such as crayons, paper, pen, pencils and notebooks. He said they need more school supplies to be distributed to the pupils to convince them to go back to school.

“This is one of our in-

terventions to convince the children because many of them are traumatized by the typhoon,” the school official said.

Thus, he has been soliciting from various groups to donate school supplies.

Classes were supposed to resume Thursday, January 3. But the local government moved the resumption of classes on Monday, January 7, as a precautionary measure because of the low pressure area (LPA) hovering over Mindanao the past few days.

But since the postponement order came late and circulated only through text messages on Wednesday, some pupils still came to school on Thursday.

Eleven-year old Christine Joys Samonte, a Grade 5 pupil at the Cabinuangan Central Elementary School,

EDGEDAVAO

told Mindanews that she lost all her school supplies to the flashflood.

The Samontes house was destroyed, prompting them to evacuate to the gymnasium. “I’m going to school now without any paper or pen,” she said.

Her family stayed at the gymnasium until noon of December 31. Then they were transferred to tents provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Plan Asia at the New Bataan National High School.

Her classmate, Maria Clarisa Savillaga, said they need ball pens, notebooks and writing pads.

Savillaga, whose family was from Purok 7 of the poblacion, said they were not able to bring anything when they evacuated.

She added that their house was near the river,

which overflowed due to the flashflood spawned by the super typhoon.

Savillaga also lamented that some of their friends and classmates are still missing. Delos Reyes confirmed that 11 of their pupils have died in the flashflood while 50 more are still missing. The latter figure, however, is not yet final as he has yet to verify it with relatives and teachers when classes resume.

As of 12:40 a.m. of January 3, the local disaster desk posted 430 dead and 418 still missing.

The school principal also admitted that many of the pupils have already transferred to other schools. He said that they have initially issued 10 certifications to the pupils who have already transferred. [Keith Bacongco / Mindanews]

ECO-TOURISM. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza (5th from left) leads the lowering of the capsule during the ground breaking ceremony of the New Israel Eco-Tourism Park, the site of the soon to be Mindanao’s longest zipline, in New Israel, Makilala, North Cotabato on Thursday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

the national government of New Zealand until it was terminated as a foreign-assisted project of the DENR in 1998.

In May last year, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has directed the Bukidnon Forest, Inc. (BFI) management to stop its tree harvesting operations.

Mirasol said if achieved by the end of the year, the total area planted to new trees will be as big as 53.3 times the size of downtown Malaybalay City.

Mirasol said the NGP

allots P8,000 budget per hectare to reforest.

But he said it is not effective to rely only on the government’s efforts. He cited the need to make the effort community-based to engage the villagers in tree planting.

In 2012, he said, the DENR was able to achieve its goal of 8,000 hectares. He cited that they planted about 1,000 hectares in Can-ayan, Malaybalay City and in Don Carlos, Talakag, and Manolo Fortich. [Walter I. Balane / MindaNews]

Teachers, children go back to school for psychosocial classes inside tents

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LMOST a month after typhoon “Pablo” hit the province last December 4, teachers and children have gone back to schools for psychosocial classes inside tents or “learning spaces”.

At least 100 school children were singing rhymes and cheers while waiting for the visit of Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro in the Baganga Central Elementary School on Thursday afternoon.

Luistro, along with regional director Gloria Benigno of the Department of Education (DepEd-11) and staff, paid a visit to 10 public schools in Boston, Cateel and Baganga in Davao Oriental.

Visited were the Boston Central Elementary School, Boston National High School, Carabatuan Elementary School and Sibahay Elementary School in Boston; Cateel Central Elementary School, Cateel Vocational High School, Cateel National Agricultural High School and Lambahan Central Elementary School in Cateel; Baganga Central Elementary School and Baganga National High School in Baganga.

In an interview, Luistro said DepEd teachers, principals and staff cannot allow Pablo to win and that “we are better than Pablo.”

He explained that even though residents may have lost everything, as long as the teachers are there, and the students keep going to school, then “hope is alive.”

“That’s why we insist they should go back to school,” Luistro said.

He said the DepEd is looking at sustainability of classes despite holding them in tents.

“Most of them have come back to school,” Luistro said, stressing that it

is now their job to “make sure that the school continues to be a safe place.”

More tents He said that next week, 200 more tents will be distributed to the typhoon-hit areas in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, noting that 60 tents have already been in place.

The DepEd, Luistro said, has requested for buffer stocks of textbooks from other regions that were not affected by Pablo.

DepEd-11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo earlier told MindaNews that the region has only 4,509 pieces of assorted textbooks and 30 pieces of teachers’ manual for elementary education, and 1,853 textbooks and 30 manuals for secondary education.

Luistro said they already requested P1.1 billion from the Department of Budget and Management for the replacement, repair and rehabilitation of devastated classrooms in the provinces.

Already enlisted, he said, are 1,100 classrooms for replacement, and 1,300 classrooms for repair and rehabilitation, which include some schools in the Caraga region.

Luistro cited that the target completion of classrooms will be within the next two months or until April or May this year as the DepEd wanted the classrooms to be ready by June.

For faster reconstruction work, pre-fabricated materials will be used for the classrooms, Luistro said, adding that their quality passed the standards of the DepEd. Using traditional materials, he explained, would take three to four months of work.

He added that they plan to conduct school-

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

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THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

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P700 T worth of firecrackers seized in South Cotabato P

SECURITY MEASURES. A bomb sniffing dog checks out the bags and other belongings of people entering an establishment at Damosa Business Center in Lanang, Davao City yesterday. Majority of business establishments in the city heighten their security measures to ensure the safety of their clients. LEAN DAVAL JR.

OLICE operatives in South Cotabato province have confiscated around P700,000 worth of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics during a series of operations in the area in the past holiday season.

Senior Supt. Randolph Delfin, South Cotabato police director, said Friday the illegal items were seized during a raid on an unlicensed firecracker distributor and crackdowns on illegal firecracker stalls and other retail outlets in the province during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Most of the confiscated items were the banned piccolo and large five star firecrackers,” he told reporters.

Based on the government’s regulations, the selling and distribution of firecrackers and fireworks containing gunpowder more than a third of a teaspoon are strictly prohibited.

Among the firecrackers that had failed such standard but have remained available in the markets are pla-pla, bin laden, big triangulo, super lolo, goodbye Philippines, goodbye world and piccolo.

Delfin said majority of the firework and firecracker retailers that earlier secured licenses or permits from their office have properly complied with the standard regulations.

He said most of the violators were unlicensed retailers and itinerant vendors that mainly thrive because of the proliferation of smuggled illegal firecrackers in the area.

On Friday morning, the police official led the de-

struction of some P200,000 worth of illegal fireworks and firecrackers at the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office compound in Koronadal City.

The confiscated items, which were stacked in five large boxes, were soaked in water and later buried in a pit.

Delfin said such items were seized during the inspections on firecracker stalls and operations against illegal retailers and vendors in Koronadal City and in several other towns in the province before the New Year’s Eve. Two days before Christmas Eve, local police operatives recovered some P500,000 worth of firecrackers and fireworks in a raid on a house in Barangay General Paulino Santos in Koronadal City.

The seized items, which were allegedly consigned to an unlicensed firecracker distributor identified as a certain Henry Sy alias Ibrahim, comprised various “high-grade” and “powerful” firecrackers that were banned by the government.

Delfin said the confiscated items are presently under their safekeeping pending the filing of charges against the alleged consignee or owner, who supposedly left the area prior to the raid.

“If nobody will come forward and claim or admit ownership over the items, we file the charges against the owner of the house where the illegal items were found,” the official added. [Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews]

DANECO to lose P66M in power revenues due typhoon damage

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HE Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) is set to lose at least P66 million worth of revenue every month, until its power lines are able to transmit power to its consumers as a result of the damage wreaked by Typhoon Pablo last December.

“Mga 30 to 40 percent ang mawala sa DANECO in terms of revenues (DANECO is set to lose 30 to 40 percent in revenues),” said DANECO OIC Manager Engr. Benedicto Ongking said during the Kapihan sa PIA Friday.

Ongking said the power cooperative has a monthly revenue of P220 million and every month that its power lines remain unable to operate means millions of revenue losses for DANECO. He cited the big damage in Compostela valley’s mining area as a big contributory factor in the revenue losses. “Sa Diwalwal bagsak lahat ng poste doon (all posts in Diwalwal have fallen),” he said,

Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc (Philreca) Board of Administrator Engr.

Wilfredo Billena said the typhoon’s destruction is an “opportunity loss for cooperatives if it can’t operate immediately.”

But no matter what repairs the power cooperatives do, he said, they could not operate without power from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“If NGCP lacks people then we will volunteer to help them,” he said.

He said there should be a concerted effort in restoring the power lines because “without NGCP lines useless and repairs ng mga power cooperatives.”

Billena said the electric cooperatives have institutionalized support for fellow power cooperatives through Task Force Kapatid which has already provided an immediate response to the power cooperatives that have been hit by Typhoon Pablo.[LAC]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013 2013 FORECAST

MOTORING

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10 % growth in car sales seen A

N anticipated stable supply condition on top of the frenzied election spending and a rosy economic outlook gave car importers something to look forward to in 2013.

And just that, a forecast of 10 percent growth in car sales in the Philippines could yet be realized.

A group of automotive industry players in the country, Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (Avid), believes the 10 percent forecast is both conservative and doable.

Avid is one of the two major car industry groups in the country, the other being the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi).

Avid members include Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., The Covenant Car Co. Inc., British United

Automobile and Motor Image Pilipinas.

According to a recent report, Avid says the 10 percent forecast is still a conservative target considering the positive developments that are happening in our country.

Indicators also point to the high election spending as a factor in the predicted car sales growth in this year of middle-term polls. The automotive industry expects to register sales of 200,000-units in 2013 amid the increasing demand for vehicles and election spending in the first and second quarters.

In 2012 car sales forecast was placed at 154,000 units but a stable market by the second quarter rallied car sales.

2012 sales could reportedly reach 185,000 units. In 2011, industry sales hit 165,194 units.

Campi accounted for 141,616 units while Avid registered 23,578 units sold.

With the country’s economy seen to rally in

2013, car industry players like Avid are optimistic citing the 7.1-percent gross domestic product expan-

The Hyundai Grand Starex:

sion in the third quarter and the

stability of remittances and increasing government expenditures.

Meet the bling van W

HEN it comes to vans, particularly the refrigerator van variety, companies shun them to the deep dark corner of their showroom. They have a point after all—who would want to pair a shiny red sports car next to a white box on wheels. It’s like Seal being married to Heidi Klum— an odd union indeed.

However, like this Hollywood odd couple, some car

makers have embraced it; and one who does it best is Hyundai. Their Starex is now synonymous with the word ‘family van’, sharing garage space side-by-side with much fancier rides.

The Starex is popular thanks to Hyundai’s unabashed approach to its simplicity. It does the ‘van thing’ well: spacious, comfortable, and reliable—the list goes on and on. What sets it apart is its ability to

do all these things without being too overbearing, attention grabbing or stingy on the pocket. That is, until the arrival of Hyundai’s ‘bling special’, the Grand Starex Limousine.

Being all too familiar with the Grand Starex, the first thing you notice with the Limousine is its humped roof. The new bubble top increases the Grand Starex’s roofline by 285 mm, resulting in a gar-

gantuan 2,210 mm (7.25 feet) and this doesn’t even include the antenna. Standing next to the Limousine, you’ll be overwhelmed at the height. It feels like you’re standing beside Yao Ming or that you’ll need a pilot’s license to drive it.

That’s how huge the Limousine is. Other telltale differences that you’re piloting a unique Starex (aside from the height) include spiffy, new 17-inch chrome

wheels and a front chin spoiler.

Inside, the Grand Starex Limousine is unashamed of its size. Sitting behind the driver’s seat, you’ll immediately be amazed at the expansive space. As the top-of-the-line Grand Starex, the Limousine comes complete with wood trim on the steering wheel, sil-

ver trim on the dash, retractable cloth window blinds; and get this, tufted and piped black leather seats! If it didn’t have a steering wheel, you’ll think you’re in a house—a luxury house complete with a large 21-inch LCD screen and DVD player.

And then it dawns on you, how in the world will you be able to maneuver this thing through the crowded streets of Manila?

Thankfully, operating the Limousine is easy and flawless. The controls are all well marked and the chunky buttons and dials provide nice, tactile operation. With the exception of the high seating and girth, the driving position’s actually pretty close to a conventional car. Even the shifter (with manu-matic mode no less) has been moved to the center console, freeing up space upfront for an additional passenger. Visibility is quite good except for the back, where the full-sized headrests rob most of the rear view. Thankfully, the Limousine comes standard with rear parking sensors and a back-up mirror.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDITORIAL

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VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

Post mortem L

Environment user’s fee

NE significant event to occur this year is the start of collection by the Davao City government of an environment user’s fee.

This will be the first time the city government will impose such a fee.

The EUF is provided for in the Watershed Management and Protection Ordinance, otherwise known as Watershed Code. The code was approved by the Davao City Council in 2007 yet, but full implementation has become possible after the Mayor Sara D. Carpio administration had pressed for the completion of the code’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) this year. It was also this year that Mayor Inday organized the multi-agency and multi-sectoral Watershed Management Council, aside from embarking on a delineation survey of the city’s watersheds.

The EUF will be collected by the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) based on the data to be established by the

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City Business Bureau. The EUF will be imposed every year on the owner or management of agricultural plantation whose size is 50 hectares or more at the rate of 25 centavos per square meter.

There’s a similar imposition stipulated in the Water Code, another ordinance. It’s called extraction fee.

Unfortunately or fortunately, this fee cannot be enforced until the Water Code itself can hurdle the opposition to the ordinance posed by the National Water Resource Council.

The EUF is a step in the government’s effort to protect the environment, in this case the watersheds, which are the sources of potable water of the city’s more than a million residents, not to include their visitors.

Hopefully, the fee will have an impact on the overall conservation effort of both government and private sector. Otherwise, it is just like any other faddish money measure.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing

NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEy Consultant

kENNETH IRVING k. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography

JADE C. ZALDIVAR • VICky BERDINA M. DE GuZMAN ANTHONy S. ALLADA • AQuILES Z. ZONIO Staff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance AGuSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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CAGAyAN DE ORO MARkETING OFFICE

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AWYER Fra n k l i n “Jeng” Gacal Jr. and I chanced upon each other during our joint 35th Reunion on December 29.

E x p e c t e d l y, our conversation centered on his favorite client, Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

It looks like it is almost certain Pacquiao won’t fight until after the May elections this year.

Although Team Pacquiao is definite the fighting Sarangani congressman will be back in the ring this year, it is also still clueless who will be his next fight.

Some are clamoring a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez who knocked out Pacquiao cold in the sixth round last December.

Among the other names being floated is undefeated super lightweight Brandon Rios, a former lightweight champion.

Jeng however doubts if Rios is a wise choice for a comeback fight for Pacquiao.

“May suntok. Baka hindi pa naka-recover fully si Manny,” Jeng said.

(Rios packs a punch. Manny might not have yet fully recovered.)

But he agrees that Pacquiao was not thoroughly outclassed to be considered a wash out fighter.

In fact, Pacquiao was on his way to a resounding victory until he walked into the thunderous right of Marquez.

“Kuha na ni Manny ‘yun sa (Manny would have gotten him the) next two rounds,” he said.

Indeed, Pacquiao got careless going for the kill.

Marquez was breathing heavily from the mouth after his nose was broken. The Mexican was on queer streets the moment he dropped on his knees in the fifth round while Manny was again fresh after a freak knockdown in the third round.

In my November 17 and 21, 2012 pieces of this long-running column dedicated to Pacquiao’s boxing saga, I warned Team Pacquiao that Marquez will be waiting in ambush and he did just that.

Pacquiao was doing good in the first two rounds. He was picking his shots from all angles as he used his lateral movements to keep Marquez off balanced. Until a fluke overhead right from Marquez caught him in the third while he was backpedalling. For the first time in more than seven years, Pacquiao hit the canvass.

That knockdown woke up the old ferocity in Pacquiao as he came back smoking in the third round where he administered Marquez yet another knockdown in their storied rivalry. He became aggressive and had Marquez’s numbers after that. In the sixth, he was going for the kill unmindful that there was no time left. The rest, so they say, is history.

In the aftermath, many are calling on Pacquiao to consider retirement after that KO loss. Nobody wants to see Pacquiao being battered again

by Marquez or any other young and rising boxing sensation. Like me, many hate to see him end up as boxing’s trial horse or journeyman. Of course, that won’t happen. But unlike many, I was already calling on Pacquiao to retire the moment he joined politics or, more specifically, when he won as congressman from Sarangani.

Is Pacquiao already a shot fighter after the KO loss to Marquez? No, by all means Pacquiao is not yet a washed out fighter.

Will Pacquiao be able to bounce back? Of course he will. But the window for yet another winning run like after his knockout losses to Rusty Ocampo and Medgeon Singsurat or even the unanimous decision defeat to Erik Morales is slowly closing.

Pacquiao will need at least three convincing victories against quality opponents to prove that he can still duke it out with the rest of the guys. Those three victories may not be easy to find.

But with Pacquiao, everything is unpredictable.[MindaNews/EdwinEspejowrites for the asiancorrespondent.com.]

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

Task of mending comes in many forms

OUTINES OF THE POST-HOLIDAY SEASON – At the onset of the year 2013, people expect there would be rays of hope, aspirations and opportunities. And for sure there would be plenty of room for recuperation. Oh sure, you would easily notice that many people are making long lists of, what else – New Year’s resolution, which is, of course, are habitually violated. What we would always hear remained the same worn-out and old-standard declarations – totally stop smoking, limit drinking, resolve to start hanging out in bars, girlie shows and gambling joints and most importantly start to become more financially sound and responsible person.

One of the noticeable things is that most resolutions rarely include a promise or a pledge to get fit, healthy and extremely happy. Most of us, at our age, of course, actually are for the “healthy lifestyle” bunch. Well, in theory I am a kind and supportive health buff calling out things like “let’s do it and keep it up!” Sadly, though, in reality health concerns don’t mean a thing or two to many people. You see, after those continuous Christmas and New Year’s parties while savoring lots of fat-loaded food, arrays of cakes and pastries and drinking too many holiday wines and spirits, a lot of people with good appetites gained extra weight and unbearable amount of fats in just so short period of time.

So, if you spent 2012 with getting involved seriously in a “happy-go-lucky”

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lifestyle only to be disappointed upon finding out that you are now a “bloated stuff,” what has got to be done?

Well, resolve to start going out frequently with your family, friends and health-conscious groups with the sole purpose of doing physical exercises. After all, at the beginning of every year there are a number of fitness facilities offering promotional programs and jogging areas to choose from where you can literally squeezed out your fatty and sweaty domains for an entire year.

Always remember to stick to a workable physical conditioning program.

But don’t get me wrong, folks, I am among those who are for a happier and healthier lifestyle. However, if you want to remain toxic and nicotine-loaded, then major components of you overall well-being are still in need of sensible attention. That’s precisely the reason why your dieting regimen and physical fitness activities during the previous year were nothing but a progression of disappointments. Therefore I considered to recommend the month of January as the post-holiday season after

the wave of parties and revelries during Christmas and the New Year.

I’d rather call this the re-exercising period, which follows the partying spell.

Again, a long-standing practice especially to the health enthusiasts during this period is “back to basics” scheme.

This leads to returning to the fitness amenities, gyms and routines of reactivating your diet program after gorging ourselves during the holiday season.

And not only that, another post-holiday activity is the task of recovery, which come in many forms. There’s the recovery from your expenses and other mounting bills perhaps due to excessive and lavish spending being part of a time-honored tradition among us Filipinos in celebrating Christmas.

It is likewise a time to remember and reminisce, as in, “Oh snap, I just remembered we forgot to give some of our friends, relatives and godchildren gifts or even just a simple holiday greetings.” So after the busy preparations during the Christmas holidays – entertaining and partying, it seems it will be only a matter of few months until we have to “re-enact or re-do” the celebrations all over again. Until then, we wish everybody all the best in the Year of the Water Snake and hoping that we could actually find some precious time to do one more important thing during the post-holiday period – relax and resolve to make 2013 a merrier, happier and healthier year.

ANAlYSIS

license patents from newly-acquired Motorola Mobility on reasonable terms.

But a dark side to Google’s premiere product, search, would be a whole ‘nother smoke. Whatever services Google also provides — maps, restaurant recommendations, local information, daily deals — its core business depends on being a reliable gateway to the entire web. And the bigger the better.

While it might have a commanding lead, Google is hardly the only search engine. A pattern of results at odds with what Bing and Yahoo and a host of smaller players yield could not possibly escape notice. Google’s detractors, private watchdogs and the tech press will certainly continue to be on the lookout for Google shenanigans.

And anybody can do it. If you search Google for “maps,” Google Maps is first.

But search Google for a street address and you’re just as likely to be directed to AOL’s MapQuest. Search “stocks” and Yahoo Finance is higher than Google’s site. Search a stock symbol — like “FB” — and you get a quote and a chart and even-handed links to Google, Yahoo and Microsoft’s finance sites.

How Google’s algorithm works is a secret, of course, but Google insists the calculation is based on what amount to citations — how many independent links there are to one site versus another. Its leadership role — and entire business — depends on that. To favor its products over another threatens all of its products.

Favoritism, at least in theory, has no place in Google’s bucolic meadow.

In search of Google’s dark side

HE Federal Trade Commission Thursdaydropped a two-year investigation into allegations that Google was gaming search results to drive traffic to its own sites. In a press conference, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz allowed that the charges came from a staggering number of Google’s competitors, and at face value they are plausible: Google essentially controls search with something like 70 percent of the market share and, like any company with near monopoly power, might be tempted to use that advantage to slyly divert traffic away from competitors. But in a unanimous vote all five FTC commissioners agreed there was nothing to see here.

Allegations of search bias strike at the heart of what Google purports to be: an honest curator of what’s available on the web. If the FTC ruled that Google was even a little dishonest, it could have altered the public perception of the company. It might have even been something akin to an Arthur Andersen moment.

The ruling could conceivably embolden Google to push the envelope. And it certainly makes it tougher for competitors to weaken the search giant on penalties rather than fight on what the FTC has now declared is a level playing field.

But the ruling really could not have gone any other way — not only because there’s scant evidence to support Google chicanery but because the idea that Google would use its advantage so heavy-handedly just doesn’t bear up under any scrutiny.

Google, unlike some other tech companies, doesn’t thrive by luring customers

By John C ABell into a trap in a walled garden. Its business depends on the web being a vast meadow, infinite in all directions. Google’s properties aren’t revenue plays but building blocks intended to create something quite unusual: A company that you utterly depend on but can live without, and walk away from anytime whole.

To accept that Google would mess around with search for some marginal gain means accepting that it’s interested in the short money that comes from daily deals, Zagat reviews, YouTube ads and the like instead of the big money of being the first word in search.

It’s not as if Google has a history of “get out of jail free” passes from an indifferent or feckless FTC. The agency last year extracted token fines after finding that Google intentionally bypassed privacy settings in Apple’s Safari browser. Two years ago it found that Google had used “deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy promises” with the rollout of (ultimately-doomed) social network Buzz when most tech writers thought the FTC was making a mountain out of a molehill. No fine that time, but Google was put on what amounts to 20 years of probation.

Every company does evil, to some degree, even one whose unofficial (and easily mocked) mantra is Don’t Be Evil. Business is business, after all. Indeed, the FTC did extract one concession from Google on a separate matter: The company agreed to

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The fiscal cliff deal proves U.S. Congress is working ( Conclusion ) COMMENTARY

By AnAtole KAletSKy

M

OST American voters believe, according to opinion polls, that the United States faces a grave budgetary crisis, and that public spending is rapidly rising, implying a slide towards Greek-style bankruptcy unless deficits and debts are brought under control. These statements are manifestly false.

U.S. deficits and debt, far from rising to infinity, are actually quite stable.

Deficits have been halved since 2009 and will decline by about $150 billion annually in each of the next three years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Meanwhile total debt is projected by the CBO to stabilize at around 82 percent of GDP from next year until 2018. And that is before any of the tax hikes agreed to this week.

Taking account of roughly $620 billion in extra revenues raised by the fiscal cliff deal, U.S. debt will stabilize at a significantly lower GDP share and will probably do so by the middle of this year. This helps explain why the panic about national bankruptcy in Washington does not seem to affect private investors, who happily lend money to the U.S. government at the lowest interest rates on record.

Yet President Obama has made no effort to convey this reassuring information to American voters. Instead he has perpetuated the myth that the United States faces an urgent budgetary crisis, most recently in his televised speech on the fiscal cliff, when he described further deficit reductions as a top priority.

As long as voters are paranoid about a Greek-style fiscal crisis, the looming showdowns predicted by pessimistic pundits over Treasury debt limits may indeed be inevitable, since deficit hawks will argue that avoiding future national bankruptcy is even more important than avoiding an immediate default on Treasury debts.

But suppose the president were to explain to voters that there is no real fiscal crisis and add that the extra revenues raised in this week’s deal make the long-term budgetary position even more secure. The threat of a confrontation over the Treasury debt limit would quickly vanish. With this threat averted, business and consumer confidence would improve, economic growth would accelerate, and government deficits would shrink rapidly, without any further major tax hikes or spending cuts.

In short, suppose President Obama decided to become a “deficit denier,” as described in this column last year.

Liberals, such as Paul Krugman and Joe Stiglitz, could explain this denial as Keynesian stimulus. Conservatives could call it supply-side economics, as they did under President Ronald Reagan. Either way, deficit denial could help to avert future budget crises and accelerate economic growth.

If Barack Obama could make deficit denial a respectable position again for American politicians, as it was under Reagan, the success of his presidency would be assured.

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Davao Central High helps victims of typhoon Pablo

by EJ Dominic C. Fernandez

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O speed up help and sustain relief assistance to the victims of typhoon Pablo, the Davao Central High School solicited more than half a million pesos from parents, alumni and friends to assist the victims of typhoon Pablo.

School board chairman Edison Lu sought the financial help of his friends who immediately responded to his appeal even as he mobilized students and faculty of the school to ensure the orderly distribution of relief in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, the towns hardest hit by the typhoon.

“The school administrators and students assisted in packing the relief items in the true spirit of bayanihan,” Lu said, citing the selflessness of the school and students who gave up their Christmas party for the victims of the typhoon.

From its students alone, the school was also

H

able to raise more than a hundred thousand pesos.

“It’s touching that our students had given up their party to help the victims,” Lu said.

“It is noteworthy that as early as now, our students have learned to be socially responsible by responding to reach out to the victims of Pablo,” Lu stressed as he

also cited the benevolence of alumni and the administrators of the school.

Alumni and parents of the students headed by Melinda Ti extended cash

and in kind like nails, galvanized iron sheets and others for the victims who will be reconstructing their houses.

Lu thanked all the

members of the board, alumni, parents, administrators and students of the school for the immediate assistance for the victims of the typhoon.

high school students. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” shares the 32year old TLE teacher.

Lagria was also chosen to be part of the Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) Program of Globe Telecomwhich trains teachers on the use of integrated communications technology (ICT) in classroom instruction and the use of project-based learning approaches. With an intensive 54-hour, six-day Global Filipino Teacher training program to his name, Lagria is also one of the peer coaches tasked to train other teachers on new methods of teaching using ICT

integration in his school district.

When Bilar National High School was chosen to be the country’s first Global Filipino School in 2011 by Globe Telecom along with implementing partner, Coalition for Better Education (CBE), Lagria had mixed emotions.

“I’m happy and proud but am also mindful of the big responsibility,” he says. The Global Filipino School is a competency-building initiative of Globe Telecom that seeks to transform public high schools into ICT centers of excellence and hopes to provide access to quality education. The first

Global Filipino School was turned over to Bilar National High School in December 2012.

“Masaya talaga ako.

I’m thankful for the opportunities—first as a Global Filipino teacher, and now our school as a Global Filipino School— to become more effective in my work as a teacher,” says Lagria. “Behind all these blessings are also big responsibilities.

My duties will not only be limited to the classroom setting but now, I am tasked to help influence and mentor my colleagues not only in our school but other schools as well to promote the

use of ICT as a tool in teaching.”

The community-based ripple effect is what Globe hopes to achieve with the establishment of the first Global Filipino School in Bilar National High School.

The ICT model school is equipped with wired and wireless Internet connection, multi-media peripherals, and is housed in an energy-efficient and environment-friendly building. “More than just the physical infrastructure, we are helping build a community of leaders— of principals, teachers, and community heads who will be trained on mentoring, collaborative learning, effective leadership and ICT tools for student assessment and school management,” says Rob I. Nazal, Head for Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

Lagria is both excited and anxious to get a headstart on the plans for the Global Filipino School. He excitedly shares, “Implementation and training will first be done at the school level before we move to the district level. We’ll also introduce the program to the school division to influence more schools.”

With Lagria at the helm and with the support of Bilar National

High School principal Maria Lileth Calacat, plans are underway for teacher training and ICT integration into the current high school curriculum. “We’re excited to teach more students with the new facilities and provide new avenues for learning. We want Bilar National High School to inspire and transform other communities and schools to be globally-competitive hubs for learning and teaching,” adds Lagria.

“From best practices, we want the school and community to be able to incubate ‘next practices’.

By investing in education, Globe is also helping ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the locality. We are committed to developing exemplary leaders in the area of education who can be catalysts in nation-building,” continues Nazal.

Bilar National High School was chosen to be the first Global Filipino School after an evaluation with focus on school management, teacher and student development, and ability and potential to forge partnerships and collaboration with the community stakeholders for sustainable development projects.

Global Filipino school: Building a community of 21st century-ready teachers and students

ARD work and persistence always pays off—this is what 32-year old Armand Lagria has learned over the past years. Lagria started out as a utility assistant in the principal’s office of Bilar National High School in 2003. After getting his degree in secondary education at Bohol Island State University (BISU) in 2003, Lagria was hired as a teacher at BHS the year after.

Now, he has a full plate teaching Technology and Livelihood education (TLE) to third year and fourth year high school students as well as Filipino to third year

TURNED OVER. The Global Filipino School was turned over in December 2012 to Bilar National High School by Globe Telecom, with improved facilities and infrastructure.

Students had to share the computers and the cramped space at the old computer lab of BNHS (left photo). The building is now equipped with multimedia peripherals and wired and wireless Internet connection and to improve the learning experience for

BNHS students. During the turnover held December 12, BNHS ICT instructor Armand Lagria presented an overview of the plans for the Global Filipino School (right photo).

The Global Filipino School is a competency-building initiative of Globe Telecom that seeks to transform public high schools into ICT centers of excellence and hopes to provide access to quality education.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

Ombudsman...

Boni...

FFROM 1

Nereo Concepcion Castigador as acting district collector, and of Alicodsaman Palaco Dimasicil as customs guard II and acting assistant wharfinger , and slapping a six-month suspension of Lerrie Leyson Natividad and Moctar Somalug Amir as acting customs examiner after being found guilty of illegal acts.

The four were charged administratively by businessman Rodolfo C. Reta for “grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and violation of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”

Bangcoy said, “I can only implement this order, once I am directed by the Customs Commissioner to implement it, as of now, I have not received direction from the commissioner to implement the order of dismissal yet.” He was referring to Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon.

“Suspensions are executed immediately, but they did not receive a copy of the ombudsman’s decision yet,” he said, wondering why the media got a copy of the decision ahead of them (the bureau personnel involved in the case.)

As Castigador’s colleague and fellow member of the association of customs collectors, Bangcoy also suggested, “the media should research more and dig deeper to have a wider and clearer view of the issue.”

The 24-page Ombudsman decision penned by graft investigator and prosecutor officer Marilou B. Unabia who signed on November 29, 2012; reviewed and signed December 6, 2012 by Director IV Maria Iluminada S. Lapid-Viva and assistant Obudsman Rodolfo M. Elman; and approved by Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao on Decemeber 14, 2012 .

While it dismissed port collector Castigador and acting assistant wharfinger Dimasicil for grave misconduct , the decision suspended acting customs examiners Natividad and Amir for six months for committing conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The decision stated that “these penalties are pursuant to Rule 10 of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service,” also, in accord with Memorandum Circular No. o1, Series of 2006 of the Honorable Ombudsman, the Ombudsman directed the Commissioner of Customs to immediately implement this decision. “ The verdict came stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by Reta, owner of the Acquarius Container Yard (ACY), against Castigador, Dimasicil, Natividad and Amir on issues of violation of R.A. 6713, transferring the examination area of Rapzel

General Mechandise from ACY to the Philippine Ports Authority, and for failure of Castigador and company to file criminal charges against Rapzel for the aborted smuggling of rice imported from Thailand misdeclared as construction materials.

The controversy started on February 20, 2010 when 40 containers, said to contain 320 bags of construction materials each, arrived to the port of Davao City from Thailand on the vessel Mathias Claudi with Rapzel company and broker, Michael Corong, as the consignee of the import entree documents.

The decision also found that acting assistant wharfinger Dimasicil already issued gate passes for the cargo on February 24, 2012, two days before the “100 percent examination” recommended by inspector, Nilo A. Lim, which was to be conducted in the designated examination area (DEA) of Reta’s ACY on February 26, 2012 yet.

At the time, Reta asked for the assistance of his lawyer, Manuel P. Quibod, to make a report to the then district collector of the port of Davao, Castigador, about these irregularities.

Instead of investigating the irregularities, Castigador informed Reta, by personally handing a letter to Quibod, charging that Reta refused to provide lifton/lift-off service for the examination and release of the containers. Castigador alleged that this indicated that ACY has ceased to operate as a DEA and that the examination of the shipments must be conducted at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) area instead.

This despite a previous certification by the PPA that the port area can no longer accommodate an examination machine in the port area as it was already congested.

Then on February 28, 2012, Castigador, the Custom Police and other personnel forcibly removed and took possession of the 40 container cans which contains smuggled rice and was brought to the PPA area at Sasa Warf.

The Ombudsman decision said that “the act of Dimasicil in signing on the four gate passes amounts to grave misconduct, defined as transgression of some established behavior or grows negligence of the public officer.”

The Ombudsman, verdict also said “ records would show that respondents, with the use of force, effected the release of the shipment from the ACY premises to the PPA area.”

“Respondent Castigador, in allowing this irregular practice of preparing gate passes prior to inspection of the shipment allegedly to facilitate the process within the ACY DEA in effect agrees with such irregular practice,” the Ombudsman said, adding that “the control mechanism at the Port of Davao then leaves much to be de-

FFROM 1 sired.”

The Ombudsman decision said “the letter of Castigador transferring the designated examination area from the ACY to the PPA is done without lawful authority,” describing Castigador’s act as a breach of the contract, referring to a memorandum of agreement (MOA) dated January 2009 between BOC and Reta on using ACY as a Container Yard Outside Customs Zone as a DEA for 25 years.

The Ombudsman also stated, “respondent Castigador’s failure to file a criminal case for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code against RAPZEL is tantamount to giving unwarranted benefits to RAPZEL.” The Ombudsman decision described Castigador’s failure to file a criminal case against Rapzel as a “grave misconduct as the act complained of is inspired by an intention to violate the law, or constitute a flagrant disregard of well-known legal rules.”

“It is a transgression of some established and definite rule of action, a forbidden act, a dereliction of duty, willful in character and implies wrongful intent and not a mere error in judgment,” the decision continued.

It may be recalled that Castigador, while still assigned to Davao, was ordered arrested fpr defying the Court order for a temporary restraining order which is effect directed the resumption of operation of the DEA inside Reta’s container yard. Castigador went into hiding for days instead of surrendering.

He was later reassigned to the Port of Cagayan de Oro City where served as acting collector.

Meanwhile, acting port district collect Bangcoy declared that despite the recent though still unimplemented conviction of Castigador and company by the Ombudsman, local customs personnel are still in high morale and continue to render their duties and responsibilities in the bureau.

“We are not bothered about it,” he said, adding that as far as we are concerned we are doing our best to satisfy our clients within the bounds of law.”

However, a group of local customs employees who declined to be identified said the decision of the deputy Ombudsman indicated there is hope that the Aquino administration, with its “daang matuwid (straight path)” governance will soon achieve its goal of ridding the government of grafters.

An employee said “honest customs personnel, and there are plenty of them here, are inspired by the Ombudsman’s decision because through it, we can see a ray of hope that the P-Noy government can eventually get rid of the bad eggs in our organization that are soiling the image of the good ones.”

043-02. The new ordinance is now denominated 0367-12 as crafted by Moneverde.

The ordinance has caused the city government, particularly the City Health Office and Anti-Smoking Task Force, to be a hall fame recipient of Red Orchid Award, a national award garnered by the city for three consecutive times.

The original law authored by Militar anti-dated close to 200 anti-smoking laws in other leading

Rebs...

cities and countries in the world.

Asked to comment, Militar said he takes pride in having crafted the original anti-smoking law inspired by then mayor now Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose administration has a reputation of instituting landmark local laws such as the anti-firecrackers ban, which had been often cited nationwide for its zero casualty record during Christmas and New Year’s eve revelries compared with several deaths and injured

persons in other areas of the country, and lately the first Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (ADO), again a brainchild of Rody Duterte and crafted by Councilor Melchor Quitain.

“The anti-smoking ordinance is one of the priceless achievements of the local government unit,” Militar said, adding that the people of Davao City should be proud and grateful hat we are blessed with leaders who think about the health and welfare of their constituents.

were being pinpointed because those who are acting as guides were the newly recruit of their barangay.

The leader of the rebel group, Ka Bobby allegedly told them that they should leave the military service for they are not given proper compensation for their dangerous jobs. However, after interrogating them, the rebel group’ss leader ordered Sitoy and Bulod released.

Three other residents-- Jun Lopez, Junjun Alonzo and Tata Pandian, all residents of Sitio Luyan, were on December 31 were reportedly forced by armed men to go with them.

It was 5:30 am when the NPAs started to interrogate the three civilians and ended their conversation at around

3:30 in the afternoon.

After the said inquiry the group left the area and released the civilians.

On the same day, another set of residents were abducted-- Boyet Duyan, Joel Espina and Junjun Ogao.

At around 4:00 pm on the same day, Tony Pandian, another CAFGU member , was abducted and freed after answering their questions.

Pandian was reportedly told by Ka Bobby to leave the military service or else his son will be taken by the NPAs to join them in their fight against the government.

The activities of the NPAs in Barangay Tambobong reportedly prevented the people from celebrating Christmas and New year’s Day.

recovered from their livelihood yet,” she said in Cebuano.

In Coog Elementary School at Barangay Mahan-og, the farthest from the municipal center in Baganga, Grade 3 teacher Cheryl Lancian said two classrooms are still being occupied by four families who sought refuge there since the typhoon.

“Having classes in the tent is alright,” she said, “as long as there is a place where we could meet the students.”

Better than before Pablo.

After speaking to the elementary students of the Baganga Central Elementary School for about five minutes, Luistro went to the nearby Baganga National High School situated beside the beach.

Inside a tent, at least 60 high school students and their teachers welcomed Luistro, singing a jingle they practiced before his arrival.

He told them there will be a “new master plan” for the campus that is better than what they had before Pablo came.

They all clapped with cheerful faces.

Luistro said the lessons they experienced from the typhoon are more than what they can read in books.

“Share your stories to the next generations,” he told them, adding that they will be writing new textbooks containing how they survived Pablo.

Mary Ann Sayman, a fourth year student, said the typhoon inspired her to continue her schooling to become a nurse.

Admitting that her family’s house and a hectare of corn and coconut trees were all damaged, and looking back at their horrible experiences with typhoon Pablo, she said she wanted to help other people, especially during calamities. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]

FFROM 2

to be still in the hands of the rebel group. Until now, no one knows the whereabouts of the victim who is suspected to be an informer of a military intelligence unit.

On December 26, four other civilians were allegedly rounded up by armed and lectured on how to be members of the NPA. The civilian captives were identified as Toto Belarmiya, Adonis Belarmiya, Elmer Amad and Toto Duyan, all residents of Brgy. Tambobong.

On December 30, two CAFGUs—Artemio Sitoy and Romeo Bulod - were reportedly held captive by the rebel group led by Ka Bobby.

Sitoy and Bulod were subsequently forcibly taken by the NPAs from Sitio Mangas-as where they both live. The duo

Teachers...

FFROM 4

based feeding program with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Still difficult Luistro said that

by January 14, classes should resume. But in areas where classrooms are yet to be restored, only psychosocial sessions can be conducted.

Marivic Bandayanon, Grade 2 teacher in the Lucod Elementary School in Baganga, said it is still difficult to hold regular classes, especially because the classrooms lost their roofing to the typhoon.

Although they have started having psychosocial classes inside a tent, only about 100 out of 600 students have attended, she said.

A tent can only accommodate about a hundred children.

“Students cannot go to school without having eaten anything as most of their families have not

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SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013 Realty FOR SALE:

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along national highway, facing east, beside nCCC Panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion Road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion Road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at P800/sq m along the national highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/ industrial lot along the national highway in Bincungan, tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/ office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina town Center, along the national highway, Dumoy, toril. 9) Ready-for-occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3t&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, toril.; 3BR 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion Road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, obrero, Davao City. 11) FoR ASSUMe (RUSh): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC ReB lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

Clippers win LA derby

L

OS ANGELES (AP) -Los Angeles belongs to the Clippers right now, and they’re looking for much more than city dominance at this point.

Chris Paul had 30 points and 13 assists, Blake Griffin added 24 points, and the Clippers led all the way in a 107102 victory on Friday night, giving them two wins in two games this

season against their Staples Center co-tenants.

They also stopped a twogame skid and maintained the NBA’s second-best record at 26-8. ‘’Right now we’re just focused on being one of the best teams in the league, not just the city,’’ said Lamar Odom, one of four former Lakers on the Clippers’ roster. ‘’Focus can’t be just to be better

than one team. Now we’re trying to be great.’’

Kobe Bryant scored 38 points and Dwight Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers.

Bryant carried them in the fourth quarter when they closed to 99-97 on his 23-foot jumper with 1:29 left. But Paul scored the Clippers’ final eight points to seal the victory and drop the Lakers two games be-

Cris Paul of the LA Clippers makes his move against Kobe Bryant who had 38 points in another Laker loss.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND, or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13, 838-12

MANUEL L. LOZADA, married to Elizabeth T. Lozada Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-ibig against MANUEL L. LOZADA, married to Elizabeth T. Lozada, mortgagors with postal address at Blk. 06 Lot 56 , Bahay Pagibig Heights Subdivision, Catalunan Grande, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 18, 2011 amounted to Php 243,913.65 Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 7, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 282216 “ A parcel of land (Lot 5, Blk. 6 of the subd. plan Pcs-11-000352, being a portion of lots xxx situated in the Barangay of Catalunan Grande, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE (121) SQUARE METERS, more or less”

low .500. The Clippers lead the Lakers by 10 games in the standings. ‘’He’s lasered in on the game and trying to get us out of this ditch,’’ new Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said about Bryant. ‘’We’ve just got to keep working and keep our heads up and try to do it.’’

The Lakers have lost three of their last four games.

ROS looks forward, signs 7-3 NBA vet

T

HE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are making their second consecutive finals appearance, highlighting their emergence as a true PBA powerhouse.

And the reigning Governors’ Cup champions want it to remain that way, signing the tallest import in PBA history to reinforce the team for the next conference.

Rain or Shine assistant coach Caloy Garcia confirmed that the team is bringing in 7-foot-3 NBA veteran Bruno Sundov for the Commissioner’s Cup, which imposes no height limits for imports.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on March 07, 2013 without further notice.

This NOTICE will be posted in three(3) conspicuous public places in the City of Davao and in the place where the property is located and where the auction sale will take place for the information of the general public and the parties.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, December 5, 2012

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) SERGIO LEONARDO J. TUPAS Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 01/7, 14, 21)

EXTRA RICE PLUS EXTRA HEIGHT. Bruno Sundov, a 7-3 Croatian cager, will be the import for Rain or Shine.

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WEDDINGS

It must have been fate

Who would have thought that a poem that was unread for 13 years would end in “I Do”?

This is how one would sum up the love story of Aida Mae Puyat and Kenneth Kirkconnell who exchanged their marriage vows at a Victorian-inspired wedding last December 12, 2012.

The couple first met in the Ateneo de Davao University campus in 1997. Both were then freshmen at the time.

“I first saw Mae walking across the Cashiers’ office. I asked my buddy at the time if he knew that girl, and to introduce me. The acquaintance was very casual, a little too casual since Mae doesn’t even remember that moment,” Kenneth recalled.

“I remember it perfectly.

It was 4 days before her 18th birthday, I tried my best to make an impression on her hoping to get an invite to her glamorous debut. I even composed a poem for her as a birthday gift. But to no avail, she was a lot harder to impress than I imagined.

And I never got that party invite,” Kenneth said.

“Trying to “get to know” Mae was a fail. From then on I kept my distance from her.

We pretty much went our separate ways.”

Thirteen years passed.

Both Mae and Kenneth were successful in their separate

careers. Kenneth is a Senior Enlisted service member in the U.S. Navy and Mae was then working under the office of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Kenneth’s younger sister, Joyce, then met Mae at a halloween Party. They started a conversation and Joyce asked, “Ms. Mae...why is such a beautiful lady as yourself not here with a date?”

Mae announced that she is single. Joyce retorted, “ireto tika sakong kuya! Bagay kayo! he’s gwapo and macho and your gwapa and sexy!”

“I remember getting an overseas call that night from my sister. She was all excited telling me I should make ligaw her new friend and that we probably know each other from Ateneo College.

At first I told her that I wasn’t interested. I’m in the States, she’s in the Philippines. I

FIT, A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EVENTS

moVIES

The power of l Brillante Mend

JavaJive: Davao’s new home for the Stars!

WElcomING the year 2013 with more music, family bonding and better food-and-beverage options, JavaJive (Davao) has enlisted plans of bringing home True Pinoy Talents to perform at the JavaJive live! Stage and showcase their artistry to our Davao audiences.

last night has been, indeed, an extended New Year family celebration as mr. Aries Sales, JavaJive (Davao)’s Newest male oPm Brand Ambassador, graced the JavaJive live!

Stage. A Davao homegrown talent and, now, manila’s rising acoustic icon, mR. ARIES SAlES “Aries” brought his music, both his original compositions and acoustic covers, in a two-night extended gig in JavaJive (Davao), January 1 & 3, 2013.

In a short interview with Aries, he shares his story and inspiration on how he grew to be the artist he is today. Growing up in a non-musically inclined family, he recalls how he strived to learn and master his

VOL.5 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 06-07, 2013

music, and how he tuned his skill into a talent. He describes his craft now as a long journey of musical transitions.

Influenced with the music style of the late Francis magalona, Aries began his musical life as a rap-artist or rapper; eventually, he decided to focus on singing and prospered as solo singer-guitarist performer. Inspired with the music of Jason mraz, Jimmy Needham, Jamie cullum, John mayer and mr. Gary Granada, he grew to become an excellent songwriter as well. currently performing in various high hotels like the Thunderbird Resort and casino and Eurotel Hotel, high-end bars and malls such as the Prism Plaza Tower mall in mall of Asia, being featured in various national television shows like 25th Street on Studio 23, and singing with popular artists like Nyoy Volante and KZ Tandingan, recently, Aries has written songs and rap lyrics for known big music icons like Juris, martin Nievera and KZ Tandingan (X Factor Grand champion). looking forward for better op-

portunities and engagements in metro manila, Aries continues to conquer manila with his passion for music and dreams of performing with the best talents in the Philippines.

At the end of the interview, he states: “Though I’m enjoying all great possibilities in manila—if given a chance in the future—I will still consider to come home and retire in Davao city because it’s all here.”

Now as an addition to JavaJive’s coffee-for-the-Stars and oPm Prime Endorsers along with ms. Jad montenegro and ms. Juris “JURIS” Fernandezlim (JavaJive’s Brand Ambassadress), mr. Aries Sales is also hopeful that Filipinos support original Pinoy music and Filipino Brands like JavaJive (Davao).

JavaJive (Davao) is Davao’s Newest 24/7 coffee-Tea-Soda-music Home located at 1.18 centron Building Quirino Street corner General luna Street, Davao city. For exclusive bookings and musical performance schedules, feel free to inquire 082.321.2247

Thy Wom

By Jay Rosas

ThE INClUSIoN of Brillante Mendoza’s Thy Womb in the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival is both brave and foolish at the same time. Weeks before MMFF, one of the most profitable Filipino ventures in recent years where a lineup of films compete not with laurels but with box office returns, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), also certainly not the most reliable expert on film but has since assumed the mandate to determine what types of films to be shown, announced the last minute inclusion of Thy Womb.

The film has reaped international accolades and also for Mendoza and Aunor. But with the results of the awards night for this year’s MMFF, Mendoza has hurled flak towards the inconsistency of the criteria that leads to the selection of best film. he argued that if a film garnered major awards (he and Nora both bagged best director and best actress), it has the most advantage to win the top prize. he seemed surprised too that box office returns contributes largely in selecting the top three films in the festival—a fact that has been known to the industry or at least the MMFF participants since MMFF became this huge machinery of moneymaking franchises.

But its presence in the festival is an oddball; it sticks out like a sore thumb. Maybe the MMFF is trying to be relevant and artistically-conscious. But seriously, who buys that?

Not the Filipino movie-going audience who has long chucked out art. (Brocka, Bernal, Ad Castillo, and De leon, once showcased their films in the same

fest.) As one writer argues, it will never be a showdown of art and commerce in a platform like MMFF. (As of this writing, Davao cinemas have pulled out Thy Womb due to poor box office returns.) The Filipino populace is not anymore wired to watch films to ponder on great philosophical mysteries or socially-relevant issues. A cinephile Facebook friend argued that the malls are wrong venues for independent cinema. I agree; it is such an oxymoron. In the end, they have every right to pull out a film that does not rake for them profits.

But kudos to Mendoza for still speaking out, even to the point of begging the theatres to not pull out his film. In a sea of trash, we need a voice in contemporary Philippine cinema like him.

But I’m leaving the politics and intentions aside, because though one may accuse a film of being both brave and foolish, at the heart of Thy Womb is a bravery that comes from sacrifice. Nora Aunor and Bembol Roco play a childless Tausug couple in the remote islands of TawiTawi. Aunor plays Shaleha, a midwife who travels by a banca to shanties and boat-houses to deliver babies. It is the first of the many narrative and visual ironies in the film, because Shaleha can’t give her husband Bangas-an (Roco) a child. But despite this, Bangas-an loves his wife; he accompanies Shaleha in her midwifery, assists her in other sources of livelihood—weaving mats and selling dried fish—to make ends meet. Bangasan loves his wife, because despite her infertility and his longing for a child, he still expressed uncertainty to pursue her wife’s intent in looking for another woman to bear Bangas-an a child and he has never left Shaleha.

More than first half of the film is devoted to this search. Shaleha also em-

It is an im When the Imam, sea women pr exasperat find the w

ploys the help of his who gives her three n all of them with do ranging from 80 to thousand.

Throug this search, the audie taken through vistas beautiful island pro of Tawi-Tawi—the vi Bongao peak, the vas of the sea, the rich an brant colors of the M costumes worn dur festival (Sheik Mak

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love in doza’s

mb

mmersive experience. couple, aided by an arches and waits for the rospects, it echoes our own tion—would they be able to woman they are looking for?

sister names, owries o 200 ghout ence is of the ovince iew of stness nd viMuslim ring a kdum)

and a wedding, one of which Shaleha and Bangas-an attend as sponsors or godparents—as well as the poverty and simplicity of life.

But this muted beauties provide the perfect irony for Shaleha’s life; the sea despite its vastness is experiencing some form of barrenness itself—fishes caught are little to none.

Mendoza’s use of meta-

phors (like the run-down cinema in Serbis) comments on the characters’ lives: the intricate design and painstaking weaving of the mat seem to depict Shaleha’s sacrifice and the couple’s enduring love. one of the heartbreaking moments in the film is the scene where she caresses the mat and says it is finished, culminating in a love that may be consum-

mated for the last time.

It is an immersive experience. When the couple, aided by an Imam, searches and waits for the women prospects, it echoes our own exasperation—would they be able to find the woman they are looking for? odyssey Flores, also Mendoza’s director of photography for his previous films, gives the film the feel of a documentary and I think achieves its purpose of placing Nora Aunor and Bembol Roco as real people drifting through the sea and through market crowds, conversing with the locals and taking part in Muslim traditions. There is no question of Aunor’s brilliance here. She manages to pull off a difficult restraint in her character—something akin to her quiet moments as Elsa in himala.

The real tension comes when they finally found the right woman (despite the cost of the dowry, the couple perseveres to come up with the amount) in Mersila (lovi Poe), who despite her youth, agrees to the agreement. I asked a Muslim female friend about the validity of her “condition” in the film where she asks Bangasan to leave Shaleha by the time she bears him a child.

My friend told me that this may be part of the culture but not necessarily of the Islamic law and religion.

After all, the “condition” provides the perfect tension in the film (though I still consider lovi’s character a cipher, her motivations vague), and this is perfectly captured in a wordless sequence of stares between the couple and Mersila.

Thy Womb after all is a love story—one that echoes enduring love and sacrifice. The film ends abruptly just when it starts to get interesting. It does not descend in the traditional Pinoy sense of a dramatic highlight. But that’s also the moment where get to think. Rating: 4.25/5

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

WEDDINGS

It...

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FA1

don’t have time for that kind of relationship,” Kenneth remembered telling his sister.

But Joyce insisted and said she will “suggest” them on Facebook.

“After a day i saw her “suggestion” and out of curiosity I clicked on Mae’s profile, and saw the picture of my first college crush. I felt butterflies in my tummy and an overwhelming feeling of mixed emotions.

The same feeling I felt when I was first introduced to her, 13 years prior,” recalled Kenneth.

They then started messaging on Facebook. Casual hi-hellos, nothing serious.

“Mae really didn’t remember me. I was a complete stranger to her and once again I felt like she had no interest in me whatsoever. history repeats itself and I hit another fail,” feared Kenneth.

Six months later Kenneth was deployed to Zamboanga in support of the VFA Balikatan activity there. he readily established communication with Mae, who by then is working as Public Relations Coordinator for San Augustin Services Inc. based here in Davao City.

The two started connecting thru text and late night calls.

“I was closer to her this time.

Communication was a lot easier, flirting with her was a lot more fun too,” said the now hopeful Kenneth.

The two then agreed to finally meet for lunch in Manila, and it was then that the two started their serious relationship.

About 2 months into their relationship Mae rummaged through her college memorabilia box searching for the poem that Kenneth supposedly gave her as a birthday gift.

“It’s amazing how someone can keep something for that long, especially a piece of paper,” Kenneth exclaimed. he then got a call one night from Mae, and she started reading the poem.

Thinking of you, Aida In Lanang Davao City you live most of the year ‘Bout you, Aida, there’s a story to hear Your sexiness showing It always is flowing To learn more just lend me your ears I want you to know that you’re pretty And judged so by any committee Your beauty does shine You’re lovely and fine You’d catch our eye in any city Each time there’s a break in the grind Some mental pattern i find Like actors on cue My thoughts turn to you You’ve a warm special place in my mind Kenneth Their tears shed, and both said their first “I love you” to

each other.

The time and distance apart is by far the hardest trial both have had. After 10 months in the Philippines Kenneth returned to the United States.

Mae followed 2 months later for a short vacation.

By this this time Ken and Mae have been together for over a year. Then Kenneth proposed to Mae in their San Diego home one late spring night.

“It was a cold midnight in bed, in Ken’s San Diego home.

We were talking about how our friends were mostly married. And how so and so just

got engaged to so and so...and how this persons’ wedding was nice and so on and so forth,” recalled Mae. “By then I had the ring hidden for months. I wanted to surprise her, I was waiting for the right moment. And as we were talking that night it hit me that that was my qeue to overwhelm her with my proposal and a diamond ring,” said Kenneth.

“We both sat up in bed to say our evening prayers. I asked the lord to continue giving us the strength we need to live happily ever after and as

we said our Amens I opened the jewelry box in front of her as she opened her eyes and asked her if she would be mine forever”.

Smile, tears and a big hug was her response. “long distance relationships do last. It’s trust, faith and love that will get you through all the heartache and pain,” said Mae. And so Mae and Kenneth got married on 12-12-12 at the Iglesia ni Cristo house of Worship in Panacan. Friends and family witnessed the two exchange vows and promised to be together till death do them part.

“The wedding was perfect, awesome, elegant very spontaneous not a dull moment. Delectable is an understatement for the food that was served. our event stylist is the famous Ms. Annie lim. Choosing our principal and secondary sponsors was not an easy task. The ninongs ninangs were chosen because of the major role they played in our lives. The wedding gown is originally designed and inspired by the bride and was recreated by John Belandres of Atelier 115,” Mae said.

The couple is very much looking forward to a happy and brighter future ahead of them and their children.

“We want to raise a beautiful family. little Maes and Kens running around,” the couple said.

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Pacquiao’s health a growing concern

Is he sick?

M

ANNY Pacquiao’s health, just as that of the President himself, is a growing concern.

A well-known doctor said he fears the 8-time world champion is showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Of late, Pacquiao’s health has been the subject of concern by many following the vicious sixth-round ound knockout he suffered against longtime Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth ring encounter last month at the

MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The loss was the worst in the career of the 34-yearold Filipino boxing icon, who had the unfortunate experience of running through a perfect counter-right by Marquez that knocked him down facefirst and left him unconscious down the canvas for about a minute.

In a radio interview a few days ago that became the basis of several stories that came out in both print media and on social networking sites, Dr. Rustico Jimenez, president

of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, opined that Pacquiao is showing early signs of Parkinson’s Disease, the same disorder that has affected boxing great Muhammad Ali and Pacquiao’s trainer himself, Freddie Roach.

Dr. Jimenez was quoted as saying the stuttering and hand twitching being manifested by Pacquiao are possibly early signs of Parkinsons.

But the champion’s brother Bobby Pacquiao contends that if ever his

Is Manny Pacquiao sick? His brother Bobby says the report is unfair and without basis.

brother is indeed already afflicted with Parkinsons at this early, the signs could not have escaped the eyes of health specialists in the US. “Bakit marunong pa sila sa mga doctor na sumuri

kay kuya sa Amerika?” Bobby said.

Pacquiao was immediately rushed to the hospital shortly after his fight with Marquez where he was cleared by doctors after undergoing a CT scan.

Upon his return to the country, the celebrated boxer and congressman of Sarangani province also underwent MRI test at the Cardinal Santos hospital where he was likewise cleared by doctors.

Rain Or Shine hopes to make it two titles in a row.

Talk N Text is back in the Finas with coach Norman Black on the bench.

Black takes TNT back to the Finals

N

ORMAN Black’s return to the PBA signalled a new era in the colourful career of the former 5-peat Ateneo mentor as he steered Talk ‘N Text to a trip back to the Finals, outgunning Alaska in the payoff period on the way to a resounding 83-78 in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Friday night at the Astrodome.

The defending champions’ huge Game 6 victory clinched for them the best-of-seven semis series, 4-2, and set them up for a titular showdown with early finalist Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Game One of the bestof-seven championship series will be on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is at 6:45 p.m.

This will be Talk `N Text’s sixth Finals appearance in the last seven conferences.

Diminutive playmaker Jimmy Alapag overcame a silent first two quarters as he exploded for 15 points in the second half, spiked with three triples that allowed the Tropang Texters to gain enough breathing room against a pesky Aces side.

The winning coach paid tribute to Alaska’s gallant stand, saying the Aces’ resiliency made them a team that’s tough nut to crack.

“First of all, I want to give some applause for Alaska. They have grown leaps and bounds this conference. They prove they can be tough to beat in the future. Their perimeter shooting and inside

game makes them tough to beat,” said Black after the game.

The soft-spoken Black, appearing in his 15th PBA Finals stint but first in more than a decade, also paid tribute to his players for displaying championship poise despite the Aces’ late-game charge.

“It’s good to be back in the championship, but it’s not just about me and the coaching staff. I have good players. They work hard in practice. Now our goal is to try to win it,” he added.

Black is in his first conference back since his last PBA tour of duty in 2002.

But his last Finals appearance came in the 2001 Governors Cup when he led Sta. Lucia to its breakthrough title behind Best Import Damian Owens.

Alapag wants quick kill

J

IMMY Alapag wants Talk ‘N Text to go for quick kill vs Rain or Shine “In terms of depth and teamwork, I think we’re similar,” Alapag said. “We’re going to have our hands full against Rain or Shine.”

While the Tropang Texters have been the undisputed rulers of the PBA — they are in their sixth finals appearance in the last seven conferences — the Elasto Painters are quickly making a case for themselves as a legitimate powerhouse.

“They proved that their finals entry last season was no fluke and they repeated against San Mig Coffee in their semis duel,” said Alapag.

The 2011 PBA Most Valuable Player said that against a younger opponent, Talk ‘N Text needs to grab the upper hand early.

“I hate to say it, but I will try to help my team to

win the series against Rain or Shine as quick as possible,” said Alapag, whose Tropang Texters are trying

to become the first team in PBA history to win three straight Philippine Cup titles.

If Jimmy lapag will have his way, he wants TNT to go for the quick kill.

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