Edge Davao 5 Issue 245

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VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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Davao cops seize shabu worth P1M One of the most wanted drug groups in Davao Region busted.

The best hotel in Cebu City Science /Environment

By Anthony S. Allada and ChePalicte

Page164 Page

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OLICE authorities seized P1-million worth of suspected shabu and arrested three suspects during two drug operations on Friday in a remote village in Governor Generoso town, Davao Oriental.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11 chief Sr. Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro identified the suspects as couple Sabdani and Inseh Ruana Jalali and Ledener Siraji, both of Purok 2, Barangay Tagabebe, Gov. Generoso.

Ferro told reporters in a press briefing Tuesday that the operations were covered by two search warrants issued by Judge Emilio Dayanghirang of the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 based in Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Jaws of extinction Sports

FDAVAO COPS,10

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Environment group warns of Talomo River disaster

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Grandeza seeks redemption

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EVIDENCE. Regional Director Emerson R. Rosales of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) II points to photographs of pieces of evidence against the Jalali drug syndicate recently captured in Brgy. Tagabebe, Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental during a press briefing at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group

headquarters along San Pedro Street, Davao City yesterday. The drug syndicate was listed number 7 most wanted in the region and led by Sabdani Salahuddin Jalali who was arrested together with his wife Inseh Ruana Aminulla Jalali. Lean Daval Jr.

N environmentalist group operating all over Southeast Asia warned Monday of possible disaster to residents living near the Talomo River in Calinan district, Davao City after assessing the river last Sunday.

The Our Rivers, Our Life (OROL), which is working for river protection and promotion of ecological children’s rights, said in a press statement that it conducted an assessment of the Tamugan and Talomo rivers last Sunday following heavy rains in the city on Saturday.

Roldan Gonzales, OROL’s project coordinator, said the lives of some 600 families living near the Suawan Bridge in Calinan are in danger.

“The road dike eventually is gone and the strength of the river flow ate up a huge part of the land. An immediate engineering work

FENVIRONMENT, 10

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Villa-Abrille family pays Pope’s resignation tribute to Don Cesareo Davao Catholics will

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N celebration of the 120th birth anniversary of Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille, the heirs and their family foundation, have set a testimonial dinner in his honor at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao tonight, February 13, Wednesday, at 6:00 PM. Don Cesareo was the youngest son of Don Francisco Villa-Abrille Juna, a pioneering patriarch who initially made a fortune in pearl diving in Jolo, and Dona Maria Loreto, a Christianized Muslim from Parang, Sulu, who belonged to the Tausug Tribe.

Highlights of the celebration will include the

lose a ‘moral guide’

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

C signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Young Men’s Chris-

tian Association covering a scholarship grant and a donation of a one-hectare

ATHOLICS in Davao City will lose a moral guide with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, according to former Davao Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla.

In a text message yesterday, Bishop Capalla expressed his views on the resignation of the Pope saying, “I don’t know for sure how the Pope’s resignation will affect the Davao Catholics, but if the Catholics in the City are well informed about the role of the Holy Father in their daily lives as Christians, they’ll feel very much the loss of a spiritual

father, teacher and moral guide.”

“Especially in this ever-increasing morally corrupt society where religious faith is endangered,” he added.

He also cited an example of the corrupt society saying, “we are already witnessing the consequences with the approval of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, but despite this, the church will go on.”

Capalla also said, “We need more insightful guidance from him,” referring to the proclamation of October 2012 to November 2013 as the Year of Peace

by the Pope.

The Year of peace is to “precisely ”deepen the catholic faith through undergoing “intensive seminars” using the Pope’s Enclycal Letter Spe Salve (Saved by Faith) and Pastoral Exhortation Porta Fidei (Door of Faith).

He also made it clear that besides what is reported in the international media, there is still nothing much to say coming from the Bishops Conference as they are still waiting for the copy of the statement from the Pope’s Ambassador to Manila.

ing handed him the list of suspected drug-pushers in his barangay Tuesday. De La Rosa said that among the 71 names listed by Manding, 40 reside in the mini-forest while 31 live at Isla Verde.

He said Manding’s list includes 16 of his relatives as being involved in selling illegal drugs.

“We will start marking X on the house of the barangay chair since several persons in the list he gave us, are his relatives,” De la Rosa said.

He also revealed that based on validation, many

names in the list submitted by Manding match with names in the list of persons selling illegal drugs that the police have.

De la Rosa also observed that many who were classified as “big fish” in the list had already left the city.

Two weeks ago, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned residents involved in selling illegal drugs at Barangay 23-C to leave the city at once or they would meet with an “accident.”

A week after the warning, Barangay 23-C

became a virtual ghosttown at night as residents deserted the streets early and opted to stay home.

Duterte then urged residents to stay calm and go on with their normal lives and to help police identify persons involved in selling illegal drugs.

Manding vehemently denied any involvement in the illegal-drug-trade and stressed he also wants to rid his area of responsibility, being its barangay chair, of the drug problem.

[PIA 11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

‘Campaign X’ on houses of shabu pushers starts Barug wants Soliman’s ouster A

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ARUG Katawhan staged another protest yesterday in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 demanding the ouster of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and warning that more demonstrations will be done as this was not yet the “bigger” rally they had warned DSWD about.

According to a press statement of Barug Katawhany, “The movement of typhoon survivors demands no less than the ouster of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman,” Another ground for the ouster of Soliman, as stated in their press release, is the alleged corruption in the P18 million-calamity fund and international aid, saying that most Pablo

victims only received relief packs twice in the last two months, including spoiled rice.

The overpricing of bunkhouses is another ground that the group cited for Soliman’s ouster, alleging that there is a “ghost” list used for “cash-for-work” laborers.

The press release also states that the cash-forwork laborers were underpaid with a lump sum of P20,000 when DSWD liquidations show that bunkhouse labor reached P50,000.

When asked what their next move will be if Soliman will not resign, Trangia said, “More people mobilizations will be made because there are still no results, only ongoing negotiations,” which he believes are delaying tactics of the DSWD.

FVILLA-ABRILLE,10

UTHORITIES will commence Wednesday the identification of suspected shabu pushers in Barangay 23-C by marking X on their houses.

Senior Superintendent Ronald de la Rosa, director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the marking of bold letter X will start with the house of Amilbangsa Manding, chair of Barangay 23-C, where an identified respondent allegedly lives in his house.

He made the announcement after Mand-

Serafin sworn as CCD prexy

By Che Palicte

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HE Camera Club of Davao (CCD) celebrated its 30th anniversary a solid and respectable group in the realm of photography at The Marco Polo Davao Friday. The event included the induction of the new set of officers for 2013 and of new members.

Anthony Francis Serafin was inducted as president for the year 2013 while Alan Echano, Kimberly Ignacio, William Pedraza and John Riz Fortuna are the new members.

“When I took my oath and reading each word,

I was thinking that it is a difficult task, but it is a challenge for me and the other members of CCD,” Serafin shared.

The event also gave recognition to the Photographer of the Year 2012, Serafin himself while John Riz Fortuna bagged the award as the monthly winner (January) of the photography contest for 2013.

Among the guests who graced the event were Councilor Marissa Abella, who led the oath taking, and Lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate, the guest speaker.

RICE TALK. A member of progressive group “Barug Katawhan” holds a protest placard during a demonstration to ask for the release of the promised 10,000 sacks of rice and the resignation of DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman, in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development office along Damaso Suazo Street, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Hagedorn explains CPR LAW in Palawan

E-SEASON

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By Che Palicte

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ALAWAN, the rock star of Philippine tourism, has acoping mechanism that helps conserve and protect its pristine environment.

It’s called CPR LAW, which stands for “conservation, protection and restoration of land, air and water.”

CPR LAW was explained by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn to Davao newsmen when he made a stopover here last week as part of his making the rounds of the country to announce his candidacy as an independent, but not official, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) senatorial bet.

He said his decision to run for senator was quite late, a reason he is neither in the Liberal Party (LP) slate or the United Na-

tionalist Alliance (UNA) lineup.

CPR LAW is the coping mechanism of Puerto Princesa, according to the famous mayor, whose exploits have been filmed starring the late Fernando Poe Jr., adding that it is the mechanism by which Philippine forests are preserved to keep the land base from being subjected to erosion and landslides even during floods.

He said environmental protection tops his platform as senatorial candidate using the success story of Palawan, especially Puerto Princesa.

Since Day One of his mayorship of Puerto Princesa, he said he worked for its now famous underground river be placed under the management of the city government.

“Luckily, I got the authority in six months, and we began our campaign to make it a heritage site and later one of the Seven Wonders of Nature,” Hagedorn recalled.

He said that after the proclamation of the underground river as one of world’s new wonders, tourist arrivals and revenue in Palawan shot up.

From just two flights a day, there are now 22 flights from various points of the world. From just P149 million a year, tourism revenue has surged to billions of pesos at last count.

A consortium of bigtime investors is developing a 27-kilometer stretch of beach in Puerto Princesa into what they boast is the ultimate destination rivaling Phuket, a worldclass resort in Thailand.

“Puerto Princesa’s standing today is the sum total of all what we have done in protecting our environment all these years, Hagedorn said.

Conservation and protection involves strict enforcement of laws and ordinances by the local government, he added.

“Early on, I discovered that poverty of the people was behind it all, people who are hungry commit crimes, including crimes against our environment like kaingin, illegal logging and other destructive practices.”

“We discovered that even government enforcers and local government officials connive with forest poachers and illegal loggers because their income was low,” he said.

“This is the reason we went into organizing

HAGEDORN

cooperatives to help the poor,” Hagedorn said.

The popular LGU chief also talked about a wide range of topics included in his advocacies if he makes it to the Philippine Senate He bats for the return of the term of LGU officials to four years instead

of the present three and leave it to the Ombudsman and a strengthened recall system to deal resolutely with corrupt and incompetent elective officials.

“But the good ones should be allowed to serve longer than just three years,“ he said. AMA

Zubiri okays mining but only if responsible

by Che Palicte and Tony Ajero

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ORMER senator Miguel “Migs” Zubiri told Davao City leaders he was in favor of giving permit to Sagittarius Mines Inc. to mine Tampakan, South Cotabato and neighboring areas

ZUBIRI

in the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato on two conditions.

Zubiri made his comment during a luncheon meeting hosted by Davao City businessman Uy Ching Siong yesterday

when asked to react to moves of the government indicating SMI would soon be given a permit to start operating its Tampakan mining complex.

The former senator who is running in the 2013 election for the same position said that SMI and other big mining companies can exploit our minerals only if they practice strictly responsible mining to avoid the destruction of the country’s remaining resources.

Government must strictly monitor compliance by mining companies of the conditions imposed on them in line with responsible mining, Zubiri said.

He said there is an absolute need to make laws that would empower local government units in mining areas to retain a share from the income of the mining companies much bigger than what LGUs are currently getting.

Zubiri also took occasion to explain to the gathering his other advocacies, especially on universal health calling for zero billing on patients in government hospitals all over the country.

He said the government is awash with money to fund a health pro-

MOST OUTSTANDING. Davao City First District Rep. Karlo B. Nograles delivers his acceptance speech after being awarded by international group Superbrands as one of the country’s

gram totally free to poor citizens of the country, citing several billions of pesos to be earned from the Sin Taxes and those the government is willing to spend on the 4PPS for the poor program.

This program, he said, includes the improvement of government hospitals, if not the establishment of medical centers and doubling the salaries of government physicians, nursing and other health professionals provided they render fulltime service in public hospitals, instead of moonlighting in private health clinics and medical centers in order to augment their admittedly meager pay.AMA

most outstanding members of Congress in formal rites held in Makati City recently. At right are two officials of Superbrands with a giant plaque that carried a tribute article for Nograles.

QUIPS ‘IF we go back to manual.. there will be chaos about the election returns because there would be preproclamation controversies. Lawyers will object and object – that was my job before – so the canvassing will not proceed. It will not be finished.’

-Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chair Sixto Brillantes Jr.

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT “

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Lolong measured 20 feet and 2 inches from snout to tail-tip. (Discovery Channel / Gregg Yan

Crocodiles: Caught in the jaws of extinction Words and Photos by Gregg Yan

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HEY look like dinosaurs!” I shouted to my brother as we gaped for the first time at crocodiles. This was Manila Zoo in the 1990s and to pint-sized kids – 15foot crocodiles seemed ancient, gigantic and utterly invincible.

Two decades later I found myself beside the world’s largest captive crocodile, venerable Lolong, in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. As a team from the DOST measured him, I realized that crocodiles actually lived way before many of the dinosaurs – evolving in the Mesozoic epoch to stalk juvenile Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex and others foolish enough to get waylaid by the water’s edge.

Hailing from a family which actually outlived T-Rex, last Sunday’s demise of Lolong comes as a shock to both crocodile enthusiasts and conservationists.

Says WWF-Philippines Vice-chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, “Lolong projected the unimaginable magnificence of Estuarine Crocodiles.

It is ironic that the largest-known representative of this family that survived the mass extinction

of dinosaurs has died after barely two years in the ‘care’ of humans. We must learn about how to be much less presumptuous about what we know, and about what we do not.”

Crocodiles of Old Long ago, crocodiles were common in the Philippines. In Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, Ibarra saved Elias from a rogue crocodile by the banks of the Pasig River. In 1823, a 27-foot crocodile was shot and killed in Laguna de Bay. Rizal and many of his era wrote of scaled beasts strong and vicious enough to overturn boats with their tails. Today most of the giants are gone, wild crocodiles only surviving in scattered groups throughout the archipelago.

There are two types of crocodiles in the Philippines – and no alligators (crocodiles have V-shaped snouts while alligators sport U-shaped ones).

The Philippine or Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), critically-endangered and found only in Mindanao and Isabela, has sharp grooves down its nape. The larger Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Lolong being measured by a DOST team at the Bunawan Eco-Park and Crocodile Rescue Center in Agusan del Sur. (Discovery Channel / Gregg Yan)

has a smooth neck. Lolong is a Saltwater Crocodile, so-named because of his ability to excrete salt through his tongue.

“They are the largest crocodiles on Earth,” explained former DENR Secretary Dr. Angel Alcala while inspecting Lolong in Agusan. “Some live up to a century and can swim from island to island. Just imagine running into one underwater!”

While not on the brink of extinction globally, Saltwater Crocodiles are critically-endangered in the Philippines.

Lolong’s 3 September 2011 capture has been retold time and again.

For three weeks, experts deployed traps up and down Nueva Era, near Agusan Marsh. Four steel cable traps snapped. The fifth and last one snagged something big. The battle of hoists and grunts began, and when trappers shouted “Nakuha na!” (“We got him!”), about 80 people surged forth to haul the giant onto a makeshift cart.

Christened Lolong after one of the crocodile hunters who died of a heart attack before the capture, the 20.2-foot male crocodile was interred in the Bunawan Eco-Park and Crocodile Rescue Center in Agusan del Sur, a facility which planned to highlight the indigenous fauna of Agusan Marsh and perhaps breed crocodiles for release. His pen – designed to hold nuisance animals

– was fairly sufficient, but nowhere near the 15,000 hectares of his home marsh.

Caught in the Jaws of Extinction The crocodiles of Rizal’s time have since passed onto legend. Today, both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles are threatened with extirpation. Says Dr. Glenn Rebong of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, “Wild numbers have taken a nosedive because of hunting, habitat pressure and human conflict.”

The problem of course, is that humans are encroaching into crocodile habitats. We walked over to Magsagangsang Creek in Agusan del Sur to look for wild crocodiles and interview locals. Similar to riverside communities in Laos and Cambodia, many houses near the marsh are built on stilts – some as high as 20 feet up.

We didn’t see any crocodiles that day, but talked with locals who saw an alleged 25-footer in 2011. To protect the pop-

ulace, who fish for carp and cichlids up and down narrow channels aboard flimsy, dugout canoes, the local government saw fit to capture and ‘rescue’ crocodiles large enough to be deadly to people. In the end, humans won out – never fully realizing how crocodiles actually enrich aquatic ecosystems.

“Each crocodile recycles nutrients. Defecation fertilizes the ecosystem. If people want to take crocodiles out, then that effectively ends ecosystem processes. Where there are crocodiles, there will always be fish,” explains Dr. Alcala.

Having survived numerous mass extinctions, Lolong and his kin now face their greatest challenge – how to thrive in a world between humans and their own ancient ways of living. We can only hope that so long as responsible rescue and conservation efforts are emplaced, crocodiles can display the kind of resilience that has made them outlive the dinosaurs.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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THE ECONOMY

Stat Watch

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

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

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

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

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

IT Figures

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Number of fighters killed during a clash between Abu Sayyaf bandits and members of the Moro National Liberation Front in Patikul, Sulu on February 3, 2013, Sunday.

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Apple led US smartphone sales in Q4 2012--research company

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PPLE became the top-selling smartphone device sold in the United States in the last quarter of 2012, according to a consumer research firm that monitors mobile phone behavior.

According to Kantar Worldpanel, Apple’s iOS powered 51.2% of all smartphones sold in the U.S. from October to December 2012, up from 44.9% in 2011.

Meanwhile, Android, Google’s mobile operating system, powered 44.2% of smartphones sold in the U.S, from 44.8% the previous year.

The data was derived from the firm’s consumer panel, which is the largest consumer research mobile phone panel of its kind in the world, conducting more than 250,000 interviews per year in the U.S. alone.

“Apple’s continual improvement is thanks to both the iPhone LAUNCHING. Bong Servo, vice president of Canon Marketing Philippines, Suites along Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City last Thursday afternoon. Lean Daval 5 and older models attracting Inc., shares the history of Canon Inc. to local media in his presentation during Jr. various customer groups, from the launching of the latest Canon Pixma printer at the Pinnacle Hotel and repeat Apple buyers, first-time – from website pre-orders, regis- discount.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) speeds smartphone buyers, and those tration to actual purchase and ful“The Reset program was a on their devices by updating their coming from other smartphone fillment. huge hit. It allowed us to delight iOS software to iOS 6.1 and using brands,” Kantar analyst Mary-Ann “Globe banked on experience our existing subscriber base an LTE Nano-SIM. This will allow Parlato said. and expertise that paved the way with an irresistible deal, while subscribers to experience ultraDuring its launch in September for a successful iPhone 5 launch. our “genius” offers attracted new fast mobile internet speeds of up 2012, the iPhone 5 broke sales re- iPhone 5 is such a great device subscribers and switchers from to 42 Mbps in LTE-covered areas cords set by its predecessor the that deserves the best offers and competing networks to get their without having to upgrade their iPhone 4S, with Apple reporting superior customer experience iPhone 5 from Globe,” added Saplans or pay extra charges. sales of over 5 million in the de- that only Globe can provide,” zon. Other compelling offers inAs of January 2013, the Globe vice’s first week in the market. shared Martha Sazon, Head of cluded easy payment terms, free LTE network, which uses a freIn the Philippines, the iP- Globe Postpaid. subscription to a mobile phone quency of 1800 MHz perfect for hone 5 became one of the most One of the highly-favored protection program and to the the iPhone 5, has quickly exanticipated smartphone devic- privileges among customers was GCASH American Express Virtual panded to cover more areas naes launched last year. Postpaid the innovative “Reset” program, Card, discount on accessories, and tionwide. Aside from Makati, LTE leader and longtime Apple part- where existing Globe postpaid free download of Globe mobile coverage is now available in select ner Globe Telecom made history subscribers who are still within apps. areas in Manila, Pasig City, Queonce again as it exceeded targets the contract were given the flexOn top of exclusive privileg- zon City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa, and set a new record, surpassing ibility to renew or extend their es, Globe subscribers on iPhone Mandaluyong, Cebu City, and Bosales for the iPhone 4S in all fronts account to get the iPhone 5 at a 5 postpaid plans can now enjoy racay.

WB: rural investments needed to make PHL growth inclusive

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World Bank (WB) senior official says government should pour in more investments in rural areas for Philippine growth to be more inclusive.

“Poverty incidence in the country is largely a rural phenomenon considering that urban poor are only 12.8 percent and poor migrant and formal sector workers, 16.7 percent as against poor farmers and fishers which is more than 70 percent,” said WB lead rural development specialist Carol Geron.

“If we want to address poverty in the country, it is no brainer that we focus on the rural areas where

majority of our poor and idle laborers reside,” Geron said.

“For the past 30 years, (development assistance) is concentrated in urban areas. While the economy was directly shifted from agriculture to service labor market restructuring is lagging behind.

Hence, the Philippine economic growth has not been poverty-alleviating and inclusive,” she added.

Geron who is also the task team leader of the proposed USD630million Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) said a ladderized approach to modernize agri-fisheries sector is needed to improve productivity and reduce vulnerability.

800,000 ESTIMATED number of licensed firearms in the Philippines. However, there is about the same number of unlicensed guns in the country, according to Senator Gregorio Honasan.

She said PRDP, which is an upscale and nationwide replication of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) will make the ladderized approach operational.

Geron said farmers and fishers can be categorized in a ladder of three layers, the lowest layer are the small scale farmers with low productivity and merely engaged in subsistence farming and or fishing.

The second layer are farmers in transition which can be linked to market with their potential to produce marketable surplus while the third upper level are commercial smallholders which has the potential for full market

$190,000

AMOUNT of money belonging to Marissa Lapid, wife of Senator Lito Lapid, forfeited by the US government after she was convicted of cash smuggling. The amount included the $40,000 confiscated from Mrs. Lapid when she arrived at McCarran International Airport on November 27, 2010.

integration and can create efficient market and value chains.

“The challenge for the government particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA) is to get the farmers and fishers to the next level from its ladder. DA should also target those farmers that have potential to produce marketable surplus and improve the sector’s productivity,” she said.

She said systematic way of doing this is for DA to refocus on the value-chain and enterprise development through integration of value-adding activities from production to processing up to marketing. [Noel T. Provido/DAMRDP]

$4 billion

COST of building a mega-casino complex set to open in Manila middle of March, part of Entertainment City, a government project designed to compete with Macau, Las Vegas and Singapore.

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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PHL exports record highest growth among neighbors

HE Philippines posted the highest annual growth in merchandise exports in December 2012 among its trade-oriented neighbors in East and Southeast Asia, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Merchandise exports jumped by 16.5 percent in December 2012, a significant turnaround from the 18.9 percent contraction in December 2011.

“The country’s export performance in December 2012 reflects the generally improved prospects in the global economy on the back of policy support implemented by major economies, most notably of the Euro area, the United States (US), and Japan,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Other Asian economies that recorded positive export growth in December 2012 include Hong Kong (14.8%), the People’s Republic of China (14.1%), Viet Nam (14.1%), Thailand (13.5%) and Taiwan

(9.0%).

But for full-year 2012, export earnings grew by 7.6 percent to US$52.0 billion from US$48.3 billion in 2011.

“This is, however, below the Development Budget Coordination Committee-approved export growth assumption of 10.0 percent for the year,” the Cabinet official said.

The country’s total export earnings reached US$4.0 billion in December 2012 from US$3.4 billion in the same period in 2011 as outward shipments of manufactured goods (17.8%), total agro-based products (19.1%), petroleum (137.0%) and forest products (29.9%) posted annual gains.

The strong performance of manufactured exports was attributed to higher receipts from machinery and transport equipment (138.8%), electronic equipment and parts (52.4%), wood manufactures (51.3%), processed food and beverages (40.4%), chemicals

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IDLE TIME. A fruit vendor takes advantage of his idle time to have his toenails cleaned up by a manicurist at the bagsakan area of Bankerohan Public Market, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

(15.1%), travel goods and handbags (453.7%), miscellaneous manufactures (25.1%), baby carriage and toys (48.4%), furniture and

fixtures (17.6%), basket work, wicker work and other articles of plaiting materials (56.1%), footwear (96.8%) and iron and steel

(4.3%).

“The renewed demand for manufactures may be partly traced to a firming global manufacturing sec-

tor with the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showing a slight expansion in December 2012 at 50.2 index point,” said Balisacan.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Taking off the fisherman’s shoes

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EDITORIAL

Crocodile tears

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T used to be that crocodiles symbolized voracious appetite or to be precise, greed.

It has even become acceptable for the word “crocodile” to refer to corrupt government officials or mulcting cops.

Such was not the case with Lolong. He ate only to survive hunger. Crocodiles in government are greedy 24/7. Philippine history is replete with this species. Including, you know who!

The world’s largest saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in captivity, which died on Sunday in his makeshift pen in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, is the antithesis of the terms associated with crocodiles. Yes, he was a real crocodile. Too massive to be a Mayor’s baby and too fierce-looking to be a pet. He was estimated to be at least 50 years old at time of death.

Lolong’s death is bound to change the perception of people towards wildlife. The 6.17 meter reptile was caught in a Bunawan creek on September 3, 2011. He was said to have been captured with the joint cooperation of the local government unit, residents and crocodile hunters of Palawan. The giant crocodile was hunted over a period of three weeks, and when he was found, it took around 100 people to bring him onto dry land.

Lolong was suspected of having devouring a hapless farmer who went missing in the town of Bunawan, and also of having consumed a 12-year-old girl whose head was found two years ago. He was also, obviously, the primary suspect in the disappearance of carabaos in the area.

Those who hunted Lolong believed that his capture was to his advantage in protecting him for survival, an opportunity for scientific study

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and protection against the danger that he posed to the lives of those living in the area.

However, it was more eminent that Lolong’s capture translated to a sure-fire tourist attraction and income for the locality.

True enough, Lolong raked in a whopping half a million pesos for the town’s coffers since his capture, with he eco-park that housed earning an average of P10,000 a day.

Soon after, there was clamor for Lolong to be transferred either to Manila or in a better facility. Animal welfare advocates also wanted Lolong to be sent back to his natural habitat. The local government of Bunawan objected to the point of its Mayor saying he considered Lolong almost like a son. But it was pretty obvious, the objection stemmed from the revenues and publicity that Lolong had brought to the town.

Well, Lolong may be dead, but he is not gone.

Efforts to save him when he starved for a month proved futile. Was it a wise decision to keep Lolong in Bunawan? Certainly not. That was not his home. But it was business, not Lolong’s welfare nor the protection of the lives of residents, that was the reason for keeping him in that artificial home.

In the final reckoning, who was as greedy as a crocodile? Who had the more voracious appetite for profit than protection?

Lolong’s death will remind us forever that man’s greed can be more insatiable than that of a massive crocodile.

The “tears” from those who mourn Lolong’s passing, the same people who took him into captivity and made money out of him are no less crocodile tears.

So long, Lolong.

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O M A N Catholics consider Saint Peter the Apostle as the first Pope.

That’s how the highest position in the 1.2-billion strong church earned for it the idiom “the shoes of the f i s h e r m a n ,” an allusion to the apostle’s original work until The Christ called on him to leave his family behind and become fishers of men.

But the proverbial catch has not always been good. Despite – or perhaps because of – its power and influence the Roman Catholic Church has had its share of internal crises spawned by scandals, dissensions, schisms and challenges posed by ideas deemed to be contrary to its well-entrenched doctrines and dogmas. Nonetheless, throughout the Church’s 2000-year history only two pontiffs had abdicated – Pope Celestine V in 1249 and Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

On Monday, 11 February, Pope Benedict XVI became the third leader of the Church to do so. Nobody had anticipated the move, and even his closest aides told news networks they were shocked at the announcement that he would step down on 28 February. The Vatican did not say if the Pope is suffering from a particular ailment. The resignation statement simply said he no longer has the mental and physical strength to fulfill [his] ministry, the point stressed by Vatican spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi in a news conference shortly after the Pope said he was quitting.

Unfortunately for Benedict, his predecessor Pope John Paul II was afflicted with a serious ailment but stayed on until his death in 2005. The comparison has led to speculations there is more than meets the eye behind the resignation, that it was preceded by an intense debate over how he has shepherded the faithful, thus a pressure for him to step down.

There is no proof as yet that would vindicate the conspiracy theorists among us. It is the situation facing the Church under his papacy that has fueled the speculations.

Under the incumbent Pope’s watch the Church has been plagued with scandals involving pedophiliac priests, and accusations that the leadership has done little to discipline them. Worse, the Pope himself was accused of trying to cover up a similar scandal when he was still Archbishop of Munich in his native Germany.

And in contrast to John Paul’s attitude towards the other religions, Benedict earned the ire of Muslims by equating Islam to violence.

The latest controversy erupted last year courtesy of the Pope’s butler who leaked documents implicating the Vatican in allegedly shady business transactions.

But it seems the greatest problem confronting the Church is the continuing disenchantment of its flock over its Teflon-like conservatism on various issues. For instance, the pontiff has opposed the use of artificial contraceptives and same-sex marriage, a practice that has become generally acceptable in the West.

More importantly, Benedict has never compromised when it comes to dogma, resisting each and every attempt to adjust the sails of Church theology to the changing winds of the times. Arguably, the scandals and the refusal to usher in reforms have only served to drive away the faithful – if not to other denominations, then to secular lives that border on agnosticism.

The least that Benedict’s successor can do is listen to well-intentioned criticisms from an increasingly disillusioned flock.

Will the man who will be chosen to wear the shoes of the fisherman resist calls for change or will he be humble enough to realize that the Church may write its own epitaph if such calls went unheeded? [ MindaNews/H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail. com.]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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VANTAGE POINTS

A most fitting message

EADLINED in the early evening late news reports of two top Philippine newspapers and a leading television-news station last Tuesday, February 11, was Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement of his decision to resign on February 28.

Reported by the wire services, the news must have been worldwide. It was lead story in The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Pope Benedict XVI is the first Pope to resign since 1415 (598 years ago) when Pope Gregory XII “left the papacy … to end what was known as the Western Schism among several competitors for the papacy” (The New York Times). The announcement was made at the Consistory also convoked for three canonizations, February10, 2013.

The announcement published in several languages tells the reason for the resignation. Addressing the cardinals, “Dear Brothers”, he said: “I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

“I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the

MIND DA NEWS PATRICIO P.DIAZ

ministry entrusted to me.

“For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.”

In Catholic Philippines, the message should be taken not only as “of great importance for the life of the [Catholic] Church” but as fitting for the political life of the country, especially for all political leaders so-called who cling to power despite grave incapacities of which age is the least. If the Pope has decided to resign due to his “certainty” that he is “no longer suited to an adequate exercise” of his ministry, Philippine elective officials must, from time to time, seriously discern their fitness to continue in office.

Serious incapacity comes in different forms regardless of age – physical, intellectual, moral and conflict of interest.

Concrete instances, recent past and present, are stark reminders for Filipinos to learn from the Pope’s resignation.

How many continue in office despite their seriously lingering or incapacitating illness? Former President, now Pampanga congressional representative, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the most deplorable example. She should have resigned two years ago. But she has not just held on to her seat; she is running for reelection.

Physical incapacity is not just due to illness. Remember former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos? He was jailed for the unbailable crime of statutory rape. Instead of resigning, he continued in office. Reelected in the subsequent election, he set up an office in Bilibid Prison. After conviction, he remained in office while his life sentence was on appeal. How many elective officials are like Jalosjos?

How many run for office despite intellectual incapability and continue in office on the strength of wealth and popularity?

Like Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao who attends Congress only when not preparing for his boxing matches, movie actors continue doing movies while in office. Their elective posts are only sidelines. Theirs is conflict of interests. Members of Congress and local government officials who are frequently absent from their offices are in the same boat. There are other forms of conflict of interests that incapacitate elective officials to serve according to their mandate.

In the United States, European and some Asian countries, members of Congress and the Parliament would immediately resign upon the publication of their involvement in sex, marital and other scandals.

They consider themselves incapacitated to serve. Not in the Philippines!

As Catholics, Filipino elective officials from the President down to barangay council men should take it from Pope Benedict XVI: From time to time, they must examine their conscience; when certain that they “are no longer suited to an adequate exercise” of their mandate due to certain incapacity, they must resign.

Indeed, the true state of political life in the Philippines reflects the true state of the Filipino politicians’ conscience. [MindaNews]

Fact, fiction, and opinion

H

OW happy would we be when Andap lands on the inside pages of NatGeo? We’d probably quote ad infinitum what that article would say. That’s not exactly reprehensible, I know.

It’s just that it looks to me as if what has happened in our midst gains more importance to us only when someone else comes to define it in those terms, and not before. Why can’t we care enough to define it when it happens?

Sometimes, it’s hard to bite my tongue and politely listen to people blaming non-existent mining and logging in Andap for causing the debris flow.

That kind of talk ventilates our collective

( Conclusion )

WAYWARD AND FANCIFUL:

GAIL ILAGAN apprehensions, but it is just an extension really of the populist no to mining, no to logging sloganeering. Treading down that road of pet advocacies would only cause the rest of us more confusion. We’ll never get to address the problem if we don’t define it properly, exactly, as it really is.

Facts are not a matter of opinion.

Coming off last 7 February from a talk with a geologist who only talked on the condition that our conversation never happened was a bit

unsettling, too. All the way home, I was mulling over the irony of disaster discourse having been hijacked by those who don’t know what they’re talking about, who can’t be bothered to go out there and see for themselves, while those who do know and have seen refuse to speak.

And then like a ray of light, I happened to read Lagmay and the rest of the Project Noah guys.

About time. (Gail Tan Ilagan, PhD, Director of the Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services at the Ateneo de Davao University, writes the column, “Wayward and Fanciful” for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews)

9

The anemic race T

HE coming 2013 senatorial election is an anemic political race largely because of the poor quality of candidate from both the administration and opposition parties whose boastful “winnable” teams consist of political greenhorns, intellectual dwarfs and recycled politicians.

The following will not get my vote: ANTONIO TRILLANES IV – The perpetual rebel with a cause – his own self-righteous importance. This former purchasing officer in the Philippine Navy has a sophomoric understanding and concept of public service; he is politically incompetent and intellectually hollow; he is a megalomaniac; he mistakes rebellion for righteousness; he is a negative thinker; his greatest fault is being a fault-finder; his patent arrogance is indecently offensive.

GREGORIO HONASAN – I don’t know of any outstanding achievement of his as a senator (for two terms); he lacks intellectual depth; he is politically mediocre.

JV EJERCITO – This bastard son of a known gigolo bites more than he could chew; he thinks the Senate is a private family club where the children of former senators have a membership birthright.

GRACE POE-LLAMANZARES – Who was she before she was shoved into the Movie Television Review and Classification Board? She was a nobody. What will she do in the Senate? Censor the privileged speeches of senators? Obviously, she hopes to win votes on the strength of popular memory of his father. Qualifications? Forget it. She has none.

RISA HOTIVEROS-BARAQUEL – She is a fake; as a former party-list representative, she spent more time protesting in the streets against GMA than crafting laws; she ran and lost in 1910 senatorial race.

AQUILINO PIMENTEL III – The guy could not even win the mayorship of Cagayan de Oro City. Like his father before him, he has not done anything for the people of Mindanao in the areas of economy, social progress and peace and order. Mindanao never benefitted from his presence in the Senate. Pimentel doesn’t represent Mindanao; he represents himself. Where was he when the floods swallowed most parts of Mindanao? People didn’t see even his ghost.

MIGUEL ZUBIRI – He has been a good son of Bukidnon, but not of Mindnao.

What benefits did Mindanao get from his Senate tenure? Where did he put his multi-million pork barrel?

LOREN LEGARDA – Sincerity is not her trademark. She topped the senatorial race twice; but she is a political freak. Her tenure as majority floor leader was totally forgettable. How did she spend her millions of pork barrel in all those years in the Senate?

RAMON MAGSAYSAY JR., ERNESTO MACEDA, JAMBY MADRIGAL –They have been there (in the Senate) before--- Magsaysay for six years, Jamby for three years, Maceda for 12 years. What more can they do? Or better still, the crucial question is, what significant or outstanding things have they done for the country? Didn’t they have enough taste of power and influence? Do they seriously want to serve the country, or do they just want to regain lost power and glory? Maceda even went as far as becoming Senate President. He was also bruited about as Mr. Expose. But, how many crooks went to jail after his exposes?

Jun Magsaysay was chairman of the Agriculture committee that investigated the infamous fertilizer scam. After the investigation, did the guilty parties get punished?

ALAN PETER CAYETANO –So young, so brilliant, so intellectually unpolished. He is the classic political spoiled brat; brassy and tongue-happy; he exudes political immaturity as a politician and senator.

Party-list senatorial candidates are as good as lost. So are the independent hopefuls.

Why do people want to be senator?

Here’s a clue: 200 million pesos annual pork barrel is a mesmerizing figure. oooOooo POINT TO PONDER: The general belief is that politics is a dirty game. So why do people still play it?

10

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Davao cops...

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He said that the first to fall were the Jalalis when their house was raided at 6 a.m. Friday by combined elements of CIDG, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11, Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office and Gov. Generoso Municipal Police Office.

Recovered were 14 big sachets of shabu weighing 86 grams and assorted drug paraphernalia, a .45 caliber pistol with 79 rounds of ammunition.

In another raid, Siraji was nabbed and yielded 23 sachets of shabu weighing 8.2 grams, as-

sorted paraphernalia and a .9mm caliber pistol with eight rounds of ammunition.

Ferro said the total street value of the seized illegal drugs could reach P1-million.

“We conducted three weeks of surveillance and monitoring operation that produced a positive result. These drugs could have been distributed in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte, including Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City also,” he said.

“Their supplies were transported by sea be-

cause there’s no checkpoint there and the time of shipping is so fast unlike in transporting it by land” Ferro explained.

For his part, PDEA 11 director Emerson Rosales said the source of the illegal drugs was Cotabato City adding that the group of Sabdani Jalali was listed as the Number 7 Most Wanted Drug Group in the region.

“We are happy that we have captured him (Jalali) and we will not stop monitoring in order for us to arrest more drug syndicate and drug leaders as well” Rosales added.

gation, the OROL said the Talomo River near the bridge overflowed due to heavy rains last Saturday that destroyed the road dike.

“The heavy rushing waters breached the walls of the dike and flooded houses on both sides of the river. Eventually the road dike gave way Saturday night,” the group said.

It also cited that residents of Teachers Village in Calinan said the floodwaters reached as wide as 50 meters from the river bank.

“The force of the floods destroyed and knocked down the concrete three-meter wide road dike,” OROL’s report said, adding that hundreds of residents experienced waist-deep floods last Saturday night.

Rivera said OROL is still in the process of linking with the Mindan-

ao Development Authority and the Davao City Water District, although the group has links with local government units (LGU) in Mindanao.

“Some of our activities include conducting planning. We are into the setting up of river watch groups, facilitation of civil society organizations and LGU planning for climate change action plan,” he added.

OROL – a Southeast Asia biodiversity campaign founded over a decade ago involving Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines – began its activities in the city last December, Rivera said.

“In some parts of Mindanao like Agusan, Maguindanao and Misamis Occidental, we started (projects) last July,” he added. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/MindaNews]

family of Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille perpetuates the latter’s legacy of philanthropy by offering full academic scholarships every school year to the top graduates of the Bucana school (that was named in his honor).

The scholarship grant consists of a 4-year high school free education at the Holy Cross of Davao College with textbooks, uniforms and all allied fees at no cost to them.

The first beneficiary, Kris Apple Senillo, has graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. Aside from Holy

Cross, other scholars are enjoying their scholarships at UP Mindanao and USEP in Bo. Obrero.

Similarly, in Matina just across the Generoso Bridge the family, emulating their forebear’s benevolence, had donated hundreds of home lots to the settlers in the UM and Gravahan areas. The family had also turned over ownership of portions of their 68-hectare estate in Bucana to the urban poor settlers. Recently, another parcel of land in Sta. Cruz was set aside for the Tuban residents. [Llora Mae V.A. Obsines]

Environment...

FFROM 1

has to be done to protect these houses and the residents,” he added.

Ian Rivera, in charge of OROL’s campaign and advocacy here, told MindaNews in a text message the immediate engineering work will include reconstruction of the road dike.

Asked for a comment, Mayor Sara Dutere forwarded a text message from Engr.

Rolando Reyes, acting chief of the City Engineer’s Office, saying, “We can provide a cost estimate for budget consideration, Ma’am.”

“But we can also seek assistance from the [Department of Public Works and Highways] because the budget requirement will be relatively huge,” Reyes added.

Duterte said the CEO is yet to provide the estimated budget for the reconstruction.

Based on its investi-

Villa-Abrille...

FFROM 2

land for YMCA’s Training Center and Campsite in Tuban, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Roy Lopez will witness the signing.

Another ceremonial MOU signing for a 4-year scholarship grant for 2 scholars (beginning school year 2013-2014) with Davao Central High School will be done by lawyer Leoncio Villa-Abrille in behalf of the Villa-Abrille Foundation while school principal Nilda Ramos will sign for DCHS Board of Trustees Chairman Edison Lu. Today, the immediate

EDGEDAVAO

Comelec 11 ready for mid-term polls T

HE Commission on Elections in Region 11 is “ready” for the midterm elections on May 13, regional election director Wilfred Jay Balisado said.

The region has a total of 2.6 million registered voters, posting an increase of 100,000 from the 2010 polls.

He said as far as the region’s Comelec is concerned, everything is already in place while waiting for the national office to send the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, ballots and other paraphernalia.

Balisado said there are two storage facilities in the region for the Comelec election materials. One is in Tagum City that will hold materials for Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley provinces. The other one will be at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines office in Davao City earmarked for Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. The latter is part of Region 12 but adjacent to Davao del

Sur. Balisado said there will be a need for 1,400 PCOS technicians from the DepEd or who will be outsourced.

The list of voters and voting precincts has been submitted to the Comelec in Manila, adding, “we are still verifying and assessing the situation on what to do in areas affected by Typhoon Pablo, but so far there has been no recommendation from the Comelec national office to postpone the elections in any area in the region.

“As much as possible, it’s not the Comelec’s intention to postpone elections,” he said. “Doing so would entail another set of preparations.

But if postponement is inevitable, we need “to coordinate with Manila about a second option.”

Balisado added that concerns on electrical power on the day of the elections will also be addressed as the Comelec-11 already has arrangements with the

Davao Light and Power Co. A PCOS machine has a battery goof good for 12 hours while the election routine will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while there will be generators provided in cases of brownout should the process be extended.

Balisado said should the Civil Registry provide a list of deceased residents from Pablo-hit areas, particularly in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, then election officers will automatically delete the names from the voters’ list.

Asked about the voting centers in typhoon-hit areas, he said the Comelec will use the same building that the Department of Education (DepEd) has been using.

“We will use what they have,” he added.

DepEd-11 spokesman Jenielito Atillo earlier said DepEd is willing to offer their tents or “learning spaces” for the conduct of elections. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/MindaNews]

convinced, saying that had he set Lolong free in the wild, fisherfolks in the Agusan Marsh would surely kill the reptile, as what happened to other crocodiles in the past.

The mayor said he witnessed how fisherfolks killed 19-foot crocodile way back in 2002, when he was still president of the Association of Barangay Councils. “In fact I got some pieces of its flesh after people butchered the crocodile. I got two kilos,” he told MindaNews.

Elorde said he shares the sentiments of the animal welfare groups as far as protecting crocodiles is concerned, but stressed they may have different solutions.

He said that the munic-

ipal government’s move regarding Lolong was based on recommendations by experts.

Elorde pointed out that it is not the policy of the municipal government to collect wildlife for commercial purposes.

“As Bunawanon, I love to protect and preserve the wildlife. The crocodiles are part of the our ecosystem. We have been aggressive in our campaign to protect the wildlife in the Agusan Marsh,” he stressed.

The mayor, during the press conference on Monday, shed tears as he announced Lolong’s death, saying he considered Lolong as his son.

[Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews]

ground for cancellation of registration per RA 7941 [Party-list System Act],” Brillantes said.

“Comelec is ready to launch a new wave of cancellation of party-list groups, despite printing of ballots, if prompted by their illegal posters,” he added.

Tuesday is the start of the campaign period for

candidates seeking national posts in the May polls.

The poll body said it will give “a little leeway” in implementing the rules on campaign posters and paraphernalia.

Brillantes said the candidates will be given a notice to remove the posters and paraphernalia and should act on them within three days. [PNA]

Bunawan mayor: No regrets for keeping Lolong in eco park

D

ESPITE calls from animal welfare groups that Lolong must be returned to his natural habitat, the Agusan Marsh, Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said he does not have any regrets for keeping Lolong at the town’s Eco Park.

Lolong, the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, died last Sunday at the park.

After Lolong capture’s in a creek in barangay Nueva Era here on September 2, 2011, several groups like the Animal Foundation, Inc. and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, among others, had been calling for the release of Lolong and let him live in his natural habitat.

But Elorde was not

Erring party-list groups face disqualification raps

C

OMMISSION on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. has warned party-list groups that violate campaign rules especially on misplaced posters and paraphernalia may face cancellation of accreditation.

“Party-list groups should be careful. Violation of campaign rules not only an election offense but a

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 COMPETITIVE EDGE

11

Davao Light breaks ground for its Buhangin Substation Villa-Abrille Elem. School D marks 64th Foundation Day T

AVAO Light and Power Company takes a significant stride with a ground breaking ceremony of its 33MVA Buhangin Substation last January 31, 2013.

The construction site of this new facility is at Mamay Road, Buhangin.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the electric utility’s executives and project engineers along with the contractor and its workers.

Local community officials also graced the occasion.

Representing the company were Engr. Mark Valencia, AVP for Engineering, Ross Luga, AVP for Corporate Communications and Branding, Project Engineers Engr.

Freddie Mark Mendoza and Engr. Henry Lopez.

For the contractor was Engr. Arthur Escalante.

Meanwhile, Brgy. Captain Nilo Cabiles and Brgy. Administrator Emilio Ballela stood on behalf of Cabantian and Angliongto respectively.

The construction of

this new substation will provide additional capacity to serve the growing demand for power in Buhangin and its nearby areas. Service reliability and improved voltage are among the other benefits that will be derived from this new substation.

Anticipating rapid growth of commercial and industrial customers in the northern area, existing substations namely Bajada, R. Castillo, Pampanga and Panacan will no longer be able to carry

additional load growth in the future.

Once operational, the Buhangin Substation will be able to service new customers and those de-loaded from the nearby substations. This strategy is seen to address the increase in power demand and at the same time provide a more stable power supply in the northern part of the Davao Light franchise.

The expected completion of the construction of Buhangin Substation is on the 3rd quarter of 2013.

ODAY, February 13, a gathering of faculty and school officials, led by principal Emerita Mapula, parents and community leaders will celebrate the 64th foundation anniversary of Cesareo Villa-Abrille Elementary School since it was established in 1949, then named as Bucana Elementary School.

One highlight of the foundation day fête was the free dental clinic for the CVAES schoolchildren held last Sunday, February 10, at the school gym under the auspices of Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille Foundation, Inc. and RCC of Bucana. Dr. Jessie Mar Culaste led a 5-man dental volunteer team that included Doctors Ferdinand Pascua, Ruel Quitain, Hexel Verano

QUIPS

and Daniel Culaste.

The celebration aims to broaden and refresh the knowledge of the Bucana schoolchildren on the benevolence and legacy of Don Cesareo, who in his lifetime had quietly donated substantial tracks of lands for city roads that included Bangoy Extension, portions of Quirno Avenue and MacArthur Highway.

He also ceded a one-hectare property for school site in Tuban Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur in 1952.

A Thanksgiving Mass at the school gym will open the day-long activities to commemorate as well the 120th birth anniversary of its illustrious patriarch, Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille, who was born on February 13, 1893 in Davao City.

[Frances B. Castana]

‘ARE they saying those boys did not have discernment? Those boys are now at home with their parents to whom authorities have turned them over.

But what about that girl?’

GROUNDBREAKING. Brgy. Captain Nilo Cabiles (8th from left) and Brgy Administrator Emilio Ballela (6th from left), from Angliongto and Cabantian respectively; and Davao Light & Power Co.’s Ross Luga (6th from right), AVP for Corporate Communications & Branding; and Mark Valencia, AVP for Engineering (5th from right) lead the Buhangin Substation ground breaking rites last January 31 at the construction site of this new facility on Mamay Road, Buhangin, Davao City.

--Senator Vicente Sotto III, citing a case of a 12-year old girl gangraped by four boys 12 to 13 years old. Sotto wants youth offenders 12 to 15 years old who committed “heinous” and “major” crimes be meted at least 12 years.

(PDI, February 5, 2013)

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VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

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SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Cats snap Celtics run C

HARLOTTE, N.C. — Byron Mullens had 25 points and 18 rebounds, and the Charlotte Bobcats defeated Boston 94-91 Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) to snap the Celtics’ seven-game winning streak.

Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, but missed a key 18-footer that would have given Boston the lead late in the game. Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley had chances to send the game into overtime in the final seconds, but missed open 3-pointers.

The 7-foot Mullens hit 10 of 16 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Ramon

Sessions had 19 points for the Bobcats, including the go-ahead jumper from 18 feet with 25.7 seconds left. Kemba Walker had 18 points, six assists and six rebounds, and Gerald Henderson chipped in with 16 points.

Jeff Green had 18 points for the Celtics and Paul Pierce finished with 13 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

It was a back-andforth game throughout.

After Henderson gave the Bobcats an 85-84 lead with 3:58 remaining, Jason Terry made a 3 from the wing and Garnett followed with a turnaround jumper in the lane to push the Boston lead to four.

It appeared as though the Bobcats were on their way to another fourth quarter collapse.

But trailing by four, Henderson hit a 3-point with 1:01 left. After Avery Bradley missed an open jumper, Sessions came free off a screen and knocked down an 18-footer to give the Bobcats the lead with 25.7 seconds remaining.

The Celtics called timeout but Garnett missed an 18-footer from the left wing. Mullens grabbed his 18th rebound and the Walker made a pair of key free throws to give the Bobcats a three-point lead with 14.8 seconds left.

Byron Mullens had 25 points and 18 rebounds to help the Charlotte Bobcats beat Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics. AP

Hawks claw Mavs

D

ALLAS — Devin Harris was two steps behind as O.J. Mayo streaked toward the basket.

Once Mayo shifted the dribble to his right hand, Harris knew he had a chance to knock the ball loose and help the Atlanta Hawks pick up a rare road victory.

Harris picked up a key steal in the final minute, Josh Smith had 26 points and 13 rebounds and the Hawks beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-101 Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time).

Atlanta was up 9998 when Elton Brand

knocked the ball away from Smith. Mayo picked it up and was driving for the go-ahead basket.

Harris, who played 3 ½ seasons with the Mavericks before he was sent away as part of the Jason Kidd trade in 2008, snuck up from behind and poked the ball away from Mayo. He then saved the ball from going out of bounds with 23.9 seconds left.

“I just kind of wanted to sit behind and see if he would put the ball back in his right hand,” Harris said. “When he did, I was able to steal it away at the right time.”

National PRISAA games fires off

A

total of 45 finals in athletics and swimming will be on tap Tuesday as hostilities in the 60th Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) collegiate games come full swing at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan and the Dagupan City Poolside.

Davao Region sent a 335-man contingent to the Nationals led by powerhouse University of Mindanao. The Davao athletes plunged into action Monday and Tuesday and should be in the thick of the fight for its ambitious bid to make it as no. 1 or no. 2 overall.

Competitions in men’s and women’s javelin throw finals commence in the morning, and so are the finals in men’s 5000-meter run, men’s and women’s long jump and women’s 3,000-meter run at the NRSCC field.

Finals will also be held

in men’s and women’s shotput, triple jump, men’s 100-m hurdles and women’s 100-m hurdles in the afternoon competitions.

The gold in men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase is also up for grabs late in the day.

In all, 13 gold medals are at stake for the day in athletics, a rich source of medals and one of the 18 sports being contested in the collegiate level of what is said to be the country’s largest athletic meet which involves around 500 member schools and universities from 17 regions.

Thirty-two final events in men’s and women’s division will also be concluded in the first day of competition in swimming at the Dagupan City Poolside.

These are men’s and women’s 200-m freestyle, 100-m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 100-m backstroke, 400-m individual medley, 50-m freestyle, 4x50 medley relay and 4x100 freestyle relay.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

2ND DFA U16 GIRLS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Ateneo, SOS win opener

By Neil Bravo

T

AKE a bow, Joannah Marie Adao.

The shifty Ateneo booter strung up three straight markers on her way to the tournament’s first hat trick keying a big Ateneo second half explosion for a 4-2 win over Hinex in the 2nd DFA Under-16 Girls Football League at the Faith Academy over the weekend.

With the scoreline locked at 1-all, Adao essayed the step-up role by scoring in the 42nd, 69th and 72nd minutes to shove the Blue Knights ahead safely ahead 4-1. Adao’s scoring splurge started after she took a high ball cross from Janna Barcemo to find the back of the net at the 42nd mark.

Her second goal came after a nifty one-v-one play against her defender in the 69th before capping her heroics with her final marker three minutes later.

Alexi Nina Arrieta opened the scoring in the 24th minute for Ateneo with a penalty kick after a Hinex defender committed a handball inside the box.

Hinex, powered by players from Davao City High School and Philippine Women’s College, equalized in the 26th when a non call from the referee off a collision near the halfway line led to a getaway by Mary Joy Indac who played a spectacular through pass to Nina Lumactod for a short stab.

Indac herself struck in

the 72nd minute to keep the scoreline close at 2-4 until the final whistle.

Hinex had a chance to keep it close in the 43rd when Inah Rosales of Ateneo committed a handball.

However, Hinex failed to connect on the penalty.

“It’s a good start for us,” said Ateneo Coach Julio Orcasitas Hinex Coach Reynalyn Ravanes meantime said her ragtag line-up is still adjusting to each other.

“Babawi kami next time,” Ravanes, who also coaches at Ateneo, said.

In another match, SOS demolished host Faith Academy, 14-0 with Agot Danton scoring 7 goals while Joyce Semacio added 5 markers.

Scoring mostly on onev-one situations, Danton struck in the 4th, 7th, 12th, 20th, 26th, 38th and 47th minutes. Semacio’s goals came in the 2nd, 13th, 29th, 30th and 33rd minutes.

Rubelyn Takiawan (53rd) and Andresa Duran (68th) completed the scoring for SOS. SOS Coach Kitoy Canton gave credit to her team’s aggressiveness throughout the match. “Seryoso sila at gusto talagang manalo, di nga bunigay sa depensa hanggang matapos.”

Faith Academy is coached by Micah Stevenson The DFA U-16 is backed up by Hinex Janitorial &Allied Services, Instatech and Brosco Construction.

Members of the Davao City Golf Club to the 66th PAL Interclub pose with their new team uniforms. The team is composed of Gani Gascal, Ludwig Ledesma, Ben Hur Villarosa, Jun Narciso, Roy Quimada, Jimmy Dureza, Willie De Leon, Marlon Aranas and Larry Pasquil. (Boy Lim)

4 courses for PAL Interclub T

HE return of Philippine Airlines’ Interclub Golf Tournament to Cebu -- Queen City of the South, will be a first, with the Senior and Regular Men’s tournaments using a total of four courses starting February 21.

Seniors action, where the Canlubang Sugar Barons are defending champions, takes the lid off of this year’s playing with the 72-hole event set for stag-

ing at Alta Vista and Club Filipino courses.

Both courses are similar in character, with both carved out of mountains that offer unique challenges to the senior bidders of the event.

Alta Vista, the older of the two layouts, is considered the longer and tougher course, but Club Filipino also demands a lot of creativity from the field.

This year, the Interclub is being sponsored by

105.1 Crossover, Solar Sports, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, 92.3 FM Radyo 5, Araneta Coliseum and AXN, while the major sponsors are Airbus, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcasting Network, People Asia, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and ABSCBN The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort &

Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.

The Sugar Barons, who came charging back from several double-digit deficits to nip Luisita at Apo and Rancho Palos Verdes in Davao last year, will definitely find Alta Vista a tough nut to crack with its bending fairways and greens that are either elevated or have huge drops.

Grandeza seeks redemption in PXC 35 SP bounces back

By Moses P. Billacura

R

EDEMPTION. That is what Davao City’s finest martial artist Steve “Red Knight” Grandeza is looking for when he fights Miguel Mosquera in the featherweight class of the Pacific X-Treme Combat 35 on February 16 at the Ynares Stadium in Pasig.

Grandeza’s debut in November last year ended fruitless after losing to Guam’s Kyle Aguon.

After that loss, the Grandeza clan of martial artists went back to the drawing board, this time with grandmaster and grandfather Casimiro “Chingi” Grandeza, founder of Gan Soo Do or “Way of the Grandeza” in the 1950’s, on board.

For the next two months, the Red Knight went through intensive training under the watchful eyes of his grandfather, father and master Edgardo, coaches Edgar Alan Paulino, Jerry Randell Fornolles, Jaime Gatmaitan, trainers Rudy 4K Kevkatche, master Cesar Rodies, Tanu Hsu, consultants masters Roberto J. Grandeza, Herbert Jardinel and Mario Palazuelo, staff Nathaniel Grandeza, Mikhail Ponce de Leon, Carlo Laude and doctor Charisse Corina

Lim-Grandeza.

Grandeza is leaving on February 13 for Manila and will stay at Holiday Inn Galleria.

“This fight is going to be very personal. I am doing this in honor of my grandfather Chingi,” said the young fighter, who is also the current World Kickboxing Federation K1 super welterweight champion.

His loyal backers have remained on board like Phoenix Petroleum Phils. , MIX FM , I-flex Fitness, NIS Motors Corp., Rockspec Gear, Davao Bayan Construction and Hardware Supply, TBR Concepts, REDROCK Dezigns, Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte, Vice Mayor Rody R. Duterte, former city sports czar Christopher “Bong” Go, the Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office, 3rd District Councilor Atty. Bong Advincula, Valiant Strikers by Mario Palazuelo, Johnny Commercial, Engr. Floro Virtucio Jr., Engr. Manny Gornez, Hedojar Soo Bahk Do, Atty. Arnel Zapatos, University of Mindanao Steve Grandeza of Davao will seek no less than redemption in PXC 35.

Judo Club, Dr. Benedict Edward Valdez, sports- questing all Dabawenyos sports-giving bodies like men-businessmen Dennis to include me in their the So Kim Cheng Sports Uy and Ben Sur and Blue prayers,” said the pride Foundation and recently Warrior Fitness Gym. of Davao City, a recipi- by the City Government of “Once again, I am re- ent of many awards by Davao.[MPB]

A

FTER losing its opening game last week, Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) bounced back with a huge win that sent a strong message why a Vice Mayor’s Office-led team should never be counted out.

Behind the hot-shooting of Christopher “Bong” Go, the SP squad routed City Mayor’s Office, 81 – 69, barging its way to the win column in the 76th Araw ng Dabaw – DACHEA Sportsfest Basketball Tournament (Class A Category) yesterday at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. The sweet-shooting executive assistant of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte exploded for game-high 38 points, including ten triples, as the SP dribblers got back on track following a first game setback at the hands of City Civil Registrar’s Office (CCRO), 9894, on Feb. 4.

Roy Bangkas chipped in 11 baskets for SP, last year’s runner-up, which was up by 14, 46 – 32, at

the half as Go scattered 21 first half points.

CMO behind Bernadas and Mendoza regrouped and regained their senses in the final half as they outscored SP in the third canto to cut down the deficit to 8, 53 – 61, entering the pay off period.

But the SP dribblers played with a lot of poise in the final canto, making big shots after the other that pummeled CMO down the stretch.

It was the second setback of the CMO in the tournament, which is one of the sporting highlights in this year’s Araw ng Dabaw festivities.

On Monday, CCRO turned back defending champion General Services Office (GSO), 89 – 78, to cop its second win and take an early lead in the standings.

A total of nine teams are vying for the title in the Class A category of the league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional office. (Rico Biliran).

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

Radisson Blu receives recognition for being the best hotel in Cebu

2013 has indeed started with a bang for Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, recently noted as having Seasoned bested all other hotels in the province of Cebu, and making it to as high as number 4 of the Top Hotels in the Philippines, in this year’s Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, and a spot in business the Top 12 Best-Rated Hotels in the Philippines from Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading online travellers hotel booking sites.

Trip Advisor is the largest travel online community in the world with 75 million reviews on resort and hotel experiences posted each month and the Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, already on its 11th year, are a huge deal for anyone in the hotel industry. The unsolicited rave reviews ranging from

“very nice” to “excellent”is how Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu ranked number 1 out of 67 hotels in the city, and the only Cebu City hotel to be included in the list of the 25 best hotels in the Philippines, alongside uber-luxurious properties and industry veterans.

Seasoned business travellers have rated Radis-

son Blu Hotel Cebu as “luxurious,”also repeatedly praising the warmness of hotel staff, the hotel “providing amenities beyond the standard,” and of course commendations for the food. One review went on to say “I always expect good service and nice facilities at Radisson hotels around the world,” but ex-

pressed that this specific hotel is a cut above them and that “the morning buffet is among the best I have experienced.” Reviews also mention repeated stays in the hotel from guests travelling solo or with families, clear evidence of their preference for Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.

Even with these recent

have rated Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu as “luxurious,”also repeatedly praising the warmness of hotel staff, the hotel “providing amenities beyond the standard,” and of course commendations for the food.

recognitions, the hotel refuses to rest on their laurels. Lyle Lewis, Vice President for the Philippines and Japan for Carlson Rezidor Hotels and Radisson Blu Hotel’s General Man-

ager expressed that “These awards are a testament to the five star product and service that Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu endeavors to deliver without fail. We share this honor with all the members of the team, from our lovely ladies who warmly greet you upon arrival, to our engineers who ensure that the facility is safe and efficient, to the members of the leadership team who constantly work on improving their areas of responsibility. We all work together to deliver 100% guest satisfaction each and every time.”

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is located at Serging Osmeña Boulevard corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines 6000. For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 (32) 402 9900 or visit our website at www.radissonblu.com/ hotel-cebu for the best online deals. Keep up-todate with the hotel’s latest offerings by joining us on Facebook (facebook.com/ radissonbluhotelcebu) and Twitter (@radissonblucebu).

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Celebrate a special Valentines at Picobello EAT your heart out! Celebrate Love Day at Picobello Ristorante Italiano with a sumptuous four-course set menu for only Php800 net per person or a mouthwatering line up of steaks and fillets served hot off the grill!

Savour all these while Maan Chua sings her original tender love songs to couple with your romantic mood.

For reservations call Picobello Ristorante Italiano at 2211696.

Picobello Ristorante Italiano is located at the 5th level of Gaisano South Citimall.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

FIC now scooping at SM City Davao!

THE “fruity-est” ice cream, Fruits in Ice Cream, is now scooping at the Ground Floor of SM City Davao Main Mall.

Packed in every scoop of FIC is a whole glass of milk which makes this desert so creamy, dreamy and delicious. Expect a burst of flavor as its fruit flavors are 1/3 real fruits!

Want to surprise your taste buds? Kick old habits and try something a little extraordinary like black sesame, green tea or strawberry marble and cream.

Love on the spotlight

FIND LOVE in a dance this Valentine’s Day at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. Witness an exquisite fusion of ballroom dancers as you cherish a night to remember.

Tickets are at Php 2,500.00 net and includes buffet dinner for two.

Avail of our limited Valentines Package at Php5,500 which includes Valentines Dinner buffet for two, tickets for the dance extravaganza and a gift certificate for an overnight stay with breakfast that can be used the whole month of February, 2013.

For reservations, call the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao at 2332881 extension 8201.

SM City Davao’s SM Store holds Payday Sale, Feb 15 to 17 ENJOY 3 days of great shopping and savings only at SM Store Davao’s Pay Day Sale on Feb 15 to 17.

Get up to 50% off on great buys storewide from shoes, bags, wears, accessories, toys, home essentials, beauty products and other fashionable finds.

Don’t miss the Pay Day Sale happening only at SM Store Davao at SM City Davao.

For the health conscious, indulge in lusciousness without killing your diet! FIC lite flavors are 95% fat-free with no sugar added.

At FIC, there’s a scoop

for everyone.

Celebrate early Summer! Treat yourself to a scoopful of Fruits in Ice Cream. Visit them at the Ground Floor of SM City Davao Main Mall.

Filipino comfort food at Razon’s, SM Lanang Premier FROM no less than the “culinary center of the Philippines”Pampanga, the brand Razon has earned its fame for serving the best halo-halo in the north.

In 2003, because of the growing demand of its Filipino comfort food offerings-- halo -halo, luglug, dinuguan and puto, they opened a branch in Metro Manila. And with an increased menu, Razon’s of Guagua is constantly attracting customers intrigued by its new dishes.

Now, its growing patrons from all over the country may also enjoy its Kapampangan specialties like sizzling

bulalo, sizzling sisig, sizzling bangus steak and chicken/pork asado.

These will surely warm everyone’s heart like a home-cooked meal!

Indulge in the comfort of familiarly Filipino flavour at Razon’s. Razon’s is located at the 3rd floor of SM Lanang Premier.

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

The Wanted’s Max George: I snogged Lindsay Lohan!

WE KNOW that The Wanted loves to party with Lindsay Lohan, but Max George is finally coming clean about their, um, friendship.

I asked him earlier today—while the band was at E! promoting their upcoming series premiering in June for the network, The Wanted Life (working title)—if he and Lohan did actually “snog.”

“Yes, we did—a little one,” George said.

But it sounds like things didn’t go far.

“She’s a friend of all of ours and she is a lovely girl,” he said, adding, “We wish her all the best wherever she is.”

The next Wanted hookup we may be talking about could involve Taylor Swift—a work hookup, that is.

And, no, it has nothing to do with The Wanted’s famous feud with her ex Harry Styles’ group, One Direction.

“I think she’s really good,” George said of the “I Knew You Were Trouble” singer.

Jay McGuiness added, “That would be really cool.”

Nathan Sykes said they actually have a new song in mind that could be the “perfect” collaboration.

It’s called—get ready for it!—

”Heartbreak Story.”

“Someone mentioned that and we thought, ‘Wow, that’s a really good idea,’” McGuiness said of working with Swift.

“So we could get on that.”

The Walking Dead midseason premiere scores series high ratings THE WALKING DEAD is more alive than ever!

AMC’s zombie hit series’ third season returned in spectacular fashion, bringing in series-high ratings.

The midseason premiere attracted 12.3 million viewers and a 6.1 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic. Take that, Grammys!

“When you look at numbers like this, the first thing that comes to mind is how grateful we are to the fans of this show.

They embrace The Walking Dead in a way that we wanted to believe was possible but we never take for granted,” Charlie Collier, AMC’s president, said in statement. “The cast and crew put everything they have into making this show. They’re a

phenomenally talented group who truly give their all. We congratulate everyone involved.”

The show’s previous record was 10.9 million viewers from the season three premiere. Even more impressive is that

the midseason premiere airing is the strongest telecast for a series in basic cable history for adults 18-49 with 7.7 million.

If you include the encore telecast, The Walking Dead’s viewership bumps up to 16.6 million.

Happy birthday, Jennifer Aniston!

Justin Theroux’s bride-to-be turns 44 HAPPY 44th birthday, Jennifer Aniston!

It’s been a fabulous year for the stunning star and life just keeps getting better for the former Friends actress.

This year, the blond beauty got engaged to her hunky beau Justin Theroux (and nabbed a massive diamond ring), became the face and coowner of Living Proof hair care line, landed a deal

with Aveeno skincare and continues to top every best dressed list with her always-flawless fashion.

And in addition to her personal accomplishments, the superhot star still rocks a bikini better than most 20-somethings in the biz (you’re one lucky guy, Justin).

Jen is currently filming her upcoming flick, Untitled Elmore Leonard Project, in Greenwich, Conn.

and since the actress is not present on set today, it’s safe to assume she’s spending some quality romantic time with her hubby-to-be.

So with that, we say happy birthday to the hottest 44-year-old around!

Can’t wait to see the gorgeous gal take a walk down the aisle! She’ll undoubtedly be one beautiful bride.

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

How to break bad habits

FLASHBACK: You’re slouched in your chair, biting your nails and yakking to Susan about Katie—that is, until Mrs. Anderson yells, “Girls!” Fastforward to last night: You’re slouched at your kitchen counter, frowning at your chewed cuticles and yakking on your cell phone to Susan about Katie. Where’s Mrs. Anderson now?

Bad habits afflict us all.

But whether your particular fixation is merely annoying, wastes time, or could actually hurt someone (like poor, long-suffering Katie), there are tricks and techniques to nip it in the bud. Of course, serious habitual behaviors might require years—and even some bona fide therapy sessions—to break. But psychiatrists, psychologists, and cognitive therapists agree that recognition is the first step. So you’re already on the road to recovery and a lifetime of good posture, manicures, and trusting friendships.

The Habit: Fidgeting Why you do it: You have excess energy, perhaps from the surge in adrenaline caused by consuming too much caffeine or sugar, and it has to come out somehow.

Just ask that pen you keep clicking.

How to stop: If you’re a large-triple-mocha drinker, cut back. To control energy peaks and troughs, it’s also important to get enough exercise and sleep. And try converting the movement of your hands and legs into isometric exercises: Put your hands in your lap and concentrate on gently pushing your palms together. For your legs, place both feet flat on the floor and then push down. Do these exercises until the need to fidget subsides.

The Habit: Smacking Gum Why you do it: It’s another oral fixation that serves as a security blanket when you’re nervous or anxious.

How to stop: The fastest and most effective solution?

Switch to hard candy. But if you really don’t want to give up gum, have a friend stop you every time she hears you doing it. Then keep smacking long enough to hear yourself and recognize what an irritating sound it is. You might be embarrassed enough to stop.

The Habit: Running Late Why you do it: The nice reason? You’re a pleaser and an overdoer, packing too much in. Not so nice? Deep down, you may think your

time is more important than the time of those waiting.

Either way, you lack some essential time-management skills.

How to stop: When someone asks you to do something, don’t accept right away. Say you’ll get back to him, then decide whether you have the time. Also, figure out which tasks always

your shoulders to your earlobes - is an even easier way to combat slouching. Do 10 rotations forward and 10 rotations back, says Phil Haberstro, executive director of the National Association for Health and Fitness, in Buffalo.

“This will raise consciousness of posture and help remind you to stand and sit tall,” he says. “Regular physical activ-

Or get a manicure. You’ll look good, and after paying for the service, you’ll think twice about ruining the results.

The Habit: Gossiping Why you do it: You try to take the focus off your flaws by exposing those of others.

But a person who gossips by habit doesn’t truly believe she’s good enough on her own.

seem to make you late.

Maybe it’s drying your hair in the morning: Time yourself to see how long it takes, then allot enough time in your routine. Tricks: Set your watch five minutes fast and build in time for unexpected delays. And always call ahead if you’re running late.

Not only is it gracious but the shame of making repeated calls might also be the incentive you need to be punctual.

The Habit: Procrastination Why you do it: It’s a strategy for managing the anxiety of having to complete a task.

How to stop: Recognize that when you procrastinate, others may think you don’t care about the job, and that’s worse than completing something less than perfectly. One trick to get you started: Make a check out to an organization you despise and give it to a friend to hold.

If you don’t finish the self-assigned task by a certain date, have her mail the check. If you make yourself accountable for the consequences, it will motivate you to wrap up the task.

The Habit: Slouching Why you do it: You may have slouched when growing up because you were self-conscious or taller than others or developed breasts before your peers, and the posture stuck. Or you might just be tired.

How to stop: Take dance lessons, Pilates, or yoga to strengthen the abdominals and upper-back muscles. A simple shoulder-shrug exercise - think of touching

ity helps combat the mental and physical fatigue that can contribute to slouching.”

The Habit: Disorganization Why you do it: You may be a visual processor. You like to be surrounded by a mess because it’s stimulating - and it reminds you to do your work. But it backfires, since you waste time searching for things.

How to stop: Separate papers into a pile you need to do and a pile you can think about doing. Use folders or boxes in different colors.

“One of my clients has 12 clipboards hung up in her office: six for current projects and six for those she may get to later,” says Lynn Cutts, a Colorado-based certified life coach. “She’s still being visually stimulated, but her stuff is organized.” Set up a system that works for you, and start with basic steps, like putting your keys in the same place every day.

The Habit: Nail Biting Why you do it: You use it to derive comfort and relieve stress. “Nail biting could be the adult version of thumb sucking,” says Alan Strathman, associate professor of social psychology at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

How to stop: First, note when you bite your nails, and then substitute another action. Keep a stress ball on your desk, or even play with Silly Putty the next time your fingers start tickling your teeth. You can also try wearing synthetic nails or painting your natural nails with a polish that has a foul taste.

How to stop: Focus your conversation on sharing your experiences, such as discovering a new restaurant or your latest vacation. Brush up on current events, music, or sports. This will give you something else to discuss besides other people. Plus, you never know who is listening in on your conversation. If you’re complaining about your coworker, be aware that her best friend might be the woman directly behind you on the train. Keep in mind that gossiping makes you seem untrustworthy. You may even lose friends and professional contacts when people realize you’re a gossip.

The Habit: Perfectionism Why you do it: Mom and Dad, who were probably perfectionists, had high expectations. (“Only a B, Mary?”) You define yourself by what you do, yet nothing gets done.

How to stop: Train yourself to care less. Deliberately do a poor job when performing a small chore - one that has no professional or personal impact, like doing the dishes or making the bed.

“You’ll see the consequences aren’t so dire,” says Cutts. Set time limits for tasks, and use an alarm. There will be no room in the schedule for that “one more thing” to make it perfect. Finally, just for fun, do something at which you don’t excel. If you’re a shower diva (but know you’re no Streisand), try singing lessons. Or play a weekend sport with a team that judiciously ignores the score.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 245 •WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

DFC LEAGUE

SPORTS 15

Crocs take solo lead

By Neil Bravo

O

N the day Lolong, the world’s largest crocodile died, a gritty bunch of Crocodiles lit up their own park sweeping two matches on Sunday to find themselves alone at the top of the Davao Football Community (DFC) League.

Davao Crocodile FC began their surge to the top with a 3-0 licking of Agila FC in the morning session before returning in the afternoon to score a Lolong-sized win over erstwhile co-leader Solido FC 2-0.

The Crocs now tote a 3-win 1-draw for a league-leading 10 points in the two-week old tournament for Division 2 players. With the loss, Solido dropped to second place with 9 points with a 3-0-1 card in a tie with Instatech Dragons.

Solido earlier extended its win streak to three with a 3-1 win over M7

United before getting ambushed by Crocs. Instatech bowed to Intangibles 0-1 in the morning but came back with a 4-0 spanking of M7United in the afternoon.

KMMPC scored a win and a draw to stay in solo third with a 2-2-0 slate.

KMMPC blanked Tough D 3-0 and then drew with Intangible 1-1.

In other matches last weekend, Real Davao FC defeated Belisario Futbol 2-0, FilChi-Amoc United drew with De Boerderij 2-2 in the morning session, Belisario Futbol won over De Boerderij 1-0, Tough D FC drew with FilChi -Amoc United 1-1, Real Davao FC beat Davao Agila FC 2-1.

Rounding up the top ten are Real Davao and Intangibles (6), De Boerderij, Tough D and Belisario Futbol (4), Fil-Chi Amoc (3), M7 United (2), and Agila FC (0).

T-Shirting the NBA H

EY, do you like “breakthrough innovation?”

How about tight short-sleeved shirts? If you answered “yes” to both, then the Golden State Warriors and adidas have a treat for you. Show ‘em, Harrison Barnes: That right there is a new jersey that adidas has developed and that the Warriors will wear on Friday, Feb. 22, when they take on the San Antonio Spurs in a nationally televised game on ESPN. It

has sleeves, which is different.

The team and the NBA’s official apparel provider have a joint announcement/unveiling press conference scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m.

Eastern/2 p.m. Pacific that will be streamed on Golden State’s official website, but Warriors beat man Marcus Thompson II of the San Jose Mercury News already has the scoop on the unis, which the Warriors will reportedly also wear

The new Warriors uniforms will be launched on February 22 and will feature for the first time the tight T-Shirt uniforms.

Players of Holy Child and University of the Immaculate Conception battle for the loose ball in the battle for third in the Mini Division of the 1st Emilio D. Escandor Cup. Holy Child won this match played at the RMC Gym. (TRMH photo)

during a March 8 contest against the Houston Rockets and one week later, on March 15, against the Chicago Bulls.

As Thompson tells it, adidas reportedly first pitched the short-sleeved jerseys to the Warriors in August 2011 and hopes they’ll be a “growing trend” in uniforms and merchandising: The new jersey is much less a T-shirt than the next phase in the evolution of basketball apparel.

It’s being called the “adizero NBA short sleeve uniform system.” And Adidas boasts it as a revolutionary marriage between performance and aesthetics.

The uniforms are 26 percent lighter than their traditional counterparts, which Adidas said its research revealed was most important to players.

They come with the ever-popular moisture-absorbing feature. The sleeves are made with stretch fabric that wraps 360 degrees around the shoulder to ensure full range of motion, because anyone who has played basketball knows how a T-shirt’s sleeve can interfere with a jumper.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 245 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO