Edge Davao 5 Issue 265

P 15.00 • 28 PAGES

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Indulge

Page A1

Bangon mga bay!

RUSHING TO THEIR AID. Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte distributes financial assistance to fire victims in Exudos, Bankerohan, Davao City yesterday. Three elderly persons perished and 27 houses were destroyed in the second major fire incident in the city this month. Lean Daval Jr.

No hand in TFI

CHED TO STUDENTS:

Summer glam in Mod Audrey Sports

Eagle 3 wins team title

Follow Us On

Page 16

www.edgedavao.net

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

S

Students asked to protest against their own school not CHED

TUDENT protesters who staged a protest rally against impending tuition fee increase yesterday in front of the Commission on Higher Education Region 11 office are “barking at the wrong tree” according to CHED 11 director Raul Alvarez.

Alvarez told Edge Davao that while he respects

REHEARSALS. Students of Bolton Elementary School practice their dance routines for the 76th Araw ng Dabaw’s Sayawan sa Da’n Dance Competition, at the Rizal Park along San Pedro Street, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

the students expressing their sentiments, he stressed that they (student protesters) should take their grievances to their own schools.

Any increase in school fees, according to Alvarez, is a bilateral agreement between the school and the students as stated in the CHED memorandum

FCHED TO STUDENTS, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

DRAMA IN GENSAN SCHOOL

Ex-PBA coach barred from seeing own kids

C

AN a school bar a father from seeing his children enrolled in said school?

That’s the question that Alfonso J. Mendoza Jr. wants answered immediately after Quantum Academy of General Santos City barred him from the school premises last month.

Mendoza, more popularly known as Coach Dayong who was formerly assistant coach of PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) champions Purefoods and B-Meg, is seeking the intervention

of DEPED (Department of Education) to resolve what he called “as a grave injustice to me and my children as well.”

The Manila-based Mendoza flew to GenSan on February 19 to visit his daughter, Dada, who was turning 14 on February 20.

Dada and Mendoza’s two other children, Mayo and Migel, are presently enrolled at Quantum Academy in GenSan. But to Coach Dayong’s surprise, he was stopped at the school’s gates by the

FDRAMA, 11

BOMB SCARE. Army and police operatives examine a suspicious van which was parked in front of a bank since Friday which caused a bomb scare along C. Bangoy Street, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Exodus fire victims get aid

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

V

ICE mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday distributed P10,000 each to fire victims of Barangay 8-A (Exodus) which claimed three lives and destroyed some 27houses last Sunday.

The 31 recipients were families whose houses were totally burned from the fire. A total of 21 houses were totally gutted down while 4 were partially damaged by the second major fire incident in the city this month.

The Exodus fire also affected 6 renters and 3 boarders.

Duterte gave P5,000 each to families whose houses were partially damaged, P5,000 were given to renters, and

P3,000 were given to boarders.

Relief goods, used garments, lugaw and ice cream were also distributed. The distribution of assistance was done at the Barangay 8-A Gym. Duterte said, “more help is still being processed, people in the neighborhood should not worry, because everyone will definitely receive help, as long as you are an authentic owner, border or renter.”

The vice mayor pointed poverty as the main reason for the fire, as people in the neighborhood do not have enough money to have a decent kitchen to cook at.

However, he warned residents to be extra cautious.

“I do not want to reprimand people due to poverty, but if there are people in this neighborhood who will light up kitchen areas to cook through an unsafe manner, then it should be reported to the purok leaders to reach the barangay captains, and if the barngay captain can’t handle it, then they will answer to me,” Duterte said.

Despite being thankful for the P10,000 assistance, most of the fire victims are saying it is not enough.

Elizabeth Padal, one of the recipients whose house was totally burned said, “I am very thankful for the help, but this is not enough because P10,000 can only buy roofing materials which are very ex-

pensive these days.”

“The only way I can rebuild my house is if there are more help that will be given,” she added.

The fire which started 10pm last Sunday claimed the lives of three elderly people namely couple Aurora, 70, and Dante Damondamon, 73 and Dante’s sister Theresa, 62, who died Monday dawn at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at the wooden house of the Damondamons while Theresa was tending to a fire in the kitchen.

Last March 3, three children died in a fire in a residential area in Gen. Malvar in downtown Davao City.

Nograles alarmed with abuses vs Pinoys in Sabah

T

HE Malaysian government should never tolerate the reported atrocities committed against Filipinos who have nothing to do with the Sabah claim of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, in their efforts to flush out his alleged supporters , House Assistant Majority Leader and Davao City Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles today said.

“The atrocities reportedly committed against Filipinos in Sabah is totally unacceptable.

There are even reports that even women and children who have nothing to do with the Sabah claim of Sultan Kiram are being attacked by Malaysian security forces,” Nograles, vice-chair of the House Commitee on Human Rights, said.

These attacks on Filipino civilians,Nograles said, should prompt Congress to conduct a formal inquiry on how and why the Sabah incident happened and took a painful turn.

Reiterating his call for President Aqui-

no to call for a special session to address the Sabah crisis, Nograles said that there is also a need for the government to increase pressure on the Malaysian government to allow UN representatives and human rights observers to monitor the ongoing military operations against Kiram’s followers.

Nograles said that it is also important for Congress to have a single voice in bringing the matter of possible human rights abuses by Malaysian security forces to the United Nations (UN) and possibly request the deployment of a peacekeeping force in Sabah just to end the bloody clashed between the powerful Malaysian military and the rag tag “royal army” of Kiram.

“The Malaysian security forces are now at the height of their operations to rid the areas of suspected Kiram symphatizers.

In the process, atrocities are reportedly being committed against Filipinos,” Nograles said.

DCWD adjusts fees

D JUMBO DURIAN. A teenager holds a rare jumbo durian fruit from Calinan that weighs 14 kilograms at a durian stall along R. Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

AVAO City Water District will adjust its water maintenance charges (previously known as meter rental fees) and discontinue granting the 10% discount for regular (blue) bills beginning April 1, 2013.

Acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado explained that thorough deliberations have been done and legal requirements have been complied for the implementation of these changes.

Board Resolution

No. 12-606 issued last October 19, 2012 provides that the changes in the meter maintenance charges are based on the acquisition and maintenance costs of meters. Aside from changing its nomenclature from meter rental fee to meter maintenance charges, the following new charges for mechanical and electromagnetic water meters according to size will apply: for mechanical meters: 13mm (1/2 ) - PhP

FDCWD, 11

SUBURBIA 3

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

P41 M rehab assistance to ComVal farmers T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing P41 million-rehabilitation assistance to high-value crops farmers in Compostela Valley province.

DA regional director for Davao Region Remelyn Recoter said the assistance is part of the commitment of Secretary Proceso Alcala through the agency’s Task Force Alayon (cooperation) and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) to immediately provide assistance to farmers and their families who were greatly affected by last year’s Typhoon Pablo.

“Most of the affected farmers in the province are those tending high-value crops such as cacao, banana, coffee, and rubber. We have to immediately provide them assistance so they can recover from such huge losses,” Recoter said.

“We also need to fast track our rehabilitation efforts to ensure that there will be no shortage in production,” she added.

During last week’s Bulawan Festival, the DA turned over the funding support and to the provincial government. A tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) be-

tween the DA, provincial government and private sectors was also forged to fast track various agri-interventions.

Under the cacao rehabilitation program, the DA turned over a total of P13.125 million funds to the provincial government for both agencies including the Kennemer Foods Inc., a private company to establish 1,500 hectares of cacao plantations.

Cacao farmers covered by the program can avail themselves of free seedlings, fertilizers, and technical trainings. Another intervention is the cash-for-work scheme of which farmers are now given alternative income while the rehabilitation efforts are on going.

“We are also considering cacao to replace abandoned banana plantations infected by the Fusarium wilt or Panama disease” Recoter said.

To ensure a ready market for cacao farmers, DA also facilitated the forging of marketing agreement between the farmers and Kennemer Foods Inc., one of the major buyers of cacao beans in the region.

DA also turned over P3.2 million to the provincial government to cover

AGRI REHAB SUPPORT. DA regional director Remelyn Recoter (2nd L) turns over a facsimile check amounting to P11.85 million to Compostela Valley officials: Governor Arthur Uy (extreme R), Cong. Rommel Amatong of 2nd District (2nd L) and Cong. Maricar Zamora-Apsay of 1st District (2nd R). The said

amount will support the continuing efforts to rehabilitate banana plantations affected by Typhoon Pablo. Also in Photo is provincial agriculturist Rolando Simene (extreme L), and Simon Bakker of Kennemer Foods Inc. Photo Credit: DA-HVCDP XI.`

the rehabilitation of 200 hectares coffee plantation. The DA and provincial government in partnership with Nestle Philippines will also provide seedlings, fertilizer, training, and cash for work incentives to farmers.

In February this year, DA has initially released P10 million for the rehabilitation of 4,373

“This makes our support to banana rehabilitation in Comval to reach almost P22 million and the biggest thus far considering that the commodity is a major dollar earner not only of the region but of the country,” Recoter said.

The town of Laak, one of the region’s largest areas planted to rubber also received P3 million fund-

ing support as rubber plantations in this area had been severely affected by Typhoon Pablo.

Meanwhile, DA-HVCDP is also being providing the same interventions to Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte where production areas were also damaged by last year’s super typhoon. [Noel T. Provido]

BOUT a hundred caves are found in New Corella town in Davao del Norte but mostly have not been assessed yet by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in order to be protected and preserved, a tourism officer said Monday.

Joel Quinahan, the town’s tourism officer, said in a media forum at SM City Davao the caves have been sources of water for households in New Corella as it is known as the “water basin” of the province.

He cited that of the total number of caves, 70 have been explored and only six were assessed and open for tourists, namely, Bondoc, Tibyun, Paradise, San Miguel, Tinagong Busay, and Borja.

Noel Daquioag, Davao del Norte provincial tourism officer, said at the media forum that his office has been pushing for the assessment of caves and classify them to determine how to protect and conserve them.

He explained that Class 1 caves should not be entered by humans, Class 2 caves can be entered in regulation, and Class 3 are those that can be opened for tourism purposes.

Daquioag said aside from the lack of cave assessment, the province does not have exact total number of caves, citing that 70 to 90 caves are found in Samal Island, while the same number of caves are found in Kapalong and Talaingod towns. San Isidro town was cited as having the most number of caves with over a hundred.

Dorina Ararao, president of the Philippine Speleological Society (PSS) in the city, said the water sources in New Corella that are found in caves should be considered before converting forest areas to agro-industrial.

She pointed out that if trees were to be replaced with crops, which cannot hold much water, the caves below the area will be devastated. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]

hectares banana plantations. These supported the immediate clearing operations for small growers.

The second tranche amounting to P11.85 million was also released last week to continue the rehabilitation efforts such as cash-forwork scheme including giving of fertilizer and farm tools.

Tagum women trained on accessory making A A

A participant shows a finished product after undergoing free training on hand-crafted fashion accessory making under the RTU Handicraft Livelihood Training Program in the RTU Relocation Phase II in Barangay Apokon last February 26, 2013. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

S part of the continuing RTU Handicraft Livelihood Training Program of the City Government of Tagum, 35 women living in RTU Relocation Phase II in Barangay Apokon were recently trained on making hand-crafted fashion accessories last February 26, 2013.

Miss Ma. Teresa Gerona, head of the City Investment and Promotions Office, said this training aims to equip women acquire skills that would help augment their family income.

The participants were given starter kit that includes a round nose flier, wire cutter, head pins, eye pins, hook earrings, jump ring, stopper, bead caps, connector, galvanized wire, white elastic cord and assorted beads.

The group was trained

by Miss Ma. Cecilia B. dela Cerna from the Davao del Norte Technology and Livelihood Development Center.

In an interview, City Councilor De Carlo “Oyo”

L. Uy vowed to strengthen the skills training program of the local government as it is one key in empowering women.

“This is one of the priorities of the local government of Tagum and this is a good way to help our less-privileged constituents to have an additional income,” the young solon said.

It can be recalled that the RTU Handicraft Livelihood Training Program has already produced eighty five (85) of graduates among women in relocation sites, to wit; Forty three (43) housewives from Purok 8-A Laureta Homes in Barangay San Miguel benefited in the Native Plate Making last March 13-15, 2012 held at the Barangay San Miguel gymnasium and Forty two (42) housewives from the RTU Relocation Site in Apokon also received free training on Flower Stand Making last March 16-18, 2012 held at the Barangay Apokon Gymnasium.

(Louie Lapat/CIO Tagum)

Protection of caves in New Corella pushed

4

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Villar moves up to no. 4 CYNTHIA VILLAR

T

EAM PNoy senatorial candidate, former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar Ranks No. 4 in the latest Pulse Asia survey covering the period of February 24 to February 28, 2013.

The three-time congresswoman, who has gained the moniker “Misis Hanep Buhay” due to her programs giving jobs to poor Filipinos through her livelihood projects, was also No. 4 in the SWS survey last February 15 to 17.

Villar obtained 44.0 percent of votes in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

She thanked the Filipino people for their

continuous support and trust and confidence in her programs and advocacies that she wants to bring on a national scope.

The results of various election surveys where she consistently belonged to the Top 12, Villar said, inspires her to work harder to convey her message to the people.

“Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat, una-unang sa ating Panginoon sa patuloy na paggabay sa akin at sa lahat ng sumusuporta upang manatili ako sa Magic 12. Makaaasa po kayong lalo kong pagsusumi-

kapang maiparating ang aking mensahe sa buong kapuluan,” stressed Villar who disclosed she feels very happy with the survey results.

Villar is also the managing director of the Villar Foundation which has been addressing the concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for the past 20 years.

The wife of former House Speaker and Senate President, Senator Manny Villar, assured to diligently do her ‘mandated’ duties if she becomes senator while strictly adhering to President Noynoy Aquino’s righteous path.

pursue their passion for acquiring culinary skills.

Bian said she had allocated P750,000 worth of scholarship certificates for the young chef winners in Mindanao’s premier culinary school , the Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (Ichef).

“This is our humble contribution to help professionalize the culinary profession, “ she said, adding “ I am hoping that students from the public high schools will also participate in this competition of young chefs next year.”

“I put premium on education because I know that these students will eventually become not only the foundations of their families, but also the leaders of their communities. Who knows, maybe one of them will become

a business leader like me,” said Bian.

Ichef is one of the schools under Bian’s Joji Ilagan Foundation Inc.-College of Business and Tourism, an institution that has become one of the main places of learning in Mindanao.

Graduates of Ichef, considered a primary school in culinary and business not only in Mindanao but in the country, are also provided with opportunities to either start their own businesses or work in the local and foreign tourism establishment.

Students who study in the school are provided with a rare opportunity earn Australian qualifications and diploma which allows them to get easy access to jobs worldwide – as it is a partner of the international brand, the

TAFE New Southwales Southwestern Institute based in Sydney, Australia.

Bian said she always felt that chill in the spine when a scholar recognizes her and profusely thanks her for helping that student finish college. “That is my biggest consolation,” said Bian, whose effort of providing better education to the city resulted in her getting the Datu Bago Award in 1997, the youngest to get the award that time.

The award, which was handed out as part of the celebration of the city’s founding anniversary, meant so much for Bian as it was a recognition of the impact of her efforts in business and education. “I am proud (to receive this award) and I will always cherish this,” she said.

domination of the administration’s senatorial candidates as proof of this appreciation.

Reacting to reports that President Aquino is dismayed over the lack of media exposure on his administration’s achievements, former Sen. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay said he will personally relay them to the electorate particularly the increased tourist arrivals, the construction of more classrooms and the soaring local stock market.

“This has to be appreciated by the people in the

light of opposition claims that they can offer a better alternative,” said Magsaysay, son of the popular late President Ramon Magsaysay.

Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal said it is important for the electorate to put people in the Senate who can help the President continue his reform programs.

“We have to make sure that the programs he has put in place will be sustained so inclusive economic growth in the country can be realized,” Madrigal said.

The Team PNoy candidates pointed out that with the government’s revitalized tourism campaign, the country generated 37 million domestic travelers in 2011, exceeding the government’s 2016 target of 35 million.

The stock market, they added, has repeatedly broken records, most recently reaching the 6,800 mark.

By the end of this year, the government hopes to solve the shortage of 66,800 classrooms, they said.

Bian gives culinary arts scholarships FDI Increase means

C

ONGRESSIONAL candidate Joji Ilagan Bian, chair of the Joji Ilagan Foundation, had launched the Junior Master Ichef Culinary Competition for highscool students in September, 2012. The competition was participated in by 75 students from such private schools as Ateneo de Davao University, University of Immaculate Conception, Assumption College, Davao Christian High School, Letran de Davao, Phil. Nikkei Jinkei.

Culinary Course is one of the most popular and expensive program that many High School Graduates aspire to take. Culinary schools in Manila charge as much as P350,000- P200,000 a year. And the exorbitant cost of education had prevented many students to

Team PNoy to bring ‘good news’ to electorate

C

ANDIDATES of the administration coalition Team PNoy yesterday said President Aquino need not fret on the lack of media exposure of his administration’s various accomplishments.

Saying good governance always has a way of getting appreciated, the Team PNoy candidates vowed to do the relaying of the good news to the people themselves.

They cited the recent Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys showing the continued

more jobs – Cayetano

S

ENATOR Alan Cayetano expressed confidence in the Aquino Administration today as a 10-percent increase in foreign direct investments (FDI) was announced by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“This is the best development because investments will translate to jobs,” Cayetano said. “Now I am more optimistic that soon the benefits of economic growth will be felt by all families, and not only the rich.”

Cayetano has been fighting for an increase in employment as part of his campaign to address issues related to PTK: Presyo, Trabaho, Kita. He will officially launch PTK tomorrow at the Taguig City University (TCU) at 10 A.M. Cayetano said that the fight to increase jobs is the continuation of the fight against corruption. “This only goes to show that foreign investors are noticing the country’s improvement and are showing more confidence in the country’s ability to sustain businesses,” he said as he welcomed the increase of FDI as a sure sign that the government’s anti-corruption drive is truly bearing fruit.

According to the BSP, FDI increased by 9.8 percent to $2.03 billion in 2012 from $1.85 billion in 2011. In December 2012 alone, FDI posted a $20 million inflow, a sharp turnaround from the $28 million net outflow a year earlier.

Cayetano explained that the country could now really claim that it has

shown an improvement given that an increase in FDI means that the stage is now set for the situations of trabaho and kita in country to improve.

Cayetano stressed that the government must now focus on making it easier for investors to establish their businesses in the country. We must encourage competition in the market that can lower prices and increase the quality of goods and services. This is why I supported the Anti-Red Tape Bill to make it easier and cheaper to do business in the Philippines,” he said.

NO INDUSTRY LEFT BEHIND Cayetano, however, lamented that the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors did not receive any FDI for the third quarter of 2012 – a stark contrast to the P 960 million it received as FDI in 2011.

“We must not leave the agriculture sector behind.

As the experts have identified, we should focus on improving the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. These are industries that are more accessible to Filipinos given the majority of the population’s existing skill set,” he said.

Quoting World Bank country director for Philippines Motoo Konishi, Cayetano emphasized that “(s) upport for both the agriculture and tourism sectors is particularly important for job creation. These sectors also create more jobs and economic opportunities in other areas of the economy.”

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

THE ECONOMY 5

Globe conquering prepaid market with quarter-high subscriber additions in 4Q I

N the midst of intense competition and a h i g h ly- c h a l l e n g i n g market due to multi-SIM usage, Globe Telecom’s prepaid segment posted a

quarter-high of 3.1 million in gross subscriber additions in the last quarter of 2012. This is 14% above third quarter’s 2.7 million.

Net incremental sub-

scribers likewise grew in the fourth quarter, registering nearly 300,000 compared to the previous quarter’s over 33,000 subscribers. As of end-2012,

Globe prepaid base has reached 16.4 million, up 6% year-on-year and 2% quarter-on-quarter.

“Innovation is what drove our prepaid seg-

INNOVATION. Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Peter Bithos cites innovation as an important driving force for its prepaid segment to sustain momentum amidst a challenging market.

ment to grow and sustain momentum for 2012 despite the aggressive efforts of our competitors and dynamic behavior of prepaid consumers who switch from one prepaid SIM to the other,” said Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.

Last year, Globe Prepaid strengthened its all-network and unlimited services by bundling its prepaid offers with text messages to all networks and mobile data access.

It also responded to the growing demand for mobile browsing by giving subscribers free access to Facebook and Google.

In the area of service delivery, Globe Prepaid took front and center with its customer-centric Load Watch, an innovative service that provides subscribers with real-time information on their load status, permanently avoiding instances of Nakaw Load. The segment also unveiled its self-service menu *143#, paving the way for subscribers to easily register to their favorite prepaid promos

without having to memorize keywords and access codes.

For 2013, Globe prepaid intends to maintain its position in the market with another breakthrough and game-changing offer that allows subscribers to create their own prepaid promo based on their needs, budget, and lifestyle, bringing the principle of customization and personalization to prepaid customers.

Globe GoSakto lets subscribers make their own prepaid promo from scratch and choose the type and number of calls, texts and data they need for the day, week, or month. The first of its kind in the world, GoSakto recognizes that customers have different needs when it comes to telco services, thus empowering them to create the perfect prepaid promo that fits their needs exactly.

With the many levels of selection, prepaid subscribers can explore and find the best value GoSakto promo combo with over 2,000 possible combinations, another Globe-first.

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Cebu Pacific flies new A320

T

HE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) took delivery of its 43rd aircraft last March 7, 2013, just in time for CEB’s 17th anniversary.

Acquired brand-new from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany, CEB’s 43rd aircraft is the 2nd Airbus A320 aircraft in the Philippines equipped with Sharklets, a new fuel-saving wing tip device. CEB now operates the largest Airbus fleet in the Philippines with 25 Airbus

A320 and 10 A319 aircraft. It also operates 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft.

With this fleet, CEB is set to add flights during the Holy Week period to accommodate demand, and provide more opportunities for travel.

It will mount an additional daily flight from Manila to Hong Kong from March 20 to 30, 2013. There will also be an additional flight from Manila to Legazpi on March 27-28, as well as an additional flight from

Manila to Naga on March 28 and 30.

Travelers bound for Puerto Princesa from Manila may also book seats on CEB’s additional flight on March 29, 2013.

Bookings may be done through www.cebupacificair.com or reservation hotlines (02)7020888 or (032)230-8888.

CEB operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 34 domestic destinations and hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo and

Davao. It offers 21 international destinations, namely Bangkok, Bali, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon (Seoul), Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Xiamen.

Between 2013 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 51 more aircraft: 17 Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo and 4 A330-300 aircraft orders.

PSE, a Placing Agreement was entered on 11 March 2013 among Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (PNX), Phoenix Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (PPHI) as the Selling Shareholder, and CLSA Limited as Placement Agent, for

the offer and sale of PPHI’s 130 million PNX common shares at a price of Php9.40 per Offer Share.

At the same time, an agreement was executed between PNX and the PPHI, which provided that PPHI shall make

full payment of the subscription balance to PNX for 130 million PNX common shares at the same price of Php9.40/ share.

“The book of demand was very comfortably covered at this price level. There was good participation from international long only, as well as domestic accounts and hedge funds. More than 30 accounts participated in total for the equity placement,” according to CLSA. PNX intends to use the fresh subscription proceeds to repay some of its debt obligations taken out to fund its expansion in the number of retail gas filling stations.

Evercore Asia, Limited, acted as Financial Adviser to PNX. Phoenix Petroleum is the number one independent and fastest growing oil company today with an expanding network of operations nationwide. It is engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products and lubricants, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, shipping/logistics and allied services.

Phoenix Petroleum raises P1.2 billion in equity

P

UBLICLY-LISTED leading independent oil company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (PNX.PS) announced yesterday that it had raised P 1.222 billion in additional equity.

In its disclosure to the

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

EDGEDAVAO

UNTANGLING. A fisherman is seen untangling his day’s catch from a net in Lasang, Davao City yesterday. Prices of sea produce will surely increase in the coming days as Catholics will shy away from eating meat in observance of the Holy Week. Lean Daval Jr.

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13:35 15:20 12:05 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

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

18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

7

Herbal processing offers healthy enterprise to farmers, rural women

Herbal production provides alternative income to rural women who now earn at least P3, 000 – P5, 000 a month. [Sherwin Manual]

L

ONG queues of indigent rural folk seeking medical assistance used to be a common scenario in the Mayor’s office in Surallah, South Cotabato until the local executive turned to herbal medicine as their alternative solution.

“Mayor Romulo Solivio, Sr. believes that prevention is better than cure and with his penchant for organic products, he came-up with an idea for the LGU to produce herbal medicine,” said the municipal midwife Haydee Ledres.

Dogged by their noble intention to provide alternative medicine for their poor and sickly constituents the local officials created the Himsug (healthy) Surallah Herbal Laboratory in 2006. The laboratory which later expanded into Centralla Alternative Medicine Producers Cooperative (CAMPC) have been producing food supplements and herbal medicine such as malunggay, mangosteen, sambong, banaba, turmeric in either capsule or powder form.

These herbal products are more than half the price cheaper compared to those sold in drugstores giving local consumers access to affordable medicine. CAMPC also regularly receives plenty of referrals from Mayor’s office asking them to provide free medicine to local indigents.

Meeting product standards “The production of food supplements and herbal medicine did not come easy at the start. We have to go through the rigors of BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) certification just

to ensure that our products are safe for human consumption,” said Ledres who is also the CAMPC chairperson.

Stringent requirements include the need to have an enclosed and well-sanitized processing center to avoid contamination. Another critical requirement is the bacteriology tests wherein they pay P10, 000 for each product.

“We failed twice on this test not because of poor hygiene but because of high moisture content which makes our product vulnerable to contamination,” Ledres said adding: “High moisture content was due to our conventional way of drying our raw materials. Sun drying cannot assure us of the exact moisture and worst during rainy seasons our ingredients usually end up contaminated resulting to a lot of wastage, ” she said.

To address this concern, they intend to purchase a mechanical dehydrator but unable to do so due to financial constraints. They sought assistance from various agencies until they were endorsed to the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP).

MRDP is an anti-poverty program jointly funded by the World Bank, national government and local government units (LGUs).

Implemented under the Department of Agriculture (DA), the program provides assistance to LGUs and people’s organization in form of infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Noting not only their noble objectives but also their capability to handle

development projects, CAMPC was able to access P500, 000 from the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD), MRDP’s livelihood component.

“The bulk of the funds we have availed ourselves of was used to buy the dehydrator machine worth P336, 000 while the remaining amount was used to buy glass cabinet making products on display more presentable,” Ledres said.

Whereas the conventional facility can only yield for them 2 kilos of ingredients a day, the dehydrator machine enables them to produce as much as 110 kilos of ingredients a day.

It has also improved the quality of their product and reduced if not eliminated wastage.

“With the dehydrator machine, you can set the exact temperature gauge and get the desired moisture content and avoid contamination. So when we subjected our products to several testing we were eventually granted the seal of approval from BFAD,” Ledres said.

The technological advances resulted in corresponding increase in daily income for CAMPC from only P1, 500 to as high as P15, 000 giving their association enough profit to sustain and expand its operations.

Providing alternative incomes The production of herbal medicine has also provided alternative income to local farmers being tapped as suppliers of raw materials.

“We only source them

(raw materials) within the town to ensure that they are organically-produced and at the same time provide additional income to our farmers,” Ledres said.

She said for malunggay alone, a group farmer supplier earns P500 a week while for “luyang dilaw” or turmeric; they earn P1, 000 a week with a delivery of 2 sacks or 100 kilos at P10 per kilo.

CAMPC operations also provided livelihood to rural women particularly the volunteered barangay health workers (BHWs) in the area. Ledres said eight BHWs are currently employed in packaging of herbal capsules.

“The packaging of capsules was intended to be done manually to give our

BHWs additional income as they only receive P1, 000 per month as volunteers’ incentives,” she said.

“I am thankful to CAMPC for giving us the opportunity to have an alternative income. As one of the skilled packers I earn at least P3, 000 – P5, 000. This helps me a lot in meeting our daily household needs,” said Armela Tuason, one of the co-op employees.

“We have undergone training on capsule preparation as it requires proper packaging skills otherwise the output will not meet its desired form. With the adequate facility [dehydrator] our group can now pack at least 10,000 capsules a day,” she said.

Right now there are only eight regularly employees in the laboratory but Ledres said once they expand their operations the co-op mulls on accommodating more BHWs through a rotation basis.

Ledres has enough reason to be optimistic as more and more customers are patronizing their products. What used to be

an alternative and preventive cure to local indigents is now gaining prominence from various parts of Mindanao.

They now have distributors in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur while one tertiary hospital in Davao City regularly places order to supply its traditional medicine department.

Although promotions of their products are just plainly on word-of-mouth, Ledres said customers riding on luxury cars from adjacent provinces keep on coming.

“This only shows that quality of our products is now gaining prominence and consumers’ trust.

Were it not for the support of DA-MRDP we could not have gone this far,” she said.

When asked whether the queue of people asking for medical assistance is still a usual sight in the Mayor’s office, Ledres is quipped to reply that it has dramatically reduced, as CAMPC is now providing them healthy and affordable options. [Noel T. Provido]

Haydee Ledres, chairperson of Centralla Alternative Medicine Producers Cooperative (CAMPC) shows off their herbal products, which is slowly gaining prominence among consumers within and outside Surallah, South Cotabato.

[Sherwin Manual]

Traditional drying facility (photo 2) would take almost a week to dry raw materials for processing whereas the dehydrator machine (photo 3) will only take less than a day drying time. [Sherwin Manual]

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Response to Ismael Kiram’s statement COMMENTARY

BY AMINA RASUL

W

EDITORIAL

The evil that men do

T

HERE is a strange, albeit slight similarity, between the case of a Puerto Rican-American import playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and a former Mindanao congressman recently appointed to the Commission on Elections.

The import, Renaldo Balkman, was involved in a very unfortunate fracas in the PBA that saw him go after the referees and then later choked his own Filipino teammate, Arwind Santos. In another light, the Comelec appointee, Lanao del Norte Rep. Macabangkit Lanto, is now a subject of a growing protest over his controversial appointment to the electoral body.

Before the controversy, Balkman was the league’s most prolific import until he blew his top in that very unfortunate incident triggered by judgment calls b referees which he questioned and, failing to get his way, made him lose his cool .

Before the controversial appointment, Lanto was involved in a poll fraud case way back in 1992.

Lanto, a former ambassador, allegedly benefited from the election fraud when he ran for a congressional post in Lanao del Norte in 1992. He lost his seat in 1994 after the HRET declared his opponent, Mario Hisuler, as the rightful winner.

Balkman, despite making a public apology in a last ditch effort to keep his job, was

EDGEDAVAO Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

RICHARD C. EBONA Advertising Specialist

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

eventually banished from the PBA last Monday and on the same day, Lanto also declined his appointment.

Balkman had lofty credentials before coming to the PBA, but one single incident caused him his job even if his employers at San Miguel Corporation wanted to keep him. Lanto, for his part, had a dark past that has hounded him to this day.

No amount of Balkman apology could blemish the Balkman balk, and no amount of defending by the Palace could quell the questions surrounding Lanto’s appointment. Both cases only lead us to the unforgettable line in Act 3 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.”

Just that and Lanto was conceived by many as morally unfit for the Commissioner’s job. Just that, too, and Balkman was decided by the PBA as unfit to continue playing as an import.

The two stories only teach us that whether you are in sports or in government, the morality issue of one’s past and one’s present bear weight on how one is perceived by the public to hold a position imbued with public and corporate interest.

The past, sometimes, is something you cannot undo. Unlike computers, there is no delete key in life.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

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

EJ DOMINIC FERNANDEZ • CHE D. PALICTE Reporters

ANTHONY S. ALLADA • AQUILES Z. ZONIO Staff Writers

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

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

E are celebrating Women’s Month.

March 8 was Women’s Day, made possible by legislation authored by my mother, former Senator Santanina Rasul, who was not just the first Muslim woman elected to the Senate but the first Muslim ever re-elected Senator and the last Muslim Senator. These alone require that I speak up on the statement of Ismael Kiram that a woman cannot speak on weighty issues. I wonder where he got his idea about Sharia prohibiting women from being heard on substantive matters?

Women have been elected as heads of state in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Turkey. (Unfortunately, in the United States, the home of democracy, a woman President is still but a dream.) Even in Iran, controlled by the ayatollahs, women have been elected to their parliament and constitute nine percent of the members. Saudi Arabia held elections for municipal council positions in 2007 and has appointed women to senior government positions. For a monarchy with a country the democratic system of which is virtually inoperative, this is a significant event. Recently, 30 women were appointed to the Saudi Shura Council.

On March 7, two women (Nihad al-Jishi and Thuraya al-Arrayed) even met their counterparts in the United Kingdom Parliament. Female membership in the Shura council is a milestone for the reform of women’s rights in conservative Saudi Arabia.

According to Thuraya, “ our role in the Shura Council is to be part of the debate about every issue raised in the Council. … where women’s voices should be heard”.

One cannot say that Iran, the center of the Shia faith, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the heart of the Sunni faith, will violate sharia.

My parents believed in equality between men and women. My mother would cite that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married his employer, Khadija, who became one of the Holy Prophet’s trusted advisers.

Another exemplar is the Queen of Sheba, who – while not a Muslim – was cited in the Qur’an (Surah 27, The Ants, or an-Naml). Historians have named her Bilqis. While the Holy Qur’an has described majority of male kings and rulers as despots, the Queen of Sheba is described as a fair and enlightened monarch. Finding out that King Solomon or Suleyman, with a huge army, had sent a message that she submit herself to God, she consulted her generals and leaders: “She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’” Qur’an 27:32 The generals and counselors: “They replied, ‘We possess great force and power in war, but you are in command, so consider what orders to give us’.” Qur’an 27:33 She did not agree with the military approach and decided to offer a gift to Sulayman instead – a peaceful approach to the resolution of conflict.

“She said, ‘Whenever kings go into a city, they ruin it and humiliate its leaders – that is what they do – but I am going to send them a gift, then see what answer my envoys bring back.’” Qur’an 27:34-35.

Why would the Holy Quran cite a woman ruler as a fair and enlightened monarch as well as a peacemaker, if the intent is to declare as un-Islamic the mere act of speaking on important matters? It seemed to me that a faith that had such women exemplars, cannot possibly deny women their right to participate.

Thus, I find it incredible that what my parents taught us would be considered un-Islamic or a violation of sharia.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

F

Privilege rather than right

RUSTRATION OVER TUITION HIKE – Just like in the previous year, news spread around that private schools would again increase tuition fees and other miscellaneous expenses.

The Commission of Higher Education in Region 11 (CHED 11) announced recently that 30 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Region 11 applied for tuition and other fee increases for the school year 2013-2014. Many students most especially those who are in the secondary grades and college levels have long given up on their education.

With school fees increasing every year, thousands of students fully understood that their hope and aspiration for a better future could never be a reality. A university education nowadays has not been an initiation for the intellect but rather a lesson in frustration and disappointment. It is rather regrettable that the students’ education is deadening instead of stimulating.

Their frustration has often erupted in rage – students continue to stage street protests and the government, instead of addressing the problems tackled by the protests, continues to crack down on them. The mass actions were ostensibly to demand top education officials to prevent private schools from increasing fees at the height of financial difficulties.

The reason for the students’, and of course, the parents’ dissatisfaction is quite simple. Since the early 90’s ed-

T

VANTAGE POINTS

ucation already has become more of a privilege rather than a right. They feel that the country’s current education system where government , through the Department of Education and CHED, allows private schools and colleges to raise tuition and other fees, had done them boundless disservice.

The tuition increases have prompted thousands of students in private schools to transfer to the public schools, which is perceived to have collecting much lower tuition fees. However, public schools can only accept a very limited number of students precisely because of their perennial problems of lack of funds, classrooms, school and office supplies, power and water supply, desks, tables, other facilities, and , most importantly, teachers.

Is the country’s education system in shambles, it might be asked? Are there structural problems that affect the system? Is there a mismatch between the courses offered by schools and the jobs available in the labor market? Why are the funds allotted to state-run schools

just a pittance compared to other government agencies?

Education experts believe that what aggravates the situation is that the problems in our education system have taken on a political dimension. They argued that education has gone nowhere in the years when political leaders clash at every twist and turn, so hope for an improved education structure rests conclusively on change in the political system.

Thousands of college and technical-vocational graduates who have long given up on looking for the elusive jobs they have applied for accept menial jobs in order to survive. Thus, college graduates are seen driving taxicabs, answering phones, serving food, manning hotel reception desks and guiding tourists.

For as long as school fees continue to rise at accelerating pace and government continues to fail to solve the pressing problems of education and inability to provide employment opportunities to the young, student protests are here to stay and become part of our wretched life as a nation.

The student population demands better education and better opportunities for employment . These are basic functions of the state in a democracy.

Education liberates people from poverty, there is no doubt about it. Without education, we cannot expect individual or collective economic progress.

MIND DA NEWS

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ

will continue growing and the tilapia industry can be revived later under more sustainable conditions.

If the South Cotabato Provincial Government was able to pass a law prohibiting open pit mining and holding its ground against one of the world’s biggest mining companies, why can’t it do the same to save Lake Sebu from slow death, the industry that is killing it, and the tourism industry.

In a bigger sense, why can’t Government let the laws prevail over the selfish interests that have long been polluting our rivers, lakes and seas and depleting our natural resources? It has been done in Europe; otherwise, the Old Continent could have long been dead. It has been done in many other parts of the world.

Most critical to the solution of the Lake Sebu problem are those in the tilapia industry. The MindaNews report mentioned the “300 to 600 families … dependent on the industry” as among the considerations in allowing “the sprouting of the fish cages” beyond sustainable limit.

In sacrificing the future for the present, they are sacrificing the future of their own children and their children’s children. [MindaNews]

Lake Sebu Problem: Typical

HE Lake Sebu story as written by Bong S. Sarmiento (MindaNews, March 10, 2013) is a problem typical of Filipinos and the Philippines. We have the necessary laws but we can only talk about our social, environmental and other problems instead of firmly implementing them.

The Lake Sebu problem is not different from that of Laguna Lake – or any other lake in the country. The helplessness of the authorities to enforce the laws regulating cage fishing is not different from what has happened to our forests and mountains and is happening with our mines. Because of the failure to conserve and protect, despite the existing laws, the watershed areas of Lake Lanao, the lake can no longer supply enough water to run the hydroelectric plants; hence, the long brownouts in Mindanao.

The problem of Lake Sebu is critical. It is not too late to save and rehabilitate the lake. The experts in authority know the problems; they have bright ideas to address the problems. Implement the laws; then let the experts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources do their job unhampered.

Let the time deploring in the me-

dia the situation in Lake Sebu end.

Enough studies and investigations have been done. Let the time doing what must be done begin. Let media pick it up from there without sounding pathetic.

At this point, the problem is largely political. The DENR people failed to enforce the laws to limit the number of fish cages and regulate the cage operation within the sustainable resources of the lake. The local government, as well as the national, must step in.

According to the report, “some of the fish pens belong to ‘higher’ level officials”. Political influence must have handcuffed “the local government” from regulating “the sprouting of fish cages over the last 25 years”. Political influence can be stopped only by strong political will.

Lake Sebu municipality is widely known more for its tourist attractions than for its tilapia industry. If Lake Sebu dies, both the tilapia and tourism industries will die. Declaring a moratorium on the tilapia industry will allow the lake to recover. The tourism industry

9

Lifeline hangs in the balance ( 2nd of three parts )

COMMENTARY

BY AMINA RASUL

H

ere at home, various interest groups have weighed in, increasing the level of tension and further complicating the international clash.

Today, with over 40 dead, we are in very dangerous waters.

Smelling blood, more sharks are circling.

As early as two weeks ago, I had already received information that Moro National Liberation Front troops were ready to rush to the defense of the besieged Rajah Muda, believing that it was their duty to defend their brothers as well as to defend the rightful claim of the Sulu Sultanate over Sabah. Today, I have heard that the MNLF troops in Sulu and Tawitawi had started to sail to Sabah.

If they succeed in crossing over, armed with more than rifles and knives, what will happen?

Nationally, most of the commentaries I have heard from radio, TV, radio as well as social media networks have been supportive of Sultan Jamalul’s firm stance that the Sabah claim must be pursued and that the fighting must stop.

More and more are disenchanted with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s position on the situation, feeling that he is siding more with Malaysia rather than with their fellow Filipinos who are fighting for their rightful claim.

I, however, believe that perhaps PNoy is not receiving accurate advice.

On Wednesday, we at the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy met to discuss options to resolve the situation peacefully and with justice. Our recommendations included the following: 1. To enforce the ceasefire, independent parties, such as the UN Peacekeeping Forces, should maintain order in the conflict areas.

2. Peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the Sabah debacle between the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysian security forces is the most viable option.

3. Malaysia to allow Red Crescent access, thus providing innocent victims and casualties medical assistance and humanitarian aid.

4. The highly volatile situation calls for tempered and experienced leaders, knowledgeable about the underlying issues, to diffuse the tensions. The Aquino Administration should create a Crisis Committee that can work on a peaceful and just resolution of the Lahad Datu crisis. The Crisis Committee should be headed by the Office of the President and should include representatives of the Sultanate and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Commission on Human Rights, and the National Security Council.

The Crisis Committee shall work and find a way forward to address the present crisis in Sabah, Malaysia through legal avenues available and other instruments already agreed by the ASEAN and bilaterally by Malaysia and the Philippines.

10 NATION/WORLD

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Gender concerns pushed S

EXUALITY is healthy but sexualization is not. In TV programs and films, critical attention should be given to the treatment of language, sexual and gender issues, and violence.

These were some of the highlighted messages during Gender Sensitivity Seminar for GMA7 on March 10, with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) at the helm, and with Sr. Consolata O. Manding of Paulines Institute of Communication in Asia and Ma. Gichelle A. Cruz, a PCW consultant, as resource persons.

Several GMA7 executives and “Party Pilipinas” artists and staff participated in the springboard discussion on gender and development (GAD) issues in media, TV/film sensitivities and responsible programming, the first of its kind in Philippine history. “GMA7, MTRCB, and PCW are making history together,” MTRCB Chairperson Eugenio “Toto” Villareal said.

“The seminar should be seen as a blessing in disguise to advance gender concerns in GMA 7,” Villareal emphasized.

The Sunday noontime variety show is under a 6-month probation period after airing a “sexually

charged” episode last January 27.

GMA 7 Research, Contracts, and Litigation lawyer Atty. Jose Vener Ibarra welcomed the conduct of the Gender Sensitivity Seminar. “I think the overall theme of the activity is change,” Ibarra said adding that it “should translate” to more programs with GAD content. “Being sensitive to the issues of women and men can help produce better TV program episodes without compromising artistry,” Villareal added.

Cruz discussed that hypersexualization among the youth is very rampant.

“As media practitioners, you can send a message to the audience that you do

not need to be hot to be accepted,” she said. Sr. Manding added that anything can be put into a movie or TV program but the way it was handled “makes all the difference.”

“Party Pilipinas” Director Mark Reyes said MTRCB should have “clear cut” guidelines in classifying TV programs based on content. “How much blood do we show? When do we say a woman is wearing an overly sexy dress?”

Reyes asked. Villareal said MTRCB has already came up with a handbook and he expects GMA7’s liaison officers to disseminate those.

MTRCB Board Member and GAD Committee Chairperson Robert “Bob-

Malaysia must stop atrocities

B

Philippine government urged to demand access to Filipinos in Sabah

AYAN Muna Party-list Representative Neri Colmenares condemned the reported Malaysian atrocities committed against Filipinos and criticized the indecisive action of the Aquino government in defending the rights of Filipinos in Sabah.

“Malaysian troops must be held accountable for human rights violations. The death of many of our countrymen warrants fast and decisive action from our government which should demand that Malaysia allow representatives of the Philippine government and human rights organizations to investigate the reports that many of the 53 Filipinos reportedly killed

by Malaysian forces were unarmed civilians. We

should be more insistent in demanding accountability from Malaysia especially since Malaysia has refused to investigate the reported human rights violations,“ Colmenares said. He added that the safety of its citizens is a primary duty of the government and it takes precedence over the concern to maintain good diplomatic relations with other countries, apparently pertaining to the unconcealed effort of the Aquino government not to antagonize the Malaysian government.

Colmenares also reacted to media reports of accounts from evacuees arriving in Sulu that Filipinos in Sabah are being targeted for abuse and violence by the Malaysian police and military resulting

in the exodus of Filipinos from the island. “Sabah is home to hundreds of thousands of our countrymen, we should do something for them instead of just waiting for thousands of possible refugees to arrive in Tawi-tawi. This is humanitarian crisis of serious proportions. Those of Filipino origin such as Bajao, Iranun, Yakan, Orang Suluk and a mixture of Visayans and Chavacanos, now numbering 800,000 possibly outnumber even the Kadaza Dusun, the original natives of Sabah. Malaysia cannot just make refugees of the largest ethnic group in Sabah by committing crimes against humanity to cow them. The Aquino government’s pronouncements of having to document and verify first

the reported human rights violations are mere lip service since they have not formally asserted that we be allowed to enter Sabah and investigate. Malaysia is courting a long term insurgency if it persists in committing abuses against the very people who have inhabited Sabah for decades or no one is held to account for the atrocities,” he warned.

Colmenares urged the government to conduct high level official talks with Malaysia to ensure that the rights of our countrymen are safeguarded and to insist that Philippine officials and human rights groups be allowed access to the area of conflict so they can truly assess the situation and respond appropriately to our people’s needs.

TRACKING DOWN. Malaysian soldiers track down Filipinos in Sabah. Malaysian police said they had arrested 79 people in Sabah state, on the island of Borneo, as skirmishes to end a month-long incursion by armed Filipino Islamists left many people dead. [AFP]

by” Andrews stressed the importance of the formula for responsible programming. “Audience analysis plus audience responsibility plus industry self-regulation is equal to responsible programming,” he said.

He added that the government and private media are accountable under Republic Act 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women (MCW), to promote “non-discriminatory” and “non-derogatory” portrayals of women.

Master Showman and GMA Consultant German “Kuya Germs” Moreno expressed GMA 7’s commitment to continue “making Filipinos happy” through TV programs. He also echoed PCW and MTRCB’s

call for artists to exercise responsibility especially since fans look up to them for moral guidance. “We need to be cautious in our programs to avoid sending wrong messages. Wardrobe malfunctions and the like can be avoided,” Moreno said in Filipino.

PCW stressed that GMA 7 and MTRCB are “united” in the pursuit of giving Filipinos quality TV programming. Follow-up network-wide seminars and trainings on GAD are expected to be conducted after GMA 7 has assigned its GAD Focal Point Persons who will be responsible in making sure that the network is complying with the MCW and MTRCB memoranda.

2013 grads may end up jobless - Anakbayan

W

ITH graduation just around the corner, youth group Anakbayan today called on the Aquino administration to address youth unemployment.

“As a youth organization, we at Anakbayan are deeply worried about the youth’s prospects for decent jobs after graduation.

Tila walang pagbabago sa ilalim ni Aquino pagdating sa kawalan ng trabaho.

Noynoying ang graduates.

Joblessness must be addressed to ensure a sustainable future for young Filipinos,” said Anakbayan National Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

Citing 2012 Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) data, Anakbayan highlighted the sheer number of jobs the country must produce to give its youth decent lives.

“Based on CHED data, the country produced 517,425 college graduates in 2012, while DepEd data shows that there were over 1,153,643 high school graduates. In contrast, based on Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) data, only 344,000 full-time jobs were generated, and over 1.1 million part-time jobs were lost between October 2011 and October 2012, the period where we can assume that 2012 graduates have started looking for employment.

The data shows that 2012 graduates are not gainfully employed. They are either unemployed or underemployed,” explained Crisostomo.

“Kulang na kulang talaga ang mga trabaho na na-

gagawa ng administrasyon ni Aquino. It is no wonder that the youth is increasingly looking abroad for employment to support themselves, instead of working here,” he said.

2011 NSO estimates show that those hardest hit by unemployment are the youth, with 50.4% of the unemployed being 15-24 years old, with 42% of the unemployed being college graduates.

Anakbayan points out that manufacturing and industrial-sector jobs are the ones that assure the youth of sustainable livelihoods, rather than service-sector and informal-sector jobs.

“One problem with the current job generation framework is that it puts too much emphasis on the BPO industry and expanding service sector jobs, rather than in the creation of Philippine industries. Sustainable jobs and economic growth is directly related to the establishment of national industries, such as manufacturing. Manufacturing and is also the sector that would benefit from the sheer number of qualified, world-class college graduates that we produce,” he further explained.

However, he said, the government’s “colonial, anti-nationalist” framework prevents such industry from being created.

“The Noynoy government is acting like a recruitment agency for foreign businesses, pressing down wages and subjecting our people to exploitative labor relations. It is not interested in developing local industries and sustainable jobs for our young people,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

CHED to students...

FFROM 1

order (CMO) no. 03 known as “enhanced policies, guidelines and procedures governing increase in tuition and other school fees.”

Following that school of thought, Alvarez is saying that CHED is not a party to the TFI issue.

Some 30 students from the University of Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao University college unit, University of the Philippines and other schools rallied around 4pm yesterday in front of the CHED 11 office, but left at 5pm after disseminating information on their sentiments about the tuition fee increase.

Drama...

With 16 police officers guarding CHED 11 office, Sta. Ana deputy station commander major Noel Asumen told protesters to leave because they did not have permit to rally.

“If they will not leave properly, then we will be forced to disperse them by force because it will be the mayor Sara Duterte who will get angry if we don’t,” Asumen said.

A member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) said that they are practicing Article 3, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the

press, or the right of the people to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Alvarez said according to CMO no.

03, 70 percent of the TFI will go to the salaries and benefits of the teachers, 30 percent for the development of the schools and only 10 percent will be considered as income or Return of Investment of the schools.

Alvarez singled out the case of Davao Doctors College which did not apply for a TFI contrary to an earlier press release the protesters disseminated to the public.

school administrator: “We write on behalf of our client MARIA ROSARIO R. MENDOZA (‘Mrs. Mendoza’) and her three (3) minor children, namely, Alfonso R. Mendoza III; Marda Rosario R. Mendoza; and Migel Antonio R. Mendoza. “…as the minor children have a pending petition for protection order against their father, ALFONSO J. MENDOZA, JR. with the Regional Trial Court of General Santos City, Branch 22 [under Judge Antonio Lubao], it is requested that the children’s father be restricted [sic] and denied access to the school…”

The letter is an “obvious” offshoot of a case annulling Mendoza’s marriage pending in court.

But strangely, said petition for “protection order” was dismissed “for no compelling reason to grant” by Judge Lubao in his decision dated February 7.

Mendoza’s wife, known in her native GenSan as simply “Magirl” who now bandies herself as the owner of San Marco Hotel in GenSan, has filed the annulment case in the Paranaque City sala of Judge Jaime Guray in March 2012.

Coach Dayong was not furnished a copy of “that alleged letter” from Roxas to Quantum on February 11 and it was showed only to him upon his arrival at the school on February 19.

Curiously, said letter was not signed by Roxas II. The letter also contained the name “MA. ROSARIO R. MENDOZA”

under the word “Noted:” and likewise the letter was not signed by “Mrs. Mendoza.”

“Why would a school honor a mere letter of request, unsigned at that and therefore dubious in nature, to my detriment and that of my children?”

Coach Dayong said.

“Something very wrong is happening here and justice is the ultimate victim here.”

On March 2, Coach Dayong opened his third One-Man show at the Serendra, Global City Taguig, Metro Manila, featuring 10 works in oil titled “Dyip!

Dyip! Dyip!”

“As everybody knows by now, I dedicate my exhibit after 14 years of absence from the art scene to my three kids, Mayo, Dada and Migel,” said Coach Dayong, who resigned his coaching job in February 2012 “to go back to my other love, painting.”

Coach Dayong asked: “My wife took my three kids away from me and brought them to GenSan. There is no court order disallowing me to see my kids. Why would Quantum do that blatantly naked injustice to me and my kids?”

What pains him more, Coach Dayong said, was, “every time I pay the tuition fees of my children, the school readily accepts them. When I pay a visit to my kids, however, they readily rejected me. Where is fairness there?”

He said his lawyers will fire shortly a case of “obstruction of justice” against Quantum Academy.

FFROM 2

school guards upon orders of Rose Ling, the school principal.

Despite pleading for his case, Mendoza was unable to enter the school and see his three children.

Coach Dayong got consolation when Ms Ling allowed him to leave the birthday presents due Dada: 6 red balloons, 6 red roses, 2 boxes of Cinnabon chocolates, 3 birthday cards and P2,000 in cash.

Coach Dayong’s greeting card to his daughter that he entrusted to Ms Ling read: “For my daughter, Marda Rosario R. Mendoza, Happy 14th birthday!!! From DAYONG MENDOZA, Father.”

Dejected, Coach Dayong said, “I left the school almost teary-eyed.”

“Aren’t schools supposed to be the first to promote harmony, love and bonding between students and parents?” asked Coach Dayong.

He plans to file a formal complaint with DEPED officials Diosdado Ablanido of General Santos and Dr. Glen Bisnar of Marbel DEPED regional office, requesting for “an appropriate action against the school for its inhuman action and ordering same school to allow him to see my children in the future.”

In explaining her action, Ms Ling showed a letter dated February 11 from a certain lawyer Federico Roxas II, requesting the school to “restrict” Coach Dayong to the school.

Below are excerpts of the lawyer’s letter to Quantum’s Ms. Angela Corazon Z. Licas, the

11 50,000 tons of increase in tuna catch expected

F

ISHERIES officials are projecting an increase of around 50,000 metric tons (MT) in the country’s annual tuna landings once fishing companies here complete the deployment of their 36-vessel quota into the reopened high seas of the tuna-rich western Pacific Ocean.

Lawyer Asis Perez, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) national director, said tuna fishing companies based in this city have already deployed 14 catcher vessels into the Pocket 1 of the western Pacific Ocean’s high seas since it was reopened to Philippines-based fishing vessels in September last year.

“We have 14 vessels operating in the area right now. That (number) would have been 20 already if not for typhoon Pablo,” he said in an interview.

He said six of the tuna catcher vessels that resumed operations in the area last year had went missing and were presumed to have sunk following the onslaught of typhoon “Pablo” off Mindanao’s eastern seaboard last Dec. 4.

A total of 47 fishing vessels owned by tuna

DCWD...

fishing companies based in this city went missing at the height of the super typhoon. Eight bodies were recovered while 352 crew members from the area remained missing and were so far presumed dead.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) reopened Pocket 1 of the Pacific high seas to local fishing fleets in September last year following an extended fishing ban that started on Jan. 1, 2010.

Pocket 1 is located in an area of about 590,000 square kilometers north of Papua New Guinea and east of southern Indonesia, which are areas closest to the Philippines and where local purse seine tuna fishing companies operate.

The WCPFC, a treaty-based organization that leads the conservation and management of fish stocks in the Pacific Ocean, initially imposed a two-year fishing ban in Pockets 1 and 2 of the high seas in the western and eastern areas to replenish the dwindling stocks of the highly migratory tuna species.

The ban was imposed on all its 25-member countries and 10 other observer-states as a result of

scientific studies and the emergence of statistics that showed the drastic decline of tuna fish stocks, especially bigeye and yellowfin tuna.

Dr. Alma Dickson, chief of BFAR’s Marine Fisheries Development Center, said they were assisting tuna fishing companies in properly complying with the requirements set by the WCPFC for fishing vessels to facilitate their deployment into the reopened high seas.

She said these include the installation of a vessel monitoring system (VMS), deployment of an observer and the use of appropriate net size to prevent catching of juvenile tuna.

The WCPFC earlier set that “purse seine net shall have mesh sizes not less than 3.5 inches starting at the mid-body to the entire wing while ring nets shall have mesh sizes not less than 3.5 inches at both wings.”

Dickson said most fishing companies have been facing difficulty in complying with the fish net requirement due to their high costs.

“A VMS only costs around P180,000 but the nets could cost millions,” she said. [Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews]

a portion of the costs amidst its ballooning operation costs.

In another development, DCWD will discontinue the granting of 10% discount for regular (blue) bills per Board Resolution No. 13-026 issued last January 23, 2013.

Revenues generated will be used to help fund projects that will make DCWD facilities, especially those in flood prone areas in the city, more capable of withstanding calamities without or with minimal damages. Thus, the funds will be used to finance projects to beef up existing transmission lines and provide for alternative routes for water transmission in the event of incidents such as what happened in Bankerohan Bridge in December 16, 2012 when DCWD’s 600mm diameter and 750mm diameter transmission lines were damaged because of floating logs brought by the strong currents of Davao Riv-

er. It will also be used to fund DCWD’s additional strategies, programs and projects to improve quality of service given to customers as the 10% increases in 2012, 2013 and 2014 are still not enough to fund DCWD’s 20112018 Medium-Term Development Plan.

“As much as we want to continue our operations using the existing charges, we could not. Our current facilities are definitely not enough to meet the massive economic and population growth in the city. Thus, we ask for your understanding and continued cooperation. We assure customers that whatever additional revenues we generate from the changes we have in our services charges will all be used to fund services improvement projects and in due time the people of Davao City will reap the fruits of DCWD’s efforts,” Regalado said. (Jovana T. Duhaylungsod)

FFROM 2

21.00, 20mm (3/4 )PhP 32.00, 25mm (1 ) - PhP 48.00, 40mm (1 ½ ) - PhP 129.00, 50mm (2 ) - PhP 230.00, 100mm (4 ) - PhP 615.00, 150mm (6 )- PhP 1,278.00 and 200mm (8 )PhP 1,532.00; b) for electromagnetic meters: 50mm (2”) - PhP 1,723.00, 100mm (4”) - PhP 2,112.00, 150mm (6”) - PhP 2,178.00 and 200mm (8”) - PhP 2,778.00. As in previous years, the payment of the maintenance charges will still be divided into 60 months or five years, payable every month and included in the monthly water bills of all customers.

Regalado also said that DCWD has been charging the same water meter rental fee approved on January 3, 1997 through Board Resolution No. 97-03.

However, the unit cost of meters has increased through the years and DCWD has been consequently subsidizing

12 CLASSIFIEDS ADS There’s a better way to get attention.

Advertise with EDGEDAVAO CLASSIFIEDS

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

Health and Wellness

FOR SALE:

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

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Best for kids ages 1 to 12 years old High in CGF, Taurine, L-Lysine Contains Fortified with DHA Available at all Drugstore near you

Tel No. (083) 553-2211 / (083) 877-0019 / (083) 878-0308

Multivitamins for Teens & young adults ages 13 to22 years old Available at all Drugstore near you

Take 2mg Ener-plus Capsule one hour before your intimate encounter • Improve Blood Circulation • Provide Extra Strength & Sexual Stamina • Increase Libido & Sexdrive

Available at all Drugstore near you

We offer Pasta, Pizza and all Filipino foods and international cuisine

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

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 79359 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 601746-1 issued to GALGO, FRANCISCA was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

2/27,3/6,13

SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service LINO C. MACHITAR, Petitioner Case No.2002-XI-01100 x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: BUHANGIN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on DECEMBER 31, 2013. In the petition filed on JANUARY 16, 2013, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 20, 2013 at 09:10 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, FIVE (5) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 18th day of January 2013 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

Warriors rout Knicks 92-63 O

AKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- By the time Mark Jackson walked off the floor and into the Golden State Warriors’ locker room late Monday night, the coach already had a text message from his mother, Marie, who watched her son’s win against the Knicks on national television from the family’s New York home. ‘’Way to get them back,’’ she wrote.

From the Bay Area to the Big Apple, Jackson’s new team sure sent a message.

Stephen Curry scored 26 points, David Lee had 21 and the Warriors routed the Knicks 92-63 on Monday night for their most lopsided win of the season.

It was the best defensive performance for the franchise since the Philadelphia Warriors beat the Milwaukee Hawks 69-63 on Dec. 28, 1953. ‘’That’s a heck of a defensive night,’’ Jackson said. ‘’It takes a combination of great defense and, at times, bad offense. I wish we could take all the credit.’’

Almost two weeks after his 54-point masterpiece at Madison Square Garden, Curry shared the spotlight with his

co-captain in front of a sellout crowd announced at 19,596. He was 4 for 7 from 3-point range, while Lee finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists after helping the Warriors go ahead by 27 points in the third quarter. ‘’It didn’t matter how we won. We just needed a win,’’ Curry said after Golden State snapped a twogame skid. ‘’This was an important win for us. I’m glad we got the win, especially with the way it ended last time in New York.’’

Carmelo Anthony had 14 points and 10 rebounds after missing New York’s previous three games because of a nagging right knee, and J.R. Smith scored nine points before he was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul. Anthony was 4 for 15 from the floor as the Knicks shot 27 percent in the opener of a fivegame West Coast trip.

It was the lowest scoring output for the Knicks this season. It also was the lowest shooting percentage of the season for any NBA team, according to the Warriors. ‘’This is definitely not the way you want to start a road trip,’’ said Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who had four points and eight rebounds.

14 SPORTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Spurs rebound, beat Thunder S

AN ANTONIO (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs rebounded from their worst loss of the season with a balanced performance against one of the NBA’s best teams.

This was one satisfying victory.

Tiago Splitter had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and San Antonio snapped Oklahoma City’s five-game winning streak with a 105-93 victory on Monday night. ‘’I think everybody played well,’’ Splitter said. ‘’I was one of them.

You play well and you feel better. You want to play well against these kinds of teams, these playoff teams. Of course, we’ve got to stay humble.

It’s one more game.’’

Kawhi Leonard scored 17 points, Danny Green had 16 and Tim Duncan finished with 13 as San Antonio (49-15) maintained the Western Conference’s top record.

Manu Ginobili had 12 points and Boris Diaw added 11 as the Spurs’ reserves outscored their counterparts 34-16. ‘’We had a lot of great play from the bench,’’ Duncan said. ‘’That second squad came in there and kind of changed the tempo and took control of the game.’’

Kevin Durant had 26 points and Russell Westbrook added 25 for the Thunder (47-17), who have lost six straight in San Antonio. Serge Iba-

ka was the only other player in double figures, adding 13 points and 16 rebounds.

San Antonio’s defense was the difference, turning an evenly matched battle into its third victory in four games without Tony Parker. The AllStar point guard is going to miss another three weeks with a sprained left ankle. ‘’Normally teams don’t push us out so we can’t run our offense,’’ Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. ‘’They did a good job of being physical with us. We’re usually in attack mode and we’re able to get better catches and better execution. That’s something we can get better

EDGEDAVAO

from. We’ve always done a great job of watching film and throwing it on the practice floor to improve on.’’

The Spurs lost 136106 to Portland on Friday night, with the Trail Blazers setting a record for most points by an opponent at the AT&T Center and handing the Spurs their second-worst home loss ever.

A couple days later, it was a much different story for San Antonio.

Oklahoma City had only two baskets in the opening 10 minutes of the fourth, but was 11 for 12 on free throws. The Thunder went 4 for 20 from the field in the final period.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 11: Manu Ginobili (20) of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Nick Collison (4) of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Nadal gets free pass

I

NDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) Twice champion Rafa Nadal was gifted a place in the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday when Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer withdrew before their third-round match with a back injury.

Spaniard Nadal, who said he had been “very scared” after experiencing his first earthquake a few hours earlier, will next face either Italy’s Andreas Seppi or Latvian Ernests Gulbis in the elite ATP Masters 1000 event.

“That’s bad news, for sure, for the fans and for Mayer, especially,” world number five Nadal told reporters at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“I talked with him. It seemed like it’s nothing very, very bad.

“Just a typical back problem, beginning when he was warming up his serve. The physio says maybe in four days, five days he will be ready. That’s the most

important thing, that nothing is serious.”

Asked when he had heard that Mayer had pulled out of the tournament, left-hander Nadal replied: “I was ready (for the match). I was doing my fingers tape.

“I am so sorry for him especially. I talked with him just one minute, two minutes. He was calm and said no.

Sad situation.”

Mayer’s withdrawal came as a mixed blessing for Nadal who could do with more matches under his belt as he continues his comeback after being sidelined for seven months last year by a lingering left knee injury.

Seeded fifth at Indian Wells where he won the title in 2007 and 2009, the former world number one beat American Ryan Harrison 7-6 6-2 in his opening match here as he competes in his first tournament on a hardcourt surface in almost a year.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Summer glam in Mod Audrey THE here!

summer

is

As a nation of sunworshipping individuals, Filipinas has always had a fascination for swimwear.

Shopping for the perfect swimsuit can be difficult at times, especially for those who are quite conscious about their body.

It’s only normal for every woman to want look glam and sexy, particularly in the beach. Comfort and support are two main things to look for in swimwear. A sense of fashion is essential even at the beach, and shopping options nowadays feature slimming fabrics and patterns that make women look great under the sun.

Soul Lifestyle’s Mod Audrey swimwear offers endless possibilities in styling up your summer look. The hit collection is making another comeback with 9 colors to choose from ---

all reversible and wearable in different ways. Girls can wear it as a tube swimsuit, highwaist bikini, a regular two-piece, and many more.

Designer and owner Mimi Vergara Tupas describes her line as “Itsybitsy, but never teenieweenie.”

“Mod Audrey brings elegance to the shore even with just the tube swimsuit. Mommies like me find Mod Audrey swimwear as a solution to our beach problem. The multipurpose combination of

the one piece suit and bandeau can cover stretchmarks, tucks the tummy, and puts wiggles in all the right places. The pieces are seamless and modestly cut. Our swimwear can also be worn on the streets by simply pairing them with blazers, pants

or shorts.”

Soul Lifestyle is now accepting for orders of the Mod Audrey collection.

Visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook. com/ModAudreySwimsuits or order online via http://modaudrey.multiply.com.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

UP AND ABOUT

Park Inn by Radisson Davao reveals Georgina Wilson as stylish endorser PARK INN by Radisson Davao taps top fashion model Georgina Wilson as the endorser of the vibrant new hotel, slated to formally open in a grand launch event on March 22, 2013. With Georgina during the contract signing were talent manager Shirley Kuan, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.

Executive Vice President Rey Villar, and Vice President for Sales and Marketing Lourdes Macalindong-Juco.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao is conveniently located adjacent to SM City Lanang Premier and SMX Davao Convention Center.

The hotel is just 15 min-

utes away from the Davao International Airport and the city center, and a short drive away from major tourist attractions, beaches, and museums. Perfect for business and leisure travelers, this fresh and vibrant brand offers a great hotel experience through its comfortable rooms, modern amenities, superb conference venue facilities, and signature “Adding Color to Life” service concept.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao is the very first NexGen Park Inn by Radisson in the Asia Pacific. Park Inn by Radisson is a fun and energetic mid-market brand under the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups.

Smart-AJWCC mobile app wins recognition

GEORGINA WILSON PARKS IN. Top fashion model Georgina Wilson signs up as Park Inn’s endorser. During the contract signing were (from left) talent manager Shirley Kuan, SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. Executive Vice President Rey Villar, and Vice President for Sales and Marketing Lourdes Macalindong-Juco.

GMA holds Kapuso bloodletting activity

Network employees and volunteers gather to donate blood

A doctor uses ASCENT app to take a photo of the patient’s amputation which will be sent along with the patient’s profile to an online database via Internet.

Every day, there are people who lose an arm or a leg due to accidents, disease or other conditions. However, there are currently no available statistics on the true number of amputees in the Philippines, making it more difficult for doctors and medical health professionals to reach out and render care to this segment of persons with disabilities.

But with a patient profiling mobile application called ASCeNT or Amputee Screening through Cellphone Networking developed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC) with the Walking Free Program of the Physicians for Peace, amputee screening and follow-through care for people who have lost their limbs can be more accessible and efficient, a medical research study concluded.

More significantly, because of the data collected through the mobile app, the Philippine Health Insurance System (PhilHealth) has included artificial limbs or prosthesis in the list of its reimbursable benefits.

In a paper presented to the annual convention of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine and 6th Asean Rehabilitation Medicine Association Congress, Dr. Jose Alvin P. Mojica, chairperson of the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Dr. Josephine R. Bundoc, head of the UP- PGH Prosthetics and Orthotics Unit presented findings that the mobile app played a crucial role in overcoming challenges by rendering evaluation of patients paperless and user friendly.

LEADING broadcast channel GMA Network through the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), its Corporate Affairs Division, and GMA Regional TV, recently held a series of successful Kapuso Bloodletting activities for a number of beneficiaries all over the country.

With the theme “Donate Blood. Save Lives.,” the Kapuso Bloodletting activity was held last February 22 at the GMA Network Studio 4 and in all nine regional stations of the Network: in Cebu (University of the Visayas Main Campus), Davao (SM City Davao), GenSan (KCC

Mall of GenSan), Dagupan (Barangay Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City), Bicol (Barangay Concepcion, Pequeña Covered Court, Naga City), Bacolod (Bacolod City College), Iloilo (Mary Mart Shopping Mall), CdeO (Capitol University), and in Ilocos (Barangay 17, San Francisco, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte).

In Manila alone, GMA Network collected a total of 226 bags equivalent to 101,100 ml from employees, while in the regions, the Network garnered a total of 332,550 ml of blood or 739 bags from donors across the country.

A sum of 334 blood bags, which is almost 50% of the total tally in the regions, came from Mind-

anao, while 297 and 108 blood bags were collected from Visayas and Luzon , respectively.

Mel Tiangco, GMAKF Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear knowing that the 5th year of the Kapuso Bloodletting activity turned out to be a huge success, and she has this to say: “This is part of how we celebrate the Network’s 63rd anniversary. And we are truly happy that we were able to elicit the sincerest compassion from those who willingly offered their own blood and their time. We assure them that

their contribution in this project will surely come a long way.”

“Through the bloodletting activity, we were also able to further strengthen the Network’s volunteerism program,” adds Teresa Pacis, Assistant Vice President of GMA Corporate Affairs, who is also pleased with the positive outcome of the event. “We are very thankful to all the donors who took part in this meaningful endeavor of helping save and extend the lives of those in need.”

The Kapuso Bloodletting activity was done in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross.

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Sarah Jessica Parker: High heels ruined my feet

EVER wonder how Sarah Jessica Parker masters her sky-high Manolo Blahniks so effortlessly?

The star’s name became synonymous with the towering designer shoes she wore during her days playing the fashion-loving Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City, but her fancy footwear came at a painful price.

In a recent interview with Net-a-Porter’s digital magazine, The Edit, Parker opened up about the toll that years of nonstop strutting in stilettos took on her tootsies.

“I literally ran in heels,” she explained. “I worked 18-hour days and never took them off. I wore beautiful shoes, some made better than others, and never complained.”

It wasn’t until she twisted her ankle on the set of I Don’t Know How She Does It that she realized just how much damage her heels had caused.

“I went to a foot doctor and he said, ‘Your foot does things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there…You’ve created that bone. It doesn’t be-

long there.’”

Parker blames the more moderately priced shoes with plastic bottoms that she wore on the set of I Don’t Know How She Does It for her twisted ankle, but that doesn’t mean she’s still traipsing around New York City in her Manolos.

“It’s sad, because my

feet took me all over the world, but eventually they were like, ‘You know what, we are really tired, can you just stop—and don’t put cheap shoes on us?’”

She still pulls out her high heels for red carpet events, but you can bet she’s not rocking any shoes with plastic soles!

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s $5 million boobs Why that’d be a total bargain

INDEED, the Client List star was joking when she said recently that her chest could be insured for $2.5 million per bosom. But don’t be shocked if they actually are insured, or will be someday soon.

Because, insiders tell me, this stuff actually happens. More often than you may think. We’re talking multi-million-dollar policies...paid by people you might not expect.

Right now, the actress stars in The Client List, which is doing very well for Lifetime.

Does that show earn Hewitt $5 million a year?

Maybe not.

But does Hewitt’s rack contribute to much of the overall work she gets and the offers she fields?

Could she stand to lose $5 million in jobs if some disfigurement befell to her lovely lady lumps?

Well, given how much lingerie she wears in The Client List, it’s possible.

“If a star has large income potential tied up in a specific body part, it’s very possible,” says Lori Shaw, director of the Global Entertainment Group at Aon Risk Solutions.

After all, let’s remember that a few short years ago, Hewitt was making $6.5 million a year, making her one of TV’s highest-earn-

ing women.

As for who might pay to protect Hewitt’s chest... well, I’ve said it before: Stars rarely pay for anything themselves, and insurance policies are often footed by the people who stand to lose the most: production companies, corporate sponsors, yadda yadda.

Hence the $1 billion policy that Gillette reportedly took out on Mariah Carey’s legs when she signed on to represent their razors. Heidi Klum’s gams were insured for $2 million for a while via razor brand Braun. A tooth whitening company once bought a $10 million smile insurance policy for America Ferrera.

Even Troy Polamalu, that richly coiffed NFL player, had his hair insured for $1 million via sponsor Head & Shoulders shampoo.

Suddenly, a $5 million boob policy doesn’t seem so crazy, does it?

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

TRAVEL

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Of strawberries, oranges, and walis

By Carlo P. Mallo THERE is no better way of knowing a place than by visiting its public market. and no, I don’t mean the weekend markets that have sprouted all over Metro Manila, I mean the public markets that we all know as wet, dirty, and just as filthy as we could imagine.

But Baguio City is not the same. Its public market is the cleanest I have seen.

It must have been the cool weather which stops foul smells or langsa from developing in the area or it could be just that the people of Baguio love their city so much that they try to keep it clean as much as possible. Baguio City was pretty cool that day with temperatures hovering around the low 20s that the public market felt like it was air conditioned complete with a hint of pine.

If you are still thinking of bringing those wooden statues of men inside barrels, ashtrays, and what not, well, those should be off everyone’s list already.

While it’s already the raisin loaf from Baguio Country Club which everyone prefers to bring, the usual fares like strawberry jam, peanut brittle, blueberry jams, fish sauce, fresh strawberries, oranges, and vegetables are still pasalubong you can’t leave Baguio without. And oh, don’t forget the walis that the maid asked you to bring.

The strawberries and oranges I can perfectly understand but the walis!? Well, as the maid explained, walis from Baguio

City is far sturdier than the ones we see in local markets and supermarkets.

And since a lot of counterfeit walis claiming to be made in Baguio have proliferated throughout the country, where else should one buy but in Baguio City itself. (Who would have thought that even the lowly walis can be counterfeited?)

One more thing that I liked about the public market of Baguio is how helpful the people were. The tinderas would constantly remind us to watch over our bags and our mobile phones inside our pockets and since the parking lot was quite a walk, they would even allow us to leave the things we bought inside their stalls. And everyone took time to explain their produce and

made us taste it, too.

So when we headed back to Manila with a car loaded with raisin bread from Baguio Country Club, loads of strawberries, crates of oranges, boxes of bottled jams, basketful of vegetables, wonderful memeories of the public market of the country’s summer capital, and Baguio-made walis that can last a lifetime.

Photo grab from Joel Pascual, MICECon 2013 delegate

By Greg G. Deligero

sells like pomelos

F

FDAVAO TOURISM, S7

AST fact: 95 percent of tourists visiting the Davao Region are Davao City visitors.

That simple fact validates another fact: Tourism is Davao’s best-selling product.

A few days ago, over 500 delegates from all parts of the country and the world arrived in Davao for the year’s biggest event by far, the 2013 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Convention. In November, the city again hosts another major event, the 2013 Philippine Advertising Congress.

You look around, and you will see cranes perched atop construction sites working even at night. Yes, hotels are sprouting everywhere and events happen here and there.

These are the signs of the times.

Tourism Davao tourism now

EDGEDAVAO

Special Supplement

S2

FOCUS ON TOURISM

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Davao City: A bustling, dynamic metropolis W

HAT makes this city an upbeat, up-tempo, and up-to-the-minute destination? Davao City, a bustling and dynamic metropolis inhabited by 1.4 million people from different tribes, cultures and faiths, is abundant with amazing spectacles and destinations. From the waters of the gulf to the highlands of the countryside, Davao City is endowed with dazzling landscapes and blessed with wealth in natural wonders.

Davao City is also home to some of the country’s pride: Mt. Apo, the “King of Philippine Mountains” and the country’s highest peak; Waling-waling, the “Queen of Orchids”; the Philippine Eagle, the one of the world’s largest eagles and the country’s National Bird; Durian, the “King of Fruits”; and “Kadayawan”, the Philippines’ “Festival of Festivals.”

Located in a fertile, typhoon-free region, Davao City is famous for its fresh produce and fruits available all year round, such as pomelo, banana, mangosteen, lanzones, and rambutan, making it the

“Fruit Basket of the Philippines”. The city also boasts of having the world’s second best potable water as cited by the World Health Organization.

This bustling urban center is also home to commercial, educational, recreational, eco-tourism, health and wellness institutions. Its dynamic economy, human resource, infrastructure, favorable business environment, responsive local government and high quality of life make Davao City a preferred destination for trade, investment and leisure.

Due to these facets, Davao City is consistently cited by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center as one of the top metropolitan cities that has a business environment favorable to investors and by Asiaweek Magazine as one of Asia’s Top 20 Most Livable Cities.

Davao City is also named as one of the Top Ten Asian Cities of the Future by the Finance Direct Investment magazine of the Financial Times Group, based on investment opportunities and governance.

Aerial view of Davao City As a prime tourism destination, Davao City has numerous worldclass accommodations, business and convention facilities, shopping malls, variety of restaurants, health and wellness cen-

ters, diverse day and night recreational activities, and a modern international airport that connects the metropolis to various important destinations around the region.

Enjoy the best of both

worlds in Davao City - a fascinating mix of small town allure and the sophisticated comforts of a modern metropolis.

Davao City is truly an exciting cosmopolitan destination with a harmonious

mix of nature and culture, wild life and nightlife, spectacular islands and breathtaking highlands that make up one truly unforgettable Davao experience.[www.discoverdavao.com]

AVAO City is the hub of commerce and industry in the Southern Mindanao region. Yet, to this day, Davao City continues to straddle two worlds – the new and the old. But what makes Davao City different from other cities in the Philippines and in the Asia-Pacific Region that would make it ideal for tourism and investment?

1. We are TYPHOON – FREE Enjoy a typhoon-free vacation destination with good weather all year round plus an abundance of flora and fauna, making it ideal for outdoor activities . Davao City is definitely the best place

for adventure and sports anytime of the year!

2. We have one of the BEST POTABLE WATER IN THE WORLD Davao City’s tap water has been tested for quality and was adjudged as one of the best in the world in terms of cleanliness, safety, mineral content, and taste. No need for boiling, distilling, purifying, adding of minerals. No less than the World Health Organization said so!

3. We are a MULTICULTURAL AND COSMOPOLITAN PEOPLE Experience harmony in diversity as Davao City is home to at least 11 major indigenous tribes – Christian, Islam,

Lumad- as well as migrant settlers from all over the Philippines and a growing global community of expatriates of various cultures and religions, speaking different languages who consider the city their home away from home.

4. We have a STRONG, DYNAMIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT A favorite destination for study tours, Davao City is regarded as a model for other cities in the country. The local government is much admired not just nationally but also internationally.

It has led in crafting landmark pieces of legislation, pioneering innova-

SM Davao announces In Davao City, ‘Life is Here’ because… activities for ‘Araw’ D

By Che Palicte

I

N line with the 76th Araw ng Dabaw festival, SM Davao announces the different activities the mall will be holding.

Assistant mall manager, Engr. Nick Santos bared Monday at the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex Atrium the mall’s schedule of activities, as follows: March 11-17 – Mall wide sale of up to 70 percent off March 1-27 – Agrotrade fair and floral exhibit at the parking area March 1-16 – Davao Then and Now at the SM

People’s Park

Annex March16 – ABS-CBN Kapamilya Caravan with Angelica Panganiban, Diether Ocampo, Piolo Pascual and Richard “Papa Chen or Sir Chief” Yap March 16 – SM City Davao midnight sale March 17- Miss Earth Auditions at the SM Annex March 17- Kapuso mall show at SM Annex He added that there will be changes for the mall opening schedule on March 15, 16 and 17. For: March 15 from 10 am to 10 pm; March 16 from 10 am to 12 midnight and on

March 17 they will open from 10 am to 9 pm.

Russel Alaba, assistant vice-president for marketing in Mindanao, said that they are done with the “SM to SM” marathon which was part of SM City Davao’s activities last Sunday with more than 3000 runners joining.

“This is the first time we conducted a marathon that started from SM City Davao as starting point and ends at SM Lanang Premier which overwhelmed uswith the number of participants,” Alaba said.

San Pedro Cathedral

FIN DAVAO CITY, S7

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

FOCUS ON TOURISM

Brokenshire Resort-Hotel and Convention Center

S3

Nature-inspired, health-conscious

By Che Palicte Photos by Lean Daval Jr.

I

T’S more FAN in the Philippines.

That’s the latest spinoff to the country’s tourism sales pitch.

And it goes by as the tagride of Brokenshire Hotel-Resort and Convention Center, a perfect alternative to corporate gatherings, family celebrations, and other functions.

FAN, according to BHRCC, means fresh air and nature. There is no other better way of describing this nature-inspired oasis in the heart of the city.

Built in June 2008, BHRCC is abundant in fresh air and surrounded with lush greenery including century-old forest trees. It has a bevy of facilities and amenities suitable for seminar accommodations, functions, recreations and retreats.

It is located a stone’s throw away from the

Brokenshire Memorial Hospital and the nearby Brokenshire College.

This resort-convention hotel has 42 fully air-conditioned rooms, function rooms of varying sizes, six cottages with Living & Dining Area, mini Olympic size swimming pool and a Kiddie pool.

Since the resort and convention center advocates on health, BHRCC provides free checkups like blood pressure monitoring to their guests. It also provides

a program called “Lugawan sa Kalusugan” every last Saturday of the month where senior citizens receive health education and nourishment.

As part of the coming 76th Araw ng Dabaw, BHRCC will be giving 50 percent discount on all rooms from March 13 to 17.

S4

FOCUS ON TOURISM

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

MARCO POLO DAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

The great traveler deserves a namesake

By Neil Bravo

I

F travel has a name it has to be Marco Polo.

That name has become not just a namesake in travel but a standard by which an industry is now defined.

In the Philippines, only two cities boast of sharing that distinct standard—Cebu and Davao. That’s where Marco Polo Hotels established their hotel brand in the country.

It was in 1998 when Marco Polo Davao opened its doors as the first of its kind this part of the world. It is until today the only luxury hotel in Davao.

There is no question that Marco Polo has distinguished itself from the other hotels. It belongs to a class of its own. A different league. All by its lonesome.

That is why Marco Polo Davao is where the most special moments are celebrated, where top companies converge, where business deals are sealed, where wedding vows are exchanged, where distinct products are launched, and where

celebrities stay.

Marco Polo has 245 guest rooms and suites. Many of these rooms are non-smoking and handicap-friendly. It has a variety of room categories including the Marco Polo Suite and the Presidential Suite—the type of accommodation you will not find in any other hotel in the city.

But other than its fit-for-a-king accommodation, there are many ways to just simply enjoy the hotel’s service and amenities.

You can sit comfortably on a couch and sip coffee while talking business casually at the Lobby Lounge. When the stomach beckons, there’s a bevy of international and local flavours at Cafe Marco or give in to a delightful Cantonese treat at the Lotus Court. There’s also the option to just kick your heels off and roll up your sleeves and lose yourself at the lively Polo Bistro.

At dusk when the pace goes slo-mo, you can simply chill the night away at the Ea-

gle’s Bar. Marco Polo Davao is not just accommodation for the wanderlust. It is also service at par with international standards for corporate functions. From ballroom to cocktail venue, from conventions to press conferences, Marco Polo Davao can make an event a truly grandiose experience.

Just how different is Marco Polo Davao in ambience, service and amenities?

Imagine this. Marco Polo has a welcoming feel which makes one think he is never far from home. And then there’s the gastronomic treat from the hotel’s experienced chefs and because it is a full service deluxe

property, guests have many options when it comes to a perfect holiday.

Now if you think a prime hotel of this class stops at improving, think again.

In 2013, Marco Polo Davao will introduce a new room category called Premier Rooms. This will occupy two levels of the entire hotel inventory. The Premier Room concept was initiated to give guests a new level of luxury. These rooms will have a new look and additional amenities.

The hotel is also doing some refurbishing job on the existing spaces. Rooms are continually restyled and retooled since November 2011. The refurbishing

is now on its final stage and will include the Continental Club rooms and the Continental Club Lounge.

Despite the mushrooming of new hotels in the city, Marco Polo Davao remains the industry leader and unrivalled as the best Deluxe International Hotel in all of Mindanao. The entry of new hotel brands mostly from mid-market level does not faze Marco Polo Davao.

Like the grizzled veteran traveller, Marco Polo welcomes the competition with interest knowing it will continue to strive to be the market leader and the trendsetter in the industry.

It pays to be named after a great traveller, but it definitely is different when you feel like one.

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

FOCUS ON TOURISM

S5

Inside Globe is a heart for the customer E

RNEST Cu is a CEO on a mission: to provide the best customer service and experience to Globe Telecom’s over 33-million subscribers.

To get there, the 20-year company veteran has sparked major changes when he assumed the leadership mantle of Globe in 2009—reorienting a business-focused mindset to a workforce with a deep passion to provide the best service to its customers.

With the foundation laid, Cu spearheaded a total transformation of Globe to serve its customers better—establishing a customer-first culture, building a brand new network and leveraging best-in-class information technology, and impassioning and empowering the people.

Now Globe is reaping the fruits of all their hard work.

The Company has been reporting record growth momentum for the past two years and producing better mobile and broadband products that bring out the Globe brand essence of doing things “your way”. Globe also continues to deliver superior customer experience, providing multiple customer service channels in various platforms to give a variety of options for subscribers where they can easily ask for after-sales support wherever they are and whatever time of the day.

Cu recently gave a talk at the De La Salle University’s 3rd Strategic Management Alumni Association Conven-

tion and in it, he shared the people-building efforts in Globe that holistically make the Company’s total transformation gel together. An edited version of his speech follows: “Today the customer is at the center of Globe. We’ve come a long way from the old public utility we once were to the customer-focused public service provider we are now.

Customer First is the differentiating philosophy in telecommunications that I had been espousing since I assumed leadership as President and CEO in 2009. Going forward I would like to offer a glimpse of our Company’s transformation to serve customers better.

Kick-starting Customer First Culture Even with the best talents and the best of intentions, bred from a desire to take our business to soaring flight once again after several years of missing corporate targets, it painfully dawned on me that focusing purely on business— casing, analyzing, and scrutinizing every cost to monetize and milk all possible benefit had drawn focus away from what we truly were.

We were fundamentally a public service company, yet mindless ‘process-based’ decisions locked our eyes on numbers, spreadsheets, and numb rules of engagement, when our hearts should have been purely bleeding the passion to provide the best service for our very reason for being. The Customer.

Thus I immediately set

out to harness every bit of intelligence, skill and competency by impassioning our employees, Ka-Globe as we fondly call each other, towards achieving our true goal—to serve our customers better.

One of the initiatives I personally championed to kickstart the crucial paradigm shift was the Globe Customer First Circle (CFC) Program.

CFC helped the organization deliver a superior customer experience while embedding a culture of customer centricity and continuous improvement. With the CFC program structure, processes, and incentives—employees take accountability and ownership over transformative efforts in their respective functional spheres. To date, CFC has generated billions in annualized benefits after the completion of hundreds of projects since its inception in 2009.

Transforming Infrastructure The needs of the customers changed from the days of simple texting and calling to a demand for mobile data.

The rapid increase in mobile data traffic, as more and more Filipinos surf on the go, check their Facebook or tweet in transit squarely put onus on Globe to change infrastructure. So Globe began a $700-million transformation to build a brand new network and install IT systems, aggressively turning things upside down and inside out, investing ultimately in what our customers truly want and

“The lack of customer centricity in public utilities has long undermined the level of professionalism demanded of a true service provider. We are purposefully strengthening that culture which sets us apart –Ernest Cu” will evolve into. Because that is what putting customer first means.

Impassioning and Empowering Ka-Globe At this point let me add a critical qualification, the customer we speak of is external and internal. After all our vision in Globe is to have the happiest customers and employees. Every ka-Globe is a key piece in the total equation, and they have to feel accountable for the overall success or failure of our organization.

I and other Globe senior leaders personally invest in making an effort to be visible to employees through our town-hall type forums, mind-

ing and mining the pulse of our entire employee base, while they in turn align their roles to greater corporate goals.

Though still without the benefit of fully finished brand new infrastructure, but with over 5,000 Globe employees latched on to the professional values of customer service and customer focus, we have achieved greater things. I believe that the business momentum we ride today is the blossoming fruit of Ka-Globe united by collective ownership of our mission and vision.

An impassioned workforce and awesome infrastructure are the keys; how-

ever in order to foster long haul competitive advantage, we have to have the besttrained and most developed people in the industry. Thus empowering people is of paramount importance in Globe. To this end, we have a thoughtful roster of people development programs with the objective of professional empowerment to serve customers better.

At the end of the day, professional success and industry leadership hinge on customer-focused people who truly do make all the difference--that commitment to the customer is true north on a cultural compass to deliver the superior experience.”

S6

FOCUS ON TOURISM

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Welcome reception at Waterfront Insular

B

EFORE the threeday Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions Conference (MICE Con 2013) was formally opened last March 7 at the SMX Convention Center, the delegates first got the taste of Davao’s hospitality at Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao where they enjoyed delicious and hearty food during the welcome party on the evening of March 6.

It was, indeed, a memorable night for around 350 conference delegates who arrived early for the event and attended the welcome reception. After all,

the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao is every guest’s gateway to the diverse, colorful and rich cultural heritage of Davao City.

Nestled along the picturesque Davao Gulf, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao provides guests with an unforgettable experience for the senses.

Walk along our openair corridors and take in the beauty of our landscaped gardens. It is equipped with modernized Filipiniana interiors, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking view of tropical haven, and the flavors of Davao.

Director of Duaw Dabaw, Liste Marquez and Gatchi Gatchalian, Davao-known Event Organizer with Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s General Manager, Rouel P. Guanzon.

General Manager, Rouel P. Guanzon warmly welcomes guests and delegates of the Welcome Reception hosted by Waterfront Insular Hotel

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s Gen Manager, Rouel P. Guanzon,, Waterfront’s Group Sales Manager, Myla I. Mohammad and PCVC-DOT’s Tess Mauricio

MICE Con delegates enjoying the food and ambiance of Waterfront’s Garden Tent turned into a party venue for Black Circuit Lounge

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Davao Tourism...

FOCUS ON TOURISM Tourist Arrivals in Davao Region

S7

FFROM S1

Tourism makes for Davao’s best-selling attraction.

As one of the leading economic sectors which accelerate through the years at consistent pace, the tourism industry in Davao City leads all other areas in the Davao Region as an emerging economic backbone, contributing billions of pesos in tourist receipts and other economic benefits.

A comparative analysis made by Edge Davao showed that in a span of five years starting 2007, the region’s estimated economic benefits from the industry surged by 64.98 percent from P17.28 billion to P28.51 billion in 2012.

The amount, derived by multiplying the estimated tourist receipts by 2.2 (the standard multiplier adopted by the World Tourism Organization), represents the wider economic gains from the tourism industry including employment, return of investment, tax generation and agricultural and industrial production.

Tourist receipts For tourist receipts alone, the region gained

P12.96 billion in 2012, an increase of 65.09 percent from P7.85 billion registered in 2007. The estimated amount is derived by multiplying the total number of tourists by the average length of stay, which is 3.5 days, and the average daily expenditures, which is P3,405.64.

From 2007 to 2012, the total estimated tourist receipts amounted to P59.38 billion while the total estimated economic benefits reached P130.63 billion.

The number of tourist arrivals in the Davao Region in 2012 surpassed the one-million mark, with 1,075,000, an increase of 67.66 percent from 641, 161 recorded in 2007. At least 95 percent of the region’s tourists are Davao City visitors.

Of the total number of visitors in 2012, exactly 91.47 percent are domestic or local travelers while the rest are foreigners and balikbayan Filipinos from overseas.

Foreign tourists increased by 56.40 percent from 51,840 in 2007 to 81,081 in the region in 2012. The number of local visitors also showed a parallel trend, posting an

increase of 68.97 percent from 581,945 in 2007 to 983,315 in 2012.

MICE related Regional tourism officer Eden Larano-David said 40 percent of the visitors in the region travel for events related to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) while the majority are either on personal family visit or pure leisure, rest and recreation.

David said the region’s tourism industry is promoting Davao as a MICE destination at par with other cities in the Philippines and other countries.

Davao City, particularly, is equipped with facilities capable of hosting large conventions and gatherings. The largest is SMX Convention Center which can accommodate at least 5,000 delegates.

In terms of accommodation, data obtained

by Edge Davao showed a dramatic increase in the number of tourist facilities in Davao City which more than doubled, from 106 in 2007 to 218 in 2012, or an increase of 105.66 percent. The corresponding number of rooms also more than doubled, from 3,363 in

10,000 population per month). The Davao City Police Office has consistently been chosen as the Best Police Office in the entire country. The Davao City Peace and Order Council has been elevated to the Philippine Hall of Fame for consistently being the best performing in the country.

6. We are MOST PREPARED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES Davao City is the only

Asian city that has an integrated emergency response system similar to that of the United States and Canada, the difference being that in Davao City , the service is absolutely for free and otally subsidized by the local government. Central 911 responds to all kinds of emergencies, medical, fire, police assistance, natural or man-made disaster. The Davao City Disaster Coordinating

In Davao City...

2007 to 7,004 in 2012, or an increase of 108.26 percent.

Davao City now has 47 hotels, 108 inns or pension houses, 37 resorts and 26 other accommodation facilities.

Hotels corner 46.70 of the total number of available rooms while inns and pension houses provide 33.60 percent. Other accommodation facilities including resorts comprise the remaining 19.70 percent.

There was a different landscape five years ago as inns and pension houses have the most number of rooms, cornering 47.63 percent of the 3,368 total number of rooms available at that time while hotels comprised 43.32 percent. Resorts and other dwellings got 8.50 percent.

Destinations Aside from accommodation and convention facilities, Davao City and other areas in the region

also offer what David describes as “post event” destinations and amenities like mountain resorts, pristine beaches, parks, night spots and health and wellness centers.

Davao City alone has nearly a hundred identified tourist spots including natural, historical, cultural, religious, recreational, man-made spots and other special interest attractions.

Complementing the tourist spots are the 1,217 tourism-oriented establishments including restaurants, entertainment centers, shopping centers handicrafts and delicacy stores.

“We have all the amenities which make us highly competitive, if not better, that the other destinations both in the country and abroad,” David said.

She said that among the priority thrusts of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 is to increase

the number of tourist arrivals in the region by at least ten percent per year. Edge Davao’s comparative analysis, however, showed that during the past five years since 2007, the average annual growth rate in number of tourist arrivals in Davao Region is 13.53 percent, higher already than the DOT’s target.

But a closer look at the trend in the five-year performance showed that the biggest year-on-year growth was registered only last year, with 30.76 percent from the figures posted in 2011, a drastic change from the performances in all the preceding years which failed to reach a double-digit mark.

The lowest was recorded in 2009 which posted a mere .026 percent growth from the figures posted in 2008. In 2010, there was only 1.47 percent increase which significantly surged to 9 percent in 2011.

Council has been cited as the best prepared disaster coordinating council in the country.

7.

We have EXCELLENT PUBLIC UTILITIES AND INFRASTUCTURE Dabawenyos enjoy an abundant and stable supply of water and power 24 hours a day all year round. The Davao City Water District (DCWD) is the number one water utility company among the 50 water utilities in the Asia- Pacific region.

Being the third largest privately-owned electric utility in the Philippines, Davao Light & Power Co. is the country’s most efficiently run power utility. The city is also the first in the country to have an adaptive traffic signalization system and has a state-ofthe-art traffic system similar to the system in Los Angeles, California, USA. 8. One can have a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Live a wholesome and healthy lifestyle in Davao City! The city pioneered the regulation of smoking in public places in the Philippines that gave birth to the National Anti-Smoking Law. Davao City has been a recipient of the prestigious Red Orchid Award of the De-

partment of Health in 2010 and 2011 during the World No Tobacco Day. It has tough policies against dangerous drugs, violence against women and children (including prostitution and human trafficking), and environmental pollution. It has addressed the concern over aerial spraying in large plantations and banned the use of firecrackers and similar pyrotechnics.

It leads in the conservation of endangered species such as the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle, as well as the protection of the city’s watershed, coastal areas, rivers and gulf. Davao City boasts of having one of the most progressive and comprehensive reproductive health program in the world.

9. You get MORE VALUE FOR MONEY In Davao City, the ideal quality of life does not come at a high cost!

When in Davao City, you enjoy the freshest and highest quality agricultural produce. It exports large volumes of banana, pineapple, orchids, and tuna. Its pomelo, durian, and mangosteen are sought-after by many, yet these remain affordable and accessible to the locals on a daily basis.

10. Our ENVIRON-

MENT IS OUR LIFE Davao City takes advantage of environmental laws which ensure proper collection and disposal of garbage. The city is known for its well- disciplined residents plus a localized version of Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which is now being implemented.

A huge sanitary landfill in place, regular and systematic collection of garbage from fixed points, and proper segregation have maintained cleanliness in the surroundings.

11. We are BUSINESS – FRIENDLY Surveys and evaluations on the best places for business have always cited Davao as among the best performers. These include distinctions as being the Top 10 Asian Cities of the Future by the FDI magazine of The Financial Times, the Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines with the Best Quality of Life by the Asian Institute of Management and a long list of numerous recognitions and distinctions as the city has received in the recent years. All these are proof of the continuous and decisive strides in making Davao City a home for many productive ventures and endeavors.

FFROM S2

tions in local governance, strong political will in the implementing policies and programs, a high level of self-sufficiency; and its pluralist and liberal political climate result in significant grassroots and civil society participation.

5. We are a SAFE DESTINATION Have a holiday in the city that boasts of having one of the lowest crime rates (averaging 0.8 per

Crocodile Park

S8

FOCUS ON TOURISM

VOL.5 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 265 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

SPORTS 15

5TH PHOENIX OPEN GOLF

Eagle 3 wins Team title T

TOWER OF POWER. Former PBA star Benjie Paras gives raffle tickets for the PBA Game in Tagum to a lucky winner during the Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon last Sunday at SM Lanang Premiere.

EAM Eagle 3 composed of Joe Elises, Jorge Segovia, Tony Batao, Apo Luna, and Alvin Tesado emerged as the team champion in the Araw ng Dabaw 5th Phoenix-Pioneer Open Tournament over the weekend at Rancho Palos Verdes Golf & Country Club.

The team scored an aggregate 167 points, besting Team Pioneer 1 which came in second and Team Pomelo Verde 1 at third place. Team Pioneer 1was composed of Joe Lafuente, Cesar Sulaik, Obet Canilao, Richmond Alejo, and Roy Quemada, while Martin Sara, Richard Dorado, Jeffrey Abejay, Jun Canedo, and Hermie Martin made up Team Pomelo Verde 1.

In the Partner category, Evelyn Quinsay and

BIGGEST DELEGATION. Team Titans was declared as the biggest delegation during the Phoenix Marathon last Sunday at SM Lanang Premiere. Titans received P7,000 from Phoenix Petroleum represented by VP for External Affairs and Business Development Atty. Raymond Zorrilla.

PHOENIX MARATHON WINNERS. Phoenix Petroleum VP for External Affairs and Business Development Atty. Raymond Zorilla and AKTV stars led by former basketball star Benjie Paras, award the male winners of the 42K leg of the Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon over the weekend at SM Lanang Premiere. Winners are first placer Jeffrey Sotto, second placer Anthony Nerva, and third placer Brian Quiamco.

Vergie Hermeston tallied a total of 87 to emerge as champion. Oscar Garcia and Greg Delmonte came in second with a score of 77, just one point ahead of third placers Victor Co and Diemy Monedero.

The winners received Royal Selangor Pewter Plates and champions received limited edition Phoenix signature golf bags during the awarding ceremonies led by President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Uy that night at the Rancho Palos Verdes Clubhouse.

The Individual winners in Class A division were Ninot Garcia (36) as gross champion and Mark Oropeza (39) as net champion. Class B division gross champion was Archie Moralizon (32), and net champi-

on was Renato Sanchez (41). Class C division gross champion was Rolly Lazarte (26), and net champion was Jerico Bajo (42). Domingo Lanoy (24) won as gross champion in Class D division, while Ed De Guzman (44) was net champion.

Special prizes were given to Joel Yamyamin for the longest drive hole 15, Jay Macapagal for accurate drive, Alro Paglinawan for nearest to the pin, and Apo Luna for eagle (Par 5).

The 5th Phoenix Golf Tournament is a fund raising tournament of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., for the benefit of the charities supported by Phoenix Foundation Inc., It is co-presented by Pioneer Insurance and Marra Builders Inc.

ORAL, Fla. (AP) -Tiger Woods had gone more than three years without a World Golf Championship. He had no trouble remembering the drill.

He sat at a table with the blue Gene Sarazen Cup trophy he has six just like it at home - and signed a stack of flags for posterity and charity after a two-shot win that was never in question during the final two hours on the Blue Monster at Doral.

Woods entertained a few questions about his new 5-wood, how his performance stacked up with a fourshot win in January at Torrey Pines and whether he thought Rory McIlroy, now overlooked as the No. 1 player in the world, was on the right track. ‘’Can the Masters get here soon enough?’’ someone else asked.

It was the only question Woods ignored.

The Masters is a month away, and Woods hasn’t looked this equipped to win another green jacket in five years.

A year ago, he hobbled off the Blue Mon-

ster and was driven away in a cart after 11 holes of the final round because of tightness in his left Achilles tendon, raising questions about his health and his immediate future.

Sunday he left Doral on his own terms and with a record that is starting to look familiar.

Woods delivered two quick birdies to end the suspense, and two late bogeys only made the Cadillac Championship look closer than it was.

Woods never let anyone get closer than three shots until it no longer mattered. Despite a conservative bogey on the final hole, he closed with a 1-under 71 for a two-shot win over Steve Stricker.

He now has won five times in the last year, the most of anyone in the world.

He goes to Bay Hill in two weeks for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he is the defending champion, with a chance to go to No. 1 in the world.

And he stamped himself as the favorite at the Masters.

Woods rolling to Masters D

16 SPORTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 265 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Davao cage fans will miss Balkman

By Neil Bravo

D Maria Sharapova of Russia serves against Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during their match at the BNP Paribas Open WTA tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California. REUTERS/ Danny Moloshok

AVAO basketball fans will miss Renaldo Balkman, the explosive but feisty Petron Blaze import who was banned by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) last Monday.

The former NBA player received the league’s stiffest penalty after figuring in an incident that saw him rush for the referees and thereafter choke his own teammate Arwind Santos.

Balkman was the league’s highest scoring import at the time of his banishment and would have provided Davao hoop fans an electrical show this Saturday in Panabo City when the Turbo Boosters play Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters in an out-of-town PBA game sponsored by Davao-based independent oil firm Phoenix Petroleum.

Balkman could have gone up against 7-foot-3 ROS import

and fellow NBA veteran Bruno Sundov in a highly-anticipated encounter.

“Sayang din a namin siya mapanood,” said John-John Villacorta, a Petron Blaze fan.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud meted Balkman a lifetime ban despite the public apology made by the Puerto Rican-American import on Sunday afternoon aired over AKTV. San Miguel Corporation, which owns Petron and two other PBA ballclubs, has accepted the decision in a statement although it hinted of a possible withdrawal from the league. If that happens, the oldest remaining original franchise of the PBA, will end a long stint in the league—a spectre basketball-crazy Filipinos would dread happening.

SMC also owns San Mig Coffee and Ginebra San Miguel.

PHOENIX CEO. Dennis Uy, Phoenix Petroleum CEO, hits a chip shot from around the green in the recent 5th Phoenix Open Golf Tournament at Rancho Palos Verdes. Some 240 golfers joined the event. (Boy Lim)