Edge Davao 5 Issue 222

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

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Business permit renewals down

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

Suburbia

Sports

Page163 Page

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uSIneSS permits renewed for this period is lower compared to last year, but not alarming according to the Davao City Business Bureau.

Lawyer Tristan Dwight P. Domingo, at the city hall iSpeak press conference on January 10 said, “for the period of January 2 to January 10, compared to last year, last year had more business permits renewed.”

Partly attributed to the rainy weather which can make people a bit lazy

Gikapoy pa siguro sa bakasyon..

according to Domingo’s report, there were 14,193 business permits renewed from January 2 to January 10, 2012; for the same period this year, there were only 11,254.

FBUSINESS, 11

Page 13

ACCIDENT. Onlookers gather at the scene of a deadly road accident that left five people dead including a one-month-old baby in Los Amigos, Tugbok District Wednesday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Philhealth to increase contribution

By Che Palicte

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ohanna Blason, Social Insurance officer III of Philhealth, said in an interview yesterday that self-employed and voluntary individuals earning twenty-five thousand pesos (PhP25,000) and below per month are given an increase of 50 percent in their contributions up to December 31, 2013.

“The implementation of the 100 percent increase was supposed to be done last July 2012, but due to the request of different individuals and the calamities that happened, it was moved to January 2013 with only 50 percent as partial increase” Blason explained.

She added that self-employed individ-

uals under the Individually Paying Program shall pay the minimum annual premium contribution of one thousand eight hundred pesos (Pl,800.00) effective only from January to December 2013 provided that, self-employed professionals earning an average monthly income of more than

FPHILHEALTH, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

LGUs to get bigger IRA in 2013--DBM

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oCaL government units (LGu) will get a bigger share of internal revenue tax this year.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in a statement released Wednesday, said the Internal Revenue allotment (IRa) for this year jumped by 37.5% to P302.3 billion, up from P219.9 billion in 2012.

The increase is attributed to the higher internal revenue tax generated in 2010, which reached P822.6 billion. under Section 284 of the Local Government Code (LGC), LGus shall have a share of national revenue tax based on collections posted three years before the current fiscal year.

“The energetic revenue collection efforts that marked the beginning of the aquino administration helped generate higher

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revenues in 2010, which translates to higher budgetary support for our LGus this year,” Budget Secretary Florencio abad said. he added that with bigger IRa shares now available to LGus, they will have more legroom to boost their operational efficiencies and improve the delivery of key goods and services to the public.

For this year, the IRa is divided among 81 provinces, 143 cities, 1,479 municipalities and 41,889 barangays. newly created cities that are set to receive their IRa shares include Ilagan, Isabela; Mabalacat, Pampanga; and Cabuyao, Laguna. abad said the province of Dinagat Islands will also get its IRa share after the resolution of its legal status as a province. [Pna]

BUSINESS PERMIT. A staff of the Davao City Business Bureau carefully inspects the documents submitted by an applicant before issuing a business permit at Sangguniang Panlungsod building yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

City Vet office focuses on animal production

he office of the city veterinarian will be focusing on “animal production” in 2013 while rabies control continues.

This is according to Dr. Cerelyn B. Pinili, officer-in-charge of the City Veterinarian’s office in an interview.

The animal production program of the office for 2013 includes artificial insemination, boar semen extension, rehabilitation of animal production centers and the establishment of natural demo farming for goat and poultry. according to Pinili “the creation of natural demo farming will be helpful because there is a high demand for livestock which are naturally grown.” according to the initial accomplishment Report of the City Veterinarian’s office from January to november 2012, 117 heads of cattle and 707 heads of swine underwent artificial

insemination. while six sessions of trainings and seminars were conducted on artificial insemination.

Besides the animal production program, the Rabies Control Program is “on-going.”

Dr. Pinili said, “we aim to totally eradicate cases of rabies by year 2020 in line with the national order.”

“It is also an order of the mayor’s office to focus on the eradication of rabies cases,” she added. according to the initial accomplishment report of the city vets office, from the months of January to november 2012, 56,386 heads were vaccinated with anti-rabies, 394 sessions of information education campaigns conducted and 4,353 dogs impounded.

The report also shows achievements in the disease prevention control program to control the five

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

“priority diseases” which are hog cholera, hemorrhagic septicemia, avian pest, fallpax, and rabies.

To prevent the spread of hemorrhagic septicemia, according to the report, 13,090 cattle, goats and carabaos were vaccinated against it.

To prevent the spread of hog cholera, according to the report, 12,916 animals were vaccinated against it.

To prevent the spread of new Castle Disease, according to the report, 195,163 animals were vaccinated against avian pest.

To promote good health and increase production, according to the report, 40,560 animals were administered with dewormers and vitamins.

To enhance the farmers’ knowledge on good animal husbandry practices, 194 trainings and seminars on animal production and disease management were conducted.

VIOLATION. A motorcycle rider with children in tow obviously is violating numerous laws by not wearing prescribed helmets, overloading and cruising the highway against vehicular traffic flow in Dumoy, Talomo yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Para sure, ba

Prostituted women told to avail of health cards

By Che Palicte

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oBeRT oconer, environment and Sanitation Division chief of the City health office (Cho) yesterday said prostituted women should get health cards to ensure that their customers are safe from sexually transmitted diseases.

“We encourage them to get one, but we do not require it because there is no law obliging them to get a health card,” oconer said, adding that

their office continues its campaign for prostituted women to get a health card not only for the customer’s protection but for themselves too. he said that prostituted women are increasing in number and may be seen anywhere in the city and that it does make sense if they get a health card for protection. he said that there have been a lot of reports with regards to massage

2013 ARMM polls

parlors whose workers are engaging in sexual activities. The Cho has conducted inspections and investigations on suspected massage parlors and will close establishments that are proven positive for such sexual transactions. oconer assured that the City health office will continue to extend more effort in helping Dabawenyos on issues concerning health and sanitation.

Mangudadatu confident of winning as governor

By Anthony S. Allada

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oRMeR Governor Datu Pax Mangudadatu has expressed confidence that he would be making history by becoming the first regional governor of the autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (aRMM) who has no blessings from Malacañang. all past aRMM governors were the so-called “anointed ones” of the Palace and sure winners in regional elections.

But this time around,

Mangudadatu, who claims to gave championed not only the Muslims’ cause but also that of Christians in his province during his incumbency, would change the political landscape in aRMM and vowed to pursue the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for a lasting peace. on the other hand, former Rep. Mujiv hataman, who was appointed aRMM caretaker, was endorsed by Malacañang for regional gov-

ernor under the Liberal Party (LP) while another candidate, Prof. nur Misuari, also a former aRMM governor, is again seeking the post he held from 1996-2002. even without the blessing of the Palace, Mangudadatu said that there are influential political leaders who are behind his candidacy and this could be big factors for his winnability. he said he is making

F2013, 11

SUBURBIA 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

Entrapment operation against extortion gang ends in shootout; suspect killed a

n entrapment operation involving a supposed payment of extortion money in a restaurant in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province Wednesday noon ended in a shootout, killing the alleged extortionist and injuring a policeman.

Superintendent Rolen Balquin, provincial director of Sultan Kudarat police said that at around 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday, a joint police and army intelligence operation conducted an entrapment operation against an extortion group that was set to meet with representatives from the husky Bus Line at Mang Gorio Restaurant in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The extortionists, he said, were asking P1 million from the bus company.

“The operation resulted to gunbattle between the two suspects and our operatives after a commotion took place when the receiver of supposed extortion money resisted arrest. unknowingly, a backup companion fired his .45 caliber pistol hitting one of our policeman,”

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Superintendent Roel Sermese, police chief of Isulan town, said. Po2 adrian ong who was wounded in his stomach, is now in stable condition.

But one Saddam Sulaiman was killed in the exchange of fire while his companion Yasser Subho was arrested. a caliber.45 with several ammunitions and two hand grenades were confiscated from the suspects along with ID cards of the MILF Task Force Ittihad. The Task Force is a peacekeeping force of the MILF whose mandate is to resolve rido or blood feuds among members and supporters of the Front.

Balquin said they got from Subho’s possession an ID which states his affiliation with the MILF and the task force.

MILF spokesperson Von al haq told Mindanews the MILF “will conduct investigation to ferret out the veracity of the report, more particularly the affiliation of the suspect that would include the ID and other recovered items. husky Bus Inc, the lone bus line operating the

BUSINESS AND ADORATION. Vendors in Cagayan de Oro City enjoy brisk sales of icons of the Black Nazarene, the patron saint of Barangay Lapasan, on Jan. 8, 2012. On Jan. 9, 2012, the same day that devotees will hold the annual procession in honor of

the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, the parish church of Lapasanwill stage its own version of the annual religious festivity. [MindaNews/Froilan Gallardo]

Cotabato-Gensan route, has been receiving several extortion threats. a newly purchased unit of husky Bus was bombed on December 29, injuring six

named “ abu Sulayman” was apprehended by authorities after he was positively identified by witnesses to have planted an exploded IeD at the

persons.

In november 2012, a suspected bomber named abdul Rahman alyas Teng , who admitted he is member of an extortion group

PHO-Bukidnon eyes less maternal deaths in 2013

BM” was a 33year old mother from Dominorog village in Talakag town, Bukidnon who died last year after giving birth for lack of prenatal care.

In 2011, she was warned by doctors at the northern Mindanao Medical Center to space pregnancy or risk complications after giving birth to a stillborn baby.

She was one of the 27 mothers reported to have died from causes related to maternity in Bukidnon last year, Dr. Teresita Damasco, provincial health officer, said.

“We are working hard to cut it (maternal deaths) down, if possible to half,” she added. according to the Provincial health office (Pho), the staff at the Talakag Municipal health office advised eBM in 2011 to visit the health center. Later, they said, they could no longer locate her.

They believed that her husband was either unaware or unconcerned about his wife’s condition.

The family has moved to a house in a remote location.

So when she got pregnant again in 2012, she was not able to avail of prenatal

care. When she was due to give birth she sought medical attention in neighboring Pangantucan town, which meant walking several kilometers from their home.

The Municipal health office of Pangantucan referred her to the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center on June 2012.

She gave birth on June 11 at around 4:45 a.m. after a prolonged labor. But she died a little past noon of cardio-respiratory arrest with massive blood loss.

Gilda ajoc of the Pho’s Maternal and Child health Care unit said eBM avoided the Talakag health office be-

cause she knew she would be referred to the northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de oro. eBM went to Pangantucan, ajoc added, from where she was brought to the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center after her bleeding worsened.

The midwife in Pangantucan admitted that eMB never visited the health center.

“If she could have received prenatal attention, it could have helped her (go through her pregnancy and delivery),” ajoc said.

[Walter I. Balane/Mindanews]

he provincial government of Compostela Valley is fast tracking the repair of school buildings partially damaged by super typhoon Pablo late last year.

In a statement, Governor arturo “Chiongkee” uy said while waiting for the interventions that the Department of education (Deped) will carry out,

the local government unit (LGu) will already implement its own initiatives especially that education is a very important component for social and economic growth.

The provincial government said that hundreds of classrooms were partially damaged, affecting thousands of students. as of December 18

last year, the province recorded a total of 83 affected schools and 725 classrooms in its 11 municipalities.

The governor said by time classes start in June this year, all classrooms have already been rebuilt. apart from repairing the partially damaged classrooms, the provincial government has like-

wise restored some of the partially damaged houses and installed hundreds of Shelter Boxes for those victims whose houses were totally destroyed.

To date, the provincial employees have already repaired 214 houses in the municipality of new Bataan under its operation Repair Bahay project.

[Pna]

ComVal to fast track repair of damaged school buildings T

crossing of Tacurong Gensan highway and City Terminal road. [Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/Mindanews with a report from Malu Cadelina-Manar]

State of calamity declared in one GenSan barangay

o

FFICIaLS declared a village in General Santos City under a state of calamity due to the severe floods affecting some 600 families. armando Diamante, chair of the flood-hit Barangay Baluan, on Thursday said they issued the calamity declaration to facilitate the release of their calamity funds and the implementation of rehabilitation initiatives within the affected areas.

The declaration was made through Resolution 001 passed by the Baluan Barangay Council on Wednesday.

Citing results of its initial assessment, the council noted in the resolution that the floods ravaged almost the entire barangay, damaging farm-to-market roads and farmlands.

Knee-deep floodwaters swept Barangay Baluan and portions of nearby barangays Lagao and Bula due to the swelling of the Baluan creek and several other waterways following hours of heavy rains on Sunday afternoon.

Intermittent rains continued almost nonstop in the area until Tuesday due to a Low Pressure area (LPa) and an embedded Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao.

The council said the floods submerged residential communities inPuroks Tahimik, Pagkakaisa, San Francisco, Masagana, San Vicente, San Jose, Lower San Isidro, upper San Isidro, Sarif Mucsin and Mapagmahal.

It said the calamity so far affected a total of 601 families and destroyed an estimated 50 hectares of farmlands planted with palay and other agricultural crops. around 10 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in the area also sustained various damages, the Baluan barangay council said in its resolution.

Classes at the Baluan elementary School have remained suspended since Monday after some of its classrooms were also submerged by floodwaters.

The council asked the city government, through Mayor Darlene antonino-Custodio, and other concerned agencies to immediately extend the necessary assistance to the victims.

Diamante said the floods have so far subsided in some portions of the village due to the clearing of the clogged portions of the Baluan Creek. (allen V. estabillo/ Mindanews)

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Shark embryos ‘freeze’ to evade predators B

aMBoo shark embryos developing in egg cases stay still to evade predators, scientists say. australian researchers found that the embryos could identify electric fields simulating a nearby predator, despite being confined to a tiny egg case. on sensing danger, they “froze” and temporarily stopped breathing to avoid being detected.

Sharks use jelly-filled pores on their heads called electroreceptors to recognise other animals.

These highly sensitive receptors enable sharks to locate prey, predators or potential mates from minute bioelectric fields.

The study, by scientists from the university of Western australia, Crawley, near Perth, suggests brownbanded bamboo shark(Chiloscyllium punctatum) embryos are able to employ similar methods to detect predators. “embryonic sharks are able to recognise dangerous stimuli and react with an innate avoidance response,” explained Ryan Kempster, a shark biologist and member of the research team.

The team’s findings

are published in the journalPLoS one.

Brownbanded bamboo sharks grow up to 1.2m (3.9ft) in length and are found in the Indo-West Pacific region as well as coastal areas of northern australia and southern new Guinea. embryos of some shark species are deposited in leathery egg cases to develop independently of the mother. This renders them vulnerable to predators such as other sharks and marine mammals. as the embryo grows the seal of the egg case begins to open. This means predators are able to detect sensory cues given off by the embryo’s movements inside the case.

“This is the first study that shows a shark embryo’s ability to detect and ‘hide’ from a predator by staying completely still and stopping its breathing,” said Mr Kempster.

By simulating the electric fields given off by predators in a water-filled test tank, the team found the embryonic sharks responded by stopping movement of their gills and staying very still. and if the embryos continued to be exposed

to these electric fields when they needed to start breathing again, they did so at a reduced rate of movement of their gills, suggesting they were “hiding” from the perceived predator.

Shark-repellent potential The scientists had predicted that the embryos would demonstrate a response to predator-like stimuli but were surprised by further

findings.

The embryos also displayed an ability to “recognise” previous stimuli when exposed to the electric fields, and accordingly “[reduced] their future responses when repeatedly exposed,” explained Mr Kempster.

“This means that sharks may become conditioned to current repellent devices if the signals that these devices produce do not change sub-

stantially over time,” he commented.

Mr Kempster, who also founded shark conservation group Support our Sharks, said the results of the study may provide “a stepping stone” to producing more effective shark repellents.

The organisation aims to save sharks from being killed as by-catch in fishing nets and as a pre-emptive way of pro-

tecting human swimmers from potential attacks. he said he hoped to test the study’s findings on larger adult sharks to see how the results may be used for the development of such repellents. he added: “It is my goal to show the world that there is more to sharks than just a sharp row of teeth, and that we have so much more to learn from these amazing animals.” [BBC nature]

S much as half of the world’s food, amounting to two billion tons worth, is wasted, a uK-based report has claimed.

The Institution of Mechanical engineers said the waste was being caused by poor storage, strict sell-by dates, bulk offers and consumer fussiness.

The study also found that up to 30% of vegetables in the uK were not harvested because of their physical appearance.

The institution’s Dr Tim Fox said the level of waste was “staggering”.

‘Waste of resources’ The report said that between 30% and 50% of the four billion tonnes of food produced around the world each year went to waste.

It suggested that half the food bought in europe and the uS was thrown away.

Dr Fox, head of energy and environment at the Institution of Mechanical engineers, said: “The amount of food wasted and lost around the world is staggering. This is food that could be used to feed the world’s growing population - as well as those in hunger today.

“It is also an unnecessary waste of the land, water and energy resources that were used in the pro-

duction, processing and distribution of this food.

“The reasons for this situation range from poor engineering and agricultural practices, inadequate transport and storage infrastructure through to supermarkets demanding cosmetically perfect foodstuffs and encouraging consumers to overbuy through buy-one-get-onefree offers.” and he told the BBC’s Today programme: “If you’re in the developing world, then the losses are in the early part of the food supply chain, so between the field and the marketplace.

“In the mature, developed economies the waste is really down to poor marketing practices and consumer behaviour.”

The report - Global Food; Waste not, Want not - also found that huge amounts of water, totalling 550 billion cubic metres, were being used to grow crops that were never eaten.

The institution said the demand for water for food production could reach 10 to 13 trillion cubic metres a year by 2050.

The united nations predicts there will be an extra three billion mouths to feed by 2075 as the global population swells to 9.5 billion. [BBC nature]

DENR eyes more collaboration a on invasive alien species

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he environment department will step up its collaboration with other agencies to help better address escalating onslaught of invasive alien species in the country.

“Department of environment and natural Resources isn’t capable of managing IaS alone, so cooperation among different agencies is needed,” said environment undersecretary ernesto adobo Jr. IaS are plant and animal species intentionally or unintentionally introduced into areas where these don’t naturally occur.

Such species are dreaded for being threats to the environment, human well-being and the economy.

‘Buyo-buyo’ (scientific name: Piper aduncum) is one IaS which authorities observed has been spreading across the country.

They describe ‘buyobuyo’ as a highly aggressive plant linked to degradation of natural forests.

“That specie is becoming dominant in South Cotabato province’s allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve and is already spreading to Bukidnon, Samar, Leyte, antique, Davao del Sur and

Surigao del Sur provinces last year, we also saw some in Cebu,” said Dr. Carmelita Villamor, ecosystems Research and Development Bureau science research specialist. adobo noted the tourism and transportation departments are particularly vital in helping address the IaS problem.

“Cooperation of both agencies is integral in limiting introduction and spread of IaS through tourism and transport networks,” he said. he also said the science department and Bureau of Plant Industry are needed in IaS research and in preventing entry of invasive flora into the country, respectively.

“Bureau of Fisheries and aquatic Resources, on the other hand, is essential in preventing introduction of invasive aquatic species in our rivers and seas,” he continued.

DenR earlier identified the common carp fish, golden apple snail, asiatic painted frog, asian house rat as well as water hyacinth and ‘makahiya’ plants as among IaS that are already widespread in the Philippines.

IaS found in the country also include the janitor fish, clown knife fish, Jaguar guapote fish, Polynesian rat, Chinese softshelled turtle and the lantana plant, DenR noted.

Several groups already commenced using water hyacinth as material for handmade products.

Some enterprising fisherfolk also earlier attempted drying and selling guapote as they reported onslaught of that fish in Taal Lake reduced availability of commercial fishery species there, jeopardizing their catch and income.

Guapote sightings were initially reported in 2003, noted DenR. university of the Philippines-Los Banos School of environmental Science and Management Dean Dr. Leonardo Florece is particularly concerned about IaS’ invasion of local waters.

“I believe that’s more difficult to control,” he said. he’s supporting government’s bid to address the IaS problem, wary about invasive species’ impact on the natural ecosystem.

This week, authorities launched in Metro Manila

a pilot undertaking that’ll seek to control spread of ‘buyo-buyo.’ authorities will conduct the undertaking in aVWFR. Such undertaking is among activities under the uSD6.84 million ‘Removing Barriers to Invasive Species Management in Production & Protection Forests in Southeast asia’ regional IaS project covering Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Global environment Facility and other institutions are funding the project to help enhance such countries’ capacity to manage IaS, particularly those in forest ecosystems.

DenR serves as the project’s national executing agency in the Philippines. adobo assured DenR’s coordination with its colleagues in the project.

“Cross-sectoral partnerships are needed at the national, regional and global levels to adequately prevent and combat IaS,” he said. he also said the Philippines must cooperate with its neighbors on sharing information and management of IaS that are common to these nations. [Pna]

Half of all food ‘wasted’

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

Customs bureau inutile

THE ECONOMY 5

Fails to crack down on smuggling of rice, other agricultural products B

aYan Muna representative Teddy Casiño yesterday called on the aquino administration to “seriously address the call of local food and meat producers to stop the smuggling of rice and meat products into the country and to stop the preferential treatment to a foreign-owned agribusiness giant that would snuff the life out of Filipino hog and poultry industries.”

“Considering that rice smuggling has exploded under Pres. aquino’s watch with rice smuggling estimates at over P16.6 billion, it is imperative that the frontline government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs should attend to this. What we see is a pittance of apprehensions of smuggled rice that is hurting our farmers, rice millers and the general public,” Casiño said.

“It is never good for a rice-producing country like ours to be flooded by Vietnamese, Indian, Thai and Chinese rice. In fact, we have yet to see Customs official statistics on the long-standing problem of smuggling of rice, onions, vegetables, pork, chicken,

corn and other agri products,” he added.

While the Customs bureau has identified the ports of Cebu and Davao as entry points of shipments of rice that are misdeclared, there have been no major significant seizures outside of the P450 million Indian white rice shipment at the Subic Bay Freeport last year and the 94,000 bags of Vietnam rice confiscated in Legazpi, albay.

“Government claims that it has drastically reduced the rice importation levels from 2.5 million metric tons in 2010 to 500,000 metric tons in 2012 is negated by rice smuggling that apparently picked up in the same period. It shows that government actions or inactions on smuggling have long been hurting local businesses,” Casiño said.

Casiño also pledged his party’s support to tomorrow’s multisectoral agricultural summit in San Juan City that is calling for the cancellation of the government grant of incentives and tax breaks to Charoen Pokphand Food Corporation, a foreign-owned agribusiness corporation.

BUSINESS PERMIT. Atty. Tristan Dwight Domingo, officer in charge of the Davao City Business Bureau (right), says that there’s an increase in business permit renewal this year compared to the previous years during I-Speak media forum at City Hall yes-

“The Makabayan Coalition joins the summit, our colleagues in Congress from the party-lists abono and

aGaP, and the various agriculture industry associations in calling for a stop to the government’s preferential treatment to Thai

terday. At left is DesiderioCloribel, action officer of the Traffic Management Center (TMC). Lean Daval Jr.

firm Charoen Pokphand Food Philippines Corp.

(CPFPC). The 6-15 year holiday on taxes and import duties granted by the

Board of Investments (BoI) at the minimum undermines our national sovereignty and food security,” Casiño said.

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch To expand economic cooperation

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

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

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

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

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

Japan eyes more nurses, caregivers V

ISITInG Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday announced that Japan will be accepting more Filipino nurses and caregivers as part of Manila and Tokyo’s efforts to expand bilateral economic cooperation. “on the economic front, we agreed to advance cooperation in…accepting Filipino nurses and caregivers in Japan,” Fishida said in his remarks at the Department of Foreign affairs (DFa) following his bilateral meeting with Philippine counterpart albert del Rosario.

Fishida did not give further details but Foreign affairs spokesman Raul hernandez, in a

separate interview, said the new initiative is expected to “hasten the employment of nurses and caregivers in Japan.”

“Details on this are still being discussed,” hernandez told reporters.

Since the Philippines started deploying health workers to Japan in 2009 under the Japan-Philippine economic Partnership agreement, only 15 nurses and one caregiver have passed the stringent Japanese licensure exams out of 237 Filipino nurses and 396 caregivers who have undergone training in Japan.

Japan has vowed to take steps to improve the employment

IN DEMAND. Ride Ur Lane owners Joey Daclison, right, and GamalielSalip arrange the helmets on display at their establishment along Ponciano Reyes Street yesterday. Due to the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2010, which requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets with International

scheme for foreign health workers to attract more Filipinos in seeking employment opportunities in Japan.

The Japanese government said it has introduced “improvements” in the licensure exams by incorporating english medical terms and using simpler Japanese words to make it “more passable” for foreign applicants.

Japan modified the content of its exam last 2010.

Those who will fail the licensure tests in Japan can only retake the exam within their prescribed period of stay in Japan.

If after several tries they still fail the examination, they would have to return to the Philippines

and re-apply again for training until they become qualified and licensed health workers in Japan. apart from a six-month paid language training, Filipino nurses and caregivers subsequently work in Japanese hospitals and caregiving facilities, for three years and four years, respectively, to familiarize themselves with the Japanese healthcare system.

During that time, nurses undergoing work-training receive an average monthly salary of 130,000 yen to 220,000 yen or roughly P66,000 and P113,000 in local currency. For caregivers, the monthly wage ranges from 125,000 yen to 185,000 yen or P64,000 and P95,000. [Pna]

Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers, a sudden increase in demand caused a shortage of supply of helmet in the market. Lean Daval Jr.

BI posts 14% rise in 2012 income T he Bureau of Immigration (BI) has raised more than P2.7 billion for the government in 2012 as it reported that its revenue last year shot up by more than 14 percent compared to 2011.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. disclosed that the bureau’s collection last year totaled P2.728 billion, which is P393-million higher than the P2.334 billion the agency earned a year ago.

David also said that the BI overshot its P2.5-billion income target last year by almost

five percent or more than P114 million.

The BI chief attributed the sharp rise in income to the large number of foreigners who entered the country last year. he said that although the bulk of the aliens were tourists, many of them opted to apply for the various immigrant and non-immigrant visas with the BI such as the expatriates, students and those married to Filipinos. “our collection from immigration fees is steadily rising and that again indicates that

the Philippines is fast emerging as a favored tourist and investment destination in the asia-Pacific,” David said. he added that he has consistently instructed bureau’s officials that “all fees due the government should be collected, receipted and accounted for.”

David said he expects the BI to further boost its revenue collection this year as several programs designed to encourage overstaying aliens to legalize their stay will be implemented.

according to BI finance chief elvira Presado, the bureau’s collection last year averaged more than P200 million a month, except in February when the income was P193 million.

Presado said the bureau’s income was highest last January when the collection amounted to P261 million.

She added that P1.77 billion of last year’s income was collected at the BI head office in Manila while the P956 million was remitted by the different immigration field offices nationwide. [Pna]

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 09:05 13:25 14:05

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

MI588 / MI588 MI566 / MI566 MI551 / MI551 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 18:55 15:45 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

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

13:35 15:20 12:05 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

SENSE MOTORING EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013 COMMUNITY

7

Hedcor reaches out to orphans and children with cancer F

oR the second year running, hedcor and the aboitiz Foundation distributed gifts to children with cancer at the house of hope in the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The gifts consisted of toys, books and other essential items. “The gifts give the kids a reason to smile,” said hedcor’s Rolando Pacquiao. hedcor also distributed gifts to children at three other orphanages, namely, the Field of Dreams and the haven of hope orphanages in Davao and the DSWD’s Reception and Studies Center for Children, an orphanage in Benguet. other than bestowing presents, members of the company’s Labor-Management Council also gave time to sing, read

stories and play games with the children.

“It was a wonderful feeling to spend time with the children,” added Pacquiao. aside from helping its host communities, hedcor has also gives to worthy causes like the orphanages and institutions for child cancer. Last year, the company also distributed gifts and gave support to the Green Meadows home for the aged at Riverside Calinan, Davao City. hedcor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of aboitizPower, specializing in run-of-river hydropower generation.

The company generates a total of 155 MW of clean and renewable energy through its 19 run-ofriver hydropower plants across the country.

installs disaster action Seeds of hope for Compostela DSWD teams, deploys enumerators Valley farmers spread T

o

n its move towards normalization, Compostela Valley, a basically agriculture-based province, is determined to rise up from the mess done by Typhoon Pablo particularly on agriculture industry.

With the Department of agriculture (Da) as the main partner in the

recovery, there are various agri-interventions to the affected farmers like the on-going distribution of certified rice seeds, corn seeds and vegetable seeds. These are donated by the Da- XI and Da-XII. other assistance in the form of equipment such as farm tractors for land preparation and power tiller/ floating

As one of the 5-hard hit Municipalities of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley, affecting all the 16 Barangays and 22,734 families, the people of Compostela are very grateful to all the donors and sponsors. On December 27, 2012 - Korean Food For

OPEN HAPPINESS. Team members from hydropower developer Hedcor distribute gifts to children with cancer at the House of Hope in the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

tiller for the preparation of rice paddies, and backhoe, dam trucks, stick truck, and technical working people to facilitate the clearing jobs of the rice and corn fields, and on the desilting of line canals are extended as part of the rehabilitation program.

Mechanization for coconut industry is also

worked out with 10 units of Chainsaw assigned per municipality.

These interventions are delivered through the Provincial agriculturist’s office with the Da as the lead national government agency and the Food and agriculture organization (Fao) as the international partner. [GRaCe aLMeDILLa, IDS-CoMVaL]

Hungry International (KFHI) responded through distributing 512 packs savory- 10 kilos and 15 packs savory blue- 10 kilos to the constituents of Barangay Bagongon.

[MIO-Compostela]

o monitor disaster relief operations at the local government level, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has installed provincial and municipal disaster operation teams in areas affected

by Typhoon Pablo.

“In carrying out their tasks, our teams will coordinate with the Provincial/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (P/ MDRRMC) and with the Incident Command Post in the respective local government units,” explains director Priscilla n. Razon of DSWD 11.

Provincial team leader identified for Compostela Valley is Raquel e. nunez, chief of policy and plans division; Davao oriental has Rebecca a. Santamaria, head of poverty reduction unit; and Davao Del norte has Ma. elena S. Labrador, chief of institutional development division.

Team leaders at the province are to ensure that food and non-food relief assistance are delivered according to the distribution plan and likewise ensure retrieval of the relief distribution sheets. They will also provide technical assistance to the municipal teams in the implementation of the Cash/ Food-For-Work Program, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Shelter assistance, Livelihood and other interventions

and services needed by the affected families and communities, Razon said. on the one hand, DSWD Municipal Disaster Teams shall undertake monitoring of disaster operations in the affected towns in coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development office and with other agencies involved.

Submission of duly accomplished Relief Distribution Sheets and periodic Disaster Monitoring operations Report also form part of the team’s responsibility, Razon added.

Meanwhile, the department has deployed 365 area supervisors and enumerators in all affected municipalities to administer Family Survey using the Disaster assistance Family access Card (DaFaC). This survey aims to validate status of the affected families and will serve as reference for provision of additional and appropriate intervention/s required per family.

In its continuing disaster relief operations, DSWD accepts Cash donations at the DSWD 11 Regular Trust Fund with DBP account no. 0915010155-030. Donors may also direct their donations to the DSWD XI Cashier’s office at R. Magsaysay ave., Davao City. For the 24/7 repacking of relief goods, DSWD needs volunteers at the Disaster Relief operations Center at the DPWh Depot in Panacan, Davao City. [DSWD]

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

What Islamic finance can offer ( 1st of two parts ) ANAlYSIS

T

EDITORIAL

Anti-RH as an intergenerational stand

D

on’T CounT out the anti-Reproductive health stand just yet.

The constitutionality of the controversial Rh Law signed by President aquino last December after heated deliberations in Congress was challenged before the Supreme Court recently by a lawyer-couple.

The case filed by James and Lovely Imbong on behalf of their minor children reminds us of a very significant case in Philippine jurisprudence which is the so-called intergenerational suit in the landmark case of oposa vs.

Factoran. In the oposa case, the legal challenge was filed by 44 children through their parents.

The two cases are not entirely the same in terms of legal arguments. But a quick revisit of the landmark oposa case will teach us some worthy insights.

The oposa case is one filed by a group of minor children who opposed the government’s deforestation program, claiming that they were bringing the case in the name of “their generation as well as those generations yet unborn.” It was filed against the Secretary of the Department of environment and natural Resources, seeking to have him cancel all the timber license agreements (TLas) in the country and to cease and desist from accepting and approving more timber license agreements. The children invoked their right to a balanced and healthful ecology and to protection by the State in its capacity as parens patriae. The petitioners claimed that the DenR Secretary’s refusal to cancel the TLas and to

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stop issuing them was “contrary to the highest law of humankind-- the natural law-- and violative of plaintiffs’ right to self-preservation and perpetuation.”

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners in the oposa case. In granting the petition, the high Court ruled that the children had the legal standing to file the case based on the concept of “intergenerational responsibility”. The tribunal emphasized that the right to a healthy environment carried with it an obligation to preserve that environment for the succeeding generations. now comes the Imbong case filed on behalf of their minor kids. It aims to stop the imposition of the Rh Law as it “mocks the nation’s Filipino culture—noble and lofty in its values and holdings on life, motherhood and family life—now the fragile lifeblood of a treasured culture that today stands solitary but proud in contrast to other nations.”

For now, the Imbong challenge will have to wait a while as deliberation on it was rescheduled by the Supreme Court. While the petition is yet to be tackled by the high tribunal, the anti-Rh stand drew strong support from the country’s newest Cardinal. Luis antonio Cardinal Tagle said the money that ought to be used for feeding Filipinos will be used for killing them with the Rh Law. Taken as a collective argument, the anti-Rh legal challenge has indeed the trappings of another intergenerational suit.

The question is, will the youth come out to carry on the fight?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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By Edward HadaS

he Islamic approach to finance was once the most advanced in the world. The period of pre-eminence ended six or seven centuries ago, but the religion’s fundamental insights into the field could help form a financial system suitable for the 21st century.

From the beginning, Muslim teaching took a religious view of commercial relations and responsibilities.

There are a few injunctions in the Koran and far more in the teachings traditionally attributed to Mohammad. I am not an expert, but the basic ideas seem clear enough: merchants should be fair, risks should be moderate and understood, and God condemns all rapacious financial practices.

During the first centuries of Islam, Muslims became great traders, providing an economic bridge between asia and europe. europeans adopted and then further developed the Islamic techniques of providing credit and of sharing responsibilities, risks and rewards. Christian thinkers continued the Islamic debate over what was fair and just, and church authorities copied the Islamic teachers’ practices, ruling on the legitimacy of transactions, and exhorting merchants and investors to restrain their greed. of course, those exhortations often fell on deaf ears. however, until well after the start of the Industrial Revolution few Muslims or Christians would have argued with the notions that trade should be just and finance should serve the common good.

Indeed, much of the Western world’s financial system looked more Islamic than hard-edged capitalist until about 30 years ago. The vast majority of banking assets in europe and a substantial minority in the united States were held by institutions which did not have profit-seeking shareholders. Rather, these mutuals, thrifts, savings banks, French caisses, co-operative banks, church banks and credit unions aimed first of all to serve their members and their communities. Insurance was also largely a mutual business.

Then came the era of demutualisation, when selfish profit-seeking became the norm. In the new era, the worst possible aspects of a financial system – greed, exploitation of the ignorant and excessive risk-taking – were allowed to run wild. Bankers became ridiculously rich while debts expanded at an unsustainable pace.

The free rein of financial selfishness ended in tears, as any traditional Islamic (or Christian) teacher would have predicted. unfortunately, contemporary Islamic efforts in finance were too influenced by the free-market model. Jurists and bankers worked together to design instruments, from mortgages to hedge funds, which would be both compliant with the jurists’ interpretation of sharia (Islamic law) and economically identical to conventional financial products.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

The nitty gritty still hides danger

ReLaTIVeLY STaBLe PeSo anD RISe In SToCK MaRKeT MaY noT Be SuSTaInaBLe – The country’s improving macroeconomic numbers began enticing punters back into the market. It was red flag for the bulls that sent the Philippine stock market index posting above 6,000 points – an all-time high and remarkable record.

Financial experts say the index improvement has now added substantial percentage in both the local currency and uS dollar terms from its lows of just two months ago. although the Philippine peso is relatively stable and the aquino administration’s performance has impressed somewhat, still we’re facing difficult conditions, noted some market researchers and analysts. They warned that while the country’s economy is improving, the nitty gritty still hides danger because the corporate outlook remains feeble.

The peso even at P40.80 something to the uS dollar is still a serious burden especially for companies with outstanding foreign debt.

The stock market may have hit an all-time best and the peso showing tremendous strength against the uS dollar and other foreign currencies, but many analysts caution that the current rally – which has seen the economic growth zooming at accelerating pace may not be sustainable. Local exporters in particular are the most directly affected by the peso’s appreciation. unfortunately for investors, that well-known fact has

already driven their profits downward.

Just like the investors, overseas Foreign Workers (oFWs) earned much of their revenues in dollars and are already seeing meager returns following the appreciation of the local currency. no country is safe neither is the Philippines – economically. Despite its reputation as one of Southeast asia’s fast-growing economy following the growth in stock markets and stable currency, the country has proven in recent months to be susceptible to the economic ills that have infected other regional economies.

Currencies in the asian region had been victimized by currency speculators and their stocks, too, have been skidding. one of the encouraging things that came about as a result of the recent appreciation of the peso was that the value of the other regional currencies; either fell along with the uS dollar or remained unchanged. From the point of view of an investor looking for a safe harbor, the country’s current economic climate would certainly help. at this stage, they saw there is no good justification for the peso’s decline – and they would expect it to hold up better. now, this dominant

question lingers: “What if other regional economies fall and will lead to much speculation about the fate of the Philippine peso, will the local currency devalues? Will it have some adverse effects on the country’s economy?”

Financial analysts and market researchers predict that the first effect is trade diversion. The Philippines competes with countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and, China above all, in labor-intensive goods. Devaluation in their currencies by 40% or more will definitely cause shifts in the sourcing by importers away from the Philippines to these competing nations.

Thus, the country would slowdown in its export growth in the coming years if its exchange rate remains the same. another effect is foreign investment diversion.

With a weaker currency, foreign investment that flows to the country is going to slowdown. however, with the exception of trade diversion, the overall effects are likely to be small.

Moreover, while the devaluation of the peso may restore competitiveness for some exports, although in the short run, it may also rekindle inflation in the country. People who are steering the wheels of power and its high-profile financial and economic managers therefore should always think of long-term plans, and the competitiveness issue should really be uppermost in their minds. attracting prospective investors must be a priority. as an old adage says, “strike while the iron is hot.”

Of personal guns and political liberty

P

IeRS Morgan is the most unlikely campaigning journalist. The smooth-faced Morgan, who arrived from Britain to replace Larry King as Cnn’s chief celebrity interviewer, can, if pushed, engage with serious guests on serious topics. But, as someone who cut his teeth writing showbiz tittle-tattle for Rupert Murdoch, he seemed more at ease pitching softball questions to boldfaced names plugging their latest products.

What a difference a massacre of children makes. after a frivolous november guest list that, despite the presidential election, included Mike Tyson, Kitty Kelley, oliver Stone and Tyler Perry, among other gossip column fodder, he turned to a subject that celebrity interviewers keep well away from because, even in the wake of another mass killing, it is so painfully pointless to raise: gun control. and in doing so, Morgan found his voice. americans have become so weary at the grip the nRa and other gun industry lobbyists have on the gun debate that the simple horror and amazement Morgan expressed on hearing of the Sandy hook bloodbath came as a refreshing surprise.

What sort of country, he asked, cannot defend its schoolchildren from mad people with automatic weapons? What has to be done to bring the repeated slaughter of innocents to an end?

For his pains, Morgan attracted a full magazine of gun nuts, including one alexander emerick “alex” Jones, a self-de-

( 1st of two parts ) OPINION

By nicHolaS wapSHott scribed libertarian, “paleoconservative” and “aggressive constitutionalist” who once ran as a Republican in Texas house District 48 (facing certain defeat, he withdrew before election Day). he believes George W. Bush was behind the September 11 attacks and Bill Clinton plotted the oklahoma City bombings. he was so incensed that Morgan dare use his First amendment rights to ask an awkward question about guns that he is demanding the president deport the chat show host for sedition. To find a more invidious example of muddle-headed, brazen hypocrisy, you have to go back to 2009, when anti-government Tea Party activists held up placards screaming “Government Keep Your hands off My Medicare.”

Being a good Fleet Street tabloid editor, Morgan promptly invited Jones to make his case on Piers Morgan Tonight.

The result was a priceless boost to the gun control lobby. Jones, who caused an altercation on his flight to new York by insisting he keep his shoes on going through security, arrived in a belligerent mood. a broadcaster in the hate-radio tradition of Father Charles Coughlin and Rush Limbaugh, Jones spouted a well-rehearsed recitation of petty grievances, conspiracy theories and wild claims. at one stage he even challenged Morgan to a

fistfight. Morgan, being a true Brit, kept a stiff upper lip throughout. You don’t have to be a trained psychoanalyst to recognize that Jones is suffering from deep-seated paranoia and anger management issues.

When rational people demand that gun purchasers be screened for mental illness, it is scary, aggressive oddballs like Jones they have in mind.

In the midst of his rant, Jones said, “The Second amendment isn’t there for duck hunting. It’s there to protect us from tyrannical government and street thugs.”

This is a recurring theme among those who believe the Founding Fathers intended to protect the owners of machine guns that would be more at home in helmland than in hartland, Connecticut. Wayne LaPierre, Ceo of the national Rifle association, who believes the remedy for massacres such as Sandy hook is an armed guard on every school gate, holds a similarly paranoid view of the government’s malign intentions. In 1995, on Meet the Press, shortly after anti-government militiamen bombed the Federal Building in oklahoma City, killing 168, including 19 children, LaPierre described FBI agents as “wearing nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms” who wanted to “attack law-abiding citizens.”

That candid outburst caused George h.W. Bush to renounce his nRa membership, and LaPierre has since been careful not to let slip his private feelings about the threat government poses to individual liberties.

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Pablo, climate change and banana production in the Davao region ( 1st of two parts ) COMMENTARY

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By Monica ortiz

YPhoon Pablo, an extreme climate event, showed the tight grip and control of weather and climate over agriculture, livelihood and socioeconomics.

It showed us, as it has in the past, that we are at the mercy of a tempestuous Mother earth.

Pablo caused enormous losses and damages in Mindanao. The banana plantations in the Davao region, particularly in Compostela Valley suffered greatly and bore nearly 8 billion pesos in economic losses. Initial images from the disaster-stricken areas showed broken banana plant trunks, flooded and waterlogged fields, and lost bunches, destroying any chances of yield recovery. exports to other countries could not be sustained because of the lack of supply.

Disasters have a tremendous impact on the banana industry: long-term droughts or el nino, extreme rainfall events, or large-scale outbreaks of pests or diseases can cause losses in yield and income for growers. The new threat is climate change, which international scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) believe may increase the frequency and severity of climate extremes.

Will climate change have adverse effects on banana production in the country? The Philippines is already the third most at-risk country in the world to disasters, according to the 2011 and 2012 World Risk Index report. The Philippines is a country particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Climate change, manifested in long-term and permanent increases in temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, and sea level rise may continue to spell ill effects on the banana industry. The potential impacts to banana, a staple economic and food crop for Filipino families, need to be better understood in the face of future changes.

Climate Change in the Philippines Climate change is predicted to bring an increase of temperatures and change in rainfall patterns. according to PaGaSa, annual mean temperatures in all areas in the Philippines are expected to rise by 0.9 °C to 1.1 °C in 2020 and by 1.8 °C to 2.2 °C in 2050. To put those numbers concretely, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in Los Banos, Laguna, reports that a 1 degree increase in temperature can reduce rice yields by up to 10%. In the Davao Region, temperatures will rise by about 1 degree between now and 2035, and up to 2.5 degrees above the average around 2050.

Rainfall will change particularly in the March, april and May months with reductions of up to 10% in the region before 2035 and 22% in 2050, while the June-august rainy months will get even more rain.

This means that while it is getting hotter, it may also be becoming drier, placing crops in stress. however in the rainy months, floods could also become more frequent.

The impacts of climate change are predicted to have severe impacts on agriculture and subsequently food security in the developing regions of the world. effects of changes on banana The banana has specific temperature ranges in the world where it can grow and it prefers warm climates with high annual rainfall. It usually grows in tropical areas where it is believed to have originated.

PaGaSa historical climate data shows that mean temperatures in the Davao Region have increased by at least 1 degree Celsius since 1951. The average temperature in Davao City in 2010 was 28.3°C. While this falls within the optimum range for banana growing which is between 22 and 30 degrees or around 27°C, climate change is pushing temperatures closer to the upper limits of growing. Because banana grows in a specific range, temperature increases beyond 30°C mean that production may suffer because of heat stress on the plants, which lowers yield. high temperatures can also cause bad affects on banana quality and appearance, which is important for export bananas.

10 NATION/WORlD NATION BRIEFS ‘Amalayer’ girl bounces back with new viral video T

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Axed

he irate professor shown in a video that has recently gone viral online had been removed from his post, an education official said. narciso Varona, who was seen berating and even hitting students, no longer teaches in the Pasay branch of Montessori Professional College International Dec. 22, Technical education and Skills Development authority (TeSDa) Public Information Director Marta hernandez said.

No whitewash

P

resident Benigno S. aquino III has assigned the national Bureau of Investigation (nBI) as the sole government agency to investigate the deadly shootout in Quezon that left 13 people dead and vowed “no whitewash” in the probe, Malacañang said yesterday afternoon.

Presidential spokesman edwin Lacierda said the Philippine national Police (PnP) will continue its fact-finding with respect to the firearms and vehicles and then submit its findings to the nBI.

Exemptionl

P

resident Benigno aquino III has applied for a personal exemption from the gun ban during the election period, a Commission on elections official said Thursday.

Commissioner elias Yusoph, head of the poll body’s gun ban committee, confirmed that aquino, a known gun enthusiast, filed his application Thursday morning. “Just this morning, I received his application for gun ban exemption. I do not know his reasons but we just received his application.”

J

Stronger ties

apanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called Thursday for stronger ties with the Philippines to help ensure regional peace, amid tense territorial disputes by both countries with a rising China.

In his first foreign trip as top diplomat since last month’s election of hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo abe, Kishida said such cooperation was dictated by big changes in the region’s security equation, though he did not elaborate.

T

o

nCe the object of online criticism for a video which showed her berating a security guard, “amalayer Girl” Paula Jamie Salvosa is now back on netizens’ radar.

Salvosa is now featured in another viral video, which rides on the global popularity of pop hit “Gangnam Style” to highlight Pinoy pride.

The video entitled “opo Pinoy Style” was produced by headingup Productions and Filipino-Canadian artist Mikey Bustos.

Viewed nearly 800,000 times as of writing since it was posted Jan. 4, the video underscores Pinoy tourist spots, food, traditions and even idiosyncracies. “opo”, the Filipino way of saying yes respectfully or when addressing elders, replaces “oppa” in the Psy’s original video, which means “older brother” in Korean.

Salvosa, who now ap-

Paula Jamie Salvosa, who once drew online flak for berating a security guard, is now featured in another viral video, which rides on the global popularity of pop hit ‘Gangnam Style’ to highlight Pinoy pride. [Photo screengrabbed from YouTube video]

parently has embraced online fame, appears in the video mouthing “amalayer,” a term coined when her video spread like wildfire online in november.

It is pejorative of Salvosa’s manner of saying “I’m a liar” as she hit a lady guard in one of the metro train stations. “#amalayer” has been used as a hashtag on Twitter as Salvosa’s video

drew flak from netizens.

Salvosa has since explained in broadcast interviews that she had been provoked by the lady guard who inappropriately told her off for skipping security checks.

Several parodies, particularly impersonations, of Salvosa’s video have also been produced and posted online.

References to the incident have also been

turned into scenes in television shows and even the comedy film “Sisterakas.”

Salvosa has earlier cried foul for a flood of criticims thrown against her, which she said was tantamount to cyberbullying.

The incident, meanwhile, prompted train authorities to issue a statement asking passengers to bear with security procedures. [Yahoo!]

29, two weeks after being beaten and raped on a moving bus in new Delhi, then thrown bleeding onto the street. nationwide protests followed against the government’s perceived failure to stem rising violence against women. one of the men, Mukesh Singh, the brother of a bus driver who police say was the leader of the gang, will base his defence on police brutality, his lawyer said.

“Mukesh was illegally tortured in the custody of the police,” said the lawyer,

Manohar Lal Sharma.

The five face charges of murder, gang rape and abduction, prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. a sixth suspect is being investigated separately to determine if he is below the age of 18, as he says he is.

The case has shone a light on a widespread problem of violence against women but also the failure of the criminal justice system to bring the guilty to justice in a country where official statistics

show a rape is reported every 20 minutes.

The bus driver and alleged gang leader Ram Singh said he was innocent during a two-hour meeting with his lawyer, V.K. anand, in Delhi’s Tihar jail, the lawyer said.

Two other accused, gym assistant Vinay Sharma and bus cleaner akshay Kumar Singh, say they were falsely implicated, said their lawyer, a.P. Singh.

“I will ... prove their innocence,” the lawyer said after the hearing. [Reuters]

Delhi gang rape accused says police tortured him

o

ne of the five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman said police tortured him in custody and he and at least three of his co-defendants say they are innocent, lawyers said on Thursday.

The five accused arrived in court for a closed hearing with their faces covered by scarves, and accompanied for the first time by defence lawyers.

The physiotherapy student died on December

No TRO

he Court of appeals Thursday did not issue a temporary restraining order after oral arguments on the petition of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia seeking to stop the six-month suspension imposed against her.

The oral arguments were conducted at the Ca 12th Division handled by associate Justices Vicente Veloso, aurora Jane Lantion and eduardo Peralta.

Veloso said that Garcia’s camp should have filed a “petition for certiorari” and not a petition for TRo and injunction.

WORLD TODAy

T

a

Resumed

weekly Chinese newspaper at the centre of anti-censorship protests appeared on newsstands on Thursday as a newsroom strike ended amid fresh calls for the Communist Party leadership to loosen its grip on the media.

The strike at the Southern Weekly in affluent Guangdong province came after censors watered down a page-two editorial in the new Year edition.

Calls for China to enshrine constitutional rights were replaced with comments praising one-party rule.

S

Warned

yrian President Bashar al-assad’s intransigence and brutality mean there is a serious risk violence in Syria will worsen, and if so the international community must “step up” its response, British Foreign Secretary William hague said on Thursday.

“President assad’s speech last week urged the Syrian people to unite in a war against his opponents.

Given the regime’s intransigence and brutality, there is a serious risk that the violence will indeed worsen in the coming months,” hague told parliament.

G

Urged

oogle chairman eric Schmidt told north Korea it will not develop unless it embraces Internet freedom, he said on Thursday as he returned from a controversial visit to the communist state with uS politician Bill Richardson.

Richardson, the former uS ambassador to the united nations who led the trip, said he called on Pyongyang to adopt a moratorium on ballistic missiles and nuclear tests following the its widely criticised rocket launch last month.

a

A policeman keeps guard outside a court in New Delhi January 7, 2013. [REUTERS]

Shot dead

hree Kurdish women, said to include a founding member of the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), were shot dead overnight Thursday in Paris in what France’s interior minister dubbed an “assassination”.

The women were found in the early hours with gunshot wounds to the head and neck inside a Kurdish information centre in the 10th district of the French capital, police and the centre’s director said.

Persecuted

bout 100 million Christians are persecuted around the world, with conditions worsening for them most rapidly in Syria and ethiopia, according to an annual report by a group supporting oppressed Christians worldwide. open Doors, a non-denominational Christian group, listed north Korea, Saudi arabia and afghanistan as the three toughest countries for Christians last year. They topped the 50-country ranking for 2011 as well.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

Pacific Ocean LPA dissipates, but Mindanao rains continue

T

he low pressure area (LPa) recently spotted off the Pacific ocean has dissipated while the other LPa near the Philippine area of Responsibility continues to affect Mindanao, the state weather bureau said.

Philippine atmospheric, Geophysical and astronomical Services administration (PaGaSa) Forecaster arvin Bordon said that as of 8 a.m.

Thursday, the first LPa which re-entered and exited again was spotted at 480 km southeast of General Santos City (3.4°n,

Business...

128.0°e) embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. “nasa labas ito ng PaR line pero patuloy pa rin ito nakakaapekto sa Mindanao,” he said.

Bordon said the weather disturbance is unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone but the agency continues to monitor it. he said its formation has started to disorganize and its clouds will likely merge with the ITCZ. however, Bordon said the LPa is still expect-

ed to bring cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains over Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. he said that some parts of Visayas including province of Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao will experience moderate to heavy rains which also threatens of trigger flashfloods and landslides because of the extension of the LPa’s trough to this region.

Residents in these areas are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures, he added. [Pna]

going to nCCC mall to renew their business permit which shows that our one-stop-shop at nCCC is getting the confidence of the people who are seeking to renew their business permits.”

Regarding the attitude problem that the Business Bureau employees have, he said, “the people who usually get into quarrel with our employees are the bookkeepers who cut lines or get multiple numbers.” he then challenged these people to “be fair to those who come from far-flung areas to renew their business permits personally so that they can also be entertained.” he also addressed the problem of sons, relatives and liaison officers of business owners

who were not allowed to renew their business permit because they did not have special power of attorney (SPa)coming from the owners.

Domingo reminded them, “it is important to have complete documentations, including SPa if you are not the owner of the business, because this way, we can be able to avoid cases of fixers and runners.” he also reminded people who seek to renew their business permit that they can transact during weekends at the Sanguniang Panlungsod or at nCCC mall, “because it is less busy during these days.”

Finally, he was optimistic saying, “if the flow continues and the businessmen cooperate we will still be able to hit the 90 percent mark for business renewal.”

such as: (1) primary care benefits 1 (PCB1) package,which entitles members to basic, quality health care services through accredited public health care providers nationwide, (2) animal bite treatment package, which defrays the cost of postexposure prophylaxis (PeP) treatment which will be given three thousand pesos (P3,000) for the treatment and (3)‘Z benefit’, thenewest package of benefits that primarily addresses catastrophic cases such as acute lymphocytic leukemia (aLL) who will be given two hundred ten thousand pesos for treat-

ment (P210,000), breast cancercases can avail one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) , prostate cancer cases can avail one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) for treatment and kidney transplant amounting to six hundred thousand pesos (P600,000).

Blason said Philhealth is gearing to an all case rates policy before the end of the year and the “no Balance billing (nBB)” policy now called “Sapat na’ was introduced and adopted for the most common medical and surgical conditions which will benefit the less privileged members.

FFROM 1

however, Domingo said, “there is no need to be alarmed as the decline in number may be due to the rainy weather which can make people a bit lazy.” he also attributed the decline to the new requirement which is to submit a certified list of employees which business owners are currently complying with. he also said that there are complaints from businessmen on the passing of certified list of employees because it adds more time to the filing for renewal of business permits. he requests businessmen to be patient, “as this is required by the internal revenue code which is under oath.”

Domingo also pointed out “it is good that there are more people

Panabo...

FFROM 1

twenty five thousand pesos (P25,ooo.oo) shall pay their annual premium contribution in the amount of three thousand six hundred pesos (P3,600.00). overseas Workers under the overseas Workers Program shall pay the minimum annual premium contribution of one Thousand Two hundred Pesos (PhPl,200.00) which is effective since January 2012 up to December 2013 only.

Blason added that Philhealth is enhancing the benefits for this year. They have applied programs for Philhealth beneficiaries

Legarda warns of less rice

By ChePalicte

“F

ILIPInoS should take immediate action in adapting to the changing climate and prepare themselves for meals with no rice,” Senator Loren Legarda said last Wednesday at a media forum at The Marco Polo Davao.

Legarda said that she is aware that Filipinos are rice-loving citizens and it’s hard for them to resist eating it than other foods. She was concerned of rice production which was greatly affected by the global climate change.

She added that President had declared 2013 as national Year of Rice, and the government’s efforts to achieve rice suf-

ficiency should include programs that would address the agriculture sector’s vulnerability to the changing climate.

The senator noted a 2009 study by asian Development Bank that rice yield in the Philippines can decline by 75 percent in 2100 with the lack of climate change adaptation programs.

Legarda said that such scenario is not impossible because typhoons, floods and droughts from 1970 to 1990 resulted in an 82.

4 percent loss in Philippine rice production and the el niño drought from 1990 to 2003 caused 370 million dollars damage in agriculture.

Legarda added that

the past two typhoons have already brought massive damage to agriculture. Typhoon Pablo caused P26.5 billion worth of damage and an estimated agricultural damage by typhoon Quinta is P146.8 million.

She said the country’s agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructures, improved water governance, land use policies and forecasting tools, assistance to farmers to achieve economic diversification and, lastly, to access credit and crop insurance to make significant improvements in the country’s food security goals.

to share recognition of the situation, enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries, and cooperate towards shaping peaceful and prosperous asia- Pacific region,” visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a news briefing at the Dept. of Foreign affairs.

Del Rosario said Japan is considering Manila’s request for 10 patrol craft called multi-role response vessels equipped with communications system.

Five of the vessels are planned to be built in the Philippines and the other five in Japan. Completion of delivery and turnover are expected within 18 months, Del Rosario said.

Recent incidents in the resource-rich South China Sea, wherein the Philippines and Vietnam have jointly accused China of incursions in violation of international laws, have re-ignited tensions in the area believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.

The strategically located waters are also claimed

in part or in whole by Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

In their meeting, Del Rosario said he and Kishida talked about the “challenges” that their two countries appear to be facing “in view of the assertions being made by China.”

“I think there’s a mutual agreement that we should pursue peaceful resolution to these disputes and we’re trying to find out what the right formulation is,” Del Rosario told a news conference.

Many have feared the conflicts could be asia’s next flashpoint.

To assert its claim, Beijing has established a new city called Sansha under its southern hainan province to politically administer its claimed territories in the disputed waters, including areas within Philippine sovereignty.

Then in november, China came up with an enforcement law wherein Chinese authorities can interdict foreign vessels that would enter within 12 nautical miles of hainan province. [Pna]

vote-rich provinces.

Political analysts say there is a good chance of winning if a candidate has bailiwicks in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. Mangudadatu earlier transferred his voter’s registration to Buluan, Maguindanao in preparation for his candidacy and those running for elective posts in the

province chose him to be their aRMM gubernatorial aspirant. he is reported to enjoy the support of both of his nephew, Maguindanao Governor esmael Mangudadatu, and his political rival, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tocao Mastura and the rest of mayoral candidates in the province. [anthony S. allada]

PHL, Japan discuss respective territorial rows with China

F

oReIGn Secretary albert del Rosario and his Japanese counterpart Thursday discussed their countries’ respective territorial disputes with China, with the Philippines seeking patrols ships and a communications system to enable its coast guard to better guard the country’s territorial waters.

Both countries have had separate territorial disputes with China that have flared recently.

The Philippines is locked in a long-running dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea while Japan and Beijing are contesting ownership over islands called Senkaku by Japan or referred to as Diaoyu in Chinese.

During the meetings, Japan sounded out the need for a greater strategic partnernship between the two countries amid many challenges in the asia Pacific region. “as the strategic environment in the region is changing, it is necessary for us as Foreign Ministers

2013...

FFROM 2

the rounds of the five provinces composing the region for consultations with the people and the response has reportedly been overwhelming.

The provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi compose the autonomous region with Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur considered as

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SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

Melo suspended for 1 game n

eW YoRK (aP) -Carmelo anthony was suspended one game by the nBa on Wednesday for confronting Kevin Garnett after the new York Knicks’ loss to Boston on Monday. anthony, who was angry about Garnett’s choice of words during a fourth-quarter altercation, went toward the Celtics’ locker room after the game and later waited for Garnett outside Boston’s team bus. anthony didn’t believe he would be suspended because he said he was just looking to talk to Garnett, not fight. But nBa executive vice president of op-

erations Stu Jackson ruled otherwise. ‘’There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,’’ Jackson said in a statement. ‘’Carmelo anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.’’ anthony will miss the Knicks’ nationally televised game at Indiana on Thursday and lose about $176,700 of his $19.4 million salary.

Jackson said anthony confronted Garnett ‘’in the arena tunnel, near the players’ locker rooms, and

in the parking garage.’’

The incident by the bus, with new York police and Knicks coach Mike Woodson nearby, was captured on videotape. anthony and Garnett received technical fouls with 9:03 remaining in the Celtics’ 102-96 victory, arguing with each other from the baseline to midcourt after a physical exchange on Boston’s previous possession. after the game, anthony went the wrong direction toward the Celtics’ locker room in hopes of finding Garnett. on Tuesday, anthony said he was upset because of what Garnett said, though wouldn’t elaborate

on what it was. ‘’There’s certain things that you just don’t say to men, another man,’’ said anthony, who is married to actress LaLa Vasquez. ‘’It’s over with for me.

Whatever happened last night, happened. The words that was being said between me and Garnett, it happened, can’t take that away,’’ anthony added. ‘’I lost my cool yesterday, I accept that, but there’s just certain things that push certain people’s buttons.’’ anthony was clearly affected by Garnett, shooting just 6 of 26 from the field after averaging 36 points last week while

winning eastern Conference player of the week honors. he said the allStar forwards eventually spoke and sorted out the matter. anthony will be eligible to return Friday at

home against Chicago. he was ejected from the last meeting with the Bulls after receiving two of his eight technical fouls this season.

Garnett was not penalized.

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks was suspended for one game after he ‘waited’ for Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics were after their heated match.

Love hurt again

M

InneaPoLIS (aP) -- If the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to chase down their first playoff berth since 2004, they’re going to have to do most of the work without Kevin Love. unfortunately for this hard-luck franchise, they know what it feels like to play without their all-Star and olympian.

Love will miss the next eight to 10 weeks after needing surgery to repair a right hand that is broken for the second time this season, the team announced on Wednesday.

It’s the latest in a long line of injuries to Minnesota’s key players that have threatened to derail a season which started with postseason aspirations. It’s also the latest chapter in what has been a nightmare season for Love in the first year of the $62 million contract extension he signed last January.

Love missed the first three weeks of the regular season after breaking his right hand in the preseason. he returned faster than most expected, played for about a month and then broke two bones in his shooting hand in a game last week against Denver.

The team said a date for the surgery would be an-

nounced Thursday. ‘’We’re going to miss him a lot, but there’s nothing we can do about that right now,’’ point guard Ricky Rubio said Tuesday night before knowing the full extent of Love’s injury. ‘’We just have to keep moving forward.’’

The timeframe would put Love back on the court possibly around mid-March, about a month before the playoffs begin. The Wolves (16-15) started the day in ninth place in the Western Conference, one spot out of the playoff field.

Love was averaging 18.3 points and 14.0 rebounds after helping Team uSa to the gold medal in the London olympics, but he hasn’t been the same player who emerged as the best power forward in the game last year. needing more time to rest after the olympic grind, Love showed up to training camp knowing he would need to push himself to get into the shape he was accustomed to playing in. That process was halted late in the preseason when he injured his hand the first time, a break that didn’t need surgery and allowed him to return about 10 days earlier than expected.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Balkman on a mission P

eTRon import Renaldo Balkman is a man on a mission. not known for his scoring in his nBa days. and he will be content to keep it that way as long as the Boosters achieve their goal in the PBa Commissioner’s Cup next month.

The six-year nBa veteran is more focused on the big picture, which is to help the Boosters bounce back from a premature exit in the ongoing Philippine Cup and finally translate their tag as the league’s best team on paper into success on the court.

“I can score two points and if we win the game I’ll be happy,” said the new York Knicks’ former firstround draft pick, who averaged just four points (51-percent shooting) and 3.5 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game during his nBa career with the Knicks and the Denver nuggets.

“They got scorers,” Balkman continued. “I didn’t come here to score fifty points per game. I came here to play team basketball, be the energy guy, and play hard.”

The dreadlocked Balk-

n TNT coach Norman Black is having the time of his life in his PBA return.

Black: More fun in the PBA

I

the heat of the moment, he didn’t see all the adjustments Rain or Shine made to make its comeback, except for the elasto Painters’ move to go to a small lineup. Late in the game, Guiao went with Jervy Cruz at center and Gabe norwood at power forward, along with Jeff Chan, Jireh Ibañes, and Paul Lee in an effort to speed up the game.

Black said Talk ‘n Text did not take care of the ball as well late, allowing the elasto Painters to take advantage. “We made too many turnovers in the sec-

one team, be the best,” he said.

“Time will tell.”

The PBa will be the first league Balkman plays in since the Knicks released him, and the South Carolina alumnus intends to “make the best out of it.” asked what convinced him to play in asia’s first play-for-pay league, Balkman said he is just itching to get back on the court.

“Basketball is what I do. and I’ve been sitting too long.”

The 28-year-old Balkman actually last played competitively for Puerto Rico in the World Championships two months ago and has kept himself in tip-top shape ever since.

“So it’s been a couple of months. But I still work out every day. I’m a gym rat. I do what I have to do.” he has only been in the country for four days, but it feels like home.

“They embraced me. everything makes me want to be here. Sometimes you go somewhere and you don’t want to be there but they brought me here and make me feel like it’s my home. I’m comfortable. It gets better and better by the day.”

for the two teams, with Barako needing a young go-to guy of Yeo’s caliber and the underachieving Boosters wanting a relentless enforcer like Tubid that could bring up the team’s energy.

If the talks prosper, Yeo, who is also coveted by air21, will end up reuniting with former Petron consultant Rajko Toroman, who is set to call the shots for the energy Cola in the import-laced tournament. “natunugan yata ng Barako na gusto rin ng air 21 si Yeo, kaya siguro umusad ulit ang negosasyon,” said a source.

For his part, Tubid said

he is happy at Barako Bull but has come to accept that trades are part of a pro cager’s life, saying he’s become so used to hearing about trade rumors in his 10 years in the pro league.

“Sanay na ko sa ganyan. Kung saan naman ako dalhin, lalaro ako. Basta may playing time”, said the heavily tattoed native of oton, Iloilo.

“Pero alam mo happy ako dito sa Barako Bull.

Masaya ang samahan. na-develop ko na friendship ko sa kanila, saka magaling mag-alaga ang mga boss namin,” said Tubid who has been with the George Chua-owned franchise for two seasons.

Tubid-Yeo trade in the works

Renaldo Balkman is raring to play in the PBA.

n hIS first Finals game in his PBa return, Talk n’ Text coach norman Black knows it’s more fun in the PBa. The jaded collegiate and PBa mentor said the tactical battles between him and counterpart Yeng Guiao are just getting started.

“This is where the fun begins for the coaches,” said Black, who saw a 15-point fourth quarter lead cut down to just three points by a furious elasto Painters run late in the game.

The coach, who is seeking his 11th title in the league, admitted that in

man, who watched Game one of the Philippine Cup Finals between Talk n Text and Rain or Shine at the Smart araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, has had two practices with the Boosters since arriving in Manila last Sunday. and the 6-foot-8, 225-pound power forward has so far had a good impression of his teammates.

“Very talented and workhorses,” he said.

“They love the game of basketball. and if you put those together, that’s a championship team.” on paper, the Boosters are indeed title contenders with a collection of allstars led by arwind Santos, alex Cabagnot, and prized rookie Junemar Fajardo. But the San Miguel Corp.-owned team has yet to live up to expectations after getting eliminated in the quarterfinals of the current conference.

Balkman believes the road to greatness is a process and time will tell if his powerhouse team can achieve it.

“We got to take it game by game, day by day. That’s why we’re practicing early so we can be the number

ond half,” he said.

But he added that the Rain or Shine comeback didn’t exactly come as a surprise.

“We’re playing Rain or Shine, so we know they’re a tough team,” he said.

“We’re just trying to win games.”

Black expects major adjustments for Guiao in Game Two, saying it’s his job to try to figure out Rain or Shine’s tactical changes.

“It’s a good start for us but we have to win Game Two,” said Black. “otherwise we know they can bounce back.”

eGoTIaTIonS have started on a deal that could bring hard-nosed Barako guard Ronald Tubid to the Petron Boosters in exchange for Joseph Yeo has started, sources from the two teams bared.

Sources said talks between the two teams started on Wednesday and gained ground over the day, with Tubid and Yeo likely to switch sides before the Commissioner’s Cup begins on February 8. a deal may even be struck before the Sinulog Festival in Cebu held annually on the third Sunday of January, a source added.

The trade makes sense

Ronald Tubid is on the trading block again.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ARTS AND CULTURE

The world through Nathan Valerio’s eyes

Dreamy seas, fields of golden flowers, vivid sunsets, and energetic landscapes; who would expect that these beautiful paintings are the works of child-artist Nathan Tyler Valerio.

Nathan’s works are the essence of what a child sees and feels, with pure unadulterated emotions.

The son of San Fransisco-based Dabawenyo, John Valerio and Lisa Valerio, Nathan is just like any other 9-year old child, rambunctious, cheerful, full of energy, only Nathan has autism, but his autism does not stop him from expressing himself and creating beautiful works of art His mom, Lisa, explains that the painting sessions with artist and teacher Nicole Keating, Nathan learns how to focus, enhance his motor skills, and express his feelings and emotions through his choice of colors and strokes. “Nicole just lays out the different

A vivid sunset.

paints and gives directions, but all of the strokes and the color choices are Nathan’s” says Lisa.

Nathan’s works are all done on pizza boxes with non-toxic acrylic paint and have already been exhibited in various group exhibits in San Francisco. His works have also been featured on the autism Bay area magazine alongside other artists with autism.

Lisa hopes Nathan’s works will inspire others in similar situations to love more and to be a voice on autism advocacy.

Nathan’s works can be viewed at Osvaldo’s at Paseo de Legaspi.

Nathan putting his thumb print on the back of his paintings.

Flowers in vases are also one of Nathan’s favorite subject.

Nathan’s works are the essence of what a child sees and feels, with pure unadulterated emotions.

Dreamy landscapes.

Nathan Valerio and his mom Lisa.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

MOVIES

Lincoln leads 2013 BAFTA nominations But what happened to Steven Spielberg?

IF Lincoln’s on its way to making BaFTa history, it’ll have to do it without Steven Spielberg.

The director’s historical biopic on the 16th president garnered 10 nominations for the 2013 edition of the British academy Film awards, otherwise known as the British Oscars, including Best Film, Best actor for Daniel DayLewis and Best actress for Sally Field.

In perhaps the biggest snub so far in the awards season, Spielberg, however, was not nominated in the Best Director category.

Nipping at Lincoln’s heels are Les Misérables and Life of Pi, tied with nine nominations apiece, including Best Picture. For their emotionally tuneful roles as Jean Valjean and Fantine, respectively, in the musical adapted of the beloved Broadway production, Hugh Jackman and anne Hathaway collected nods for Best actor and Best Supporting actress.

While ang Lee took home a Best Director nomination for his adaptation of yann martel’s fantasy adventure novel.

Her majesty and the rest of her British subjects along with 007 fans the world over can take pride over Skyfall capturing a whopping eight nominations— unheard for a James Bond adventure. Javier Bardem also snagged a nom for Best Supporting actor. argo and anna Karenina, meanwhile, notched six, Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty picked up five noms, The Master and Amour held their own with four, while Silver Linings Playbook earned three.

But the man with the top hat is clearly the one to beat this year. aside from Day-Lewis being a frontrunner for his landmark performance as the commander in chief, Lincoln also earned nods for Best Supporting actor for Tommy Lee Jones, adapted Screenplay, Original music, Cinematogra-

Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lucy alibar, Benh Zeitlin Life of Pi, David magee Lincoln, Tony Kushner Silver Lings Playbook, David O. russell

phy, Production Design, Costume Design, and make Up and Hair.

With Spielberg sidelined in the directing race, this year may well mark the rise of Ben affleck as one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed filmmakers.

The thesp nabbed not only a Best actor nom but one for Best Director and will compete against Amour’s michael Haneke, Django’s Quentin Tarantino, Life of Pi’s Lee and Zero Dark Thirty’s Kathryn Bigelow.

Other notable acting noms include Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook, which scored three nominations, Helen mirren for Hitchcock and Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty.

On the animation side, Pixar’s Brave will face off against Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie and Universal’s ParaNorman. While Searching for Sugar Man, Marley, and West of Memphis reaped nominations in the Best Documentary category.

The 2013 BaFTa awards ceremony, hosted once again by Stephen Fry, is set to take place on Feb. 10 at London’s royal Opera House.

Here’s the complete list of nominations: Best Film Argo

Film Not In the English Language Amour, michael Haneke, margaret ménégoz Headhunters, morten Tyldum, marianne Gray, asle Vatn The Hunt, Thomas Vinterberg, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, morten Kaufmann Rust and Bone, Jacques audiard, Pascal Caucheteux Untouchable, eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, Nicolas Duval adassovsky, yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun Leading Actor Ben affleck, Argo Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

Les Misérables Life of Pi Lincoln Zero Dark Thirty Outstanding British Film Anna Karenina The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Les Misérables Seven Psychopaths Skyfall Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director Or Producer The Imposter, Bart Layton (Director), Dimitri Doganis (Producer) McCullin, David morris (Director), Jacqui morris (Director/Producer) Wild Bill, Dexter Fletcher (Director/Writer), Danny King (Writer) The Muppets, James Bobin (Director) I Am Nasrine, Tina Gharavi (Director/Writer)

Director Amour, michael Haneke Argo, Ben affleck Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino Life of Pi, ang Lee Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow Documentary The Imposter Marley McCullin Searching For Sugar Man West of Memphis Original Screenplay Amour, michael Haneke Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino The Master, Paul Thomas anderson Moonrise Kingdom, Wes anderson, roman Coppola Zero Dark Thirty, mark Boal Adapted Screenplay Argo, Chris Terrio

Leading Actress emmanuelle riva, Amour Helen mirren, Hitchcock Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty Supporting Actor alan arkin, Argo Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained Javier Bardem, Skyfall Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln Supporting Actress amy adams, The Master anne Hathaway, Les Misérables Helen Hunt, The Sessions Judi Dench, Skyfall Sally Field, Lincoln Original Music Anna Karenina Argo Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall

Cinematography Anna Karenina Les Misérables Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall Editing Argo Django Unchained Life of Pi Skyfall Zero Dark Thirty Production Design Anna Karenina Les Misérables Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall Costume Design Anna Karenina Great Expectations Les Misérables Lincoln Snow White and the Huntsman Sound Django Unchained The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Les Misérables Life of Pi Skyfall Special Visual Effects The Dark Knight Rises The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Life of Pi The Avengers Prometheus Make Up & Hair Anna Karenina Hitchcock The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Les Misérables Lincoln Short Animation Here To Fall I’m Fine Thanks The Making of Longbird Short Film The Curse Good Night Swimmer Tumult The Voorman Problem EE Rising Star Award elizabeth Olsen andrea riseborough Suraj Sharma Juno Temple alicia Vikander

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Obama responds to Piers Morgan deportation petition: Brit is free to state his opinion ThE U.S. government isn’t pulling Piers Morgan’s visa anytime soon.

A petition was posted to the White house’s We the People forum last month calling for the CNN host’s deportation back to his native England, started by gun-ownership enthusiasts in response to Morgan’s advocacy for increased gun control in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Today, the Obama administration issued a statement reminding those who say they’re defending the Second Amendment that the First Amendment allows Morgan to freely express his opinion.

“BREAKING NEWS: President Obama has officially decided I am NOT being deported. mf,” Morgan tweeted in response to the White house’s remarks, along with links to the We the People site and various stories about the back-and-forth.

“Let’s not let arguments over the Constitution’s Second Amendment violate the spirit of its First,” stated White house press secretary Jay Carney.

“President Obama believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. however, the Constitution not only guarantees an individual right to bear arms, but also enshrines the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press—fundamental principles that are essential to our democracy.

Americans may disagree on matters of public policy and express those disagreements vigorously, but no one should be punished by the government simply because he or she expressed a view on the Second Amendment—or any other matter of public concern.”

We can imagine that the right to free speech and a free press are two of things Morgan was thinking of when he wrote in wrote in a Daily Mail oped that he loves America

as a second home. The former tabloid editor also wrote, however, that the U.S. won’t “have to worry about deporting” him if changes aren’t made to existing gun laws to “at least try to stop this relentless tidal wave of murderous carnage.”

At press time, the demand for Morgan to return to his first home stood at 109,334 virtual signatures.

In a taped statement, Barack Obama noted that the U.S. “has a strong tradition of gun ownership that’s been handed down from generation to generation.”

“And the fact is, most gun owners in America are responsible. They buy them legally and they use them safely,” said the commander in chief.

“And it’s encouraging that many gun owners have stepped up to say there are steps we can take to prevent more tragedies like the one in Newtown, steps that both protect our rights and protect our kids.”

yoncé…girl crush for sure,” model Kate Upton tweeted, while sports reporter and Dancing With the Stars alum Erin Andrews said, “Anti sports tweet....Beyonce’s GQ cover???!!!!!! I’m not mad at it!!!! Now..back to the game at Candlestick this Sat..”

Unfortunately, we don’t think this will be Beyoncé’s outfit of choice during her performance at President Barack Obama’s inauguration, although we doubt anyone would mind if she chose to sing the National Anthem halfnaked.

God bless America.

Leak forces GQ to release nearly naked Beyoncé cover early NO words.

But seriously, if you’re finding yourself just staring all oogly-eyed at Beyoncé’s smokin’ hot bod on the February GQ cover (out on newsstands Jan. 22), then you are definitely not alone, friend.

And thanks to an low-res Instagram image leaked yesterday, fans got to appreciate this sexy photo earlier than planned.

A rep for the mag tells E! News, “Its a leak. We’re having them remove it.

The issue doesn’t drop until next week. We’ll follow up with pics then.”

But with a snapshot like that, GQ couldn’t hold out until next week, and released the cover shot today!

Blue Ivy Carter’s mama killed it with her itty-bitty underpants, crop top that teases a view of the bottom of her breasts and, of course, that beautiful face. As expected, B’s cover has got people talking—including some ladies who can’t help but admire the celeb’s sex appeal. “@GQMagazine: Be-

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

STYLE

The wonder of Mimathology BaBy photography is a sweet spot for mizelle marie Tan, otherwise known to friends and family – and now, her clients – as mima.

Using the best of the qualities that she has picked up as a hands-on mom and student of photography, it is the domain where she produces wonderful stills of her young subjects in her unique style under the moniker mimathology.

One would think that entering into a venture such as this would be quite punishing for a young mom who already has the demands of her family and her work at PaGCOr as a table games dealer to contend with. However, it has proven quite the opposite.

The shoots that take her to meet different families and their little superstars invigorate this budding lens-lady. “every shoot always scares me to death in a good way,” mima shares.

It is really like her to make lemonade out of life’s lemons, as those who know her will attest to. This is a line of work that can get quite messy and unpredictable as anyone with children will tell you and mima’s affable and obliging nature plays a big part in producing the standout shots that have quickly made people sit up and notice her since she started last year.

The great thing about mima’s work is that the babies themselves don’t get lost in the myriad of props, fancy filters and oversaturated treatments that a lot of other photographers tend to run amok with. Her preference for the natural outdoors and show of restraint in setting up and editing her shots makes the wild-eyed innocence of her subjects come through front and center. and lest we forget their tender ages, she never fails to remind us with backdrops rife with the reminder of simple childhood joys. mima is imaginative and fresh when it comes to the accompani-

ments of her shoots, from a basket of oranges to laundry lines and baby clothes.

The fruits of her labors mirror her own childlike nature, as adventurous as she is being an avid traveler and wakeboarding aficionado.

It has been a busy and positively overwhelming few months for this petite photographer. The elation mima feels when someone books her for a shoot never really leaves and she makes sure that she is in her best form for every client. She stays updated by reading art books, experimenting with her own precocious daughter Silver and scouring the web for insipiration but mostly she lets her instinct direct her art. “I usually wait until I am at the scene itself before I decide for sure what direction I want to take the shoot,” she muses.

However, despite all the preparation, the alwaysbuoyant mima has come to joyfully expect the unexpected in her shoots as this is where the most unforgettable things happen. “Like when the older siblings want to join in or the parents eagerly wait for the turn to be photographed seeing how they interact with each other

Budding baby photographer Mima Tan with her husband Herwin and daughter Silver.

really reinforces my view that babies and families are the best subjects because of the myriad of emotions you see in them during those moments. It is really a priceless memory,” she further shares. young as she is at just twenty-eight years old, mima is quick to point out that she is still an amateur and is learning as she goes along. She feels that joining workshops could be in her future to hone her craft but she is really not looking too far beyond the next shoot. Quite content already to receive a number of bookings each month, her biggest wish

at this point is to build a roster of returning clients who will make her a part of their growing family. as her little venture takes off and her photographs continues to impress more people, you know you can only come to expect wondrous things when the person behind the camera remains captivated herself with framing her special tiny subjects and giving them a reel of larger-thanlife moments.

Learn more about Mima Tan Photography through her Facebook page http:// www.facebook.com/mimathology or contact her at mobile no. 0922-8789333.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

Li looking for first

SPORTS 15

China’s Li Na is seeking for her first win in Melbourne. Will she make it this time?

S

YDneY (Reuters) China’s Li na has come closer than any asian to winning the australian open singles crown and, if she can avoid a Melbourne Park meltdown, is a good outside bet to add another to her lengthy list of tennis “firsts” next week.

The 30-year-old has a good recent track record at Melbourne Park, reaching the 2010 semi-finals, losing the 2011 final to Kim Clijsters and then crashing out to the Belgian in

the fourth round last year having given up four match points.

Critics of the world number six, and there have been many in China over the years, would point to last year’s defeat as an example of the mental fragility that has dogged Li throughout her career. at times she can be an all-conquering superwoman pounding her opponents into submission with her raking groundstrokes.

Just as easily, Li can sud-

denly fall apart and, apparently unable to string two serves together, plummet to defeat.

There was just a hint of that fragility in her victory over american qualifier Madison Keys at the Sydney International warmup event on Wednesday, where she lost the first set before reaching the semi-finals with a 4-6 7-6 6-2 victory.

“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning of the match. If you play the

young player, you never know what might happen, what they might do on the court,” she said after tackling the big-serving teenager for the first time.

“It’s very good I could have (a tough) match before australian open to see how strong I am on the court though.”

Li stood down her coach and husband Jiang Shan after last season and has been working with Justine henin’s former mentor Carlos Rodriguez.

“he gave me a lot of tough times when I was training with him,” Li said.

“First three days, my husband didn’t come with me. after three days, I was calling him saying, ‘Please come with me’. I was thinking about retiring after three days, because he’s really, really tough.”

The result has been a more attacking Li, even if she is not yet delivering everything Rodriguez wants. “he feels I can still do even more,” she said.

Caroline Woznicki (left) of Denmark does an impersonation of best friend and rival American Serena Williams (right) who will be gunning for her sixth Australian Open title.

“You know, it’s very tough if you’ve got new thing. You need time to recover. You need time to get used to it. So where once you needed time to think about it, maybe you can do it automatically.

“So now I’m still trying to work like Carlos wants me to.”

Li has, however, enjoyed a fine start to the year and, in yet another first, became the inaugural champion at the new Shenzhen tournament last week.

STRonG STaRT Li was the first Chinese player to win a singles event on the WTa circuit, the first ranked in the top 20 and the first to reach a grand slam quarter-finals, at Wimbledon in 2006.

In 2010, she became the first Chinese player to reach the top 10 and then, in 2011, she reached the australian open final before becoming the first player representing an asian country to win a grand slam singles title at the French open.

The start of her season has always been strong and she won the title in Sydney in 2011 before reaching the final again last year. after this week, her rivals know that if Li does melt down in Melbourne, it will not be because of the heat.

Li comes from Wuhan one of three Chinese cities known as “the furnaces” for their fierce summers and coolly played through temperatures in excess of 40 degree Celsius in Sydney on Tuesday.

“It felt like playing in a sauna,” she said. “But at least I have played in the high temperatures and not gone straight (to Melbourne from China) without any matches in between.”

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 222 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

TNT seeks 2-0 lead T

aLK n’ TeXT will try to jump to a 2-0 lead tonight in the PBa Philippine Cup against Rain or Shine in Game 2 of their Best-of-Seven Finals.

Gametime is 6:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of asia arena.

The Tropang Texters turned back a furious fourth quarter rally by the Rain or Shine elasto Painters to win the first game of their Philippine Cup title series, 87-81, on Wednesday at the SMaRT-araneta Coliseum.

The two-time defending champions relied on balanced scoring attack featuring six players scoring at least eight points.

But Talk ‘n Text made hay on the defensive end, hounding Rain or Shine to below 35 percent shooting.

“I was really happy with the way we played defense tonight,” said Talk ‘n Text coach norman Black.

The Tropang Texters focused much of their effort on Rain or Shine’s top guns, Paul Lee and Jeff Chan. Lee scored 11 points but shot just 4-of-14 from the field, while Chan scored just two of his 10 points in the second half on 3-of-12 shooting, missing all four of his three-point attempts.

Rain or Shine trailed by as much as 16 points, looking dead in the water early in the fourth quarter. Talk ‘n Text still led, 77-62, early in the final period before the elasto Painters rattled off a 13-2 run to cut the lead to just three points.

But Larry Fonacier hit a three-pointer in the ensuing possession, to push the Talk ‘n Text lead back to two possessions, 82-76, and the Tropang Texters kept steady in the clutch to seal the victory.

Jayson Castro and Ranidel De ocampo paced Talk ‘n Text with 16 points apiece, while Jared Dillinger added 13.

Game Two of best-ofseven series is set Friday at the SM Mall of asia arena.

The scores: Talk ‘n Text 87 – Castro 16, De ocampo 16, Dillinger 13, Fonacier 9, alapag 9, Peek 8, Williams 6, Raymundo 3, Reyes 3, alvarez 2, Carey 2, Gamalinda 0, aban 0, Ferriols 0.

Rain or Shine 81 – Cruz 13, Lee 11, Chan 10, norwood 8, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 8, Tiu 5, Belga 5, Ibanes 4, Matias 3, arana 3, Tang 3.

Quarters: 24-15, 5139, 71-58, 87-81

Dillinger gets WWE treatment

T

RoPanG Texters forward Jared Dillinger got what he expected—a WWe-style encounter against Rain or Shine.

Dillinger had earlier made a quip about the elasto Painters’ penchant for “WWe-style” moves on the hardwood. he was alluding to Rain or Shine’s reputation as a tough, physical team.

In Game one of the best-of-seven series, Dillinger go a first-hand taste of the action.

“The funny thing is I joked about the WWe thing and look what I got — I got body slammed,” Dillinger said.

Dillinger was involved in a scuffle with Ronnie Matias in the fourth quarter, resulting

in a flagrant foul penalty one for the Rain or Shine forward.

But Talk ‘n Text’s daredevil forward doesn’t take it personally.

“I know Ronnie is a good person and has no intention of hurting me.

It just happened during the course of the game when the game is getting tighter,” said Dillinger, who won best player honors after scoring 13 points.

“I expect these things to come in the series.”

Dillinger expects the temperature to rise even further in the succeeding matches.

“This is absolutely going to be a lot more physical in Game Two. I just have to come out and play hard,” he said.

Ali Peek of Talk N’ Text battle the Rain Or Shine big men in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals won by the Texters. Game 2 will be played tonight at the MOA Arena.