Edge Davao 5 Issue 266

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VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ANOTHER FIRE. Firefighters spray water on smoldering ruins after an afternoon fire destroyed houses and commercial structures in Purok 24 Sto. Niño, Barangay Ma-a, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Indulge

Page A1

Hong Kong on a plate Sports

Page 14

Sharapova glides to Q-Finals

‘I thought he was dead’

DELA ROSA ON ARRESTED EX-BGY CAPT:

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

“A

BI nako patay na na siya, buhi pa man diay. (I thought he was dead. He is still alive afterall.)”

Reacting to the reported arrest of a former barangay captain involved in illegal drugs, Davao City Police Chief Senior Superintendent Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa was surprised to know the suspect is still alive.

George Tajo, former Barangay Captain of Callawa in Buhangin district, was

arrested by police early Wednesday after he allegedly mauled a commercial sex worker for refusing to use shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

Tajo was arrested by the Sta. Ana police inside Room 354 of Prince Court Motel along Cabaguio Avenue.

Police report said he was still high with illegal drugs when he was arrested.

De la Rosa who told reporters during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 11 quarterly regular meeting held in The Royal Mandaya Hotel yesterday, that he will pursue to attain zero drug cases mark in Davao City.

FDELA ROSA ,11

DELA ROSA: “Taho is just one of the obstacles”

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Zero drugs

EDGEDAVAO

DELA ROSA VOWS DRUG CLEANUP OF DAVAO

S

TILL limping from a freak accident suffered during a drug related operation in Isla Verde at Barangay 23-C (Quezon Boulevard) Wednesday night, Davao City Police Chief Senior Superintendent Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa has raised the bar of his ambitious campaign -- zero illegal-drugs in the city.

De la Rosa showed his bruises to the media yesterday at the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 11 regular meeting

held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, which he said he sustained due to a “booby trap” set up by drug pushers in the area considered as the biggest drug lair of syndicates.

He did not mind the bruises and instead got a morale boost with the reported decline of illegal drugs in the city due to the series of Oplan Tuk Tuk Hangyo (Tuk-Hang).”

Dela Rosa did not state his time frame but stressed the significant decline of illegal

SAVING WHATEVER IS LEFT. A resident tries to salvage valuable belongings after firefighters declared a fire out in Purok 24 Sto. Niño, Barangay Ma-a, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

BSP warns of Studes pose bigger rally ATM syndicate FZERO DRUGS, 11

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

M

ILITANT student groups in Davao City warned of a bigger protest against impending tuition fee increase Wednesday in front of the Commission on Higher Education Region 11.

League of Filipino Students (LFS) Davao spokesperson Rendell Cagula told Edge Davao that their campaign to stop TFI will peak on April 1 which is the deadline of the CHED approval for the tuition hike. The group earlier marched to the

CHED Regional Office on Tuesday but there were no CHED representatives who answered their request for a dialogue prompting them to plan a bigger protest action.

He confirmed that the more or less 30 student protesters who rallied in front of CHED came from University of the Philippines (UP), University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), university of Mindanao (UM), Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), Assumption College of Davao (ACD), and Ateneo

de Davao University.

The protesters said they will not comply with the No Permit No Rally order of Mayor Sara Duterte. Cagula said is it unconstitutional and they bring legitimate concerns.

CHED 11 director Raul Alvarez said that there was a consultation among schools and student body leaders on the TFI to be implemented before schools applied for the increase to CHED. The consultations where done before February 28, which was the

deadline of the submission of application, he said.

“If they (student protesters) truly are student leaders, then they should have brought their grievances to their schools during the consultations as CHED memorandum order (CMO) no. 03 states that TFI is a bilateral agreement between the school and the students,” he said.

“CHED is simply here to approve and regulate the TFI, we do not dictate the TFI,” he said.

In Region 11

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has issued a warning to ATM (automated teller machine) users in Davao to be wary of the reported ATM scam.

With the escalating reports of cases of ATM scams in the country, the BSP said ATM card holders must be more vigilant when withdrawing cash in ATM machines. He stressed though that there has

been no reported incident of ATM scams in Davao City since 2011.

“But this does not mean bank companies and ATM card holders are safe,” BSP Davao Region Office acting director lawyer Demetrio Casipog said.

ATM scam syndicates are based outside the country and possess cutting edge technology that can hack the database of bank companies or put

FBSP, 11

Crime volume down by 9.59%

T

HE Davao Region is experiencing a marked decline in crime incidents, the Regional Police Office reported.

In yesterday’s Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 11 First Quarter regular meeting held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Police Regional Office 11 reported a decrease in crime volume by 9.599

percent.

There is also a lower rate of violent incidents in rebel infested areas in the region.

The figures represented records gathered in the period of July 1 to October 19, 2012 as compared to the figures reported in the same period in the previous year (2011).

PRO 11 regional director Jaime Morente

reported that crime volume in the region decreased from 4,704 over that period in 2011 to 4,253 in 2012.

Morante reported that “Region 11 remains peaceful and is emerging as among the most favored place for business-related gatherings, tourism, and trade conversions in Mindanao,” and that, “criminality remains

Office.

Monitoring and evaluation officer of DSWD’s 4P’s program Margie Cabido told Edge Davao that the beneficiaries given the payout were those who hadn’t received the cash grants from January 2011 up to February 2013.

“All of the beneficiaries received cash money. We will resume the payout by June because of the election ban, so all the payouts from March to May will be received in June,” she added.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a

FIN REGION 11, 11

Beneficiaries get 4Ps cash grants

By Che Palicte

LONG QUEUE. Close to 600 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) troop to the Davao City Central Post Office to receive their unclaimed cash grants along C. Bangoy Street, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

U

NDER the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as ‘4P’s’ of the Department of Social Welfare and Developments (DSWD), 571 Davao City beneficiaries were able to claim their cash grants yesterday at the Davao City Central Post

FBENEFICIARIES, 11

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

3

DTI grants equipment to Comval MSMEs, calls for more proposals

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Compostela Valley province is launching four projects under Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project within the

first semester of the year to further improve the productivity and product quality of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The SSF project is an

initiative of DTI which is also aimed at giving MSMEs the capability in competing on the global market scale in anticipation of the free trade agreements in which the country is in-

volved.

Furthermore, the SSF is the provision of tools and equipment for the common use of MSMEs, especially those involved in the processing or value–add-

UPDATING. Field office director Teolulo T. Pasawa of the Department of Trade and Industry – Davao City (left) reports during Club 888 media forum at the Marco Polo Davao yesterday on the updates of Shared Service Facility that the agency will provide to five chosen entrepreneurs. At right is Val Turtur, officer in charge of the City Agriculturist Office, who bared about the booming ube industry in the city and the corresponding modernization plans. Lean Daval Jr.

ing sector. DTI shall identify co-operators, usually an association or a cooperative, that will be the recipient of tools and equipment and the operator of the SSF. The use of the SSF shall be open to other MSMEs engaged in production or processing needing such tools and equipment.

The co-operator shall inturn charged a minimal fee for the maintenance of the equipment.

The Cocolife Cooperative of Pantukan will get two projects on Coco Beads Production Enhancement and Virgin Coconut Oil Production Upgrading which are due for awarding this month. The two projects amount to almost P350,000 worth of tools and equipment for the production of coco beads and virgin coconut oil (VCO).

The said SSF projects with Cocolife are expected to hit a combined sale of P545,000 per month and generate at least 200 jobs in the area.

Two more SSF projects are to be implemented in May and July this year.

These are the Coco Sugar Production and Jewellery

Production Upgrading projects. The Coco Sugar Production shall be implemented by Nabunturan Integrated Cooperated (NICO) in Barangay Mainit while the Jewellery Production Upgrading, which involves volume production of jewellery using casting machine, shall be implemented in Monkayo by an association of jewellery makers.

DTI-Comval program office head Lawyer Lucky Siegfred Balleque said MSMEs in the province could still avail of the SSF project.

“Until this time, only about P2 million of the P10 million worth of projects for the province has been committed so far.

This means that P8 million worth of projects are still to be proposed from associations, non-government organizations (NGOs) or cooperatives in the province,” he said.

Balleque said interested associations or cooperatives in the province could still submit to DTI-ComVal project proposals under the SSF project before June 2013. [DTI-CV/KIM EVANGELIO/JMM]

4 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 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Davao food exchange complex project under way in Daliao

T

HE Davao Food Exchange Complex to be developed in Daliao, Toril District will commence immediately upon the completion of a feasibility study.

Marizon Loreto, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11, said that the project, one of the priorities of Davao City this year, was designed to develop a 25-hectare property owned by the National Development Company (NDC), an attached agency of the DTI. Aside from cold storage facilities and food terminal, the proposed food complex will also have a consolidation area (bagsakan), food processing facilities (including Halal foods), packaging centers, research and development, and quality control.

Loreto told MindaNews Tuesday that the feasibility study, which will be facilitated by the NDC, is being prepared.

She added that once the feasi-

bility study is done and with ready investors and locators, the project can commence.

Her office, he said, is closely coordinating with the city government and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

To provide facilities for food-based industries and their allied service providers, the food complex project has yet to start this year although it was considered a priority project three years ago.

Loreto denied that the project has been delayed, saying, “Not necessarily delays. Partners just need to ensure project preparation is done properly.”

Val Turtur, acting city agriculturist, said in a media forum here last Monday the city government issued two weeks ago an endorsement in support for the project as a part of the requirements.

He said the food complex will cater to all fresh food products, especially the perishable ones, produced in the city and

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

in Mindanao.

Turtur said the DA has pledged P40 million for the initial fund of the project, although he estimates it to reach almost P500 million. But the final amount can be determined only after the feasibility study he added.

Candelario Miculob, of the Mindanao Fruit Council, said Monday the food complex can support the P12-million durian processing plant that is under construction in Calinan District here.

He said the durian processing plant can accommodate 10 tons of fresh durian fruits in an operation for eight hours a day, and has a cold storage for a maximum of four tons of durian.

The food complex is a public-private partnership project through build-operate-transfer scheme to be implemented by the DTI. The project proponents are the Southern Philippines Con-

CHINESE CUISINE. Chef Sam Hei Tak (left) answers questions from members of local media while Master Chef Au Yeung Chung Kei listens during Club 888 media forum at the Marco Polo Davao yesterday. The two

Hong Kong-based chefs will be in Marco Polo Davao to showcase a promotional Chinese menu featuring Cantonese delights from March 13 to 23, 2013. Lean Daval Jr.

struction Core Group (SPCCG) as the principal private proponent, and the local government.

It is supported by the DTI, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., DA, and Davao Constructors Association Center, Inc. The Regional Development Council 11 earlier adopted the project as a priority infrastructure that is necessary for the development of industry clusters in Davao as the food complex will also benefit other provinces in Mindanao.

Davao City Tourism and Investment Officer Jason Magnaye said Tuesday the City Agriculturist’s Office is now the lead office for the city government’s role in the project.

He earlier said the project will provide employment for informal settlers in the area, while the city government will initiate activities for social preparation and assist their relocation. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]

PHL opens bid to join global gambling elite

T

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month

EDGEDAVAO

HE Philippines makes its biggest bet this weekend in a high-stakes bid to join the world’s elite gaming destinations, with the launch of a $1.2-billion casino on Manila Bay. Solaire Manila Resorts is the first of four enormous entertainment venues slated to rise over a giant chunk of prime, reclaimed land that industry and government leaders expect will attract millions of cashed-up Asian tourists.

“What Solaire brings is an entertainment and gaming experience that doesn’t exist in the Philippines today,” its American chief operating officer, Michael French, told AFP in an interview this week ahead of Saturday’s opening.

“It will be like going to Las Vegas. This raises the scale, the excitement and the... glamour.”

Controlled by billionaire Philippine port operator Enrique Razon, Solaire has 300 gaming tables, 1,200 slot machines and seven restaurants.

The building also has 500 hotel rooms and 2,000 parking slots.

It features glass ceilings filtering abundant tropical sunlight, huge chandeliers, thick

red-themed carpets, blown glass wall-to-ceiling panels, water pools and an army of cocktail waitresses in tiny red dresses.

Another wing is being built to add 300 all-suite hotel rooms, 30-40 high-end shops and a theatre where French plans to host travelling Broadway shows as well as local and foreign lounge acts.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the launch of the three other big-ticket casinos, which all involve major foreign backers. The four will together make up “Entertainment City”, located near Manila’s airport.

The Belle Grande -- a joint venture with the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, Australian billionaire James Packer and Macau gaming tycoon Lawrence Ho -- is slated to open next year, with its golden facade already having been built.

Japanese gambling magnate Kazuo Okada and Malaysia’s Genting Group are involved in the other two, each in partnership with local Chinese-Filipino tycoons. Both are expected to open between 2015 and 2017.

[AFP]

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

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

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VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Legarda to 2013 graduates:

S

ENATOR Loren Legarda urged college graduates to explore more options in searching for work opportunities, stressing that the government has various programs and agencies that can help those seeking for employment.

Legarda said that while the government is seeking for ways to generate more jobs, college graduates should explore other available options in the government, such as those provided for by Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), that could help them land a job.

“Public Employment Service Offices, which every local government unit must have, serve as information centers where job seekers can ask about available employment opportunities and services offered by the Department of Labor and Employment and other labor-related agencies,” she explained.

“Furthermore, PESO officers should take a

Explore more options in job-searching

more proactive role of being local employment policy advisers, employment creation managers, and training managers,” she added.

Legarda, co-author of Republic Act 8759 or the Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999, said that PESOs are tasked to urge employers and business owners to inform them about job vacancies, which they can offer to job seekers.

Every PESO should also undertake programs such as job fairs, livelihood bazaars, and other similar activities.

“Our graduates, armed with their diplomas and the knowledge and experience they have gained in the years they have spent in school, aside from applying directly to companies, should also visit the PESO in their areas since these offices can offer them not only employment opportunities but also information on how to get the job that they want,” Legarda said.

COMPUTER-ASSISTED. General Santos City Mayor Darlene AntoninoCustodio introduces to high school students from the mountains of Paopao in Bgy Sinawal a locally-developed software called Computer-Assisted Reading

UNA imagination running wild, say

“G

OD Save the Prince? No. God Save UNA.” This was short but meaningful reaction of Team PNoy spokesman Ben Evardone yesterday on opposition allegations that the administration coalition is cancelling out its own candidates in favor of Benigno “Bam” Aquino in an operation reportedly dubbed “God Save the Prince.”

“Once again, the oppo-

sition imagination is running wild,” Evardone said.

“We’d like to set it on record that there is no such operation. It’s the height of political intrigue which UNA (United Nationalist Alliance) specializes in.”

The Eastern Samar representative pointed out that like the rest of the Team PNoy senatorial candidates,Bam Aquino “has worked extremely hard reaching out to Fil-

ipinos to raise their survey ratings. He has stayed focused on the positive message.”

Evardone said of the young Aquino: “Hindi na kailangan manira ng ibang kandidato para iangat ang kanyang sarili.”

UNA secretary general and campaign manager Toby Tiangco on Tuesday expressed surprise over Bam Aquino’s meteoric rise in the surveys, insinuating that Aquino may

be the beneficiary of a dumping operation by the administration coalition.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey released a few days ago, Aquino emerged as the biggest gainer, skyrocketing from 13th to 15th last month to fourth to ninth with 42 percent.

“Nakakatawa talaga ang UNA,” Evardone said. “kaya sila hindi makausad-usad dahil imbes na programa, puro intriga ang inaatupag nila. “

Casiño urges use of sign language in poll debates

“I

Asks television networks to heed Magna Carta for PWDs

T started with a simple question from a young girl,” said senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño of his advocacy to require sign language insets in news programs.

Casiño on Wednesday asked television networks to accommodate the request of deaf groups and incorporate sign language insets in episodes and programs related to the upcoming elections.

“The question was how the deaf would be able get real-time news when they cannot hear the radio and they cannot understand broadcast news without interpreters,” said Casiño.

“Society has long rec-

ognized the need to enable persons with disabilities so that they may fully develop their skills, compete favorably for available opportunities and access public utilities. While the Magna Carta for persons with disabilities encourages the use sign language insets in newscasts and programs of national significance, this is rarely followed. Fortunately, the deaf community is pro-active in asserting their rights. That is why we are asking television networks to have sign language insets during news programs or at least those tackling the upcoming elections,” the three-term congressman said.

The progressive solon explained that the deaf community wants to be included in the public discourse and be able to learn more about the candidates for the upcoming elections. That is why he decided to write to various media networks.

“We cannot allow our citizens from the PWD sector to be disenfranchised and deprived of their right to access to information because of lack of accessible communications,” he said.

Casiño earlier received a letter from the Philippine Deaf Resource Center requesting such and a subsequent letter of appeal to the media by

the National Council of Disability Affairs. However, he noted the continued lack of sign language insets in relevant television programs.

“I hope our media networks study this request, especially since it is very feasible. They would just have to hire a sign language interpreter for a few hours and in turn they get thousands of deaf viewers in return. In fact, a few networks and local programs are already doing this. More importantly, they will be partaking in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.

Thus, catering to and serving marginalized sectors of society,” Casiño said.

Program which is designed for remote areas in the city deprived of internet connection. The software has a database of numerous reference materials are already built-in inside the computer.[C. Sulit/CPIO]

Women advocates defend RH, push for universal healthcare

T

HE tarp war rages.

Amid the “team patay” campaign organized by several Catholic dioceses, women members of Akbayan Party-list yesterday mounted their own tarpaulins in an attempt to provide the voting public with “clearer and broader electoral guideposts” this election.

The partylist group said the Catholic hierarchy’s team patay campaign negates the voting public’s yearning to improve the level of discourse in the midterm election to a matter of platforms and urgent social issues.

Team RH “By using a candidate’s support for or against the RH Law as the sole determinant and guide in voting, the team patay drive oversimplifies the elections and risks distracting the voting public from other pressing issues like the reform of the country’s health system,” Akbayan Party-list leader Dr. Guy Claudio said.

“As an alternative, we mounted ‘Team RH’ tarpaulins to provide the voters with clearer and broader electoral guideposts this coming election anchored on universal health care and other im-

portant issues surrounding the country’s health care system,” Claudio added.

Tarps The tarpaulins stamped with “Team RH” were color-coded yellow and purple. Akbayan said the yellow tarpaulin symbolized ‘laban’ or ‘fight’ and called on voters to support and elect consistent RH champions in Congress to ensure appropriate funding for the RH law. On the other hand, the purple tarpaulin symbolized the need for the voting public to assert universal healthcare as an important issue this election.

“These are some of the important issues that the voting public and the candidates should be discussing. These are some of the crucial issues that voters must use to scrutinize candidates instead of basing their votes on oversimplistic moralizing,” Claudio said.

Claudio, who is also the director of the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies, reminded voters that at the core of the successful campaign for the passage of the RH law is the concept of universal health care.

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

7

Women’s body formed in Kidapawan A

civil society-led Local Council of Women (LCW) was formally organized in Kidapawan City after representatives from 36 women’s organizations held their first general assembly on Tuesday.

For three years, the members of the board of trustees of the LCW, whose term ended on March 10, were appointed by city mayor.

“Finally, the LCW, which is considered an arm of the city government in ensuring that the women sector has access to the Gender and Development (GAD) Fund and other basic services of the LGU, was organized,” said newly elected LCW president Sister Lalyn Macahilo of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) Women Ecological Society.

Macahilo cited that the increasing number of cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) has led several women leaders in the city to form a coalition and seek assistance from the LGU to have access to GAD funds.

“If women have access to GAD funds, they can propose projects for abused women and children, like construction of shelter, provision of trauma counseling, and other interventions,” said Macahilo.

She used as basis several instrumentalities, including the Convention

on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Magna Carta of Women or the Republic Act 9710, and the Anti-Violence against Women and Children’s Act or RA 9262, to push women’s agenda as among the priorities of the city LGU. “Almost daily we hear cases of rape, incest, domestic violence, trafficking of girls, and other forms of sexual abuses.

We, women leaders, could no longer bear theses abuses. We have to act now,” said Macahilo.

Among the projects the group has proposed is the drafting of a Gender Code of Kidapawan City.

“If we cannot make it in this present council because of the upcoming local elections, we will hand this over to the next Sanggunian,” she stressed.

Other LCW officers elected were Herminigilda Escalante, of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, vice president; Flor Sojon, of the Integrated Rural Development Foundation, secretary; Ruby Sison, of Gabriela-North Cotabato, vice-secretary; Edith Bernad, of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, treasurer; and Rose Catedrilla, of the Lihok Kababayen-an sa Kidapawan, vice-treasurer. [Malu Cadelina Manar / Mindanews]

HELPING REBUILD LIVES. Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon (center) accepts one chainsaw and 600 sets of household wares from Mindanao Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Corazon Ginete (third from left) during the “Davao Oriental: Building Back Better” inter-agency meeting held Tuesday in Davao City. The P2.5-million worth of assistance from the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with MinDA, aims to help Typhoon Pablo victims regain normal lives. Also in photo are (l-r) UNDP

Davao Oriental Debris Clearing project officer Misuari Abdullah; UNDP Davao Oriental Debris Clearing project manager James Alih Abdul; Davao Oriental planning coordinator Freddie Bendulo; Davao Oriental Supervising environment management specialist Dolores Valdesco; Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor coordinator for Davao Oriental Malou Tarona; and Provincial executive assistant Marciano Tapiador. [MinDA]

Compostela Valley needs P16.7-B for total rehab

T

HE province of Compostela Valley needs P16.7-billion for the total rehabilitation of infrastructure, agricultural, residential and livelihood projects.

This was the computation submitted by the provincial government to Task Force “Pablo”, which was created by President Benigno Aquino III to take charge of the rehabilitation efforts to hardly-devastated areas in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

“I do not know where the government could source the funding of this

but we were told that it is already up for the national government to raise the money,” Governor Arturo Uy told reporters in a press conference here Wednesday morning.

Uy said the bulk of the money, which is P7-billion, will be allocated for housing project and the rest will be distributed to other projects.

He said it really takes time to bring back the glory of Compostela Valley, adding “I think in three years time we can already restore the old glory.”

Uy said that the Task

Force “Pablo” is now in the process of re-validation of the rehabilitation plan and to pinpoint priority projects to be first addressed.

He was though thankful that the spirit of “bayanihan” is very much present to constituents of the province, who, despite of the devastation, are there to help one another.

“We developed this voluntarism because they are witnesses how we initiated several projects and programs to make the province one of the most progressive areas in the country,” he said. [PNA]

guel (1,520), Langab (608) and Bagongon (480), all in Compostela town received 10 kilos of rice, 12 pieces of instant noodles, 12 cans of sardines and beef loaf, and 12 pieces instant coffee.

Secretary Dinky Juliano-Soliman lauded the active participation of Barug Katawhan, Balsa Mindanao, and local government units in the relief distribution in Compostela Valley saying that, “this is how

we should closely work together by combining all our rigorous efforts to provide needed assistance to disaster victims.”

It can be recalled that the DSWD, Barug Katawhan, Balsa Mindanao, and local government of Compostela agreed to fast track the validation list of affected families who were not yet served and underserved as basis for the distribution of relief goods.

DSWD, Barug Katawhan, LGUs distribute relief aid in Compostela

T

RUE to its commitment that the government will continue to provide relief assistance to typhoon ‘Pablo’ victims in Region XI, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) the other day released additional family food packs worth P3,912,000 million to 2,608 affected families in Compostela Valley province.

Each family victim from barangays San Mi-

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Bits and pieces

I

EDITORIAL

I

Knocking on Houdini’s door

F you don’t see Police City Director Ronald dela Rosa smile these days, that’s because he is dead serious about his anti-illegal drugs campaign..

Dela Rosa vowed during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) yesterday that he is hell-bent on ridding Davao City of dangerous drugs. Quite a tall order, but he says it can be done.

One cannot question a man’s conviction. If he wants it, he is bound to get it. Dela Rosa is so obsessed on ridding the city of illegal drugs and drug syndicates that he speaks about the matter with a no-nonsense certainty.

Dela Rosa’s pronouncement was made only a few hours after a former barangay captain was arrested for allegedly forcing a commercial sex worker to use shabu inside a motel room. What transpired inside the room may be a private thing between the former barangay official and the woman. However, Dela Rosa knew that the suspect’s past link to the illegal drugs trade was definitely not a private matter.

The motel room incident was an insult to Dela Rosa and his campaign in the barangays to persuade those involved in the illegal drugs trade to cease and desist from further involvement in illegal drugs in whatever capacity.

Apparently, Dela Rosa failed to knock on Houdini’s door.

Are we to say that while Dela Rosa was doing the rounds of his now famous ‘Oplan Tok-

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Hang’ in the barangays of this city, some of the neighborhood toughies and bullies were grinning from ear to ear when one slimy ‘catfish’ bigger than those in the school of ‘fries’ was quietly eluding the police right under their collective noses?

While these ‘fries’ (couriers and users) have come out in the open and vowed to turn a new leaf, this drug-sniffing barangay Houdini continued to roam around freely. It was a blessing in disguise that the culprit was caught in a night of sexual adventure while reportedly high on drugs after the woman complained that she was mauled when she refused to use shabu.

Although the former barangay official ends up as another figure to the current statistics of drug-related arrests, this one is not a score in favor of Dela Rosa.

With this incident, shouldn’t Dela Rosa direct his clean-up drive to barangay officials? If our barangay officials are coordinating closely now with the police in the campaign for zero-drugs in the city, it is not a bad idea if they themselves voluntarily submit to a mandatory drug test.

Remember, this campaign was triggered by the killing of a policeman in a buy-bust operation. From cop to village chieftain, one can never be too sure.

If Dela Rosa is dead serious, he cannot choose whose door to knock on.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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T’S been a hectic few weeks for me, at work and in my personal life.

But I’m not complaining because it’s the good kind of hectic. You know, that kind of busy that still puts a smile on your face and gives you a good feeling about yourself.

I did miss a few weekly articles for this column, and to make up for it, I’m going to write about bits and pieces of some of the more poignant things I encountered that past couple of months. ~~~ I saw some former colleagues recently during the birthday party of my former boss. While some of them had become my close friends with whom I have coffee or dinner when our schedule permits, the others I normally see only on special occasions such as this one.

What else would we talk about but our fond memories when we were together in the organization. We even talked about the not so fond memories, but we were able to laugh at them now. For those with lesser mettle, talking about uneasy memories could evoke discomfort and even resentment. Not so with this bunch of people, and that speaks a lot of the professionalism and maturity of these people I used to work with.

I shared that I had become nostalgic during a recent work-related trip passing through Bukidnon, for I remembered our road trips in that area where we shared many funny stories and unbridled laughter. It was one of those precious moments my colleagues let their hair down and talk about stuff in life that showed to me some insight into who they really were.

I find those moments to be among the most significant experiences I had in the organization, because we got to know each other beyond the four walls of our workplace and the formality of our corporate culture. I was fortunate to have worked with such calibre of professionals, and getting to know them on a personal level was certainly a bonus. That’s why even after ten years of not seeing each other, we still regard each other with the respect and fondness of real friends.

It was nice to see you all, Sir Nice, Bong, Meggy, Iteet, Vero, Primo, Garry, Sir Vic, Sir Andy, Sir Danny, Wiggy, Arveihn, and Sir Will. I would have loved to see Art, Rene, Sir Rudy, Danbulz, Hermes, Gerard, Jo Ann, and a host of others who made my stay in the organization rich and memorable. ~~~ When people get together, it seems inevitable for them to talk about others.

I don’t think there is harm in that if it’s done in good faith. But when a person indulges in rumor mongering, that’s a totally different thing.

Sometimes there are individuals who find pleasure discrediting someone they have decided not to like, for whatever reason they have - be it their immaturity, rivalry, or simply professional jealousy. When he hears a juicy gossip about the other person, he believes it hook, line, and sinker; never mind if the source is also a known gossip monger herself and has a poor reputation among her peers.

I’ve known some rumor mongers in my life, and I find nothing is worse than the one who believes what another rumor monger has to say. And if you’re a victim of all these gossip, don’t despair.

It is true that the truth will always come out, and that it will set free you and those who come to realize the folly of believing in malicious hearsay.

And leave that tittle-tattler to his fate; his gossiping days will soon catch up on him. ~~~ My own truth came out in bits and pieces over the years, as some friends gradually revealed to me the truth about someone who pretended to be a friend. I could have been more than peeved, but looking at her life now, I feel this pretender—who did the same disservice to those who told me the truth—already got what she deserved.

The only thing I can say is this—your life now is a product of your past actions.

So be nice and respectful to others, and you’ll find yourself in a much better place in the future. Don’t forget—you will reap what you sow.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

VANTAGE POINTS

More efficient and competitive traders

T

HE WAY TO LURE INVESTORS IS TO RELAX BUSINESS REGULATIONS – First to arrive were the mainland Chinese followed by Taiwanese investors. However, Korean traders are also reshaping how large sections of Davao City’s economy work.

So we have seen a lot of interest from the Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean capitalists in Davao City’s economic activities. They are more interested than other foreign entrepreneurs in business diversification. These investors are now looking locally after their successes in the global market.

Diversification and hands-on management have been very important to these alien merchants, most if not all of them could even hardly speak the native tongue.

They have been enthusiastically participating in trade and investment in the country most particularly in the city for quite some time. Their business undertakings specifically dealing in retail trade on small and big-ticket items, spare parts and equipment trading and electronic accessories are very strongly signified in the city and they intend to continue doing the competitive way. Well, I’m not an investment or financial analysts but I firmly believe Davao City is a place where these Asian neighboring capitalists find with an entrepreneurial spirit. The local economy may be facing some sort of a slowdown due to other concerns, but these business-smart people remained optimistic knowing full well

I

it’s only temporary.

T h e long-term economic outlook for the city is superb. Therefore I think the logic of our common interests suggest that the city government should offer tax incentives and somewhat relaxed business regulations to lure other foreign investors aside from the Chinese, Taiwanese and Koreans in establishing business in the locality. Every now and then we are looking around and searching to see if we do come up with anything interesting. Hence there is some degree of confidence in the city’s business trend enabling the foreign traders to get on with running their diversified business smoothly, and of course, profitably.

But it was exactly the astonishing opportunities and the business disciplining effect that made them so much more efficient and competitive locally.

As elsewhere in the country, this type of traders proved to have the steadiness of nerve and vision to take advantage of any opportunity that crosses their paths. One of the most encouraging things that came about as a result of the “singkit invasion” was that Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and its near-

by commercial areas and touted as the city’s Chinatown are now the business hubs to these intrepid people. Davao City is much more important to these dauntless businessmen and the city has got a sizable consumer base compared to other bustling metropolis outside Greater Manila and Metro Cebu.

From the point of view of an investor looking for a strategic business location and safe harbor, it certainly bolstered the notion that doing business in the city will succeed in such an environment. The time therefore is right for a lot of growth in the retail trade and diversified business. With the “singkits” showing to be very responsive, the retail trade has great prospects in the city if they will offer good quality products at very reasonable costs. Filipino entrepreneurs should make these businessmen as good example. Right now, Dabawenyos accept that these investors are now part of the city economically and in other ways too. Local consumers can’t panic in the face of the first person who criticizes products made in their respective countries. They buy because they want them and consumers think the price is economical. However, the debate for all of us, particularly the city officialdom, is how we can make sure the business activities undertaken by foreign entrepreneurs are actually adding a bit of value to the people’s lives and most importantly to the coffers of the city government.

take care of their most basic necessities.

S i n c e Banganga is basically a rural area subsisting on agriculture, the practical step is for government and other do-gooders to encourage and help the typhoon victims to plant anything that is edible – sweet potatoes (camotte), cassava, bananas, corn and vegetables which could be harvested for the table and market in three to five months.

These crops would go a long way in cushioning the impact of hunger that could follow the withdrawal of relief assistance.

Food security is a real and urgent need. Let the people of Baganga wake up from the numbing and sedating effects of Pablo’s devastation, instead spring into action and help themselves.

I ask my fellow Baganga folk, we now have to bail ourselves out, instead of continue dwelling on the poignant, painful, memories of their traumatic experience. We have to move on.

It is not also the time of passing the buck. Let’s not even waste our time blaming unscrupulous government men and women. Instead of making a sweeping indictment of all those in government, let us also credit the good men and women in there.

The real and imminent danger lies in the impending post-relief starvation., when government, NGOss and foreign aid providers pull out of the disaster areas. I predict that unless everybody is prepared, there will chaos, hopelessness and even anarchy.

You go around the countrysides, people getting the continuous stream of assistance seem happy and even enjoying not only the basic necessities, but also supplies they have not seen in their lies before, and seemingly unmindful of rainy days to come, when outside help stop coming.

An urgent message

SHUDDER to think about how the thousands of Pablo victims will cope with the withdrawal syndrome which is bound to impact on them when the ongoing relief operation is finally withdrawn or stopped.

I submit that that time will really come, since relief assistance cannot go on indefinitely. That relief assistance is the not the ultimate solution, there is no doubt about that.

I speak from faraway Baganga, one of three old towns of Davao Oriental that have been thrashed into the limelight in a negative way, as among the places devastated by the super typhoon last December. I am a victim myself together with immediate family members, distant relatives and friends.

There would be far-reaching implications of a stoppage of the ongoing relief operations here and other Pablo-affected areas. The people who are now receiving all kinds of help from the local and national government agencies, national and international charitable groups must be prepared the post-relief era, when they would be left alone to

9

Lifeline hangs in the balance ( Conclusion )

COMMENTARY

BY AMINA RASUL

5

. Malaysia should heed the call by the Philippine Government to observe maximum tolerance should be pursued in the context of Islamic Brotherhood and ASEAN unity and for the Muslim countries within the ASEAN to help resolve the situation in Sabah peacefully to avert further loss of lives.

6. The members of the Royalty and Nobility of the Sulu Sultanate should unite behind the search for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

7.

The Aquino administration should pursue discussion on the options to resolve the Philippines’ claim to Sabah. A just and peaceful resolution of the claim of the Sulu Sultanate, erstwhile ceded to the Philippine Government, will remove a thorny issue that has caused much uncertainty between Malaysia and the Philippines.

8. The Philippine Government should protect the proprietary rights of Sultan Jamalul Alam’s heirs, identified in the 1939 ruling of Chief Justice C.F.C. Macaskie of the High Court of the North Borneo.

All the principal heirs have died.

The rights of their successors-in-interest, most of whom are Filipino citizens, must be protected by the Philippine Government.

9. The Philippine Government should create a Sabah Committee, under the Office of the President, to address the Philippine claim to Sabah.

The members of the Committee should include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Department of National Defense, Mindanao Development Authority, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, a representative of the Sultanate of Sulu as well as a representative of the heirs to Sabah.

10. In addition, the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives should create a Committee to investigate the options of the Philippines to pursue the Sabah claim peacefully and legally, and to ensure the protection of Filipinos residing in Sabah.

Will Filipino politicians and interest groups listen to the UN’s call for ceasefire and for peace? Perhaps.

Will the Malaysians? A knowledgeable friend who has settled in Kuala Lumpur, and who has been monitoring Malaysian political developments, told me: “I doubt. If they did that, the next thing would be, they would have to talk and take seriously the claim you have spent years trying to resolve! They are in no mood to do that. This does not suit a regime facing the first real prospect of being booted out after 55 years and desperate to show it is in control of the country’s borders (which is a very basic duty most people expect a Government to perform).”

Logic dictates that the leaders should listen, if the goal is to end bloodshed and preserve peace. However, I have found that such logic flies out of the window when vested interests prevail.

Blood is in the water and sharks are hungry.

[MindaViews is the opinion sectionof MindaNews. This piece was first published on March 8, 2013 under “Surveil,” the column of Ms Amina Rasul for Businessworld. Ms Rasul granted MindaNews permission to reprint this piece.

10 NATION/WORLD

VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Filipinos hopeful of Tagle’s rise to papacy

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle arrives for a meeting at the Synod Hall in the Vatican March 6, 2013. Catholic cardinals in a closed-door meeting ahead of the election of a new pontiff want

B

LACK smoke billowed from the chimney of Vatican’s famous Sistine Chapel early Wednesday, signaling that the 115 cardinals locked up inside failed to elect a new pope.

The predominantly Catholic Philippines, along with the Catholic world, thus continues to hold its breath as events unfold following Benedict XVI’s historic resignation Feb. 12.

This, especially as the Pinoys Catholics’ spiritual leader, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, is among the names floated as a possible successor to the papal throne.

Pinoys online are upbeat about Tagle’s chances for papacy, with four out of five (80 percent) of the total 17,594 respondents so far in a Yahoo! poll hoping the 55-year-old cardinal to become pope.

Obama says maritime issues to dominate East Asia summit

U

.S. President Barack Obama yesterday said that maritime issues will top the agenda of the East Asia summit slated for October in Brunei.

The president made the announcement after a White House meeting with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, whose country holds the chairmanship of the regional ASEAN bloc and will host the annual East Asia summit as well as the first U.S.-ASEAN summit.

“So at the ASEAN East Asia summit, we will be discussing a wide range of issues” ranging from energy, climate change and expanded commerce through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Obama told reporters.

“We’ll be discussing maritime issues,” he added. “Obviously there have been a lot of tensions in the region around maritime issues and his maj-

esty has shown great leadership in trying to bring the countries together to make sure that everybody is abiding by the basic precepts of rule of law and international standards so that conflicts can be resolved peacefully and effectively, and that everybody is brought into that kind of structure.”

The president also said that ASEAN, the United States and China will, for the first time, conduct joint exercises around disaster and humanitarian relief.

The sultan, for his part, expressed his happiness about Brunei- U.S. cooperation on energy, education and defense. He said he has invited Obama to attend the East Asia summit and the ASEAN-U.S. summit.

The East Asia summit was inaugurated in 2005, and Obama first joined the gathering in 2011 in Bali, Indonesia.[PNA/Xinhua]

if they would like Tagle to be the next pope, while 10 percent say they “don’t really care.”

Although Tagle has been widely discussed in media reports from Vatican, the same reports noted that his status as a new cardinal, as well as the conclave’s composition, may play against him.

Tagle’s age puts him three years younger than Karol Cardinal Wojtyla,

who became John Paul II after a bold vote in 1978.

The Manila Archbishop is joined by only eight others cardinals from Asia among the 115 cardinal electors, two-thirds of whom are from Europe and North America.

But Pinoys are not losing hope, even as they manage their expectations.

Various Catholic youth organizations in the Philippines gathered at the Arch-

diocese of Manila’s chapel in Intramuros late Tuesday in prayer vigils that are set to last until a new pope is named.

“This is very inspiring because this initiative came from the youth themselves,” Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Media Office Director Pedro Quitorio said in a statement.

“They used the social media... they discussed it there that’s why we have this vigil,” Quitorio said further.

It was also in the social media that hope for an Asian and third-world in Tagle was first ignited.

A Yahoo! commenter on a story on Tagle, however, said: “Undeniably, it would be awesome to have a Filipino Pope, but it doesn’t matter. What we need is a good leader and a brother, regardless of race.”

“The cardinals vote according to their will or according to guidance of the holy spirit. If [so], popularity, numerical superiority, credentials of cardinals candidates are irrelevant,” another user said.

Cardinals voted only once on the first day and are expected to vote as many as four times in the succeeding days.

If no one gets the required 77 votes to be named pope within three days of conclave, Cardinals will rest for a day of contemplation and prayer.

[Yahoo!]

Rosales issued the statement after Filipino Muslims told tales of horror as Malaysian authorities launched a crackdown on Filipinos linked with Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. Citing oral reports from CHR in Zamboanga region, Rosales admitted being alarmed about how Malaysian authorities use brutality to drive away Filipinos from the oil-rich territory.

“I am, of course, concerned with these stories because the truth of the matter is, this is not the first time that Filipinos have problems of enjoying their human rights,” Rosales said.

“I used to go to KL (Kuala Lumpur) and talk to the embassy to discuss the problems of poor Filipinos in Sabah who are still being neglected because most of them are stateless,” she added.

Over the weekend, Filipino Muslims started arriving from Sandakan, with some of them saying

Malaysian security forces allegedly treat civilians with Filipino roots “like animals.”

Rosales, meanwhile, said she would demand the head of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)’s Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to do its job.

“I will also write to Ambassador Rosario Manalo who heads the Commission on Human Rights for Women and Children at the ASEAN level,” Rosales said.

“Why are they not doing their job? It was created as a human rights body and now there’s a human rights problem in the region, they are not doing anything?” she asked.

Rosales leads an independent government commission, which has been undergoing the process of documenting reports of human rights victims that came from Malaysia since March 4.

She noted sending

more teams that will help the government officially report how many women, children, elderly, and disabled had been affected by the military action against Kiram’s followers.

“I would think from the point of view of the fact that we are all members of the UN like Malaysia and the Philippines that we all subscribe to the universal declaration of human rights,” Rosales said.

“I would like to think that the Malaysian government also investigates reports of human rights abuses allegedly committed by their police in the same way that the Philippine government does like in the Atimonan shoot out,” she said.

She also urged both Malaysian and Philippine governments to meet at the ASEAN level to address the claims over Sabah as well as civilian casualty the problem has been causing during the last month. [Yahoo!]

to be briefed on a secret report into leaks about alleged corruption and mismanagement in the Vatican, a senior source said on Monday. [Reuters]

Tagle has been named among the “papabili” by Vatican experts and analysts, largely citing charisma comparable to that of the late Pope John Paul II. Reports also underscored as a sign of approval Benedict’s decision to name Tagle as the Church’s second youngest cardinal at present.

Of the total Yahoo! poll respondents, 11 percent answered “No” when asked

PHL, Malaysia urged to fight common enemy

T

HE Philippines and Malaysia should unite against one common enemy: human rights abuses.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Etta Rosales cited this as basis for sending a letter to her Malaysian counterpart right after receiving reports of human rights violations in Sabah.

Rosales explained a partnership with Suhakam or the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia will be the best option for both countries to make sure the armed conflict in Sabah will not affect innocent civilians.

“It would be best if we can have a joint mission with the Commission on Human Rights of Malaysia so we can go to Sabah and together, we can conduct investigation,” Rosales said in a chance interview.

“That’s what we want to do. But we need permission first from the Malaysian prime minister or their Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” she added.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Dela Rosa...

FFROM 1

Reacting hours later after Tajo’s reported arrest, De la Rosa told Edge Davao in a text message, “Tajo is just one of the obstacles in achieving our goals and he has to be acted on accordingly.”

Dela Rosa confirmed that the sus-

pect has been a known drug user. “Taho is a perennial drug offender,” he said.

The victim suffered from head injuries and is still being treated at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). The Sta. Ana Police station refused

to give details of the case.

A personnel, who said he is a radio operator at the station, told Edge Davao in a telephone conversation that the suspect was already submitted to inquest proceedings.

(With Che Palicte)

the barangay officials come back from the Lakbay Aral program.

“The Captain of Barangay Manuel Guianga, Tugbok is also requesting for Oplan TukHang in their community because our targets are the coastal barangays where illegal drugs are usually transported,” he said.

Meantime, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 regional director P/ CSupt. Jaime Morente commended the initiative of De la Rosa for implementing Oplan TukHang. Morante said

De la Rosa is performing very well in his responsibility as DCPO director.

“We can see, through Tuk-Hang, that the power of persuasion is effective and the police is not violating any human rights with this program,” he said.

“We are seeing something good out of this as this can be considered as one of the best practices of the police force which can be copied by police offices from other regions or cities in the Philippines,” he said.

ogies in that particular ATM machine.

There are also reminders posted in ATM machines telling card holders not to show their PIN numbers to other people and be more vigilant in withdrawing substantial amount.

The limited amount of money that allowed

by ATM machines to be withdrawn is another preventive measure implemented by banks.

Casipog said that in order to avoid becoming a victim of the ATM scam syndicate,

card holders should make sure that they will not show their PIN numbers to other people and should always double check their surroundings before withdrawing, Casipog said.

Besides the ATM scam syndicates, Casipog also warned people of another syndicate allegedly selling fake gold just to take people’s money.

“If these people are selling authentic gold, then they should bring it directly to BSP,” he said. (EJ Dominic Fernandez)

capital.

Pantawid Pamilya provides cash grants to beneficiaries, to wit: P6,000 a year or P500 per month per household for health and nutrition expenses; and P3,000 for one school year or 10 months or P300/month per child for educational expenses. Only a maximum of three children per household is allowed.

A household with

three qualified children receives a subsidy of P1, 400/month during the school year or P15,000 annually as long as they comply with the conditions.

Cash grants are also released through other rural banks, Globe Remit, Philpost, First Consolidated Bank and other Cooperative Financial Institutions (CFI), especially in farflung areas.

Zero drugs...

FFROM 2

drugs due to the implementation of Oplan Tuk-Hang. “Metaphorically speaking, if Davao city has one kilo of drugs, because of TukHang, now it decreased to only a quarter,” he said.

Dela Rosa added that “it may be ambitious, but if this will continue, it will hopefully reach zero with the help of the community,” he said.

According to De la Rosa, Davao City Police will continue their Tuk-Hang operations next week when

BSP...

FFROM 2

a card copying machine in ATM machines, according to Casipog.

Most bank companies in the city have implemented preventive measures such as the shield, where the buttons of the ATM machines are covered so that people from the back can’t see the PIN entered by the person transacting.

Another preventive measure is the blinking green light in ATM machines which can prevent ATM scam syndicates from installing card copying technol-

Beneficiaries...

FFROM 2

program that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children aged 0-14 years. It has dual objectives: social assistance - to provide cash assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate needs (short term poverty alleviation), and social development - to break the intergenerational poverty cycle through investments in human

11

Syrian Pound now convertible to Peso

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

G

OOD news to overseas Filipino workers returning from Syria—money earned in that war-torn country can now be converted to Philippine currency.

The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) told Edge Davao in an exclusive interview that the Syrian Pound can now be exchanged to Philippine Peso from January 30 – May 30.

BSP Davao Region Office acting director

lawyer Demetrio Casipog told Edge that due to the conflict in Syria, returning OFWs from that country and their families can exchange Syrian Pound holdings not exceeding P10,000 with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Head Office and its 18 branches) and other authorized agent banks across the country.

Most of the OFWs working in Syria are from Mindanao, according to BSP.

“Before, Syrian Pound can not be exchanged to PhP, however, due to the conflict in Syria, BSP is now allowing it,” he said.

To exchange Syrian Pound to PhP with BSP, OFWs or their families must present documents or proof of travel from Syria such as original passport or original travel document issued by the Philippine Embassy in Damascus stamped with an exit visa by the Syrian Immigration and passport Directorate.

wad Kalinga Foundation.

“Last year’s harvest earned the farmers about Ph800 thousand in revenue from the two-hectare purple yam plantation,” Turtur added.

He also bared their support of the purple yam farmers in terms of tissue culture production. “Because the planting materials are derived from Western Visayas, the city government is now helping these farmers through the development of tissue culture to answer the need for more planting materials,” Turtur explained.

The city agriculture office has provided the farmers one tractor to help them in land preparation to expand their production.

Turtur also said that Selecta will buy up to 50,000 tons of ube at a contracted price of Ph18.00 per kilo. “We cannot achieve the required tonnage as of now because we can only harvest at least 20 tons,” he explained, adding that if the tissue culture project for planting materials is fully developed, the target production can easily be reached.

“The beautiful thing about this tie-up with Selecta is the P2,500 compensation per month to farmers which will be deductible after the crops are harvested,” he said, adding that they embark on expansion in the same area because of the high demand for purple yams.

the barangay level who withdraw their support to the rebels in 2011 and 442 in 2012.

Morente attributed the decrease in crime rate to community cooperation as he cited that “peace and order is not a sole responsibility of the PNP and AFP as more percentage of achieving it is coming from the responsibility of the community.”

He also said, “hindi sa pagtataas ng banko, but there are focus police operations and new crime prevention programs that contributed to the decrease in crime volume, such as, checkpoints, gun ban and Tuk Tuk Hangyo or Tuk-Hang.”

Bernardo said AFP

is pursuing security through development, “development which means, human development looking up the well being of each and every individual in the community of the conflict affected areas.”

“One of our main agenda is the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) which aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability, improve governance, and empower and strengthen the capacities communities, especially in conflict affected areas that were hit by typhoon “Pablo” in the region.”

Davao City’s purple yam: a new booming industry

By Che Palicte

K

NOWN as the country’s durian capital, Davao City has another booming industry, the purple yam, that without much fanfare has grown bigger in production that has been benefitting local farmers for months now.

Val Turtur, Davao City agriculturist officer incharge, said yesterday during the weekly Club 888 forum at The Marco Polo Davao that the venture on purple yam production, locally called ube, was introduced by a group of farmers in Catigan, Toril.

He also bared that the plantation was financed

by Selecta, an ice cream manufacturing company, and managed by the Ga-

In Region 11...

FFROM 2

manageable and under control in the region.”

Also in the same meeting, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that from 2010 to the 1st quarter of 2013, there is a downtrend reduction of violent incidents in Rebel infested areas in the region of 34 percent.

Major General Ariel Bernardo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Commander of the 10th Infantry Division (ID) stated in his report that there are 580 regular New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who surrendered from 2010 until present, while there were 3061 underground mass organization members in

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VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Realty

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SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Fiery start RMH-VMO demolish Team Villar 100-86

By Neil Bravo

E I’M HAPPY. Royal Mandaya Hotel import Cedric Happi (left photo, with the ball) seems to be happy with the way he played Tuesday night. He fired 18 points in a win over Team Villar. (Top, right) Vice Mayor Rody Duterte tosses the ceremonial ball opening the 76th Araw ng Dabaw basketball tournament at the DCRC Gym. (Lean Daval)

X-PRO Kiko Adriano wore the fireman’s hat as title favourite Royal Mandaya Hotel-VMO debuted with a flourish in the 76th Araw ng Dabaw Invitational Basketball Tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The Hoteliers bucked a jittery start to demolish Team Villar 100-86 in the opening game of the 4-team tournament organized by Liga Dabaw and sponsored by the City Government of Davao.

Adriano fired a gamehigh 26 points to lead the Hoteliers’ attack. Import Cedric Happi also made the day for the local hoop fans with 18 points while Mark “Big Mac” Andaya

added 14 and Mark Magsumbol and JR Guerilla each chipped in 11 for a balanced offensive.

Team Villar got 22 points from burly Fritz Vesagas who was the only bright spot for the Villar-backed squad, hitting consistently from beyond the arc and running the floor despite his huge frame. Chester Tolomia, another ex-pro, dropped 19 points while Chris Conception ad Ed 18.

The Hoteliers led by just three, 24-21 after the first period but a strong second wind came in the second quarter as they took a 55-47 lead to the locker room.

Team Villar narrowed

the gap to 73-68 after three quarters.

A finishing kick keyed

by Adriano and Happi broke the backs of Team Villar.

In the second match, defending champion Montana Pawnshop kept abreast with RMH-VMO with a 96-62 spanking of Goldstar Hardware. Devon Sullivan led the Pawnbrokers with 21 markers and Dino Daa and Arnold Adorneo added 13 each.

The game was marred by highly physical contacts which got the better of Goldstar import Jamer Cornley, last year’s Governor’s Cup Best Import in the PBA while playing for Rain or Shine.

14 SPORTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Sharapova glides to Q-Finals I

NDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Former champion Maria Sharapova stormed into the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a commanding 7-5 6-0 victory over Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino on Tuesday.

After winning a tight opening set under a blazing sun, the Russian world number three swept through the second in only 22 minutes to reach the last eight at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for a third con-

BREEZY WIN. Maria Sharapova (left) returns a forehand en route to advancing to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a commanding 7-5 6-0 victory over Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino.

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland (right) slips in her 1-6, 6-4, 5-7 loss to Maria Kirilenko.

secutive year.

Second seed Sharapova will next meet Italy’s Sara Errani, a 6-3 6-2 winner against Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli earlier in the day, in a rematch of last year’s French Open final clinched by the Russian.

“I stepped up my game in the second set,” Sharapova, who was champion here in 2006 and a losing finalist last year, said courtside after wrapping up victory in one hour 18 minutes.

“The first set was so up and down I had to buckle down, stepping into the returns and getting in a few more first serves.”

There were five breaks of serve in an erratic opening set but the Russian earned the crucial break in the 11th game when her opponent pushed a forehand wide.

Sharapova needed three set points before serving out, then broke Arruabarrena-Vecino’s serve three more times in the second set to advance.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Hong Kong on a plate CHINESE restaurants are fairly common in the Philippines, thanks to the large ChineseFilipino community who patronise these restaurants through the years.

Although one has to admit that the flavours of local Chinese restaurants are worlds apart from Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong, I believe it is mainly due to the need to adapt to the heavier Filipino palate and the differences and availability of ingredients that changed the flavour profiles. Of course to be fair, Chinese restaurants in the United States and other countries taste different from each other too.

So imagine my excitement when the Lotus Court of the Marco Polo invited me and some other local media friends for a private dinner to showcase some new menu items prepared by their guest chefs, chef Au Yeung Chung Kei and dim sum chef Sam Hei Tak who flew in straight from Hong Kong.

Showing more delicate flavours, the new dishes of

the Lotus Court prepared by the two chefs highlighted the complexities of Cantonese cuisine. From the delicately prepared Radish in Gangnam Sauce and the Marinated Cucumber, to the crisp Crystal Prawns and Braised Beef with Kimchi (the beef was lovingly braised for three hours) every item was a delight to the tastebuds and left everyone wanting more and more.

The dinner ended with Sweetened Glutinous Balls Stuffed with Coco-

nut and a crispy and tasty Red Bean Paste Pastry that paired well with the house teas that took me back to the fragrant harbour I miss so much.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram @kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel tips, and happenings in and around the Durianburg.

Globe intensifies efforts to keep its customers closer T

Says having great customer relationship is new battleground

HERE are brands that customers trust. Yet there are only a few brands that win over the customers. Brands that put customer satisfaction as its primary goal are usually the one that stick to the hearts and minds of the customers.

Globe is a company that has made customer satisfaction its number one priority. By keeping customers happy with its innovative mobile and broadband products and good after-sales service, Globe has been reporting record growth for the past two years and imprinting unto the hearts of the customers.

And part of that success is working hard to create a great experience for customers whenever they walk inside any Globe Store, apply for a Globe or Tattoo postpaid, call the hotline, do follow-ups and queries or engage any Talk2Globe channel.

“There will always be new products and offers but the customer will always go with the brand they can rely on to deliver,” Jacqueline Diaz-Fuentes, Head of Customer Contact Management of Globe, shares.

“We aim to create deep and lasting relationships with our customers built on strong bonds of assurance, trust, and familiarity.

We engage our customers because we know we can

Globe frontliners bleed the passion to provide the best customer service. help them do more using our services.”

Since acquiring new customers is already a battle in itself, keeping them happy is even more so. Fuentes attests to this after years of fighting on the ground.

“Managing several types of customers with varying demands is never easy. I’ve lost count of the number

of times our agents went out of their way, literally going out on errands outside the confines of the call center, to address customers’ needs.” She cites the challenges that come in all shapes and sizes – from simple bill inquiries to dealing with irate customers because of problems with the device, promo

subscription, or connectivity.”

From a relatively small contingent about a decade ago, the Customer Experience team of Globe has now partnered with world-class customer service providers to address the demands of its expanding customer base. Today, Globe has over 3,000

agents and technical support specialists who have responded to the call of duty of making customers happy, the Globe Way. Faced with an increasing number of customers with changing needs, keeping things at status quo would not have cut it. Globe then looked into the end-to-end customer experience, and

began shifting to more advanced tools with better capabilities, while improving processes and policies along the way. They also switched to a more sophisticated reporting system for analyzing traffic.

As more and more customers have started to inhabit the digital space, Globe also established new service channels such as online chat, e-mail, and social media. Keeping true to their name, they have also introduced the first Visayan-speaking hotline in the country – for a truly differentiated customer experience.

As Globe rolls out its IT modernization next month, it will also have the new capabilities including a new customer service system that will unify tools used at the frontlines. “We are excited to launch a truly differentiated experience for our customers in the area of customer service. We want to get to that point when a customer calls the hotline, he will feel like he is talking to an old friend who knows him really well. Now, who wouldn’t fall in love with a service provider like that?” Fuentes quips.

The battle for customer experience may never end, but Globe is more than ready to keep marching forward to win customers’ hearts.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

VOL.5 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

FOOD

Party at the Playground on March 15 at the Marco Polo DAVAO’S party scene heats up this March 15 as Party Animal Productions together with the Marco Polo Davao brings you Playground, a club party event at the Grand Ballroom of the Marco Polo Davao.

Playground is the ultimate no-holds barred club event of the year, as you party to beats of Republiq’s resident DJ Ace Ramos together with Deuce Manila sexy DJs Patty Tiu & Kat DJ. Tickets are available for only Php350 at the Eagle’s Bar of Marco Polo Davao, Backyard Burger, Green Windows Dormitel, Java Jive, Southern KTV, and Bagnetian.

Savor the moment From home, with love Sun Cellular aids Global Pinoy

IT’S no surprise that people all around the world recognize the resilience, hospitability, and the work ethic of the Filipino because now it’s finally official: we have a kababayan under literally every flag in the world. Needless to say, every one of these modern heroes plays a huge role in the success of our country, perhaps much more so than to the lives of the families they leave behind.

Overseas Filipino Workers, or simply OFWs, are called the modern day heroes for a good reason. While we are here living within the comforts of our own country, OFWs constantly juggle the loneliness of being away from their families with the culture shock that trying to make living in an unfamiliar land involves. Yes, being an OFW is often more of a sacrifice than an opportunity, and it only makes sense that Sun Cellular reinforce the need for easy, affordable communication between OFWs and their loved ones, easing the stress even for a little bit.

Sun Cellular’s IDD Plans are great examples of this, offering not only the lowest international call and text rates in the industry, but also the latest, greatest Android-powered phones to date.

Sun IDD Plan 1699 features up to 120 minutes or 120 iSMS for rates as low as P2 per minute or per text. It also comes with 250 minutes of Sun calls, 250 Sun texts, 1 hour of mobile internet and 250 texts to other networks. But those are just the icing on a very sweet cake, as the IDD Plan 1699 lets you choose between the two of the best Android phones in the market – the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the Samsung Galaxy Note.

For those who are on a bit of a tighter budget, the IDD Plan 600 fits the bill perfectly. Aside from the 60 minutes of IDD calls or 60 iSMS, the IDD Plan 600 also gives you 120 minutes of Sun calls, 150 Sun texts, 30 minutes of mobile internet, and 150 texts to other networks. It also boasts a variety of mid-range Android phones like the Alcatel Glory, the Samsung Galaxy Pocket, or LG Optimus Me. Prepaid users should not feel left behind, though, as Sun Cellular also has something for you – the TODO IDD load, a variety of prepaid loads made specifically for your international connectivity needs. TODO IDD loads, which come in P50, P100 and P300 denominations, can be used for international calls, with rates that can go as long as P2 per minute.

Thanks to the technology available to us now, what lack of time our families abroad give us can be made up through Sun Cellular International Services. After all, our OFWs may be heroes, but sometimes, even heroes need a little love from home.

THE past week was, by far, one of my busiest this month.

It’s only the beginning of the month but I can already feel the intensity of my workload escalate to a tee. I am not complaining. I am thankful for not everybody gets to feel stressed to the nth level.

This week’s recipes are but an offshoot of how my week went by. It was intensely rewarding as I was able to realize on the positivity that it contributed to my life. No, they are not comfort foods but they speak of comfort in the parlance of a growling tummy.

The next time you want to treat yourself or is craving for something zesty and creamy at the same time, give this recipes a try and see how you can be rewarded with your own home cooked meal – as I was!

Thank you Sir Anygma, Sir Kevin, Sir BlackLeaf and the rest of the FlipTop crew who were here last March 2 2013 for Pakusganay. You guys made me come up with these recipes More power to FlipTop! Kevin’s Zesty Mashed Potato with Horseradish Mayonnaise and Curry Powder Not everyone appreciates the taste of mashed potatoes. Others believe it to be bland as others say it is not for the hungry juan.

On my end, I love the simplicity of mashed potato as I am able to experiment and come up with my own version of it. This particu-

dissolved curry powder, horseradish mayonnaise and all purpose cream.

If mixture is a bit soggy, lessen your mayonnaise or all purpose cream. Since this is one that is on the creamy side, I opted mine to be rich and creamy at the same time. Season to taste. Serve hot or chilled.

lar recipe is something that is easy to make but bursting with goodness. Serve it hot or cold, as an appetizer or a snack or even as your thick dressing for salads, this dish is definitely one for the road.

Ingredients: 3 pieces large potato, scrubbed and scored 5-7 cups of water or just enough to cover the potato when boiled 2 tablespoon of turmeric powder dissolved in 2 tablespoon of olive oil 3 tablespoon of all purpose cream ¼ cup horseradish mayonnaise Sea Salt Freshly ground black pepper Method: In a deep pan, boil your potatoes over medium heat. Cooking time is dependent upon the size of the potato but for this one, I had it boiled for 30-45 minutes or until, when pricked, it slides off the fork smoothly. Once done, peel potatoes under running water.

In a bowl, mash your potatoes – consistency depend upon you. I like mine a bit on the chunky side and with a bite. Add

Anygma’s Chicken, Saffron and Mango Empanada Having something from scratch is as rewarding as buying something for your own self. Although undeniably bigger than our usual merienda stapple, this dish has FILIPINO written all over it. Check the ingredients out and see how far your ripe mango could go. You can also use other fruits but make sure that it is not too watery as it would render the filling soggy. THANK YOU MJ CRAVE for the delicious mango!

Ingredients: 1 cup sifted all purpose flour 2 cups tepid water Pinch of salt For the filling: ½ cup mashed ripe mango (do not use if overripe.

Chose one that is firm) Chicken breast, boiled, skinned, deboned and flaked ½ cup light mayonnaise 2 tablespoon sour cream ½ teaspoon saffron powder Zest of orange Oil for frying egg yolk mixed with water Salt Pepper

Method: Prepare the dough by mixing the flour, water and salt in a bowl. Mix well until smooth. If sticky, add more flour. If stiff, add more water. Knead for 5 minutes and let sit for another 10 minutes. Cover with cheese cloth. After 10 minutes, knead again and divide into 4. Knead each part into circle and brush with a bit of oil. Set aside.

Prepare the filling: In a bowl, mix mango, chicken flakes, mayonnaise, sour cream, saffron powder, orange zest. Season with salt and pepper.

Assembly: Scoop filling unto half of the prepared dough. Using a fork, seal ends by pinching all the way round. Prick middle to ensure that it is cooked through. Brush with egg yolk and water mixture.

Repeat until done.

In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Once suitable for deep frying, submerged empanada and cook until golden brown.

Dry in paper towel. Serve hot.

Shout outs to my friends over at Just Simply Outsourcing Worldwide (JSOW) (www.justsimplyoutsourcing.com). Happy Birthday to my friend Jefferson Solano and cousin Bai Omayrah Shariffa S Sinsuat Zainal.

Do you want to be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit?

Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured. If you are interested, then email me at leebai@chefroyale.com or visit www. chefroyale.com for more recipes. Happy Cooking!

VOL.5 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Lady Gaga recovers from hip surgery in gold wheelchair LEAVE it to Lady Gaga to refuse to let an injury cramp her style!

After undergoing hip surgery last month, the singer turned to designer Ken Borochov of luxury label Mordekai to create a custom wheelchair. And Borochov certainly didn’t disappoint, creating a head-turning 24-karat gold plated chair that will have Gaga riding out her recovery in style!

“I certainly wasn’t expecting that phone call and have never done a wheelchair, but am always up for a challenge and was thrilled to create what I affectionately dubbed the Chariot, a chair fit only for a queen,” the designer explained in a statement.

So what exactly went into creating this pop queen’s new ride? For an edgy yet durable look, Burachov styled the tufted leather seats to look like a motorcycle jacket and added some seriously stylish spoke rims that are sure to mesmerize onlookers as Gaga wheels her way through town. But his masterpiece is just as functional as it is

fabulous; it features a removable canopy should Mother Monster require a little shade, and even reclines should she start to feel fatigued. She is recovering after all!

This isn’t the first headturning piece Borochov’s created for Lady Gaga.

He’s designed a couple of

crowns for the star’s performances, as well as the infamous gold claw she wore to launch her Fame fragrance at Harrods in London. But we’d say the Chariot ranks as one of his fiercest accessories yet!

What do you think of Lady Gaga’s gold-plated wheel chair?

Of course, that didn’t sit well with Universal Pictures, as the company is currently in the process of adapting the sex-filled story into a major motion picture.

“The first XXX Adaptation is not a parody, and it does not comment on, criticize, or ridicule the originals.

It is a rip-off, plain and simple,” the suit read.

According to court docs, an agreement was reached upon “payment of a confidential sum by Smash Pictures to plaintiffs and upon entry by the court of a stipulated judgment for permanent injunction with respect to plaintiffs’ claims for copyright and trademark

infringement.”

No further information about the settlement was released.

Luv Moves, which has been accused of including sex toys with the DVD in a kit called Fifty Shades of Pleasure: Play Kit & Movie, was also named in the original suit.

Talk about a pain in the you-know-what.

Fifty Shades of Grey porn film lawsuit settled

LOOKS like Universal has whipped that pesky Fifty Shades of Grey porn parody into shape.

The original copyright holder of E.L. James’ BDSM novel, Fifty Shades Ltd., and Universal Pictures have settled a lawsuit with a porn company over an X-rated parody of the raunchy best-selling book, Deadline reports.

Universal and Fifty Shades Ltd. filed a lawsuit against Smash Pictures, the makers of the adult film appropriately titled Fifty Shades of Grey: a XXX Adaptation, in November, alleging the adult film company engaged in a “willful attempt to capitalize on the reputation of the book.”

The lawsuit also claimed Smash Pictures’ vice president Stuart Wall announced his intentions to rip off the risqué read in hopes of creating a XXX adaption “true to the book and it’s S&M-themed romance.”

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EVENTS

Say hello to LIEU!

By Cheekie Albay Photos by Nikko Zamora

IT’S youthful, it’s hip, and it’s here to spark a creative party!

LIEU Online Magazine is the brainchild of a team of young Davaoenos who all share a love for the arts—from music to films to fashion to photography to writing. Besides giving these young artists a place to flex their creative muscles and explore the things that make them tick, LIEU aims to inspire other under-the-radar talents— who otherwise wouldn’t have a space to showcase their craft—into letting their creative flag fly.

LIEU’s maiden issue, released on March 6, boasts stories on Mei Bastes, the Davao-born former scene queen of Manila’s indie underground; HIPHOUSE, the city’s buzzed-about mobile artist collective; and Singapore’s Laneway Festival, the biggest indie music congregation in Southeast Asia. A profile on fashion blogger Janvie Tiu and a feature on milk tea shop Tea’Amo also make their way to LIEU’s pages, as well as stunning digital and analog photography by

Davao’s promising young lensmen.

Last Saturday, March 9, the LIEU team threw its launch party at the Blue Room of Apo View Hotel. It was a gathering of Davao’s creative community, with photographers, filmmakers, graphic designers, illustrators, writ-

ers, bloggers, musicians, and even cover girl Mei Bastes all joining in welcoming LIEU. But what made the party even more phenomenal was the outpouring of support from the youth, with college students and young professionals making up the bulk of the bunch.

As creative director Aidx Paredes led the revelers in toasting LIEU, cheers erupted, highfives were raised, bottles were clinked, and swaying bodies swarmed the floor in celebration—as if Davao’s young folks instinctively knew that they now have a magazine that speaks to them and for them.

Visit www.lieumagazine.com to view LIEU’s first issue. LIEU welcomes contributions from Davao artists, be it photography, illustration, graphic art, or literature. To get in touch with the LIEU team, email lieumag@ gmail.com. For more of LIEU online, like LIEU on Facebook via www. facebook.com/LieuMagazine, and follow on Twitter via www.twitter.com/ LIEUMAGAZINE and on Instagram via www.instagram.com/lieumagazine.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 266 •THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

Howard’s 39 keys Lakers win O

RLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Dwight Howard scored a season-high 39 points, had 16 rebounds and was sent to the free throw line 39 times by his former team as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic, 106-97 on Tuesday night.

The victory came in Howard’s first return to Orlando since his drama-filled offseason trade to the Lakers. He endured a chorus of boos throughout, and tied his own NBA record for free throw attempts.

The majority of them came as the Magic tried to employ an intentional foul strategy. It backfired, though, as the All-Star center hit on 16 of 20 attempts in the second half.

The victory was the Lakers’ fourth straight.

Jameer Nelson led Or-

lando with 21 points. The Magic have lost three of their last four and haven’t won back-to-back games since December.

After a week of backand-forth in the media following some perceived negative comments made about his former team during a television interview, Howard and Nelson spoke briefly just after the final buzzer and shook hands.

It was a light moment in what was mostly a hostile atmosphere.

Homemade signs jeering Howard with sentiments that said everything from ‘’Coward’’ to ‘’Kobe’s Kid’’ were sprinkled throughout the Amway Center stands.

Boos rained down on the All-Star center almost every time he touched the

basketball. They were followed by louder cheers when he missed a free throw.

The intensity was also ramped up at times, too.

Howard got tangled up in a verbal back-and-forth with the Magic bench at one point during the first half, and Kobe Bryant left briefly in the first quarter, bleeding from his right eye after a collision.

The Lakers led 76-68 entering the final period and scored the first eight points of the quarter to push it out to a 16-point lead.

The Magic battled back and closed to 91-82 on a 3-pointer by E’Twaun Moore with 6 minutes to play in the game.

Howard made four straight at one point and the Lakers got their lead

back up to 102-88 on a 3-pointer by Jodie Meeks with 2:25 left.

The Magic kept up the strategy, but Howard - who was shooting 47.8 percent before the game - hit his final eight attempts to help close out the victory.

Howard embraced the negative environment from the outset and was the main reason the Lakers had a 5046 halftime lead.

He had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the opening 24 minutes, and would have had more if not for his 9-for19 effort at the line.

Howard started just 2 for 9 from the foul line, prompting the Magic to try fouling him intentionally three times late in the second quarter. He had found his touch by then, though, hitting five of six on those occasions.

UNDERGOAL STAB. Mark Jeffries scores under the goal during the match between Royal Mandaya Hotel-VMO and Team Villar. RMH-VMO won 10086 for its first win in the 76th Araw ng Dabaw basketball tournament. (Lean Daval)

Heat streak: 19 M IAMI (AP) -Standing at his locker after yet another victory, LeBron James finally acknowledged the obvious.

This winning streak is something for the Miami Heat to savor.

Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and on a night where the stat sheet would suggest a struggle, the Heat rolled once again, extending their winning streak to 19 games and leading wireto-wire in beating the Atlanta Hawks 98-81 on Tuesday. ‘’Let’s be honest, guys,’’ James said. ‘’We’re not sitting here and saying this is not something

special. This is an unbelievable streak that we’re on. We’re playing great basketball. We’re winning in different phases of the game, we’re playing different styles, we’ve won every game, on the road, at home, double-overtime games, end-of-regulation games, whatever the case may be.’’

James scored 15 points and Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers added 14 apiece for the Heat, who matched the fifth-longest streak in NBA history. They will try for their 20th straight win on Wednesday at Philadelphia, the start of a five-game trip.

Martial arts, billiards in DSA Forum today

T

HREE different martial arts competitions and a billiards event are the main dish in the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum set at 10 a.m. today at Dexter’s Pizza Stadium in Matina.

Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao chief Rommel Tan, Holiday Judo Club president Paolo Tancontian and Smokerfights organizer Dr. Vincent Vicente are guests along with Davao Billiards Association, Inc. (DBAI) president Menlee Migellano.

Tan will tackle the Araw ng Dabaw Karatedo Tournament slated Sun-

day while Tancontian will brief DSA members on the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Judo Tournament set on March 20 at the Abreeza Mall.

Vicente, for his part, will talk about the Smokerfights mixed martial arts event on Saturday at NCCC Mall.

Migellano, meanwhile, will be on hand to promote the Araw ng Dabaw Open 9-Ball Billiards Tournament set on Saturday and Sunday at John Carlo Billiard Hall.

This week’s edition of the DSA Forum is hosted

by Dexter’s Pizza Stadium owners Jimmy and Bai Lim.

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VOL.6 ISSUE 266 • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

EDGEDAVAO